He's finally here!

It's been a mad week or so, but we finally have our little one home! I still haven't knit anything for him yet...it's been too crazy to even think about picking up needles! He's a precious angel, quiet and not very fussy at all. The Cesarean went as well as could be expected, but the removal of the bandage was not pleasant. That caused as much pain as the actual incision. Mom's healing, baby's growing, and there are sure to be some new knits for Sebastian in the coming years. I will post pics when I get them in electronic format. =0) As for the vitals, he was born on January 19th, at 10:41 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He has beautiful dark blue eyes and sandy blonde hair. He truly does look like a little angel!

He's finally here!

It's been a mad week or so, but we finally have our little one home! I still haven't knit anything for him yet...it's been too crazy to even think about picking up needles! He's a precious angel, quiet and not very fussy at all. The Cesarean went as well as could be expected, but the removal of the bandage was not pleasant. That caused as much pain as the actual incision. Mom's healing, baby's growing, and there are sure to be some new knits for Sebastian in the coming years. I will post pics when I get them in electronic format. =0)

D'oh!

I have a couple of pictures of the cardigan I finished, but I keep leaving the cord at home so I can't post them while at work. Perhaps I'll remember tomorrow and grab it before walking out the door, and I can post it then. The hat I have to reknit is still being knitted. I think I'm stuck in a knitting rut and can't get out. That, and I'm slightly concerned.

We went for an ultrasound yesterday for the position of the baby. He's in what they call a "footling posterior breech" position. Basically, he's feet first, facing forward. He's healthy, which is good, but let's face it "breech" is not a word a woman in her 9th month likes to hear...especially when she's a week from her due date. It's a little on the scary side. All sorts of visions run through your head of having a Cesarean or something dreadful happening to the baby (like brain damage from the cord being wrapped around his neck during delivery). It completely blows the whole nice image of having a normal vaginal birth. There's still no reason to panic yet, but it's just disconcerting.

However, perhaps this is what I need to assure me that I will have time to make him something BEFORE he gets here. I'm thinking an extra sweater would be good, since the weather seems to be turning cold again. I might modify the cardigan sweater and just not make it have the ridges, but still knit it the same way. I'll have to get some more buttons though. Maybe this time I can find some cute little sailboats or something. I might even get some green yarn and find some frog buttons.

Almost but not quite

I ALMOST got that cardi done. I have about an inch left on the last sleeve. The hat's still not complete. So much for my plans over New Year's. I think I can finish the cardigan tonight, and then it's on to the hat. Providing nothing major happens to interrupt my plans, hopefully next week I'll be done with both. As for my little one, he's still waiting for mom to make him something. He's patient as well, even though he's got 2 weeks from tomorrow until he's supposed to show his sweet face, he's still turned the wrong way I think.

Sleep has also been illusive this week, and I think a lot of it is worry. Let's face it, delivery is a worrisome thing. I'm anxious about it, and possible complications. There's a lot that can happen between now and then, some good and some bad. I try to keep my mind off it and relax, but that's not always a possibility. I'm trying to take advantage of the last few nights of good rest I'll get before having to get up at 2, but it's not working. Maybe tonight will be a little different if I don't rest before getting ready for bed, so that when I do get ready for bed, my body and mind can slow down. Eh, we'll see how it works out.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad soon-to-be mom

I still haven't knit a single stitch for my son. I have 3 weeks, and nothing is knit. I am going to knit like the wind and finish a cardi and hat this weekend (I'm determined!) for a friend at work (that I'm STILL working on). Hopefully once that's done, the knitting will commence for Sebastian Alexander! I at least want to make some booties, a hat, and mitts for him. If I'm really good, and get a bunch of stuff done this weekend, I can spend my evenings knitting. I still haven't set up the nursery, and the car seat hasn't been installed either. Hubby is responsible for that this weekend. Here's the goals for this weekend: Friday night: finish the hat and cardi for the other baby; Saturday: clean and get nursery ready for the crib assembly; Sunday: start knitting like mad for my baby; Monday (no work for me!): more knitting and getting things ready for baby. The cardi's close to being done, and the hat shouldn't take me too much longer. I'm probably going to exhaust myself getting it all done, and then again, I might not. I know I can lay back in our recliner and knit and relax, and hopefully I can stay awake! I need another set of hands...or a clone!

Another Quick Update

Oh how the time flies! I have 4 weeks, just 4 WEEKS PEOPLE! before I'm supposed to give birth to my precious bundle of joy. I'm still not quite realizing it yet. I guess I will once the labor pains kick in that this is REAL.

I have to finish Christmas shopping today (I'm leaving in 5 minutes and using my lunch hour for that) and then interestingly enough, although we weren't going to have Christmas at our place, it turns out we are! Hubby's parents are scheduled to come down on Christmas Day and have lunch (which was news to me, I was just expecting them to come and chat for a little while, then go back home). My parents have asked that we meet at our place, since we're decorated and clean. It's not nearly as clean as I'd like it, or maybe clean's the wrong word...organized is better. But, it's going to get there. I have a 4 day weekend, and I'm going to pick up a few things here and there and clean some stuff out.

Merry Christmas!

Small update and big rant

There hasn't been much knitting going on, since I've been working on the baby's room. Of course, there hasn't been much progress on that either.

I did finally finish the Pea Pod set, but I didn't take pictures before it got horribly cold and I gave the sweater and hat to the mom. She promised pictures, but the hat was too small. I have to remake the hat in the larger size (I should have done that to begin with) and then hopefully pictures will ensue.

I'm almost done with the second sweater for the wee one. It will hopefully be done before Christmas, along with the booties.

I have had 2 showers now, and received a ton of clothes (I know they're cute, but we registered for a reason!) and one set of clothes was actually handmade. I thought I would be more overjoyed at getting a set of handknitted clothes for my baby, but I wasn't that thrilled. I guess because the woman who gave them to me didn't make them, so I don't feel like they're all that special. Don't get me wrong...I know that a woman made them by hand and sold them, but I guess it's the selling that's giving me problems here. If it had come from a fellow knitter, as a gift that they themselves had made, I would like to think I'd feel differently. It's like when my mom makes an article of clothing for me instead of buying it. I always look on that one item as more treasured because of her time. She could have had someone else make it, but it wouldn't be the same. That's how I feel now. I wish another knitter would make me something for my baby, because it would be a gratitude that cannot be expressed. I've had some people give me handmade things, and I love every second of them. My socks from my secret sock pal, for example...I love those socks. I am very careful with them, but LOVE wearing them. I know they were made just for me, and no one purchased them pre-made.

I wish more people would make gifts for Christmas. I try to keep lots of things for Christmas simple, by making gifts where I can, and doing old-fashioned stockings. We get fruit, nuts, cookies and peppermints in these stockings. It's meant as a reminder that there are more important things than consumerism and commercialism, and we should be thankful for the simple things in life. Family should always be more important than what the stores have, and for the past several years, we stress quality over quantity in our house. Most years we don't have a lot to spend, so all gifts must be thoughtful. I'm going to try and do a pair of socks each month for family next year, and then everyone gets handmade socks for Christmas. If we don't have anything else to give them, at least their feet will be warm, and hopefully their hearts as well.

Something accomplished...finally

I didn't get as much knitting done this weekend as I had hoped, but I did further my progress. I have over half of the Pea Pod hat done, and I finally found some buttons for the cardigan. I have to say...I'm still not thrilled with the buttons. I might go Saturday to JoAnn's and see what I can find there. I'm not about to venture out on Friday. Friday is reserved for cleaning and wrapping gifts and knitting. The more knitting the better on Friday. Today is my Thursday, and if I'm good and sneaky, I might be able to knit a little at work tomorrow. If I can finish the hat, then I can hopefully work more on the KTC project. It might take me more than one month to finish that one. I didn't think it would take that long. I'm beginning to think I should undo what I've done and go smaller. If I reduce it by 20%, it will go faster. Hopefully I can post some pictures on Friday of what's been done. =0)

Knitting on the Horizon

I haven't had time this week to knit! Can you believe it?! Monday I went to bed as soon as I could, around 8. Tuesday, a friend was supposed to come over to talk about the baby shower, but that didn't happen. While I waited for her, I cleaned up a little around the apartment. Last night, I fixed dinner and went to the store. Then I collapsed in bed around 10. Maybe tonight and this weekend I can get in some knitting time. I have lots to work on. There's another baby sweater, a hat, some booties, and my KTC project. Not to mention the other baby sweater I was going to make out of the CottonTots. I'm still not really happy with it, so I think it's going to get ripped out until I can decide what to really do with it. This weekend, we're heading out of town, and I'm hoping that I'll get some good knitting time in. There's not a whole lot to do in a suburb of Birmingham, so other than a trip to Wal-Mart, I think I'll be stuck watching movies and knitting inside, and trying to avoid the cat. Long story short, the cat's not too fond of people to start with (which means he's not friendly) and I'm allergic. It isn't a bad combination usually, but with the pregnancy, there's no telling what will happen. However, it can't be all that much worse than what's going on at work. They've started renovating our building, so dust, mold and all sorts of crap are floating in the air. I take advantage of lunch to get out and clear my lungs.

This has got to go!

It's just not working for me. I'm going to frog it, and I think I'll make the woman at work another sweater for her son. I still have to get buttons for the Pea Pod sweater, and do the hat and booties. I think another cardigan is in order. The first one turned out nicely, so #2 will be on its way.

I knit NOTHING this weekend. I just didn't feel like it, since we went to visit with my parents and grandmother, since my grandfather's in the hospital. I know that at least he knew and was excited about having a great grand-son. I am sorry he won't be able to see him. The stroke was extremely damaging, and it seems that the damage is irreparable. The doctors don't give him much chance of even being able to swallow on his own ever again, and even if he does, it seems he's blind and won't regain his speech capacity either. It's sad, but we knew it was coming.

I'm working on some patterns, and I might post one on here for free, and I think I might submit the other to Knitty. We'll have to see how it comes together, particularly while the baby's on the way. One of them is for Knit the Classics, and the other is in memory of my grandfather. I don't know why, but he seems to inspire something that needs to be created. If I can't get the pattern accepted somewhere, I'll post it here as well. I am thinking about the rest of my grandparents, and potentially creating patterns in memory of them as well. I will have one grandmother left (my mom's mother) after my grandfather passes, so I find the patterns will all be "in memory of" rather than "for" them.

Working through it

Well, I think I've worked through most of the problem I was having with my pattern for Knit the Classics. I'm going to work on it tonight and the rest of this weekend, and see how things go. If I wrote the pattern correctly, there shouldn't be a problem. If I didn't, I can hopefully fix any problems and correct the pattern. I can't believe people do this for a living.

I have decided however, to work on at least one pattern each month at work. It sounds like cheating, but since most of the month I have virtually nothing to do, the last 3 weeks are incredibly boring, and I have to create stuff for myself to do. I figure why not start with something that I enjoy, and can just do on the side, like patterns for knitting. It's better than a sharp stick in the eye.

Figuring it out

I think I figured out the pattern for the KTC project I'm going to be working on. I spent part of today working on that. I'm also writing it down...technically, I'm writing it out before I get started, at least most of it.

I also decided to write down the baby cardigan sweater I'm working on. If I decide to finish it, that is. I still haven't made up my mind.

There's lots of creativity going on in my head, and not all of it is in knitting. I remember a recipe from college that was FABULOUS...and I emailed for the recipe. They can't find it. So, I'm going to try and recreate it to the best of my memory. If you're lucky, I'll post that as well. It's a semi-original recipe. I haven't seen another like it, and believe me, I've looked. I can't say I've exhausted every resource, but most of the websites I've looked at haven't come close to this recipe. I remember watching the chef prepare it once (it was actually a vegan meal prepared fresh) and I'm hoping I have remembered all the main ingredients. I think I might bake cookies this weekend, and a cheesecake, for the office (but the cheesecake stays home). We'll see what happens.

It's been a crazy week. Tuesday morning, my grandfather had a stroke, and was hospitalized. He's stable, but they're not sure what his prognosis will be just yet. They're going to keep him sedated for a couple of days, and let his body heal as much as possible, and then see what damage has been done. On the bright side, he can't get any worse (without another stroke), and he could get up to 90% better. We're hoping for close to 90%. Thoughts and prayers are welcomed with open hearts.

Not happy

Ever have one of those years you just want to stop, before the year's over? That's this year. I'm so done with this year. Can we start the new year now?

I wasn't happy with the baby cardigan I had started with the CottonTots. So, I ripped it. I started it over, but when I started it, I thought about making a pair of mommy and son socks out of it. Cheesy, yes, but KEEE-UTE! I'm just not sure how they'd turn out. Any suggestions or ideas?

I still haven't budged on the baby blanket. I really should get cracking on that thing. It's just SO BORING now. I'd rip it out too, but I feel there's too much invested in it. Here's a shot of it so far:

It's probably about 10 inches so far. It just takes so long. I have thought about ripping it out, and then doubling the yarn and using a larger needle, and just doing the whole garter stitch thing.

Quick Update

Well, I am still not working on the baby blanket. How sad is that?! In any case, I got sidetracked with a cardi for my own little one in Bernat CottonTots (pictures soon to follow) and now I'm in to Knit the Classics, and will be working on a project for that. When I get a good start on it, I'll post more about it. =0) I have to leave something for you to come back and read. I'm in the mood to organize my knitting patterns. That doesn't happen very often, and usually indicates I have some energy. That's a good sign, since I'm at week 29. I'll post more later.

PICTURES!!!!

I found the camera this weekend, and had the batteries charged and ready to go, so yesterday I took some pictures! Woot!

Here's the blanket I made for my grandmother about 2 years ago for Christmas:

It's a huge afghan, and kind of holey. I didn't realize how holey it was, until I tried to curl up under it with a fan blowing. The pattern is nice, but lets in too much air.










Here's a close up of the pattern.













Here it is draped over a chair. It's big enough to really wrap up in, but it does let air seep in. I wish I had know that the holes would let in that much air. I would have changed the pattern for her so she wouldn't have been so cold.









Here's a picture of the baby cardigan I finished...it still needs buttons though.

Here's a close-up of the leaf pattern down the front:

More to come later!!!

Rain, rain, go away

It's pouring down rain today. It's been raining all day, and it's not stopping. I did finish sewing up the sleeves on the baby cardigan, but they still haven't made their way into the sweater. Perhaps tonight I will have enough energy and brain power to put them in CORRECTLY. It's amazing how that helps.

That blanket keeps staring at me from beside my bed. Perhaps once I finish the sleeves I will have the courage to pick that back up.

I still haven't found that digital camera. I know it's there somewhere. Of course, it would be helpful if I made a decent attempt at finding it. My hubby did find the charger, with only one battery (the other one is MIA) and it's completely charged now. Tonight promises a good movie night curled up on the couch, eating putin and perhaps knitting a little. Tomorrow boasts of errands and lots of people stopping by (friends and family). I think I prefer tonight to tomorrow. I think the rain has affected me. Shouldn't we all be under the covers taking a nap now?

Sleeves, sleeves, and sleeves again

I am having the hardest time with finishing the cardigan. For some weird reason, I can't get happy with the sleeves. I started and was actually through with one, and when I looked at the seam in the sleeve, I didn't like it, so out it went. I know I'm not keeping it, but if I'm not happy with it and I think it looks sloppy, I'm not giving it away. So, I took out the whole thing (it was one long piece of yarn to sew it together and on with), and then I seamed it terrifically. The seam now looks great. The problem? Now I can't figure which sides to put together to put the arm in the cardigan! I started putting it in backwards (wrong side facing right side I think) and it all just went downhill from there. I couldn't figure it out. Perhaps I'll have better luck at lunch today. I think I was tired and not focusing enough (trying to watch Ghost Hunters and then Lost...not a time to think about knitting). Hopefully, today will be better.

So Close...

I'm so close to finishing the cardigan. I finished the sleeves and sewed up the shoulders last night. I would have started the collar, except I couldn't figure out how to evenly space all the stitches. I think I finally figured out how to space the stitches on the cardigan, using Excel this morning at work. I'll try it at lunch (which I'm about to go to...I get hungry often being pregnant). As much of an old-fashioned person as I like to think I am, sometimes you just can't beat technology.

I also searched for the digital camera. I found the charger for the batteries, but now I can't find the camera. It's around there somewhere. I'm 98% sure it's in the bedroom, which I'll be working on a little bit tonight. I've decided that I can do 15-20 minutes worth of cleaning every night, and hopefully in 3 months, before the baby arrives, just about everything will have a place. Hopefully I can find the camera tonight and get the batteries charged, and take some pictures of stuff. Hopefully.

Baby cardigan and found projects!

I went box diving (sort of like dumpster diving, but it's in the boxes that are still in the baby's room unpacked) the other day, and ran across a few things. I found some older projects that I hadn't finished (big surprise there...I'm always starting things and not finishing them). I found a cotton blanket I had started in a neat pattern I picked up from someone in crochet, but I haven't bought any more of it, and I'm 3 skeins in to the blanket. I'm thinking if I frog it, I can reuse it for a cardigan and hat for my little one. It's in Bernat Cotton Tots Sweet Dreams, which is a nice multi-pastel colorway. I might just knit it up in a Stockinette Stitch sweater for the little one and we can layer with it in the spring.

I worked on the cardigan for my friend all weekend, and I'm almost done with the sleeves. I decided to try and take a "short-cut" by doing both sleeves at once. I'm on the last few rows, and can probably finish that up tonight. Then there's just the sewing together, collar, and blocking to do. There will be lots left over from the GIANT ball of yarn I'm using for it (Lion Brand Pound of Love) and I might recycle some of it before my own gets here. It would prevent me from having to go out and get something. It's also easy to take care of (one of the benefits of what some refer to as the "inferior" type - mostly acrylic). I go for ease of washing. If I have to specially wash it in Woolite or hang everything to dry, I'm less likely to use it. I still haven't worked on that blanket. It looks sadly at me when I pick up the sweater, and I promise myself that once I'm done with the cardi, I'll pick it back up. Although the matching hat and the booties won't take long to make, I'm thinking I might need a break in it later.

I also never dry clean anything. I have an aversion to dry cleaners. When I was little (probalby about 6-7 years old), I had a lovely red velvet dress my mother had made for me for Christmas one year. It was beautiful...it had a lovely sash and pretty collar with lace trim. Well, wearing it on Sundays only helped keep it semi-clean, until we used glue in Sunday School. Being the semi-klutz I am, I got some Elmer's glue on the sleeve. Mom assured me that the dry cleaners could get it out. So off we went on Monday to put it in. When we got the dress back, not only had they NOT gotten the glue out, but there was a HUGE black stain on it. Yep, the dry cleaners had gotten grease on the dress. I was devastated and furious. That one experience so many years ago has tainted my view of cleaners so badly I absolutely refuse to go to one. Ever. No matter what. I wash it in Woolite and hang it to dry. I'll use an iron with a old hanky over the top/pants/skirt/whatever to get out the wrinkles. I'm now forever marked and paranoid about cleaners.

Ramblings and a Meme

Ok, so for some reason, if this doesn't turn out right, it's not my fault...the page didn't load right. In any case, I just had to sing the praises of handknit socks. I love them. I wore a pair I received from a Secret Pal exchange yesterday, and they felt fantastic. Today, I'm wearing the first pair of socks I knit. Here's the Meme. I yanked it from BoogaJ.

1. FIRST NAME? Laura

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Great-grandmother

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? This past weekend, when going through my grandmother's house deciding what I wanted to keep and what could go in the estate sale.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I don't particularly care for it, but I'm always voluteered to write things because it's "neat".

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? I don't usually do a sandwich for lunches (or if I do, it's a Subway with chicken or PB from home), but if I had to pick one, probably ham or turkey. Odd note, if the sandwich isn't heated, before I finish it, it makes me gag.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'd like to think so...

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Does this and Livejournal count?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, even though for the past 10 years I've been begging for them to be taken out. Doctors can be stupid, even when you have constant problems with something.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I have seriously considered it; the price of the places I've seen is usually my deterent, rather than the jump.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? It was Apple Jacks when I was young; now I'd have to say Smart Start, although I wouldn't mind some Apple Jacks every now and again.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope, I slide them off and on, even tennis shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Well, I'd like to think I'm a lot stronger than I am physically, but I was rarely messed with in school, and if I stepped in to defend someone the other person usually backed down.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Absolute, all time favorite? No question or hesitation...Ben and Jerry's Phish Food.

14. SHOE SIZE? 10

15. RED OR PINK? Hmmm...tough question. Both for different reasons and seasons. For some things, red is exactly what's needed, but for others, pink is the better way to go.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Do I really have to answer this one? I guess so...probably weight.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandparents (deceased) and parents (still living - just not with me)

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Of course...anyone who reads it should post it!

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue, blue, and blue/gray. Notice a theme?

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Lunch - cheap chicken pot pies

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Evanescence CD

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? either a shade of blue or green (so many choices...)

23. FAVORITE SMELL? My husband after a shower

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My hubby

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes and sense of humor

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Sure!

27. FAVORITE DRINK? It depends...I drink mostly water these days, but I'm always up for a good cup of juice, coffee, or something fizzy!

28. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch on TV, probably tennis. To go watch, probably football.

29. EYE COLOR? Blue

30. HAT SIZE? Smaller than I usually think it is.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Most of the time, but I read with glasses at night and there are days when I really don't feel like sticking my finger in my eyes.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Fruits and veggies, chocolate, baked goods, in that order.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings...I don't do scary movies.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, since the summer is so hot and sticky here.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs from non-relations, kisses from relations (particularly hubby)

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate, no questions!

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? ??

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? ??

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon, again

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? my mouse (mouse pad is grey at work)

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Nothing actually.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Children laughing

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Utah

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Singing and knitting (not at the same time...although, I could...)

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? San Francisco, CA

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? See above.