The Loved Dog

When we found Leia at the PW County animal shelter she had "growls at children" in her criminal record. Perhaps this would have scared anyone adopting a 50 lb animal but Nick knew she was the dog for us when he went to get her. He could not have been any more right.

We had been looking and praying for a dog for months before we found her online. She looked like a huge puff ball with long matted fur! She had been a stray and we believe she came from an abusive situation. Aparently she had been adopted by a family with young children and "growled at them". When bringing home a new pet, it is so important to give them space, especially with children involved. We found out in the first few weeks that Leia growled for everything... when getting her tummy rubbed, when playing, when meeting children, etc. It is her way of communicating. We also learned within a few months that we had adopted a very very sick dog. She had Cryptococcus, a fungus that attacks the brain. When I found a collapsed, unresponive dog, I was sure she was going to die. Thanks to a wonderful Doggy neurologist (Dr. Tiches), Leia is still our beloved house pet and friend.

"There is a reason your dog is alive. Maybe she will save your child's life or something--you never know."

Husky's are known for their amazing sensitivities, so I am assured that Leia knew what was going on the whole time I was pregnant. Perhaps before I even knew! All I know is that when we brought home our noisey little bundle, Leia stayed right beside her for the first day. She slept right beside her cradle and when I went to change her diaper, Leia was right there! It was the sweetest thing... that just recently got sweeter. Now that A. doesn't yank her fur out, Leia enjoys Anastasia's constant attention. A. has been ultra snuggly now that she isn't nursing and finds Leia the ultimate snuggling companion. It is truley the most beautiful thing and it makes me smile and cry at the same moment as Anastasia buries her little head in Leia's fur with her arms in a big hug. Leia doesn't mind at all and even seems to put herself in the situation of being cuddled. A. giggles when Leia licks her face in return.

Sometimes Leia gives credit to Radar's quote from M*A*S*H, "Animals are people too." Perhaps they aren't people... but they are definately souls of a sort who God sends us for a purpose. In the words of a veterinarian (Dr. Augustine) at AAH, "There is a reason your dog is alive. Maybe she will save your child's life or something--you never know."

I drove my brother to National Airport yesterday and found that the slower pace of Virginia did not effect my ability to maneuver DC Streets with the skill an agility of a native. I wonder how I would do in NYC? I think people are a bit nicer there (it was voted the nicest city last year) and have more skill than DC drivers (who are rude and don't know how to drive) but I think they also expect everyone to be somewhat aggressive. I can be when I need be like in order to get over a lane when no one wants to let me over. The best part of driving in DC is making your own rules when the rules suck. I blew a no U-Turn sign because of a restroom emergency. I also found my way around really well. Despite all my skill and effort... a taxi cab pulling out of a spot didn't see me and ALMOST slammed into the side of my mom's 4-Runner. I honked. Had I not my mom would have been hit! I hate stupid other drivers.

On a lighter note, my brother is in Colorado for a week. I am so jealous. What did he do all day today? He snowboarded in powder-like snow that feels like a giant pillow when you fall on it. I haven't boarded in years but am itching to go. This 70 degree weather is not very inspiring though. My great idea for flat FLAT Indiana is to snowboard with Leia pulling me... I could call it dog-sled-boarding. I am sure Leia would love that. Perhaps if food is involved she will at least humor me for a few minutes. :)

Chi Town Christmas

The snowy drive in the city.

My cutie pie.

Too much fun at Marshall Fields (MAcy's).

What she Found under the tree.

"Snow"-- Nick's Parents dog

We had a wonderful Christmas in Chicagoland. We went to the Christkindle Festival and partook in some delicious mulled wine and enjoyed all the German (and Peruvian?) wares. My mother-in-law bought Anastasia some lovely natural wooden blocks at a stand with a sign reading, "nothing at this booth was made in China." They sure know how to rope me in. :) Only bad thing was that it was FREEZING cold and WINDY!!! Knowing this, I am still willingly planning on moving there in the next month. We also went to Macy's (formerly Marshall Fields) and it was HUGE and just stupendous! It was decorated so nice and had its own floor of toys from FAO Schwartz. We loved the lifesize dragons and unicorns and I drooled over some of the wooden train sets and kitchenware.

We spent Christmas with Nick's family and Anastasia enjoyed her presents from Santa... especially the polar bear and some necklaces and maraccas with bells in them. Her favorite gift of all was a box of tissues (as I predicted) and a nalgene sippy cup I picked up. Christmas is way more fun with children. Nicks brother and sister and their families joined us for dinner. It was nice to see everyone. We were even surprised to get to see Nick's best friends Tim and Jason who were in town for a few days! What a treat.

We had a nice snow on Friday and drove into the city for a cup of coffee (which seems like a good reason to drive into town) at Intelligencia--a wonderfully tasty cafe. Their coffee was SO good, a definate highlight of our trip (as well as a ray of hope that there is good coffee SOMEWHERE in the midwest.) I know I am a total snob. :)

Those were the highlights... I wish everyone an AWESOME 2008!! I know we are excited for wherever God might take us this year!

The Joy of Weaning

I know it has been forever and another post will soon follow this with Christmas meanderings. I just wanted to write about my weaning experience because it has been HUGE for us.

I never expected to wean so soon but due to some bites from a couple months ago, I had excruciatingly painful cuts that would not heal. I kept nursing for about 6 or 7 weeks with ups and downs including bouts of tears and a true reluctance to nurse. Finally, after trying EVERYTHING, and downing 2 tubes of lanolin with no improvements, I realized that nobody wins when nursing becomes too painful for me. I continue to pump and no longer nurse Anastasia to sleep (which is HUGE!) We are all much happier. I am a new me. Now I give A. bottles at night, and solid foods during the day. It has been pretty painless and amazingly, I love not nursing. I loved nursing, but now when Anastasia wants mommy, she comes and hugs or snuggles me without feeling like she has to nurse. Maybe I feel less like a cow and more like a nurturer. I also feel more inclined to put down the broom and spend time playing with Anastasia and cuddling her whenever I can to make up for any lack that not nursing may leave. She even seems more content about it. Like most things when it comes to parenting, I didn't expect weaning to be this good.

Christmas Bliss

I wish I had taken a picture of my living room 20 minutes ago. It was a complete mess made by my beloved daughter in the hour and a half it took me to wrap all my gifts. She had so much fun playing with the papers and bows and wrappers and bags. She even found a tissue box in her reach and went to town pulling out tons of tissues. Everything was everywhere and she was in complete baby tornado bliss. Ah, to be a kid again.

So one of her presents happens to be a sparkly box of tissues... and it will probably be her favorite gift too. I tried not to go overboard since she is only 10 1/2 months old and really won't remember her gift opening (or lack there of) but I guess when you have only one child and you want to relive your childhood through them, it is hard not to get carried away. I made myself divide her gifts in half so she will have some for her birthday in a month, and I won't have to buy her anything else.
Atleast that is the plan...

I have been super busy sewing and baking and sewing and baking this week. Everyone tells me to slow down and take a break... but I just tell them that I will come Saturday morning when I am in the Jeep on the way to Indiana. I am just pushing myself until then, and then I can relax to the fullest extent for the entire week we are there. I can't wait!

On a very exciting note (at least for me) Anastasia took her first steps a little over a week ago and is now walking everywhere. I love it! I dreaded her becoming mobile for so long as my parents house is the least childproof house in the world probably but a mobile baby is not so bad. She is so much happier now that she can get around! I always cuddle her and wish she wouldn't get any bigger, but at every age I say that this stage is better than the last and I hope this will continue until she is 14 or 15. Then we will have to lock her in a dungeon. :)

Until next time, Merry Christmas. And all of you in or near Chicago, you must go to the Christkind Market in Daley Plaza! I hope to go the 23 or 24!! We went 2 years ago and it was WONDERFUL!

Its Christmas in Washington

My mom and Anastasia at the Botanical Gardens.

One of the model trains

I spy the president

The lit Christmas tree

So I defiantly have the cold from Hell. One day I feel great, and then I wake up the next feeling like crap, barely able to speak. That was today. Maybe part of my prolonged sickness is from sitting out in the freezing cold at the lighting of the National Christmas tree. It was fun but freezing.

My mom, Caitlin, A and I went to DC for the day before the main event-- the so called, "pageant of Peace" although the cold that eats you alive is not very peaceful. And perhaps singing Christmas Carols in the cold (by our own free will) is lovely and all, but it seems somewhat hypocritical having a Peace Pageant celebrating Christmas while others are in Iraq fighting... and may be on Christmas day. I am not completely for or against the war... it just makes me sad that people are fighting abroad and people are buying into the consumer madness here during this Christmas season. It seems the meaning of the season gets so lost between empty bank accounts and people almost hitting your car for the closest parking spot at the mall (this happened to me a couple weeks ago!!!) We as a society have forgotten the Reason for the season... the baby in the manger.

On a completely other note... if you want to have a wonderful (and practically free) Christmas DC experience I highly recommend checking out the botanical gardens. They are completely decked out with poinsettias and model trains and georgeous Christmas trees. They also have a really neat hunt for kids to learn about different Christmas plant-derived items (eg. peppermint and vanilla). We had a total blast there! Then for a treat take the metro or a car to Union Station and check out their awesome model train and go to Vicaros for delicious cannolis. That is what we did (except we did it in the opposite order) and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with limited funds (except for the $4 cannoli and parking). So that was our big day and now I am paying for it. I don't know about anyone else but I LOVE the city at Christmastide... I am getting super pumped for Chicago in two weeks!!!

How I Feel About Santa...

I am so in love with her pout! AH! So we had a great holiday-style weekend. I have been fighting a cold... and felt better over the weekend but lost my voice. But that didn't stop me from having a jolly old time. Saturday we went to see Santa for the first time... and Anastasia went to him but then when I backed away to take this picture she had second thoughts (hence the pout)! She thought Rudolph was pretty cool though. We took a stroll through old town Fredericksburg (possibly my favorite old town of all) where we picked up some espresso and a hat from a great little consignment shop. We also found this awesome kitchen store with this candy castle in the window:

I totally recommend going downtown and seeing it up close... its stupendous! It is inspiring me to make a gingerbread house of awesomeness (or lack there of). We helped a friend decorate a tree and headed over to the Fredericksburg parade that lasted more than 2 hours! Anastasia loved all the marching bands and Christmas light covered floats and was given a bunch of mardi gras beads and candy (I guess cuteness counts for something)... so even though it was cold I had a cup of hot tea and a bundley baby to keep me warm. It was great!

Finally we finished off the day with a trip to Nick's Aikido party (he was at a siminar all day) which Anastasia could hardly stay awake for but charmed everyone in that special way that babies do. Sunday was a little more chill for us but involved a trip to DC for a church artifact sale (for Nick's job) and an estate sale and a quick drop by Guabe's house. It was quite a packed weekend which probably accounts for why I woke up feeling like crap this morning and took my dad up on an offer to take the baby errand-running with him so I could sleep it off. I want my voice back!!!