My sister-in-law Meghan had her baby girl on Friday! Cadence Brooke was born at 2:39 PM weighing 7 lbs and 14 oz. She is the first girl grandbaby in our generation and I am so excited to finally have a niece. I’m also insanely jealous of the crazy number of adorable dresses, headbands and lacy socks I know Meghan has in her nursery. Girl clothes are just so much CUTER.

Since I am full of good intentions but terrible at execution, Cadence’s baby gift didn’t make it home to her family before she did, but should be there soon! Until then, just show Cadence these pictures of her new friend. Computer screens are cuddly, right?

Teddy Bear pattern by Debbie Bliss from the book Simply Baby

Knit with Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmarino yarn - machine washable but still SUPER soft. I made and sewed on the little bow to make her special.

I hid the felt heart inside the bear before I stuffed it. If I was more talented I would have embroidered it but Sharpie on felt worked too.

Evan's (former zombie) Teddy sends his love with Cadence's teddy.

I’ve been thinking about taking orders for more bears from some local friends but I’m afraid my knitting skills aren’t really good enough to justify charging money. I guess I could sell them for just the cost of the yarn but the seaming takes SO MUCH time I would hate making them basically for free. I think I need a little more practice before I let my Etsy store dreams get out of hand.

My amazing sister Carolyn the last time she saw her newphew

Let me take a minute out of my regular schedule of whining, complaining and occasional adorable baby photos to point out that my life is ridiculously easy. Some days my biggest problem is whether to go to the McDonald’s right down the street or drive alllll the way over to the Wendy’s on West Main even if it means I have to turn left into traffic. As much as I really hate turning left, this is not a real problem. Do you want to know what a real problem looks like?

“… what I usually have to do is bike half a kilometer to the nearest pump, fill a bidon (water jug) with water, then attach it to my bike and bring it back to my house. Which isn’t the most inconvenient thing in the world, but since it’s the only way to get all of the water I use it makes me hate to do laundry, or water my garden, or wash my dishes.”

That slight inconvenience is just a time part of my sister’s life right now as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso. Not exactly sure where that is? Yeah, neither is the US Post Office, since when I tried to send a care package the lady at the counter insisted I had to include the country name. Which I’m pretty sure she thought was “Africa”. Now that you mention it, she did look a little like Sarah Palin. Burkina’s not even on most of the globes in my old globe collection (what, don’t you have one of those?) but I’m pretty sure it’s right around here:

One of the many things my sister lives without most of the time is the internet (I DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW THAT’S POSSIBLE) but when she can get a connection she post pictures, stories and observations here on her blog: adventures à go-go. I highly recommend you go read it, since she’s much more interesting than I am, especially on our third rainy day inside day in a row. Seriously, which would you rather hear about; how my kid bit my shoulder last night and left a mark or how Carolyn is improving lives by teaching girls about self-esteem and gender rolls in one of the world’s poorest countries? That’s what I thought. Of course, I don’t want you to leave forever. I promise more baby-related hilarity and cuteness soon. But in the meantime, show my sister some love!

To grandmother’s assisted living facility and grandfather’s nursing home we go! OK, so the song doesn’t work quiet as well since they sold the super cool old house (with a servant’s staircase! and a laundry chute! and a scary basement!) but we did go over the Hudson and through Western Pennsylvania Massachusetts.

I’ve felt bad for a while that almost no one on my Mom’s side of the family had ever met the baby, so this weekend my very kind, very patient, very good at driving through a frickin’ BLIZZARD husband chauffeured Baby Evan and I up to Rochester, New York for my grandmother’s 83rd birthday. I took a zillion pictures. This is going to be totally boring for absolutely everyone except for my family who was actually there so feel free to skip today’s post.

Baby Evan's first ride in an elevator. E's face is like that because he just finished saying "You're going to take a picture of this, aren't you?"

Wheelchairs! Just like strollers, except easier to fall out of!

With Grandpa (Great-Grandpa to Baby Evan)

We were trying to figure out what Great-Grandpa would be in Swedish, since my mom is MorMor (mother's mother). MorMorFar? FarMorMor?

With Grandma (Great-Grandma to Baby Evan)

Baby Evan and his Great-Aunt Susan (Mom's sister) at the very cute bead store where she works

Mom's brother, Chuck. I really don't think Chuck would like being called a "great-uncle".

Baby Evan with my cousin Jenny, who I remember as being 6 years old. Now she has a boyfriend. I think that means he pulled her pigtales on the playground.

A jaunty hat is fun for all ages!

What do you want me to do, sing and dance? I'm smiling! Throw me a french fry or two!

The view from our hotel balcony. Rochester had about two feet of snow (with more coming down) right before we got there.

No, you cannot come out of the 7th floor balcony to get a closer look at the snow.

After much hang wringing and deliberation, I’ve decided I can’t let my first child turn one without at least attempting to commemorate the occasion with cake and singing. Of course, he doesn’t actually turn one for two more months, but I like the plan ahead. This morning I brought up the subject with my darling husband:

Me: So do you want to have a party for the baby’s birthday?
E: Sure.
Me: Should I invite all our relatives? And some mom friends? It might be a lot of people. Or maybe no one will show up.
E: Sure.
Me: Ok, we’re officially having a party. With a cake. And a theme. Oh, what should the theme be?
E: Sure.
Me: My internet friend Emmie did robots. Want to see her son’s robot party? Robots are really cool, right? But we could do something else. Maybe animals, like my baby shower. Or doggies. Or numbers. Or boats. I love boats! Or PIRATES. I’m going to go check Etsy for first birthday party decorations and get started buying stuff. Good thing we’re getting that tax return, because these things are ADORABLE.
E: Sure. Wait, what?

So it’s settled – Baby Evan is having a party and I am currently in obsessive planning mode. Although if I truly did like to plan ahead, maybe I’d have something planned for E’s 30th birthday which happens to be THIS THURSDAY. Sorry honey, I think once you have kids your own birthday’s are never really special again. So far the only thing on our calendar is attending the birthday party for a friend’s daughter, which may not exactly be the kind of debauchery-filled, Vegas-themed, crazy all-nighter he had in mind. Although you never know – maybe that’s EXACTLY what they’re planning for their one year old. In which case I’m REALLY slacking in the party department

So besides E and Baby Evan and I, three other family members live in our house.

First is the oft-photographed Brutus, the world’s most patient dog. E and I adopted him in Ohio in December 2006. He’s part lab, part German Shepperd, part mutt. His favorite activities include sitting on furniture, shedding, eating baby spit up, belly rubs, and tricking unsuspecting house guests into taking him for walks.

Patient dog is patient with Babyzilla

I’ve also posted pictures of Blushes, my cat since college. I adopted her in October of 2002. Blushes was supposed to be named Lady Katrina Von Mousington, but the ladies at the animal shelter in South Carolina asked me to keep they name they had given her. Her favorite activities include torturing the dog, sneaking into laps, shedding, throwing up in unfortunate places, “escaping” from the house only to discover outside is too cold and scary, eating people food and letting the baby lie on her.

Babyzilla stalks another unsuspecting victim

And finally, meet Rabbit (named as such because she’s jumpy). E and I thought Blushes would be happier with a friend (she originally had a brother but he belonged to my ex). We adopted Rabbit in 2004 while living in a tiny apartment in Virginia Beach. We thought she loved petting and cuddles but it turns out she was just so PARALYZED WITH FEAR she couldn’t run away. In reality, she’s evil. Possibly possessed. And she hates E with the burning fire of a thousand super novas. Since we brought the baby home she barely ventures downstairs any more and spends 99% of her time sleeping on the guest bed. Her favorite activities include peeing on E’s pillow, catching and torturing mice by chewing off their feet, eating rubber bands, drinking from the toilet, sleeping, shedding and plotting our deaths.

Welcome to your DOOM.

So if you ever come to the house, please excuse the pet hair.