NEWS!!!!!

In the world of knitting, I think I finished about another inch on the blanket last night. That's encouraging.

In other news (here's the big stuff), we're having a BOY! You know what that means!!!! Knitting boy stuff...tons and TONS of it! There's blankets (big and small), sweaters, hats, booties, and all kinds of stuff that this little bundle of boyhood is going to have. Any suggestions for the first item?!

Weekend of Cleaning and Knitting...

Hopefully I can get some knitting done this weekend. I have about 2 inches of the center done for the baby blanket. I also have some cleaning and baking to do (early in the morning, since it's so hot) and hopefully I can get more than 2 more inches done. I can't believe it's taking me SOOOOO long to do this baby blanket. Of course, I haven't touched it in a few days. I've been too tired to do much of anything. I feel better though today. I'm going home and I'm going to do a few things (purging a few places around the house) before bed tonight. Hopefully that will open up the rest of the weekend for knitting. Saturday night is definitely going to be a knitting time. I love knitting while watching the British Sitcoms on public television on Saturday night. I'm excited, because according to the schedule online, they're bringing back 2 of my favorites, The Vicar of Dibley and Last of the Summer Wine. I love Dawn French. Her knitting book is awesome. =0)

Tired Progress

I'm so tired. I keep trying to push just a little, but last night I gave up and went to bed at 8:30. I have about 2 inches of the pattern completed on the blanket. I also seriously need to start reviewing and memorizing the words for the opera I'm in. I'm supposed to be memorized by Labor Day weekend.

I have a sonogram on Monday, and I'm taking a half day off work. It's in the middle of the afternoon, and it seems like a better option than trying to cram a whole day into half, and getting all stressed out before a doctor's appointment.

I posted a few comments on some lists, and got a good idea. Instead of sweaters, I could make some shawls, since I may become hot-natured in the winter, and I can still wear the shawls after the baby's born. I just need to find my Vogue knitting book, and check out some stitches. I might see about borrowing my brother's Stitchionary, and creating my own. It's always cheaper when you make it up.

Slow knitting progress

I've completed about an inch or so on the baby blanket. I don't think it's going to get done for the shower, but I'll keep working on it, and maybe before she leaves on the 22nd of September it'll be done with the hat, sweater and booties. Keep your fingers crossed.

I saw a great sweater online at www.avenue.com in a lovely shade of green. It's a wool/acrylic blend, and it made me want to knit up a storm! It would actually be a great pregnancy sweater, since it's open in the front, like a jacket but without a tie. I don't know where the yarn would come from, but it might just show up sometime. I have lots of yarn to knit with, but new projects are so tempting!!!! I must get through the baby stuff first, and do all kinds of baby stuff for our little one on the way, and then I can look at new stuff. Once I know what we're having (boy or girl), there might be a little more motivation to knit for the little tyke. Right now, it's sort of an amorphous blob. I'd like to think we're having a boy, but there are times when I think we're having a girl. Either way, the child will be loved and wrapped constantly in handmade items, but I want to know!!!!

Another post?!

I know, crazy, isn't it?! A second post this week. Well, I'm in week 17 of pregnancy, and I have an ultrasound on the 21st for growth. I think my doctor was a little concerned because I lost 4 pounds in a month, for a net gain of 1 pound so far. I'm not trying to lose weight. I swear I'm not. I'm eating healthier for the baby, and more frequently, because I'm hungry. I'm also trying to unpack, so I'm a little more active on the weekends. I could also be a little dehydrated, since I know I haven't been drinking as much water as I should.

I finally have the bottom border completed on the blanket, and I completed the set-up row for the Hoover blanket. I'm going to use tomorrow to knit a lot on it, and hopefully it'll be done for the woman's shower at work on the 21st. Maybe, but don't hold your breath. The sofa has gotten extremely uncomfortable for long periods of time to me, and I don't have a comfy chair to sit in. If someone has a nice chair and sofa set in the Atlanta area they'd like to dispose of, please post a comment and I'll contact you! I've been trying to get a new sofa for a while, and haven't found one yet that's in our price range (free is about what we can afford).

Bits and Pieces

Well, I did start on that baby blanket for a woman at work. It's about 2 inches so far, and she's due in late September! We moved though, and I'm working slowly but surely to get things settled.

Being pregnant takes a lot out of you, but other than being tired, I really can't complain too much! I'm currently at about 4 months, so I have some time to get the room ready for the baby to share with the craft stuff! =0) Actually, I just went to the doctor yesterday and I lost 4 pounds! That's good news to me, because I'm eating healthier, more frequently, and moving more, which means it's a good weight loss, and not going to hurt the baby. I'm also drinking lots of water and getting lots of rest.

Oh, and here's more good news! I auditioned for the Atlanta Opera Chorus and was accepted! I'm performing with them this fall in Carmina Burana! It's a lot of fun for me, and it works great with my schedule, since all the rehearsals are on nights on weekends. It isn't too stressful right now, since we meet about twice a week, but it's more activity and a good workout for all those lower ab muscles that will be used once it's time for the baby to arrive!

I still have a pair of socks to finish, and two sweaters to make for myself. I guess I should really get cracking on them, otherwise they won't be done in time. I first have to finish the blanket though. I'm trying to work it in with rehearsals, unpacking, and rest.

Quick Update

Here's a quick update as to what's been going on, and why I haven't been around much lately. We're moving on Saturday, so packing has been prevalent. The 4th of July brought a trip out of town to visit family (which was nice) and work's been kind of crazy with auditors flitting about like hummingbirds. Pregnancy's going great...I haven't been sick (other than normal allergy issues which are always expected). Other than that, life's just been getting in the way. I did start on the first of the baby gifts...a blanket. I think I've done about 3-4 rows. I haven't gotten very far, but after we move it should get a little further along. After I find out if we're having a boy or a girl (although I'd take either, I'd kind of like to have a boy first), I'm sure the needles will be flying. Maybe in a couple of weeks I can post some pictures. =0)

More News

Well, I haven't knit anything, and I HAVE to get started on baby things. There are lots of blankets, booties, hats, sweaters, and toys to knit up. I've been a lazy bum. I also have 3 maternity sweaters to knit for myself (since I'll be big-pregnant in the winter). I haven't started on those either.

We received some bad news not long after we had the good news. My grandmother passed away on the 2nd, and her funeral was last Tuesday. It was sad because we'll miss her, but it was also happy because she was a terrific Christian lady who really lived her faith and we know we'll see her again in heaven. In any event, the sonogram pictures went to my dad, who's now living at her house since he's an only child and he has ownership of everything. The upside to this is that with the investments my grandmother had, the baby will be well taken care of in the furniture department.

I'm going to try and start something this weekend, if I'm not too tired. I've been sleeping more this week and I think I might actually have the energy to do something other than lie around the house on Saturday.

Here's the good news!

I'm pregnant! We weren't trying, but we're being blessed anyway! I'm about 6 weeks along, so that puts me due in late January. I know, I keep getting the advice that I shouldn't tell too many people, just in case. Well, I have a big mouth. If something happens, I will let everyone know. But I had to share the good news!

Pictures!

I forgot I brought the camera with me yesterday, but realized I had it today, so here are these pictures. First, of my socks from my sockapaloooza pal:

Sorry it's not the best picture in the world, but they definitely look like the desert. They are lovely shades of teal, orange, rust, and burgundy, all muted. They are also very warm and comfy. Trust me, after a hard day, even when all you've done is sit on your bum, it's nice to have socks like these around your toes!






Next are the elephants I've done:

The red one was for a lady at work, and it's reminescent of her sorority. Their colors are red and white, and their mascot was an elephant. I also got paid $20 for this one (gotta love it when you get paid for fun!).

This pink elephant goes to my friend Kristen, who received the original grey elephant a few months back. She loved the standard elephant for her son, and decided it would be a great joke for her daughter to have a pink one. First of all, because her daughter's favorite color is pink (as much of a favorite as a two-year old can have) and secondly, because of the whole pink elephant/Dumbo/drunk thing. Go figure.

More good news coming...I promise. I'll try and post something on Saturday, after the family leaves. =0)

Good news

So, there is good news afoot. I know that there probably aren't THAT many people who read this, and yet I am SOOOO tempted to tell. I really shouldn't though, not until after Saturday. Hopefully when I get home today, I'll have enough energy to take some pics and tomorrow I can post them. We will be moving in about 2 months, which is encouraging, but we don't know where yet. Yesterday, my husband rescued a giant snapping turtle from the middle of the road. He put him back towards the creek in our neighborhood. I was proud.

In other news, there is no knitting currently, but there is some crocheting going on. I'm working on 2 more elephants, one in pink and one in red. The red one is for a woman at work (who's willing to pay-the red elephant is a mascot from her sorority) and the pink one is for a friend of mine. She thinks it'll be funny to have a pink elephant around her children. I love her like a sister, so of course she gets one.

I do have knitting to do; there is a baby blanket, sweater, booties and hat that must be accomplished by the shower in August. I'm going to go with this pattern for the blanket. I haven't decided yet for the sweater, booties and hat yet. I might just make it up as I go along. I think they'll be plain, since it's for a boy, and it's not my own child so I won't know his personality. I also think I'll work them in green, for something different. The blanket will be in blue. Everyone buys blue stuff for boys, so having something other than blue might be nice.

It seems like it's been forever.

Not since I last posted, but the past week seems like it took forever to get through. I have another week before I get a lovely 5 day weekend. I feel like there's so much to do, and I just have no energy to do anything. Maybe we'll get some answers next week when I head to the doctor. We're changing doctors and the first appointment with the new one should prove to be enlightening. The appointment is on Wednesday the 24th, and when I know more, I'll post more. But for now, it's a secret. =0)

Yay! I'm loved!

After a REALLY long day at work (we're talking 13 hours people), I got a lovely surprise when I got home. I found a package in the mail. It was my socks from a lovely lady in Arizona. I will post more later, after I've had time to take pictures. Thanks Sock Pal!

Babysitting

I'm babysitting Friday night for a friend. That should be fun. I love her kids. The little girl is 2, and her baby brother is about 3 months. She insists on seeing MI:III on opening night, so they're dropping them off at our place while they go to the theater just down the road from us. It makes it convenient. I might be able to work on the elephants while they're there.

Right now, I'm so tired. I'm too tired to even knit. I want to curl up and take a nap. I think adults should have naptime too. Anyone want to start a piece of legislation for it?

Gone!

I just got back from the post office. It was sent on time. How's that?! It's not everything I would have liked for it to be, but it's all the necessary items. I would have preferred to have picked up little things for my sockapalOOOza pal, and sent all of them as well. Oh well, who's to say I can't find little things now and send to her? I can always send more; I just couldn't send less. I also included a nice card and a letter. It's rare these days to send letters anymore; people just email. I miss handwritten letters.

I guess it's time for the next knitting project...what shall it be? Perhaps I'll post a poll and see what others think. I have a pair of Cigar gloves, a purple sweater, a mohair/wool sweater, baby items, and at least 2 crocheted elephants to do. I'm thinking I'm going to start on the baby things and elephants. I'm going to do one red and white elephant for a lady at work, and a pink and white elephant for my friend and her little girl. I think I'll just do two, one for each...I have plenty of yarn for it. I also found this pattern yesterday, and had to print it for more than the obvious reason. That's another story for another day...maybe tomorrow's storytime. =0)

Going, Going...

I blocked the socks last night. They're still a little damp, but by this afternoon when I go to the post office, they should be completely dry. They are lovely...unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of them last night, or this morning and I don't have my camera with me. You'll just have to wait to see them when my secret pal gets them!

It's finished!!!

Woot! I'm done...all but blocking and weaving in ends. I love it! Check them out:

Please forgive the fuzziness of the pictures, but at least I took them, and posted them!

The camera strap got in the shot too. I guess it was tired of always being behind the camera and wanted to be in front for once. Oh well. The socks match for the most part; something weird happened around the heel and caused the lighter pink and yellow stripe sections to be smaller. I have no idea what that is all about, but they're done! Woot! I have the address to send them, and they'll be in the mail on Tuesday! Woohoo!

Almost...

I'm almost where I wanted to be today on the second sock. I started on the heel last night. Actually, I had to frog back to where the heel started and start it. I got so caught up in watching Buffy and knitting that I passed the start of the sock. I just kept going, so I had to frog it back to where the heel needed to start, and then I started on it. I got maybe 4-5 rows in, so hopefully it'll be done today, and tomorrow I can start on the leg part.

I'm enjoying sock knitting...it's fairly quick (depending on the size needles you use), portable, and once you have the pattern down, easy. The hard part is doing your nails and knitting. =0)

Pictures!!!!

Woot! Ok, so I'm a few days late. It's the story of my life. Here's the second sock:



Here's the second and first together...I think they're lining up nicely.

Here's a shot of the first sock all on its own. It's lovely in its own right.

Hopefully I can balance knitting and working out and working around the apartment (chores). I'm counting housework as exercise...doesn't everybody?!

One down...

and one to go! I finished the first sock...I have about 2 weeks to finish the second. I'm going to spend as much time as possible on it, and have it ready by May 2nd. I have some leftover yarn, and I have a lovely idea for it (and to send it to my sock pal), but the sock comes first! I almost have the toe part done on the second sock. Tonight after church I'll take pictures and post them. Here's to hoping it all gets done in plenty of time!