inspired

It’s 3:45 on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and I just woke up from a two hour nap.

Yes, you might call it a nearly year-long nap, considering how long it’s been since I’ve been here. Hello? Hello! I’ve been sleep deprived as never before. I’ve had my utter purpose in life redefined in a way I didn’t (and still don’t, some days) expect. I’ve been inspired to accomplish things I never dreamed I would do. I’ve been at my very worst and very best, sometimes within a couple minutes of each other. This year has been incredible in so many ways.

Now, here I am, fighting a wicked cold, courtesy of one little cutie pie, who’s unbelievably about to turn one. One! I honestly can’t believe it.

Iver, the ladybug

She’s taking three or four little steps by herself before she flings herself at either Pat or me, with arms wide open. She’s all gap-toothed smile and wiggles and funny noises. She’s all can’t-sit-still and hold-me-all-the-time and read-me-a-book. She’s a lover of bubbles and the cat and potting soil. She knows the baby signs for flowers and trees and monkeys and elephants (the important things). I’d drink a bottle of champagne all by myself to celebrate her and making it through one of our hardest and best years ever, but….. I’m pregnant! Again! About 18 weeks now, with another little girl! We’re *so* excited and terrified, all wrapped up in a pretty bow of hormones! The holidays are going to be awesome!

Speaking of holidays, they’re here, right? I’ve been looking forward to them since July. No joke. I can’t wait for the Christmas trees and snowflakes and cold weather. I can’t wait for Vince Guaraldi (even in the grocery store) and Holiday Crackers and too many cookies. I can’t wait for wrapping paper and Christmas stockings. We’ve already gone to the Holiday Parade (the dancing snowman above is from the Asheville parade). A neighbor brought over a candy Advent Calendar for Iver, who was introduced to Santa Claus at the Festival of Trees yesterday. And it’s still November!

Look what happened!!!!

Introducing Iver Caroline Hunt, 8 lbs., 3 ounces, 20 inches long.

Born Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 6:12 p.m.

We’re so happy. And tired. And happy.

We’re all getting to know one another. She’s a fresh baked little bird, with a full head of dark brown hair, a set of to-die-for dimples and lots of wiggles.  Pat and I are taking a crash course in true sleep deprivation and new parenthood. Surprises: Everything looks brighter! Tastes better! Is more interesting!

The other night, Pat and I fell into a fit of uncontrollable laughter for 10 minutes over a poopy diaper. I caught myself there, in the middle of the night in the dark, laughing until it hurt, and I thought WOW. Oh, wow!

We’re so excited! xoxoxoxo

Angie, Pat and Iver

A note, before we start: It occurred to me in the middle of the night last night that it’s a little more than slightly insane to publicly pledge to do this advent calendar/daily holiday celebration stuff when one is 37 weeks pregnant. So, if I disappear from here, you’ll know why, right? Because 1) Have a Baby and 2) Recover From Having Baby pretty much preempts every single bit of holiday spirit I could eek out within the next 24 days. OK? OK!

And another note: Sorry for the delay here. I got stuck dealing with car/truck problems (flat tires! broke coils! hooray!) most of the day, after taking a trip to the vet. Ugh. Happy holidays, neighborhood mechanic and overpriced veterinarian!

Now, onto the task at hand: Day 1 of our 2009 advent celebration! Let’s play!

Holiday memory: When I was a kid, our family kept the board games — along with coats and the vacuum cleaner and dusting rags — in the hallway closet of our creaky old house. On winter nights, my mom, sister and I used to go to the hallway and pull out the round tin of Chinese Checkers. Did you have those, too? The marbles swished around inside the tin, and we’d pull it open and dump out the reds and yellows and whites and greens and blues and put them on the corresponding color of the six-point star. Then we’d play. For hours. I loved it, and wish I still had that tin Chinese Checkers game.

I searched around today to find a replacement, but no luck, really. Luckily, the Internet always pulls through! Thank you, and goodnight!

But if you’re looking for more strictly holiday-themed games, how about Santa? He’s always fun. And these games are some of the best ones I’ve found recently:

• Santa Balls 2 (Your typical ball destruction game. Turn off the truly annoying music, but miss the crass Santa sayings. Your choice.)
• Kill Santa (WARNING: Not safe for work. You are killing Santa, after all. After some provocation, *ahem.*)
• Sling Shot Santa (Hilarious. To me.)
• Fat Santa (Oh, no. I feel the same about brussel sprouts.) And,
• Find Santa (Like Waldo, only better.)

Did you play games when you were a kid? If so, what kind, and have you found any fun winter/holiday online games you’d like to share, too?