MERRY CHRISTMAS, Everybody!!!!!

monkey see, monkey dance

I saw my friend do this, and I couldn't resist.

If you want to see the girls and me dance around in elf costumes, click this link.

It took me about nine million tries before the site decided to save my pictures, and by the nine million and oneth time, my patience was waning and my skepticism was flourishing, so the photo edit was better on any number of the early tries, as I got sloppy later on, thinking, it won't save anyway.... oh well.

Tao of Poo

not Pooh.. but poo. Oh, you thought I meant this cute book? ha.. ha.. no.

you've been a SAHM not getting out enough when you start pontificating on waste.

There's that whole, 'the natural speaks of the invisible' principle, and observations in that vein teach me most about life, and well, I happen to be dealing with a lot of poo, as any mother does, and I can't turn off my observations, soooo... here I am with readers dropping like flies...
(she's not really going to talk about poo is she??)

2 things I've noticed:

The intensity/strength/potency/foulness of what comes out of us increases as we get older. The more impure that goes in, the more impure that comes out. Literally and figuratively. A newborn babes waste has virtually no odor. The more foods are introduced however, the more stink, with an exponential jump when meat is introduced. Then as adults we eat all manner of processed and unhealthy stuff and watch out - phew!

I want to say it is the same with our mind/soul. We have and continue to take in more and more impure things, and our output becomes more and more foul. I am thinking of all the sinful things of the world we are exposed to - and commit ourselves - that corrupt and pollute us spiritually.
Is it too much of a stretch if I liken the meat to our conscious, informed and still sinful choices? Wouldn't those constitute some of the real moral 'stinkers'?

I know for myself, I remember when I was younger, in grade school, and first learned about someone calculating a manipulative argument with me. They knew how I would respond to something, and lied to get a desired response. I was absolutely floored, as I couldn't even imagine thinking that way. That wasn't honest. It would not have even occurred to me to behave that way. Now, unfortunately, it does occur to me. I have to choose not to act on the sinful ideas that are now in me. Yuck. My corruption has gotten more stinky.

This one is less universal but still on the poo theme.
I know a child whom I won't overtly incriminate, but who really doesn't like to have their diaper changed. She hates hates being dirty, but the actual laying down and cleaning process she has a serious aversion to. She will lay there and cry through the whole thing. Let me go! Let me get up! And I thought, y'know, metaphysically, I can relate. I'm like that with God. I don't like my crap, but I don't like having to get it cleaned either. I wish it were as easy as wiping a wet rag over me to rid me of sinful habits/thoughts/motives/actions. But nooooo. These have ingrained for years and they are right in my nature. That doesn't excuse any of it, but gives one reason why they are not easy to get rid of. The other being that we are stubborn and evil and part of us loves our sin.

Thank God (literally!) that this is not the end, and HE doesn't leave us stranded with our poop. He will wipe our preternatural bottoms clean.. again and again. He is a good God and Father. He is patient with us while we make big mountains out of all our little molehills.

changing with the times... Christmas times!

Niamh , aka Spitty Gonzales, is 6 months now. How my life has changed:

*Sweeping the floor has become a game of keep away, as she is crawling, and chases the pile wherever I scoot it to. I have to pretty well keep it with me as I go.

*what I might have lost in laundry from poopy messes, I have gained in meal messes, as she is eating solids, and shares her meals with her shirt sleeves, because, of course, fingers make a perfect complement to any pureed veggie or grain.

*I can no longer take a step without looking to see that it is safe, as someone is always ending up under my feet, or even intentionally following my feet around, so as to enjoy hanging on my pantlegs, or pulling on my socks. Who wouldn't, really!

*I have to make rounds examining each room of the house a few times a day, to both locate her and certify that she has not found anything she shouldn't have.

This is turning out to be such a cool holiday season. I am FINALLY settling in to living here, feeling more at home. I'm not feeling like I'm stuck somewhere weird when I should be home with my family... I am home with my family. A good feeling.

We have had insane snow lately, and made snowmen, baked cookies, decorated trees, fire burning in the stove, you name it. It has been so festive and fun.

The girls c r a c k m e u p.

Anna plays with Niamh, gets her laughing and vice versa. Anna is sooo good with ehr, I kinda can't believe it. Niamh is so happy and good too. Loves to laugh. Now that she is crawling she will play on the floor by herself with toys. Yay for entertaining one's self!!! My arms are getting a few more breaks (HALLelujah!) and she is more content, longer.

Here she is in her Christmas dress:

I think she looks so much more grown up dressed up like that. Beautiful!

and here we are decorating the other day:

I love this season! Ignore the vacuum and holloween chip box that had th Christmas balls in it.

A very merry season to you all!

Thanks, Anna

last night in conversation:

*while patting my tummy* "Mommy, are you going to have more babies?"
*confused, replies* "Not that I know of, Sweety. Why?"
"Cause your belly is so BIG!"

...

Gee, thanks for noticing, Anna. Maybe Niamh was an inconsiderate tenant and left a bunch of her stuff behind when she moved out.
Or maybe I had too many candybars. Naaah. Can't be. You can never have too many candybars. :P