Back From Wherever

I've been avoiding my blog like the plague lately.  I've been fighting the urge to make political posts.  I struggle with the idea that it could turn some people off, but at the same time it is my blog, right... my platform so to speak?  And, I don't want to be Miss Negative Nelly Crankypants, not that it's all negative.  Far from it.  So, I'm going to do a split post starting with the non-political stuff and if you don't want to read the rest then that's A-OK.

The best stuff first:

We had our first parent-teacher conference yesterday and I am just the proudest mama ever!  I already knew that Taylor is a smart cookie, but her teacher told us a story that just makes me beam.

Little bit is always very quiet and well-behaved and has never had to change her color (they use the stop-light system for behavior).  Well, one day at nap-time the teacher got onto a girl who was near Taylor for making noise and made the girl change her color.  Before the kids go home, the ones who stayed on green for the day get to get a piece of candy or a sticker.  When the teacher got to Taylor, her color was on yellow and Taylor told her with tears in her eyes that she couldn't have any candy because she had to change her color.  Without being told, she had changed it on her own because she was the one who made the noise at nap-time.  Her teacher was so moved that she had been so honest that she told her to change it back to green so she could get a piece of candy.  My sweet little one's moral compass is pointing in the right direction! ... did I mention I'm really proud of her?!  

In etsy news, I really haven't had tons of time to sew.  I did manage to get a few things made last week, and this week I got a custom wallet out the door.  I also have some sewing to look forward to for a repeat customer who is sending me some fabric to use.  She's always super fun to work with so I'm looking forward to that.

OK, the political stuff.... starting with the positive.

I've been volunteering my time down at the Democratic HQ here and have been so incredibly surprised at the positive reaction people have had to the campaign.  People that you'd never guess would be supportive coming in, getting their yard signs, and saying "thanks for being here".  I've had lots of "thank you"s and "so glad you called"s  while doing phone banking.  It really has been an amazing experience.  The icing on the cake came today when we found out that Pres. Clinton will be attending our rally on Saturday.  How awesome is that!!!  

The posts I've been avoiding are really about how I'm really tired of the Republican campaign taking ownership of patriotism.  That somehow I'm not as American or that I'm not as proud of my country because I don't buy into the neo-con ideology.  It is ludicrous and it pisses me off! I'm tired of and saddened by reading hateful, fearful letters to the editors of my local paper about how Obama is going to be the end of us all because he's Muslim, the anti-christ, going to kill babies and on and on and on.... all lies fueled (or at the very least not repudiated) by the McCain campaign.  

I've chosen my candidate because I care about our country and want someone in the White House who will inspire us, bring us together, and restore our standing in the world as "the shining beacon on the hill".  I admire his "intellectual vigor" as Colin Powell so eloquently put it and I'm proud of the campaign he's running.  I feel like Obama gets what it's like to be in my shoes... lower middle class (stuck in a no-man's land of not making enough, but making too much for assistance), having to make hard decisions about money, health-care, etc.  I want the war in Iraq to be over and I want our military to be able to focus on the real threats.   I want real change from the last 8 years!

You know, I also think it's perfectly fine if someone doesn't agree with Obama's policies and wants to vote for McCain, and I'll never ever call them unpatriotic or somehow less American. I will not wish harm on their candidate or on them because that's the beauty of this country, we all have the right to decide for ourselves.  

Ok, there.  I really do feel better now.... 

Getting ready for school?!?!?!

I am just in shock that in two weeks Taylor will be starting pre-k.  She's never been in any kind of daycare or mother's day out; it's always just been the two of us hanging out together. Needless to say, I'm a little nervous... for me.  No, not so much for her.  She's a little social butterfly that's wanted to be in school ever since she learned that there was such a place.  I'm really excited for her.  I'm not gonna know what to do with myself without her around her all day.

All nerves and excitement aside, though, we have to get this gal ready. When she heard she needed a blanket and pillow for nap-time she asked if I'd make her something (sweet girl).  So, I let her browse fabric on etsy till she found this great butterfly print by Alexander Henry from bellasarababy.  I'm thinking a simple flannel backed blanket, maybe tied, will do the trick.  Of course, I'll post a pic or two when it's done :)

And, while we were in her shop we had to browse the clothes and Taylor picked out the cutest skirt ever!  The fabric and skirt came in the mail today and she had to put it on right away!  I didn't get to look at it long, but the quality looks great.  It's a good thing; once she falls in love with an outfit it's hard to get her out of it!