I haven't been online much this month, which feels great! But there has been no lack of activity...
For one thing, we welcomed an overdue November baby at the beginning of December!
All the waiting was worth it for a precious new nephew!
Big brother is enthralled and was already reading (reciting a favorite book) to him on Day 2, after suggesting that I start reading to the baby. Such a responsive listener!
A devoted big sister tries to help as much as she can with care for "My baby..."
In spare moments, I developed a new product line for The Nautical Nordic: Scandinavian Mitten tree ornaments!
Meanwhile, much of November and December was filled with the sounds of tools for demolition and carpentry. The husband and wife team are more than meticulous finish carpenters, but have also become friends!
Gone are the old construction stairs that were under the carpet we ripped out two years ago...
What a beautiful change to the new maple stairs with the old bannister skillfully reinstalled. Without all the creaks and cracks, we can't hear when the stairs are used anymore!
The basement trim is also done, and new basement stairs will be the project to start the new year!
With all the action indoors, we didn't start decorating for Christmas until the middle of the month, but we were thrilled to get back to cutting our own real tree after several years of using a vintage artificial tree due to allergies.
Decorations were ready just in time for our original December birthday! (Don’t try to figure out Elsa's complex math involving the candles we had on hand... but with some division, multiplication, and addition, they stood for her age, which isn't far behind my four decades.)
Three days later it was time to celebrate a 2 year old!
[Can't get enough of this baby face!]
The 2 year old got new booties knit by Elsa for growing feet, and the doll, Daisy, has a new dress sewn by grandma and a poncho crocheted by me.
And of course a bunch of new books! Her reading aloud is mainly a combination of sounds from her favorite words: baby & kitty.
Our whole family Christmas celebration is still ahead, but our newborn has been a special illustration of the birth we are celebrating this season.
What wonder that the Creator of everything was willing to become a helpless baby, clinging to the fingers of a man and woman whom He had created!
...All to save His rebellious creatures from our own sins.
All because of His perfect love!
"He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly
Lived on earth, our Savior holy."
• Cecil F. Alexander, 1848
[Nativity ornament made by Dad of the telephone wire which was his livelihood]
"He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly
Lived on earth, our Savior holy."
• Cecil F. Alexander, 1848
[Nativity ornament made by Dad of the telephone wire which was his livelihood]
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