"Twas the night before Christmas..."

"The stockings were (FINALLY) hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there..."

These 6 quilted stockings were made modifying (okay, lots of modifying) the pattern on the Moda Bakeshop in Crazy 8 by Sandy Gervais.

My little 3 year old daughter has been quoting this book and even this line for days now.

We've never actually spent Christmas at home and probably wouldn't have if I were not 2.5 weeks from due on Christmas day.

That's just not a risk I'm willing to take.

And I know there are only 3 of us at present...

but coordinating stockings would be hard to come by in the future if I didn't just hoard the fabric for years waiting for children-to-be...

My little "who" is expecting a baby in her stocking from Santa this year.

Specifically, a pretend baby.

So I still have shopping to do!

This afternoon I hope to be able to get some good things for it and somehow buy them right in front of her without her knowing.

She's ridiculously intelligent and NEVER forgets anything - even from over a year ago - things no one else even thinks about!

Makes my mom job just a little extra difficult at times.

She knows exactly what presents (at least the ones I bought in front of her) are in which boxes under the tree already even though she didn't see me wrap them.

Grrr...

The only surprises are the ones I bought while she was reading a book (she reads very well - books like How the Grinch Stole Christmas). NERD! Eh, so am I...

Next year there will definitely be "Mom only Christmas shopping."