…rachel joy! Congratulations!

Click to embiggen.

Ironically, comment #10,000 left on this blog was, “*SURE does :) (I don’t expect another comment count for this one!)” But you know what? This wasn’t a drawing, and that comment counts! So Rachel, let me know if you would like a custom-painted pottery piece, or maybe some crocheted balls, or if you have something else in mind.

Thank you to everyone for all your comments!

Friday wrapped up another fantastic run of 7 Days. I wasn’t really in the mood on Day 1 last weekend. But as usual the week of taking self-portraits; viewing everyone else’s creative, silly, honest, fun shots; and commenting up a storm worked its magic and brought me right out of my funk. It’s a fact: 7 Dayers are the defunkifyingest group on Flickr. I’m already looking forward to the next one in December.

This was my alternate for Day 7. I felt left out of all the dottery photos, so I took a photo of me, drinking my tea, looking out at the rain. This photo has two 7 Days connections: I was with Lauren C. when I painted this mug, and the tea that I’m drinking is the PG Tips that Lauren H gave me when we met up with her last summer.

Just for kicks, here’s a short video I shot at the Ontario airport in California last month, right after Elliora learned to play peekaboo. It cracks me up how she doesn’t quite get that she needs to cover her face for this game to work, though she’s gotten better since then.

Part of the reason I’m randomly posting this second video now is because I was scrolling through old blog posts today, looking for one I was sure I’d written about our three-day power outage last January when my parents were here…and I didn’t find it because I never wrote it. I also never wrote about Elliora’s baptism and Rachel coming to visit! I can’t believe how many things have gone unblogged in the past year. Sheesh. I need to just start blogging things, even if the posts aren’t well-organized and the photos aren’t all edited and uploaded yet.

While we’re being random, we might as well end this post with an adorable photo of Elliora and Annalie driving a grocery cart at the store recently.

I’ve been crocheting a LOT recently. I’ve been almost compulsive about it, and certainly a wee bit obsessive. In my rare free moments, I can usually be found sitting in the corner of the couch with my yarn and hooks and a caffeinated beverage, watching Drop Dead Diva on Netflix, crocheting away. That’s why I have not blogged lately, or uploaded any more of my Oregon photos. I haven’t even edited any of them. I’ve been too busy yarning.

Recently I’ve been working madly on a blanket for Erin and Rocco‘s sweet baby girl, Indira Jane. Indy surprised everyone by arriving on September 1st, a month ahead of schedule! Even though there’s not a desperate need for me to get the blanket done in a rush, I want to finish it quickly anyway. I only wish I could deliver it in person.

Before I started on Indy’s blanket, I finished up this modified Babette in pinks and browns for my friend Sarah’s first baby girl, who was born a few days ago.

These two balls I crocheted as big-brother gifts for Sarah’s two boys.

I crocheted these black and gold balls at my friend Bekah’s request. They’re actually cat toys. See?

Crocheting aside, we’ve been keeping busy.

Elliora has been hard at work standing. Standing by the couch like this is her new thing to do. I’d estimate she spends 50% of her waking hours standing right there.

Of course, about 48% of Elliora’s waking hours are spent eating. Here she is gobbling up some sausage, black olive and onion pizza.

And as you can see, my mom is in town for a visit! She was tentatively planning to come see us in early October, but then my niece’s mom got some time off work and it was easier for my mom to get away now (my mom watches Aurora while her parents are working). We’ll happily take her whenever we can get her!

In case anyone’s curious, the crib thing is going much better. We had a few rough days at first, but I think that was partly because of jet lag. Now, Elliora sleeps as well or better in the crib than she did in the Amby. Unless she’s teething—then all bets are off.

As long as I’m uploading a bunch of photos out of order (which I kind of hate doing, but when I have not blogged for a week drastic measures are called for), here is my new favorite photo of Annalie and Elliora. I think this one might be a framer.