Monday, November 28, 2005

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.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

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.

Friday, November 04, 2005

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.