Christmas Bedroom Vignette

It's that time of year again, my friends!

Life for me has been a whirlwind of activity with very little downtime lately.  I've neglected holiday decorating, holiday baking, and I've been somewhat of a Scrooge.  (I also haven't tended to my garden for about four years, but that's a story I'll save for Spring....)

This year, my kids are *slightly* older, my feet are *kind of* back on the ground, I'm *sort of* getting more sleep, and I HANDED IN THE FINAL COPY OF MY THESIS TONIGHT!!!  I feel like I have all the free time in the world!!!

And that means I actually had a minute to create a holiday vignette for Rhoda's Vignette Party.  When I noticed that several of my favorite bloggers were mentioning this vignette party, my first thought was: what the hell is a vignette? (As it turns out, a vignette is nothing more than a little display.) And then I thought: I have time for that this year!

So, I threw some stuff on my bedside table, and voila! It's a vignette! :)  Usually the bedside table is also piled with a stack of diapers, some Aquaphor, tissues, and books, but I cleared them off for this occasion.  In fact, if I had panned out the photo a little wider, you would see them on the bed.

Here's my favorite little twist pedestal and my new glass cloche.  Michael teases me about the cloche a lot, since I like to "put everything under glass."  The fake snow and the pinecones are from Michael's, and the little bird is from the Dollar Tree.  I love that he's all silvery and fancy.

The dish on the pedestal was a gift.  My mom and my aunt Cheryl bought me a set of these vintage dishes, berry bowls, plates, and teacups.  I LOVE them, but for the life of me I cannot remember what they are called.  They are so delicate that I rarely use them, but this seemed safe enough.  Look at the pattern on this rim.  Isn't is gorgeous?  Love.

I used a dish from the same collection to hold my mercury glass ornaments.  These are from the same collection I have on my mantel....the ones that were originally my Mom's.  Did you know that it is impossible to take a photo of mercury glass ornaments without getting yourself in the reflection?  It's true.  Can you tell I'm in my pajamas? :)

I can't wait to show you this next photo, because I am so proud of it.  Check out the sun flare.  I did that on purpose!  I love it!

This is a reproduction Christmas card that I picked up at Home Goods a few years ago.  They came in a pack of 12, but I never sent any, because I couldn't decide which 12 people to send one to.  So now I just use them for decoration!  Aren't they cute?  Here's a photo without the sun flare.

I picked up the little red and white "ribbon candy" ornaments at the Dollar Tree.

And my Valentine's Day gift from last year, my Pottery Barn Charleston Vintage Clock, sits atop a couple of children's Christmas books.

So, that's my holiday vignette!  I give it a few hours before it's covered with diapers and tissues again.

 I'm linking up to Rhoda's Vignette Party and Very Merry Vintage Style.  Check out their sites for some beautiful holiday vignettes!

Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday, Babies!

Dear Charlotte,

One year ago you had enough of Gavin's shenanigans and decided you were ready, already. You cried a bit upon delivery, but the nurses noted that you mostly just looked around in wonder. You had your eyes open for nearly an hour, they said, which is unheard of for a 31-week newborn. And you continued to surprise us on a daily basis. "Preemies don't nurse well; they only get 10 cc's at most," they said. But then you went and took 60 cc's! Holding you on your true birth day was the realization of so many of my wishes. Watching you grow has been amazing. The nicknames your grandparents have given you, "Nosy Rosie" and "The Newsbox," fit you perfectly. You are extremely alert and observant, and always have been. You're certainly not a cuddler, but I live for those tight squeezes you give me every morning when I get you out of your crib. You've captured everyone's heart with that sweet smile and a sense of humor that's emerging already. Daddy and I can't wait to share the wonders of the world with you.

I love you!

Mommy

Dear Gavin,

You gave your parents quite a few scares with all that heart-rate-dropping business, but look at you now, kiddo. We weren't allowed to hold you for a few days after your birth, and that was pure torture...but you are so worth the wait. We remember when you always had your little hands in tight fists, and your body was so tense. We were afraid that your motor development would be seriously delayed. But you crawled first, and are now pulling up on everything! You are incredibly curious, too. I love watching you study new objects, turning them over and over in your hands to get a better look. And everyone loves your sweet disposition; even strangers are immediately drawn to you. You have a big world to explore out there, but for now I love having you close, sitting on my lap. Hope it stays that way for years to come.

I love you!

Mommy

March 3

It's National Read Across America Day. Here's hoping everyone gets a few uninterrupted minutes to read alone, and maybe even enjoy a book with your little ones. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

photo opportunity

As a Christmas present for my parents, my sister and I decided to go to one of those fancy-schmancy kids' portrait studios to have our children's photo taken. Despite the fact that the kids ages were 10, 2, 9 months, and 9 months, the photo shoot went surprisingly well and the pictures turned out nicely. But those photos cost exactly one arm, one leg, and maybe even another arm thrown in there for good measure. Which is why I've been more than a little selective about who gets one of the 8 wallet-size photos that I bought.

On Saturday night, Michael and I went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant. This is a place that we used to go to often before the twins arrived. (We have only been out to dinner alone TWICE since they were born, and both times we went to this place.) We are somewhat friendly with the waitress there, so when we walked in, she smiled and asked, "How are the babies?" "Great!" I replied. "I have a picture!"** I pulled my wallet-sized photo out and showed her. "I have to go show my mom!" she said, and ran back to the kitchen where her mom and dad were both cooking.

That was the last I saw of that photo. I guess she must've thought I was giving it to her. I had a hard time enjoying myself through the entire meal, because I kept wondering: Is she going to give it back? Did she forget that she has it in her pocket? Should I ask for it? Is that rude? How many more do I have at home...one? two?

I hate situations like that...I never want to make the other person uncomfortable, so I don't say anything at all. We don't really know this waitress well, so I can't imagine she's going to put the photo in her wallet or go home and hang it on her wall. I'm quite sure it will wind up in the trash. Ah, well. At least the salmon was delicious.

* I've replayed this over and over in my head. I think I said, "I have a picture." Perhaps I should have said, "Let me show you a picture?" or "Look at my picture?"

Holiday Shopping

I really, really hate the mall this time of year. I hate it mostly because people are stressed, and when people are stressed, they tend to be nasty and unappreciative. And when people are nasty and unappreciative, it puts me in a foul mood. And when I'm in a foul mood, no one's happy.

Last year at this time I was pregnant. And deliriously, unapologetically happy about it. I was really starting to show, and I had just begun to feel the babies move, and after all that I had been through, I couldn't (and wouldn't) contain my excitement. Nothing was bringing me down; not even tired, stressed-out, grumpy holiday shoppers.

I went to the mall about a week before Christmas last year. I was having some difficulty with my maternity pants, and by that I mean I was having trouble keeping them up for some reason. A pregnant acquaintance at work told me about "belly bands," which are basically like tube tops that fit over your pants to keep them up. I was braving the holiday crowds and making my way to the maternity store in the mall to buy one.

First of all, the maternity store in the mall is literally the size of a postage stamp. Whoever drew up the plans to this store was obviously male, because there is no room for pregnant ladies to maneuver without bumping into the racks and/or each other. Forget strollers. And a double stroller would have been downright comical. Anyway, immediately after entering this store, I knew something was very, very wrong. There was a man in there who was clearly mentally ill. He was rambling and wandering around the racks, and I could tell the cashier was nervous. I don't remember the details of the conversation exactly, but for some reason the cashier was requesting his address and typing it into the computer. I'm not sure if he was charging clothing on some sort of store credit, but he wasn't making much sense. He was telling the cashier that he lived in California, and his !#$&! ex-wife took the house, and he was homeless, etc... She couldn't get a straight answer out of him. Adding to the tension was the fact that his sentences were completely peppered with expletives. And I mean the dirty ones; the kind I can't type here now for fear that my 10-year-old nephew is reading this blog. At one point he even asked the cashier for scissors. (Which, to my horror, she gave him, and he proceeded to cut some tags off of his shirt. That's probably a whole other story.) So needless to say, I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable in that confined space, and the cashier was as well. She was the only employee in the store.

After a while the man turned his attention to me. He wanted to know what I was buying (and I wasn't about to tell him a belly band and maternity tights!) and also wanted to know if he could buy some things for me. Ew. I ignored him as best as I could, and tried to avoid eye contact while smiling politely. He seemed to be getting more and more upset and agitated, and I didn't want to do anything else to set him off.

I found what I was looking for as quickly as possible, and was already completing my transaction at the register when he grabbed my hand. I was shocked, and rendered completely immobile for the moment. And I was scared. At first I thought he was searching for a wedding ring, but after a second or two it became apparent that he was reading my palm. "What are you having?" he asked. "Twins," I replied. "A boy and a girl." Now, in hindsight, I probably should have told this guy where to go, or at least have told him to let go of my hand or I would call the authorities. But I was scared. So I answered his question. "They're not going to be born," he told me. "Neither one will make it."

Alright, I'm a rational person, and I know this guy was crazy. But I cannot tell you how much that encounter unnerved me. As someone who struggled with infertility for 2+ years, that was precisely the opposite of what I needed to hear. I was visibly upset. The cashier was whispering that he was crazy, that he didn't know what he was talking about, and not to worry. But the damage had been done. I left the store, sat on a bench in the middle of the mall, and sobbed. Talk about putting a damper on my holiday spirit.

Obviously, the story ended well. Charlotte and Gavin are here, and are perfectly healthy. But I think about that day often; not about the man (I'd like to forget him), but about the cashier. I regret that when I left the store I was too shaken to have the common sense to go get a security guard, and she was left alone with him. I hope she is okay as well.

Post Script: I have been sitting here for upwards of 20 minutes, precious time for any mother, trying to think of how to wrap up this post in a way that will tell you the moral of the story. I can't think of anything. I'm not sure there is one. If any of you can think of one for me, help me out and comment. And incase you were wondering, the belly band worked out well. Kept my pants in place on most days.

Charlotte and Gavin as Elves

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1457604542

What Does Your Christmas Tree Say About You?

Swistle's post about Christmas Tree Toppers got me thinkin' about Christmas trees in general. Everyone has such strong opinions about what constitutes the perfect tree. Colored lights vs. white lights; real tree vs. artificial tree; star tree topper vs. angel tree topper... These are serious decisions, people! Many of you have a tree with a theme. This can be a color theme, as in: "We only decorate with red and gold ornaments," or an ornament theme, as in: "We only use glass balls." (Even as I typed that, it sounded dirty. Stop snickering.)

One of my sisters decorates her tree with snowmen. Okay, one or two other ornaments may have snuck in there undetected, but for the most part, it's snowmen as far as the eye can see. Another sister's tree has a "Robot Theme." I have yet to see it, but from what I understand, it's decorated with white lights and robot ornaments. (You are probably asking the same question I asked: Where would one purchase an assortment of robot ornaments? Why, Old Navy, of course. Who knew?) When I think about those sisters and their respective personalities, those trees happen to suit them perfectly.

So what does my tree say about me? Observe:

I have lots of things around the house that say "Believe," including ornaments. These things spoke to me during my days of infertility, I think, because it reminded me to remain hopeful:

I'm also a fairly patriotic person, and I love the Fourth of July, which would explain these beauties:

So what's this one doing on my decidedly American tree? (I received it from a student who visited Canada and thought of me. Adorable!)

Which brings me to the, um, lovely ornaments from students....and there are many....

And I have some Noah's Ark ornaments, which I find quite amusing. I had a thing for Noah's Ark ornaments long before I had twins. A sign, the whole two-by-two thing, don't you think?

And then there was the year I tried to go all vintage (or reproduction vintage)....

And the year I tried to go all rustic...

And then there are some ornaments that are just plain puzzling, like "The Green Pickle" and the one I like to call "The Double-Eyed Cowboy":

So, in summary, what does my tree say about me? That I'm a patriotic-teachery-strangely telepathic-vintage-rustic-pickle loving (again, sounds dirty)-cowgirl? Or perhaps it just says that I'm eclectic. Yeah, we'll say that. Eclectic. At any rate, I think it turned out just beautifully; the perfect Christmas tree. And it personifies me to a T.

Oh Christmas Tree

We got our Christmas tree the other night. It was bitter cold and the twins didn't seem to be too into it, but it was fun nonetheless. Of course, I had to document it. Their first Christmas tree!

Charlotte gave this one the thumbs-up:

Gavin checked it out too, but still found his pacifier to be much more interesting!

More of the Same....

Babies up at 5am. Mommy tired. Nothing even remotely witty to say today.

I'll leave you with a photo of the babies on Thanksgiving:

And another:

And one of Gavin, mid-fall: (What a good Mom Mom, right there to catch him...)

A-Ha!

From www.ehow.com:

These gingerbread ornaments look and smell like edible gingerbread - but don't eat them! They become very hard after they are baked and are meant to be painted and then hung as Christmas ornaments.

Ingredients:
6 tbsp. shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
7 cups flour
1 1/2 cups water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat shortening and sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in molasses.
Sift baking soda, ground cloves, ginger, cinnamon and flour together in a large bowl. Stir this mixture plus water into the sugar and shortening mixture, alternately adding the water and baking soda mixture to the shortening mixture.
Stir until mixed thoroughly and refrigerate 6-8 hours.
Cut dough into three equal pieces, knead each piece lightly and then use a rolling pin to roll out each piece to a 1/4-inch thickness.
Use holiday cookie cutters made in the shapes of gingerbread people and houses to cut shapes out of the dough.
Use a medium- to large-sized drinking straw or the end of a wooden chopstick to make a hole at the top of each shape.
Put cookies on cookie sheets and bake for about 20 minutes. Turn oven off and allow cookies to cool in the oven. This will help harden the cookies.
Place cookies on racks to completely harden. Place racks in a cool, dry place and let sit for two to three days.
Coat cookies with clear acrylic or varnish and allow cookies to dry thoroughly.
Paint cookies with acrylic paints as desired. Allow paint to dry thoroughly.
Thread a 5- to 6-inch length of narrow ribbon or cording through the hole at the top of each ornament. Knot ends and hang ornaments.

Tips & Warnings
This recipe can be halved. The recipe above makes approximately 30-40 cookies; the number of cookies you actually get will depend upon the size of your cookie cutters.
String gingerbread people together to make a gingerbread garland or a gingerbread wreath.
Coat cookies with an additional layer of clear acrylic or varnish to protect paint.
Explain to small children that these cookie ornaments are not to be eaten.

Help from the Peanut Gallery

Surely someone out there must know how to make real Gingerbread Man Ornaments. A student of mine made one for me a few years back, and I thought it might be a cute idea to make for people like Gavin's physical therapist and the nice ladies in our pediatrician's office. I want the real thing, not a gingerbread man traced on a piece of felt. Is it really as simple as baking the cookies, letting them dry out for a day or two, and then spraying them with clear varnish? Please advise.

We Can't Decide If We Like This Guy....

Gratitude

This is an activity I do with my third graders every year, but I think it's valuable for all ages...

I am thankful for:

My family and friends, whose boundless love and loyalty were certainly pushed to the limits this year, but they never once let me down.

Michael, who never lets me take myself too seriously. Thank goodness.

All of my fertility specialists, who sat with me for countless hours, hugged me when I needed it, commiserated, listened, let me freak out, never treated me like just a number, yelled at Michael when he wasn't being particularly supportive, and even shed a tear or two with me.

Dr. C., who took care of me when I went into preterm labor, and who actually SAT DOWN in my hospital room with me to calm me down, and told me that I was an amazing mom already.

The doctors and nurses in the NICU, who treated Charlotte and Gavin like they were their own. There are no words.

Caffeine. Even in small amounts, due to my nursing situation.

Concealer. The bags under my eyes are ridiculous.

Spanx and padded push-up bras. No matter what I do, things are never going to look like they did before.

Coupons. Diapers and such are not cheap.

Charlotte and Gavin. Who knew such little beings could bring such indescribable joy. I am so very blessed.

My New Favorite Websites

Looking for a meaningful holiday gift? If you're like me, you're completely tired of giving the standard gifts: baked goods, candles, picture frames, lotions, etc...

Why not give a gift that gives back? Real Simple magazine just published a feature about charity websites that allow you to purchase a gift certificate, give it to a friend or loved one, and then that person can go on the site and choose where they want the money to go. These are my two favorites:

http://www.markmakers.org/
This is a website intended for children. You can choose a gift card in the amount of $10 or more, and the recipient can return to the site to decide how the money is spent. They can choose from a number of causes, from helping vaccinate children to helping people fleeing from religious persecution and war.

http://www.changingthepresent.org/
This site offers 33 causes to donate to. You create a card (or choose one of their designs) to send to the recipient. Causes range from adopting a snowy owl to funding field trips to supporting senior centers.

Imagine the conversations you could have as a result of this gift! Now, if I could just convince my nephew that this is more important than a PS2 game....