ALIVE!

I spent Sunday through Wednesday this week basically not not moving from my couch, feverish, congested, hacking up a lung, barely awake. This morning, I woke up slightly congested but ALIVE. Somehow it has given me renewed energy for everything. We'll see how long it lasts, but I'll take it while it's here.

Super short update:

1. Our holidays were fantastic. For the first time in six and a half years (before Eden was born) we had family in town visiting. And for the first time ever, it was my mother in law. She hadn't been on a plane in 53 years. I think she really needed a change of scenery; she's (very understandably) still struggling with the loss of her son this spring, and I think being somewhere new, especially over the holidays, was really good for her. We took her to the ocean for the first time. It was a very powerful thing for Bryan and me to see the vastness of the ocean for the first time as adults, and that was true for her; I can't imagine doing it at nearly 70 years old. The place we visited happened to be right next to a granite quarry. S spent a lot of time working with granite, so it added an emotional dimension we didn't expect. I think she had a great time. It was nice having her here; the girls enjoyed her company, and she just jumped right into the rhythm of our days. I think she wants to come back in the summertime, when we can do a bit more. We are definitely for that.

2. Eden and I had a conversation this morning about why all the presidents have been boys. She said she wanted to be named after a president, but couldn't be because they were all boys. Why is that, Mommy? She asked. And so I had to explain a concept which was totally foreign to her - that at one time, women weren't allowed to be in government, or even vote, or really even have jobs. "And then they changed..." "The world?" she asked. "The law," I said. "But the world, too."

3. I think I've finally found something I can create, easily, productively, and earn a little money doing it. I've been doodling words for ages, at least 20 years, and I've always loved experimenting with handwritten fonts. Lately this whole hand lettering thing has become more and more popular on Pinterest and other places, and so I'm going to start an Etsy shop selling some stuff. You know, little cards or prints. I might even do some custom work. I actually have a whole notebook full of ideas already, even before I thought of doing this for money. I'm really looking forward to launching by the end of January.

4. My baby is going to be 4 in less than two weeks. I cannot fathom this so I am mostly ignoring it.

That's it for now.