Dizzying December

My baby has regressed to the night-time sleeping habits of a newborn. It's been a rough month or so sleep-wise. Perhaps you've noticed the bags under my eyes. Oh, they're there. Teeth, I'm blaming the teeth. I have tried Tylenol at bedtime. I have tried crying it out. I have tried slipping the pacifier back into his baby mouth without picking him up. Every now and then he has a good night, and - jackpot! - I wake up feeling human. But it's been sorta rough. And combined with extremely warm temps and zero snow (70 degrees one day last week), December has felt totally out of whack for me. I hate to be an excuse maker, but there you have it. I'd like to get my mojo back.

In the middle of it all I know Brian and I have attended some fabulous parties; our family went to a beautiful, spiritual Nativity display; we've decked the halls, albeit in a more subdued manner; we attended the service-oriented ward Christmas party; we've watched Christmas movies and listened to Christmas music; we've shopped for, purchased and wrapped gifts. And I've made a few things, although the list is rather short. I'll share the few things I have managed to make:

Barely got this done today, still have some finishing touches/embellishing to do. But you get the idea:

I made this stuffed owl for Isabel for Christmas (sans pattern, which is probably why he ended up with horns instead of ears). She saw a darling stuffed owl and bird display in a boutique window, and fell in love. I hope she will love this-

Not a new idea, but a prettied-up hand sanitizer (plus bookstore gift card) makes a great teacher gift any day-

More pretty burned-edge fabric flowers as gifts-
And that's about it.

The children have made plenty of their own holiday projects, including these custom Grinch and Max the dog costumes hand-crafted by Connor. Special. Especially the old PJs with holey knees, but he needed something red b/c he didn't have big enough paper to make an entire Santa suit.

Amazing thing is, no matter how much extra we do or how stripped down our December is, the 25th still comes and brings the peace and joy of the Savior's birth, and we celebrate it with those we love most. This is ultimately all that matters.

Hope yours is a beautiful Christmas. Ours most surely will be a white one.