Only hours left, now

I will go in tomorrow at 5:30 am. The surgery will start at 7:30. I should be out of surgery by 8:30. I can start having visitors around 10:30 (I think). I will be there until Saturday, unless I feel up to leaving on Friday.

I got NO SLEEP last night. Just trying to remember everything I need to make sure is in order before I am out of the house for a week, and then not 100% for however long that takes me.

I finished all but the blocking on the baby sweater. It is in my diaper bag right now. I am still working on the socks for me, but I am not done with the first one, so I don't anticipate being done by tomorrow morning (oh, well). I will bring them with me. I am almost done with the foot, then I just have the toe and the second sock.

I realize I might get NO knitting done while I am there, but I do believe in Murphy's Law, and if I DON'T bring any knitting, I will be kicking myself. So, I have knitting. I have a hat to start and finish for my dad, a washcloth to finish (it is about 1/4 of the way done), and the sock. I also have two partially completed books to bring with me and a couple of Sudoku puzzles.

I had a very productive weekend. I got the boys' haircut, we got the tree put up and decorated. We got grocery shopping done (I forgot how much I like Winco Foods). Almost all Christmas presents are bought (I have two more to buy today, and one other one I can't decide on) and wrapped (I have some for my DH hiding at my neighbor's house that are not wrapped).

I can't eat or drink after midnight, which isn't bad, except I don't know when I will be allowed food, again. We are going to dinner tonight at Denny's (I love the Grand Slam) so I should be as full as I can be when we leave there. All the bags are packed (one each for the boys, one for the baby and one for me).

I will post, again, when I can. I hope to have lots of pics to show you all.

See, I can post

I must be getting back in the swing of things, huh?

Of course, we are a bit slow at work for the moment, and we were REAL busy for a time. I also don't want to jinx it, so we'll see how long this lasts.

I do have various updates.

First, I am posting, which means I'm not in the hosptial. So, the baby is not here yet. We'll see if I make it to Tuesday, but so far, so good.

Next, I posted yesterday (and then deleted it) about not having internet at home. That changed last night. As of Wednesday, December 14, we will have internet, so I will be able to post when I am off work.

Last, I finished the pick up and knit part of the baby sweater and wove in some of the ends. There is no reason I shouldn't have that thing polished off by the weekend (unless, of course, Murphy's Law has its say). I am in the foot of sock number one of the pair I will wear in the hosptial if I get them done in time. Worsted weight does go faster, so, I can hope for good things (even though I might not accomplish them).

Have a good weekend!!! (I love saying that!!)

1 cm

I had my last doctor's appointment yesterday. The doctor said to Malik "Do you think I'm gonna let your momma die?" Then after he left the room, so I could have the real check, she said, we really have to watch you, or he will come after me. I think he slept yesterday. I am 1 cm dialated. That could mean something or nothing. I am hoping for nothing. I am counting on Tuesday. Payday is Monday, and I have to go grocery shopping on Monday. Plus, we have plans this weekend. I know you can't plan too much when a baby is coming, but I hope I can plan on Tuesday. I hope this baby doesn't have too many other plans.

I worked on the sweater a bit yesterday. I have to do three rows garter stitch. However, I forgot that garter stitch in the round (the pattern isn't in the round, I am altering it a bit), you have to do one row knit, one row purl, one row knit. I did just knit for about a row and a half. So, now I have to tink half a row, then do two more rows, then bind off, then weave in ends. I am close to finishing the first sock for me to wear in the hospital. Hopefully, they will be done in time (no worries). Like I said before deadlines don't mean much to me at the present. If stuff is done, fine, if not, fine.

6 days left

This time next Tuesday I will have a baby. I have my last appointment today. I am thinking about taking the boys with me. They are sooo worried that I will die when having the baby. Malik was tossing and turning all night the other night. DeAndre' and I were watching a program the other day and the lady had "false labor." Great! Another thing to worry about. I had to explain that all to him. They will be so glad when we are all home on December 16th or 17th. I would like to say that they will be better after I have the baby, but I think they want me home, not in the hospital. Poor babies. I wish I could do something for them, but unfortunately, nothing is working. I told them to look at all the poeple walking the earth - all of them were born. I had the two of them with no complications.

Meanwhile, I am feeling overall like this all needs to be over ASAP! I am having all kinds of unregular contractions. Different kinds of pain. I am sooooo done!

I got comments yesterday from people who noticed I was pregnant (I am TINY!). They were all "are you pregnant?" Yes. "When are you due?" I am delivering a week from today. "WHAT?!?!" It was Malik's end-of-season soccer party. These ladies have "known" me for a few years. I don't think I have heard anything from strangers, yet. Maybe one or two.

I haven't had a chance to finish off that baby sweater. I can't take it with me anywhere, so I can only work on it at home. We have nowhere to go tonight, and I might even get home early, so maybe I can finish it off today.

FO!!!

And it isn't the baby sweater. I finished all seaming, though. I only have to pick up stitches along the neck and the hood and do three rows of garter stitch and bind off, then weave in ends. Maybe tonight.

My FO is my son's sock. I can't remember when I started this pair of socks, but I put them down for Father's Day knitting that I never was able to finish. They are on his feet right now!

I am now continuing on socks for me to wear in the hospital. They are worsted weight on size six needles, so maybe I can finish them in a week. If not, it is okay. I am not worrying about deadlines at this point in my life. A new baby means no deadlines for knitting. If I get it done, great, if not, okay. I don't even care if the baby sweater is done in time.

I did accomplish lots of cooking this weekend. I made 7 dinners for when I am not able to cook! I think my DH was a bit upset, because I kind of made it so he can't be "in charge" of that. I don't know why he is worried. He will get more than enough chances to cook. I only made 7 dinners. That won't get us too far. It only made a dent. He will be needed.

I feel like I need some closing here. So, I will post again for sure sometime before or on Monday.

FO - sort of

I have been concentrating on my baby sweater, not the sock. I finished all knitting last night. I even seamed up one sleeve. The pattern is rather nice in that there is a front/back/hood piece that is all one piece. It needs to be seamed up on the side, but at least I don't have to seam all these pieces together. I have yet to seam up the other sleeve, or put either sleeve on the body, or seam up the body. I also have to add some detailing to the v-neck and maybe the hood. There is supposed to be embroidery on it, but I don't want to do that (I knew that as soon as I saw the pattern). I am about 5 rows from finishing the heel-gusset-instep (whichever this part is called) of the last sock, then I can start the straight knitting for the foot, then do the toe. I am still hoping to have two finished objects by Monday.

I already have knitting in my hospital bag. I will be there from Tuesday through either Friday or Saturday (depending on how I feel). I have Ann Budd's pattern book because I want to make my dad a hat. I want to use size 11 needles, and some of my left-over (Wow! a stashbuster!) Wool-Ease thick n quick. He really liked the feel of the sweater I made for my brother last February with this yarn, and he ALWAYS has a watch cap on his head when it is cold and or wet outside. Plus, it is easy knitting, which will be good if I have time in the hospital.

Good weekend

Of course, anytime a weekend lasts four days, it has to be good, right?

I finished TWO washcloths. One I started Saturday and finished Sunday. I finished the sleeve for the baby item I am making. This is the third thing I started, as I didn't like the first two. I also finished the body, but it needs repairs. It is a pullover that has a hood, and I did a three-needle bind off. Somehow, though, I dropped two of the stitches. So, I have to put in a lifeline and pull it out. Then finish it, again. (If anyone has a tip about picking up stitches and putting them in the bind off, it would be greatly appreciated. I don't really think there is such a thing, though.) I only have left to make the last sleeve, and then assembly. I have two weeks, tomorrow. I also made some headway on Malik's socks. I have finished the leg and heel, and now am in the gusset of the last sock. Maybe by this week I can have two FO! Such a rare occurrence in my world lately. I also saw a real good episode of Knitty Gritty yesterday. Lily Chin was on, and she had lots of little tips. My favorite tip was how to bind off an item that is knit in the round so that you can't tell where the beginning and the end are.

Thursday was good. My aunt found out about the c-section, so I don't have to worry about her, anymore. She didn't freak out, which is good.

Friday was real good. We woke up early and went to the parade that started at 9:00. It was rainy and cold. There is a store downtown (Meier & Frank) that decorates their windows with the 12 days of Christmas. We walked around the block stopping at each window and singing the verse that goes with the window. Then to Starbucks for some hot chocolate. I asked the boys if they wanted to stay, and they said yes. It didn't much last, though. We made it through the hour parade, and quickly went inside. Inside meant a toy store that they had gift certificates from last Christmas. We spent about an hour and a half in there. Then we met my DH for lunch, then to visit my dad (all of this happens downtown - walking distance). Then I went to get my hair cut, then to the library. Then we went to Borders to spend another old gift certificate and we met my DH there after he got off work. By now it is about 4:00. We ate dinner at the mall (still downtown) and then went to watch the Christmas Tree being lit. We were supposed to stay and sing Christmas carols, but it was now just after 6 and we had been there since 9. Plus, my sister wanted the boys to stay the night at her house, so we had to take them out there.

Saturday we did pretty much nothing. Sunday we went to my DH's friend's parents house for dinner. This, of course, means I didn't really have to cook all weekend. Very nice.

I got to work packing my bag for the hospital. I'm not done, but I made some headway.

Where I have been

As of today, we have three weeks until we have another member of the family. I have been posting and reading babycenter.com, but have been MIA from knitting blogs altogether. I haven't been reading, or, obviously, posting.

I have been knitting, though. I don't really like the sock for Malik. I think I just don't like being stuck on the leg forever. I think I need to be at 8" and I am at 7. That last inch might just be the death of me. I finished 3 1/2 washcloths. I still need to finish the fourth, then the boys each have two washcloths. I keep trying to find a baby project I like with my Encore DK. I found one, I think. It is a hooded tunic from Debbie Bliss.

I have been washing baby clothes, and this weekend I went to a second hand store and bought a swing, a bouncer thing (not a johnny jump-up, but a thing they lie in and it bounces), and a high chair for a total of $30! Now, I need a baby tub and a stroller, and I'm done.

We went to a cesarean class last night. My DH wasn't scared before, but now he is. Tomorrow he will meet my doctor for the first time. He has never been to an appointment with me.

This morning was HELL!!! I hate mornings with the boys, anyway. I just don't have the patience for them getting ready and out of the house. I never have. I am much better after a couple of cups of coffee and when we don't have to do anything. Anyway, this morning it took them an hour to get dressed! They don't have to do anything but change their clothes! No ironing, no make-up, no shower - NOTHING!! Then Malik decided it was tank top weather, and decided it would be a good idea to wear that. Then when I got outside, there was frost on the car. I leave in the morning, take them to school, then get on the bus. When I get to work, I have a half hour to sit downstairs and knit. It is a good thing I do, because I didn't get to today. I was 20 minutes late today (not for work, but for my time). They will from now on get dressed BEFORE my dh leaves the house! Which means they will have to get up earlier - ask me if I care!!!

It has also been busy at work. My boss is driving me INSANE!! I can't finish ANYTHING without something else being more important. He was gone most of the day Friday, and I finally caught up on my filing. If you know me, you know that is HUGE!! Filing is my worst task. I procrastinate on that more than on anything else. But I couldn't stand it, anymore. It is a good thing I did, too, as I found stuff that had been missing. I really can't work like that. I need a vacation. Even though maternity leave isn't a true vacation, at least I can get away from him for awhile (6 weeks).

Christmas also is much drama. Before I met my DH, the boys and I lived with my mom. My two brothers and sister (none have SO, or kids) would come over on Christmas Eve and spend the night and we would do Christmas morning. I had the nerve to grow up and move to my own house and that meant that my kids would open presents in their own house on Christmas morning! Which of course meant that we would not spend the night at my mom's house. This was soooo awful of me. Now, since I am pregnant and due very close to Christmas, I have decided that my family would go to my mom's house on Christmas Eve, open presents and not stay or come back Christmas day. My plan is that we will do Christmas Eve at mom's, Christmas morning at our house, and Christmas dinner at my aunt's house. That way I have a lot of time on Christmas day to sleep, or whatever. Well, this of course, is an AWFUL thing to do, too. I can't wait until they all get married and have kids or whatever and have obligations to other people.

Sorry for the long post, maybe if I did this more often, I would have less to say each time. This will probably be it this week, since it is a short week. Hopefully, I will have FO for you next week.

Sick

This is the third time this pregnancy I have had a cold. And the last time was only a couple of weeks ago!

I am in a bit of a knitting slump, again. I plan on making 5 Christmas stockings for next year. I have the Knit Christmas Stockings! book from the library, and I am using graph paper to plot them out. I made some progress on seaming the Aran sweater that was supposed to go to my sister in September. (I was finished with the knitting in time, btw.) It isn't done, but I made progress. I finished one sock for my son, but can't get through the leg on the second one. I am stalled on my baby going home outfit, cause I hit a not-very-well-written part of the pattern (the ladies at the LYS said so, too). I have figured it out, but can't pick it up, again, yet. I love working on the pattern for the vest for my DH, but can't pick it up. Part of the reason for this, is I have been having back problems and my neighbor lent me her rocking chair, which works better for my back, but makes knitting with two balls of yarn at the same time kinda difficult. Actually, I think I will blame the rocking chair for all my knitting woes. Maybe I need a little foot rest thing. Maybe I will look into that this weekend.

I mentioned the other day (I hope) that I taught a random stranger on the bus to knit. I saw her again, and she was sooo excited to see me, because she has made SCARVES!!!

I just got some great news! Soccer practice is cancelled today, and the game is cancelled tomorrow! I think Malik has been playing for four years, now, and NEVER has the City of Portland (who is in charge of the fields, but not the league) pulled rank, and said it has rained too much, and we can't have the damage to the fields that those kids in cleats do to them, so no soccer. Now, I have to get my poker face together for when I tell Malik.

Well, I think that is it for now. I will hopefully post again early next week.

More soccer

For equal time, here is the other soccer pics:

I don't know where this goofy grin came from, but:

Malik soccer 2005


ISC 2005 

New Knitter!

I was on the bus this morning and there was a girl crocheting in the back, so I happily took my sock and was knitting away, when she excitedly asked me what I was making. I told her a sock and she said something to the effect of "Wow! That's cool, I've never seen that, before! I don't know how to knit." Keep in mind that I am guessing she is between 13 - 16. Her mom (or someone) was on the bus, too, but they weren't sitting together. She had a tote bag with maybe five different skeins of yarn - all cheap Michael's stuff, and a pair of needles. I told her to come sit with me so I could show her. We cast on between 5-10 stitches, then knit one row. She was quite excited! I don't know how that will help her, but...

DeAndre' got his soccer pictures back last night, so I brought them in to scan. Then, I spilled coffee on his picture. I was being cheap and only bought one picture of him and one of the team. They came in a cheap cardbord thing. It was a decent display. Then I was scanning the one of the team, and the coffee spilled on the pic of just him and the cheap cardboard thing!!! Now, I have to get another picture and see if I can get another cardboard thing :( !

Here are the pictures I have - the one with DeAndre' has tissue on it that stuck the the almost dried, sticky coffee!


The Rockets


DeAndre'

I purchased a stuffed animal for the baby the other day. What do you think?!? I think it is SOOOO cute! Plus it is soft, and not pink or blue and only $6! And no noise makers or anything inside.

Progress...

Now, I skipped right past two in a week, and have two posts in two days!

Almost as soon as I pushed "Publish Post" on my post yesterday Lisa commented and told me how to fix my comments. Talk about instant information.

I got my problems worked out with my baby project, and made a bit of progress on that. I also made some progress on the foot of my son's sock.

ALSO, I cast on and got about an inch or two in on a washcloth for Malik. After I am done with his, I will cast on for one for DeAndre' then they can grow up and stop using baby bath and start using soap. I figured with a baby coming, it was time. They are 7 and 10, after all. It is the last remaining baby thing they have. It is kind of sad.

Speaking babies - I decided to go with the c-section and it is now official (as of Monday). I am having the baby on December 13th (unless of course (s)he decides to come early). I have to arrive at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning!

2 in a month

So, all of a sudden, I have been getting comments. Now, you would think that anyone who does not regularly get comments would be happy about this development to thier blog. However, mine are almost exclusively junk mail. Any advice on how to limit this?

I am done with the heel and the gusset on Malik's sock. Now I just have to finish the foot and the toe and I can start sock number 1. I need help with the baby item, so I can't work on it right now. I have spent a tiny bit of time ripping out the old blue sweater to use the yarn for the new blue sweater. It is slow going right now. The aran is still waiting to be seamed. The vest is still slow going, at 3?? stitches around two color. I keep plugging away on it, though.

Let's now hope for 2 posts in one week soon!

Been gone so long

So, I have been gone. Not gone anywhere, just gone from blogging. Not only have I not been blogging, I haven't even been reading. I have actually been reading posts from BabyCenter.com daily, and not any knitting sites. I guess I can only concentrate on one thing at a time.

So, let's see...where did we last leave off. I couldn't find my Sirdar pattern for a baby set, but I had all this Encore DK that was SCREAMING to be used. I found pattern #1, and cast on, did a lot of it (baby stuff works up sooo fast!), realized it was going to be too big for a newborn (I am trying to make a going home outfit, after all), changed my mind. Pattern #2, same thing. Finally found a pattern I think will work - mind you, it is still too big, but this time I don't care anymore.
I started a top down sweater about 3 years ago, that I never finished. It would have been finished a long time ago, but I got some bad advice and the beginning of the sleeves was smaller than the wrist should have been. The whole rest of the sweater was done. I had two additional skeins of yarn for that project, so I cast on for a new sweater. All by myself, reading step by step slowly, I got the holes for the sleeves in the right place and the right size. I jumped for joy. It is now endless stockinette stitch for forever. That is ok. I like the yarn and the color, and I have the mindless and the complex to work on, so this is in the mindless pile. Now, I am about half way done with skein number two, and have to rip out sweater number one. I started it, but it is slow going.

I have a lot of projects going all at the same time, but it is not stressful. It is actually relaxing. I have two projects in my purse. One is the baby item (it is a Minnowknits pattern that is a baby suit. It is legs and arms and stuff), and the other is a sock. I am making good progress on both. Another project is the Knit Picks vest. I had some needle issues. The cheap side of me let me buy some Susan Bates Quicksilver needles. They are size 6 - 36". The pattern calls for 32" Addis. The vest is 40" around and I thought 36" would be ok. I decided something after a few rows of fair isle. I don't know if it is the yarn (Knit Picks Merino) or the needles, or the combination of the two. BUT, I HAD to get new needles. First, the length was too long. The vest kept pulling. And the yarn kept sticking on the needles and not moving smoothly around. I broke down and bought some Addis! Had to, or I would have never have finished the vest. I was beginning to hate it. Now, I like it a lot. The pattern is beginning to appear - so neat! It is slow work! It is 300 stitches around, with two colors. The pattern repeat is 18 rows high, and I think I have to work 9 of them. I think I am right now about 4 rows into the first repeat. Then there is the 3 year old sweater. So, there you go, easy and hard and portable all in my life at the same! It is really nice!

I have a knitting friend. (In person, not blogger - I have a few knitting/blogging friends.) It is great. Actually, I don't really have any friends who are close, so having a friend at all is nice. She is a newbie knitter, so she constantly has questions. This is fine with me, though. She lives about two doors down, and after we moved in to our house, we walked down the street to get our mail one day, and she approached us. We have been friendly ever since. She knew I knit and there was an offer at her church a couple of months ago to take a knitting class. I think it lasted for like 2 hours one time only. Now, she comes to see me often. We go to LYS's regularly, now. This past weekend, we went on a yarn crawl. We went to Craft Warehouse, JoAnn's, Mabel's (she had not been there, yet), then we went to Yarn Garden, but got there after it had closed, and our favorite - Naked Sheep. She actually thought she had been to all the Yarn Stores in the city. NOT!!!

I have an awful cold and the baby decided to start giving me heartburn. I was up half the night Monday night. I thought it was the cold, but when I got heartburn again on Tuesday, I decided it had been heartburn. I got almost no sleep on Monday night, but felt okay all day Tuesday. Last night I slept hard - didn't wake up once until the alarm went off. Today, I am soooo exausted! That is soo backwards. I went to buy some cold meds at Walmart yesterday - they practically needed my life story before they sold them to me!

Something to do this weekend. My baby shower is Saturday. You are welcome. It is Saturday at 2:00 at BJ's Pizza near Lloyd Center. Gifts are NOT necessary, but if you want, I am registered at Target and Burlington Coat Factory. (I don't want anyone to feel obligated to bring a gift, but I don't want anyone to feel bad that they didn't get me anything, either - I am torn.) It would be fun to have some knitters there.

I just realized I almost completely missed the whole month of September! Hopefully, I am better, now.

The problem with being gone a long time

I have sooo much to say, where to begin...

Knitting

I would LOVE to say I am done with the Aran. I can say I finished knitting it. I don't know why seaming it is taking so long. I work on it daily or almost every day.

I have a project from h-e-double hockey sticks that I am going to pull out completely. I thought, since I have two skeins for the project that I haven't started yet, that I would start the project and then pull the whole thing out later. It is a top-down cardigan from Knitting Pure and Simple. I just started the other night and have gotten pretty far into it. Of course now is the easy part. Pretty soon it will be over 200 stitches per row of straight stockinette stitch. I figure when I am in the hospital and after the baby comes, it will be a good project to have around. I can still knit, but I'm not likely to make too many mistakes.

I also have cast on and done one row of 296 stitches on the Knit Picks vest. However, I thought my circulars were un-twisted enough, but I can't join it in order to keep going. I have them hanging on a light (we don't often turn it on) to unkink, but it doesn't seem to be working. I know if I join it now, it will be mobius. I think I will have to get an expert to join it so I can get somewhere on this vest.

Regarding my post the other day about Knit Picks. The pattern is fine. I am used to paying over $4 for a pattern. This one was $2. If Knit Picks had charged me $4, I would have been upset with what I got. I will order a pattern from Knit Picks again.

Baby

Marcus FINALLY felt the baby move Saturday night! I was 26 weeks pregnant that day! It moved a lot, and he got to feel it a lot! I don't know who was more excited - him or me. It was funny, cause I asked him if he wanted to, and as soon as I did (as per normal), the baby stopped moving. So I said "Baby, we gotta talk..." (Marcus, of course, thought I meant him) "...you gotta let Daddy feel you move." Then s/he did!

There was a bit of a scare on Friday - turn away if you don't wanna hear too much info - I had been (for lack of a better word) "leaking" for a couple of days. Not a lot, no contractions, baby was still moving, no real reason for concern, so I wasn't concerned. Plus, I know my body pretty well, and I wasn't concerned - confused, maybe, but my gut wasn't worried. I called the doctor and they wanted me to go to the hospital Friday night. The four of us were there until 8:00 on Friday night, the first week of school. Just for them to tell me they don't know what it is, but it is nothing!

Birthday

I am 33 (right?). My birthday was a week ago today. Nothing came of it.

Soccer

As if the hospital wasn't enough, we had soccer the following morning. We had to be at the park by 7:30. We were gone until 2. YUCK!!! We did nothing Sunday.

I think there is stuff I am forgetting, but...

It is only $1.99, after all...

I got my knit picks package in the mail, yesterday. I am a bit disappointed with the pattern, but $1.99 is easily half the price of a lot of patterns, so I really shouldn't complain. It is one piece of double sided paper. The chart of the whole vest is on the back. On the front it refers to the chart on the back, but says "Red lines on the chart..." I can see where the mean, but the must have copied an original that had red lines onto a black-and-white copier, because they are most definitely NOT red! They have an abbreviations area on the bottom of the back that they must use for all the patterns they have or anticipate ever having. Most do not apply to my particular pattern. The front has a pic of the vest in color and a KnitPicks icon in color and the front of the paper is kinda slick. Like I said, it is only $1.99. They should make them downloadable for $1.99 and this quality. I am also a bit intimidated by this pattern. I have to steek. I want to know how to steek. Now I have to steek. SCARY!!!

I got up to about the elbow in my Aran. Then I realized that the pattern directions weren't clear. I have to increase two stitches everytime I increase. It didn't say that, and I only increased one stitch. I had to pull out all the way to the cuff. It hurt a bit. Now, I am up to 1/2 way through the second repeat. Oh, well.

I forgot to mention a couple of things. First, at the swap, I got a bag of cotton yarn. I thought it would be good for quick washcloths. I can make them for the baby. They will be easy when I am in the hospital or after the baby comes home and I can't do something complex. So, I decided I would start one to take to the movies on Sunday. I knit garter stitch on size 7 needles with some worsted weight cotton. Before I left the house, I cast on 40 stitches, and did the first row. When I left the movie, I had gotten all the way to 5 1/2 inches. I also caught a knot in the yarn, and since I didn't have scissors, I held it off to the side, and grabbed some more yarn from the ball to keep going. So, the washcloth is 8" wide and will be 8" high when I am finished. I wanted to make it garter stitch, because I wanted it truly mindless. No pattern, no rolling edges, nothing. Just knit. I will see if I like it as a washcloth in garter stitch or if it is too rough.

um...

Sleeves. Well, I decided. I don't like to do both cable sleeves at the same time. I tried, I really did. I didn't mind the small cable that is mixed in with the ribbing for the first 3". But the more intense cable wasn't fun to do two at the same time. I will try again for the next sleeve I make that is stockinette stitch. I got done with the first 3" of both sleeves and am working on the fourth repeat on the first sleeve. It goes fairly fast.

We watched Herbie Fully Loaded Sunday evening. We went to the $3 show. It is a very cute movie. I know NOTHING about NASCAR, and it would have helped, but it was not important. If you get the chance, you should watch it. I started to cry two times.

The Yarn Swap was this weekend. I got rid of some things. More importantly, I got some things. I got I don't know how much Dale yarn in two colors plus one each of two other colors. Now, I just need a pattern. I got some Sirdar yarn? and a pattern for the yarn. It is self striping and makes cute baby things. I got two balls of Homespun. I haven't ever used Homespun, but free was too good a deal to pass up. I got a magazine. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand at the moment. I got some size 7 metal dpn. I think there is more, but that was Saturday, and today is Tuesday. I am at work and I am tired. I will try to get some pics up soon.

I love my husband. We were watching someone's Biography, and her husband said that she was "giving and selfless." My husband said "that's what you are. I was trying to describe you to someone, and I couldn't think of the words. That's what you are - giving and selfless." Of course he didn't think he was being sweet, he was just happy he had found those words. I cried a bit.

Baby - Part of me doesn't want to have a girl. I am comfortable with boys, a girl will have my DH WRAPPED around her finger in a matter of minutes. I am scared of his capability to discipline her. There is no way I would want to be my oldest son's younger sister! Fashion these days... A couple of day's ago, I read this post, and it gave me hope. I really want an Ayanna (the chosen girls name) because I have been in love with this name since I was pregnant with DeAndre' 7 years ago.

Baby news

No knitting content, today. Just ultrasound pics.


Foot 

This is the foot. You can make out the toes and the heel.


Leg and foot 

This is the leg with the knee and the foot.


Profile 

This is the first of three profile shots.


Profile with hand 

This profile has "its" hand in the air over "its" forehead.


Blow-up of profile 

This is a blown-up pic of the profile.

The boys came. They thought it was cool for about five minutes. Then they wanted to leave. It is SOOO nice to have a "real" doctor (nothing against county, it isn't thier fault they have no money). Plus, I really like this doctor. She did suggest that I might consider having a c-section, though. I had bad tears with both boys, and there are residual side effects. Having another baby vaginally might cause my residual side effects to get worse. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I am NOT ruling it out at this point.

Thank you secret pal!

Look what I got in the mail yesterday! My secret pal wrote a note on the packing slip that I should put it in the baby's room. She didn't even know that I was already going to do a farm animals theme!


Cow print

It is about 8 x 10. HOW GREAT!!! THANK YOU!!

I finished the front of the Aran yesterday, and cast on for both sleeves. I am maybe an inch into the ribbing, with two more inches to go. I have my ultrasound today, so maybe a pic or something tomorrow.

A Goal reached!

Mind you, it was a small goal. But reached, nonetheless! I got the last full repeat done on the front of the Aran! The rest of the front includes shaping for the neck. The total rows for this is the same 24 as the repeat. I am now in the row where I have to knit 72 stitches in pattern, place center 30 sts on waste yarn and work two balls at the same time. BTW, I never use two balls at the same time. I think it is a waste of yarn. I do one side then the other. I put the side I am not doing first on different waste yarn. Since I have soo many knitting events to go to this week, I WILL finish this soon. I might even finish it today! My goal for Monday is to get somewhere in on the sleeve. I haven't worked the sleeves, yet, so I am not going to guess how far I can get. I am going to start the sleeves by doing both at the same time. I may give up on this at some point, put one sleeve on waste yarn, and finish one at a time. I am okay with this. I just want to try it. Of course this means I will have to work two balls at once. I might not like this much. We will see.

Speaking of two balls at once, I ordered the pattern and yarn for a vest for my DH.


Fair Isle Vest

I am going to substitute this color:


Hollyberry 

for the tan color, and use the black with it.

I CAN'T WAIT. I have NO deadline for this!!!! I will have to work on it in secret, and I have a baby coming, so if it happens to be finished in time for some holiday, he will get it for that holiday. If not, he will get it when it is done. I have some options - Christmas, his January birthday, Valentine's day, father's day. OR next Christmas, his January birthday, Valentine's day, father's day!!

DeAndre' lost his tooth on Sunday. We have lived in our house for a little over a year and he and his brother have lost teeth since we have been there. This time he decided that the Tooth Fairy needed help, so he cut a hole in the screen in his window to make sure she can get in.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAISY!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is our dog's birthday!!! Please forgive no knitting content today, if you don’t want to hear my dog’s life story, wait until Monday.

I don't know what I have said before about her, but please forgive me if I am repeating myself. I got her for myself for Christmas in 2002. She was 2 1/2. We got her from the pound. We know very little about her past (for example, her birthday). When she went to the pound from her previous owners her name was Mugs, she had a leather collar with silver buttons that were maybe 2" in diameter, and she was pregnant. The policy of the pound with pregnant dogs is to put them in a foster home until the puppies are placable (sp?). Soon after she went back to the pound, we walked in one Sunday morning. It was me and the boys (my HUSBAND didn't want to come cause he would want every one). She was the first one I saw. Due to the leather collar, I assumed she was a boy. She was the only dog in the place that didn't have a paper on the outside of the cage because she was sharing a cage with another dog. I was partial to boy dogs because we had always had boy dogs. We continued to walk around the whole place but none could compare to her. We took her outside to the place they have set up for visiting with the dogs to see if they are okay for you. She didn't want to interact with us very much, but I soon discovered that if the boys were on one side of the covered outside cubicle, and I was on the other, she might come to me a little. We chose her.

Since she just had puppies, she obviously hadn't been fixed, yet. The other policy the pound has is if an animal isn't fixed, it doesn't go home with the new owners until the pound arranges for an operation. And we had to pay more for her than for another dog who may have been already fixed. Plus, we couldn’t pick her up until after she had the operation. So, although I had envisioned coming home with my new dog, I had to wait from Sunday until that next Wednesday.

Wednesday morning came, and I took the boys to school, went to the dollar store to get her some things, then went to the pound. I think I got there around 9:30. They didn’t open until 10. I waited *patiently* until 10 so I could go get my baby.

Her foster mom, who had renamed her Maisy, was there and wanted to meet me. She informed me that Maisy didn’t much care for men. By the time we got out of there and I had coaxed her into the car (that part took FOREVER), it was time to pick up my son from his morning preschool class. I took her with me, and didn’t go in the school, just had another parent get DeAndré for me. We went home, and left her alone in the house for a little while when we had to go get Malik some time later from school. My husband got off work at either 7 or 8 - I can’t remember what his schedule was then. I called him at sometime in the day, with plans to pick him up from work with Maisy. He was so excited (for the first time) to say “my dog Maisy Brown” on the phone with me after I had her. I’m pretty sure that her foster mom needs to have a chat with her husband. She has not only not never had a problem with my husband, there have been times that I wondered if they couldn’t take care of themselves, and I was only in the relationship to feed both of them.

She took a LOOOOONG time to get comfortable. One night we heard her bark, and we both looked at her and couldn’t figure out what that noise was. It was the first time she barked. I could never find a toy she liked, until one day she found a ball of my yarn that was ATTACHED TO A PROJECT! She liked it at like 10:00 at night - I bought her some balls the next day! It is still the only toy she likes. She has always jumped at the slightest movement or loud noise. She used to move anytime I moved. (She still does this, but not to the same extent.) She used to move anytime someone wanted to walk over her when she was on the floor, now she just lays there. She is a black lab mostly, but she HATES water!!! Except to drink. When I picked her up, she had two grey hairs between her shoulder blades. Now her whole beard area is grey, the underside of her tail, and lots of other hairs here and there. She gets grey from worrying, which she does often. She doesn’t like other dogs, she is scared of them, even the little ones that she can step on if she wanted to.

WE ALL LOVE HER SOOOO!!!

(These pictures were all taken a couple years ago at the park on the same day. I ran out of film before I got one with DeAndre'. He was not happy with me, and I guess I forgot to fix that problem.)


Maisy and Daddy


Me and Maisy


Maisy at the park


Maisy and Malik

She is rolling around here:

Her favorite thing to do at the park

Continental

I had a class at Yarn Garden last night. It was a one-time, two-hour class about Continental knitting. I already know how to Knit from the Fair Isle class earlier this year. I had to learn purling. It wasn't the easiest thing I have learned. I was a bit frustrated. I did feel confortable with my knitting, though, so when she was discussing ribbing and fair isle, I just worked on my purling. I'm still not very good AT ALL!! I am not discouraged, I know I will get it. I just want to do it backwards all the time. However, backwards creates a twisted stitch. I can fix twisted stitches, but I don't want to have to. Anyway, I will keep plugging away on it until I feel more comfortable.

I got notifications yesterday about upcoming events: Yarn Swap, Knit at the Movies Nite and Yarn Shop Hop. The first two are in August and the third one is in October (email me at jenknitter AT gmail DOT com if you would like further info).

Aran update - I am done with 3 1/2 out of 5 repeats of the front. This means I only have to do 1 1/2 repeats before I do whatever neck shaping needs to be done. Hopefully, I can have that done by Monday.

The other evening there was a girl on the bus who was knitting. I only rarely see knitters on the bus, and usually when I do, I am either too uncomfortable to go up to a complete stranger and start talking about her knitting, or I don't see her until one of us is getting off the bus. However, I saw this girl as soon as I got on, and I even got to sit next to her. She is working on a scarf/shawl for her wedding coming up the middle of next month. The yarn looked like a kid silk haze (from what I have seen of that kind/brand of yarn). She was using needles that were large enough to get a lacy material. However, she was just doing a seed stitch pattern. I realized at one point that her project had no yarn-overs in it, it was just the nature of the yarn with those needles. I asked her if there were any yarn-overs in it, and she looked at me and (it was so cute) said "Yarn-overs?"

I have been scrapbooking, again. I bought a bunch of stuff from QVC a long time ago. I am making a book for the baby. Right now, since I have no pictures, of course, each page is just a beginning. However, there is one 12 x 12 layout for each of the months of the year starting in December (I can change this if the baby comes early or late). It was nice to get something done. I'm gonna go to a local scrapbook store this weekend to buy some more pages. I want some pages to put footprints and date, time, weight, and noteable events: first step, first tooth, that kind of stuff.

I guess that is all for now. The boss is gone until August 22. He will be calling a lot, but YEAH!!!

THIS JUST IN: check this out!!!

Pictures and tagged

First picture is my "fat" baby a couple of weeks ago.


Me at 18-ish weeks

Here is a good shot of my camera. Please excuse my DH's pictures.


My camera

These are the gifts I received from my Secret Pal a couple of weeks ago.


SP 5 gifts

Yarn Harlot pics:

I got Yarn Harlot getting pics:


Blogging the blogger

I think the podium that Powell's had for Stephanie to stand on was GREAT!!! Look at all the books, and even a place to put the bookbookbook.


Podium

Sorry if this is a bit blurry:


Blurry Harlot

I knew there was more I was supposed to post yesterday! I was tagged by LisaB.

5 things I miss from childhood:

1. My grandmother's house.

2. The house I grew up in.

3. Going to the beach.

4. My dad being off so much cause he was a teacher.

5. ???

I don’t much feel up to tagging today, so if you want it, take it!

Check out this review in a local paper about a LYS.

All kinds of stuff

So this one might be a really long post. I have been really busy at work, and have had NO time to post!!! I have been jumping in to put a link or something, but no time to actually make a post. Here are some updates (hopefully, I will have time to push "Publish" before the boss has work for me to do).

I had already heard about this, but now I have a link. Check out this article from Seattle.

Yarn Harlot came to town. I am in two pictures. I have a red shirt on. If you scroll down to the group shots, I am in the second one and the third one. In the second one, I am all the way on the right, in the third one, I am there, but kinda covered by the microphone. My DH used to work (for a long time) at the hotel that Stephanie must have stayed at, because the pic of the Beefeater is taken at that hotel. My husband doesn't really have internet access at work, so he can't look at his pic. I am going to now give him my blog address (even though he had it before) so he can see if he knows him.

I met this blogger, however, we didn't exchange information until I saw her blog about the harlot-y visit!

I also met Kelley from KnitPicks! It was wierd, because I recognized her but couldn't figure it out for a long time. Then she said something (I don't remember what now) and I felt like I was in the presence of royalty. She brought her dog in the dog's bag. You know those dog carriers that can only hold those dogs around the size of cats?

Stephanie even recognized the name of my blog. She has actually been here!!! I felt soo honored!
I finished sock number 1. However, now it is my Step-Father's birthday present (his bday is Christmas Day), because I have two presents due in less than a month, so I must finish those first! The two presents are the Aran - due on September 7, and the afghan - due on September 3! The afghan is probably 1/2 done, and the Aran is more than 1/2 done with the front, then the sleeves left. I don't know if I can pull these dates off - pray for me.

I have pictures, but they are at Walgreen's. I will (try to) pick them up tonight and post them tomorrow or at least this week.

We have insurance, now, so I made an appointment with my Ob/Gyn. I get to have a real appointment with a real doctor in a week and a half. I even get to have an ultrasound. (We don't wanna know the sex of the baby.) The boys are going to come with me to see the baby. I think they are getting excited since they can see my tummy pooching out.

Well, it seems like there was more that I wanted to say, but if there is, I can't think of it now. I wanna hurry up and post this before it gets crazy here, again, so I can have a post, so here goes...

No knitting content

After all the troubles my DH had at his last job, it is nice to know he is somewhat appreciated at his new one. I am keeping this, though, in case we run into troubles later on down the road!



Marcus' award (Fletch)

Book signing

So, Wednesday Stephanie aka Yarn Harlot will be at Powell's to sign her new book. I am meeting some people there from a LYS. I work downtown, so I am going to try to reserve a bunch of seats. If anyone wants to be added to this list, let me know, and I will see what I can do.

I just talked to the boys. They will be home at 7:30 tonight. We have been apart since Wednesday evening, and we haven't talked that much. Malik wants to spend the night at Papa Tom's house (that is my dad - he who took the boys to Denver). DeAndre', however, made it clear that he wanted no part of that arrangement, and wanted to come home.

I will update you all tomorrow.

Titleless

The boys landed last night about 11:30 Denver time. They had a blast on the plane. They will be back sometime Monday.

I got to go to a LYS' Knit-Nite last night, and the great Cheri fixed my screwed up Aran for me. I was 1/2 way done with the third repeat. I need to work a total of 5. I am now just starting repeat #3.

I am about half way done with the foot on sock #1. I sure am glad I bought 3 balls of yarn for this baby. I am almost done with the first one. I don't think I will use a lot of the third ball, but 2 WOULD NOT have been enough!!

Going to the beach tomorrow just for the day. Sale at a LYS there. My DH wants to golf on Sunday. This would be fine with me, because there is a group meeting that day. August has a whole bunch of knitting related stuff I can do. I might not be home much.

My boss is going to play golf SOMETIME today! I wish I knew when, because the sooner he leaves, the sooner I can knit!!!

We do have to go to my mom's house this weekend and get some baby stuff - high chair, swing, ??? We will have to fit that in on Sunday between golf and knitting.

I was supposed to have a doctor's appointment today. I got there and they said it was not today, it was Monday. I know I heard her right when I made the appointment and put it on my calendar (at the same time)! I am not sure what she did to change my appointment!

I think that is all, have a good weekend!

Weekend plans

My kids will be gone from Wednesday night until sometime Monday. I told my boss this, and he got me a $200 Visa Gift Card so me and my honey can live it up with no children. We are gonna go to the beach - but only to spend the day, because it is too late to get a reasonable priced room. We will maybe go see a movie, but I don't think there is anything out I wanna see.

I will knit! I have three projects that need to be finished. One needs a lifeline added so I can rip out for a bit. I hope to have one of two shops do it for me. Then I can rip and work on the rest of the front of the Aran sweater. I am done turning the heel on sock #1 of my Step-dad's sock for Father's Day. Plus, my cousin's wedding in September needs the afghan done. I am about 1/3 of the way done. It is an hour and a half drive each way to the coast. KNITTING TIME!!

This weekend was work. We got the crib set up in my fiber room. My yarn storage is currently in our bedroom. I need to get at least one more bookshelf out of the baby's room to make room for the changing table that is at mom's house. We will maybe pick up all that stuff this weekend.

Malik (10 yo) told me Sunday night that he is scared that when I go into the hospital to have the baby, I won't come back out. Poor, worrying baby.

I guess that is it, for now.

I finally got some time...

Boy do I have updates!

I got about 1/2 way done with the third repeat on my Aran, and realized there were a few mistakes that I couldn't ignore. I need someone who doesn't have so much invested in the project to put in a lifeline so I can rip it back some for repairs. I haven't touched it in a couple of days. Therefore, of course, my goal for the front done by Monday is now not gonna happen!

I have been working on the first sock for my FIL Father's Day present. (I know, late, but he won't be too hurt). I need nine inches on the leg according to Ann Budds pattern for size 13 shoes! I am at maybe 6 or 7 right now.

I have discovered that I don't need all patterns to be challenging, I just need to have a couple of different patterns going at once (like I need an excuse). I think my goal is to have one that is a sock or other small something, one is a cable/fair isle/etc, and one stockinette. The variation is good for me.

My local TKGA guild is pushing membership hard. I would really like to join, but if I join, then I am a member for a year, and I don't know if I am going to be able to be an active member in Jan, Feb... with a baby. Plus, the meetings are clear on the other side of town on a weeknight. They say they have speakers, and helpers, and two days a year they go on a tour of all the LYS and have discounts on this day. And retreats, and I don't remember what else. I could meet more real-live knitters. I only know a couple local knitters, and they are mostly bloggers, so don't really know them. You can go (I think) twice to check it out, and there is someone volunteering to drive from my side of town, so I think I will at least go to that one. Of course, the last one was yesterday, so I have to wait a month.

My cousin is getting married in Colorado next weekend, and my dad bought the boys tickets and is taking them, so from Thursday next week until Monday, my DH and I will be alone! I think this is the longest we have been together without them. Then I get an email from a store on the coast that is having a sale that same weekend. Gee, maybe we will go to the coast.

My tummy poked out a bit overnight one night this week. I am still not showing so that perfect strangers on the street see it (and might never), but co-workers are noticing.

Finally, and best of all, my Secret Pal sent me a gift. My camera still isn't up to par, so I can't upload the pic, but I got:

Some notecards,
Some Burts Bees lotions
This book
and this yarn the color is called A Time For Us - first on the color card. That page even has a pattern for a one skein scarf!

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH SECRET PAL!!!!!!!

My mom is funny (not really). Everytime I tell her about this Secret Pal thing she always reacts like "gee, what a bother to have to figure out what to send people and then get it and mail it." After I was gifted this week, I called her and told her what I got, she seemed genuinely impressed. Secret Pal, I just want you to know that it is nearly impossible to impress my mom, but you did it!

I think that's it...

Dear Secret Pal...

I got my package the other day. Real busy at work right now. Will post more later.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

Progress

Well, I have a couple of progress notes to add. I aimed to get done with the fourth repeat of the front of the Aran. I got about half way through the fourth. I might be able to get done with it tonight, which is technically Monday, so my goal will be reached. I am at this moment running short on yarn - not for the sweater - I have lots, but for the stash in my purse. Therefore, I can't do too much today before I get home. For some reason I can no longer get my pics off my camera, so no pics.

Baby progress. I felt it move yesterday evening. I tried to let my husband feel it, but he couldn't. I felt it once or twice when he had his hand on me, but he didn't feel it - I don't know if the movements were not strong enough or if his hand was in the wrong place, or both. It still doesn't feel real to me for some reason. Also our hand me down crib was delivered Saturday. It isn't set up or anything, yet, but... I will have to reconstruct my fiber room/guest room to make room for baby. I have no idea what I will do with it all. I don't have a huge stash, but that room has a lot of junk in it - fiber related and not. I really do have to work on it someday. Maybe labor day weekend if it is not too hot. Otherwise, it might wait until the four day Thanksgiving Day weekend. (Cutting it a bit close, but...)

Slow Week

at work, anyway. The boys spent the night at grandma's house last night, and my DH decided he wanted to play golf, so I decided since Thursday is Knit-Knite at a local shop, I'd knit! Yeah! Plus, I get to go to a SnB tomorrow and maybe even on Sunday! How exciting!! I'm almost done with the second repeat out of four I wanted finished by Monday - I have faith. Two repeats over a weekend is do-able, maybe. It is certainly not impossible, anyway.

Check out this link from KnitPicks.com

This was in our local paper the other day - funny.

So, I mentioned by brother's birthday party last weekend - here are pics:

Not a very good one of me, but I really do knit, see:

Jen Knitting

There was coloring with sidewalk chalk on the driveway - have I ever told you that I have three boys, one just happens to be 38 years old:


Marcus coloring 

DeAndre' has his back to you with a grey shirt on


And with children 

It was my brother's 30th birthday:


Birthday Boy