I feel like my brain’s turned to figgy pudding these days. Mush, like a pure slop of warm porridge. Placenta brain, baby brain, frazzleness, whatever you want to call it, I feel like my thoughts have taken residence on a spinwheel & now have let themselves free, flying all over the place & walking with unsturdy legs.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas for the past couple of weeks. Craving it. I’m not entirely sure why it’s been so prevalent in my mind lately. Maybe because by that time Ella Faye will be here & I will have endured childbirth. Perhaps I am craving it for the beautiful weather we’ll get to live in, & all the pleasantries that cool climate brings. I called Ant yesterday to remind him of the Mexican hot chocolate we get at a sweet little coffee shop a few neighborhoods away, & to very strictly say that we will be taking Ella there to stroll around the blocks in our hats & scarves once weather permits. I love that she’ll be here right at the start of my favorite time of year.

In my mind, Christmas starts the first week of November. Now that radio has set an even more premature date to begin broadcasting carols, it makes my early celebration more valid. I have friends that can’t stand to listen to the jolly songs until Thanksgiving has passed or even until the very week of Christmas itself. “Why?!” they ask me…why would I want to listen to Christmas music so early? But I return, “Why not?!” in just as startled a tone. I start the countdown to Christmas on New Year’s Eve.

…92 days & counting until my holiday season begins…

I’ve also been thinking about Christmas products to put in shoppe. My thoughts are drawn out & ready to take form. I’ve yet to get any dolls in shop at all, but I’ve got holiday plans rattling around in my brain. I need order.

My brain has been flustered by all the birthday commotion as of late as well. Ant’s birthday was on Monday but celebrations began the Saturday before & have just now ceased. There were family events on his side & mine & lots of together time, but I feel like I haven’t really gotten to spend more than a few moments with just him in the past week. I love when we get to hang out with our families, especially his mom’s side, as it seems we rarely catch sight of them. All I can say is after lots of meals ordered from menus & walking through each birthday event on newly swollen nankles*, the weekend at home is so very welcome. I predict lots of birthday dessert leftovers, which I now know I can eat safely, as I don’t have gestational diabetes afterall! I believe lots of quiet comfy crafting is in order too.

Etsy debut news:

My dear dear friend has opened shoppe! She is incredibly talented in the areas of several art forms & I’m so excited that she’s finally taken the Etsy leap! She is currently offering a lovely little print of a handsome little rainy man, photo prints, & handcrafted books. She is sure to do well in her new home, so go give her a visit. She also keeps a blog.

While my mind has taken a bit of a break, I am trying to get it back in working order. The Kismet dolls are to make their shop debut soon. I have a plan. I just need to organize a bit. They will definitely be up for new homes within the month, hopefully within the next week. (I have to give myself that whole month time frame because I get nervous if I set my own deadlines.)

*Ant informed me of this variation on “cankles.” Nankles describe swollen legs that span from the knees to the ankles. I imagine a thick tree trunk attached to the knee. I am currently only experiencing cankles, & that is enough for me, but I thought it best to introduce this new word as I find it quite clever.