Back After a Month...again.

Well, I'm back for my once a month post. There has been so much going on, it's no wonder I never get on here.

Mother's Day was a wreck. Not for my Mother's Day, but taking the kids to see my mother. My sister happened to show up at the same time. And while that's a really nice thing, it sucked for me and the kids. We brought a little gift, what we could afford, and some muffins and milk for breakfast. She didn't even say thanks. Nor did she tell me Happy Mother's Day. I was so hurt. I understand she was happy to see my sis and all, since she doesn't get to see her very often, but come on! I am the one who spends my little bit of gas money to come up there pretty much every week, often more than once a week. I am the one who brings my kids up to see her. Does my sister? NO. And yet she'd rather see her. Thanks mom, you're the greatest.

Then later in the evening, we went to see G's mom at work. Thought it would be a nice surprise since she had to work on Mother's Day. Ha. She didn't tell me Happy Mother's Day, either. Bitch.

I don't expect a gift. I don't even want one. My children are my Mother's Day gifts. Without them, I wouldn't be a mother. But at least SAY the phrase. I was so hurt by my M and MIL not even saying it. And it isn't as if they forgot what day it was, we were there to give them their gifts!

However, my own personal part of Mother's Day was wonderful. My children kept telling me Happy Mother's Day all day long. It was very sweet. After leaving my mother's, we stopped by G's work and had lunch together. The kids behaved rather well, which is always a nice addition to my day. Then after he was done with work, we hung out at home until we went to see MIL. Dinner was made for me and everything was peaceful and "family-ish".

The weekend of Mother's Day was really tough without the disaster that was M & MIL's Mother's Day. Around the corner from us, on Saturday, there was an apartment fire. We woke up to sirens at 8am. We looked out to see tons of police cars all the way up and down the street. We couldn't figure out what was going on until I opened the front door and saw the smoke. There was so much smoke. It was horrible. After some time, I knew someone had died because one ambulance left very shortly after they arrived and another took their time leaving. They only don't rush when there is no hope. A little while later, we heard a woman outside screaming. She had just come to the scene in a car. Later, we found out she had been at work. The police wouldn't let her closer than almost a block away. My heart was aching for her. I knew it was family of hers.

That evening, we found out just how terrible the news was: A child. A little 7 year old boy. The screaming woman was his mother. I have a 7yo myself. It turns out that this little boy was in my daughter's class last year. I had thought his name was familiar when I read it in the news.

I feel so badly for this family. I wish I could afford to do something for them. They need everything, but most of all, they need money. I can't help there.

In the midst of this sadness, Baby news seems sort of crass, but I'll still put something. We are 37 weeks today. I'm sick of being pregnant. I just want this over. I want to go out and get a job. I want this mess to be over. At my last appointment, we measured 39, so it's apparent that his growth has slowed down a bit. I'm disappointed because that means less chance of an early delivery. And my sanity level is constantly dropping, my fuse is getting shorter and shorter with everyone. I feel like I'm about to go over the edge. I feel like I can't hold on to everything anymore. Hell, I feel like I can't hold on to anything anymore. It's even kind of scary. Thinking about how I'm feeling now makes me wonder how I'll feel taking care of a newborn.

Knitting has been... sporadic to say the least. I can't stick with one project. Honestly, I want to cast on about fifteen different things but know that they won't go anywhere if I do. I bought some Caron Simply Soft to make a really pretty sleeveless top. The magazine calls it a tank, I'd say it's more of a vest. You've got to wear some sort of shirt under it because it has big lacy holes in it. Well, I suppose you could go without the shirt under it... if you're into that sort of... erm... exposure...

I'm making hubby an awesome small dice bag. (Update: I was trying out a pattern I found online but the pattern was poorly written and full of mistakes. I ended up just playing with my own ideas after looking at other patterns.) I think it's my first step toward sock knitting. It's made on dpns but is basically just a little tube. Nothing like a heel or any of that. I feel the desire to make socks, but the price of sock yarn is my biggest deterrent. I don't think I'm concerned about the process anymore, or the difficulty (that used to be my biggest deterrent), it's more that I feel the need to get "a lot" for my money when it comes to buying yarn.

I finished Bam's Fingerless Mitts. I didn't even put the into my Ravelry yet. He loves them. He was incredibly impressed that I thought up the pattern myself. Considering how brilliant he is, it felt damn good to have impressed him with my brain power.

One Month

One month since my last post. Geez. I've been on the computer a ton but not here. Lazy about blogging, I suppose. So many other things to do and look at. (So much Ravelry, so little time...)


Melissa had her baby, Kyle, on the 3rd. He looks just like his daddy. We went and visited them at the hospital the next day. I was planning on giving them the sweater I'd made for him. Unfortunately, the sweater does not want to be finished! The first sleeve is just not coming together right for me. The worst part- it's the same sweater I made for my soon-to-be-born son! That one worked up like a dream, nearly perfect. I was so proud of my first sweater, feeling that since I did it once, I could certainly do it again. Ha! Kyle's sweater has slapped me in the face on that one. But, eh, he's worth it, I'll keep trying. Of course, I told Melissa that if it doesn't start to work for me soon, I'm going to set it on fire and send her the cripsy bits.

Baby update: We are 33 weeks! That means somewhere between 4 and 7 more to go! (I say "between 4 & 7" because of the whole size thing with this giant baby.) At my last appointment (2.5 wks ago), I was still measuring 33cm, but I had to see a different doctor as mine was out of town and this one measured in a different way. I can't believe that in three weeks, we didn't grow any. Especially since I can eat less and less every day and my heartburn gets worse and worse every day! Other than that, not much has changed. I'm scheduled for my next visit on the 22nd. My doctor will be back, thank goodness! I seriously didn't like the other doctor. We'll see how this next one goes.

I'm cruising along with Lula's Angel. It's been a fun knit. The pattern is called "Easiest Ever Knitted Angel doll" and the name is really fitting. I can't imagine an easier dolly to make. What's best about it is that it's a variation of a teddy bear pattern and the designer, Noreen Crone-Findlay, has actually made several versions for different animals and dolls. I'm planning on making Lainey an angel as well and a teddy bear for each of the boys. I can't decide yet if I'm going to make Cakers's in the same colors as Lula's. It's really turning out to be a lovely combination, but I don't want them fighting over them (...any more than they already would...). It will probably turn out to be a different color combo for each of them. I also really like that the pattern calls for whatever yarn and needles you want. The size of the finished item varies with your choices. With Lula's, I'm using three strands of worsted weight and size 11 needles. I plan on making Bam's a bit bigger by going with four strands of worsted or maybe two to three strands of bulky and size 13s. Cakers's will have to be a bit smaller, of course, and Baby's smallest of all.


We've finally got new neighbors downstairs. It's just one younger lady and her baby. Well, I guess her other two kids are with her every other weekend, too. I hope she's not a jerk. I'm thinking she's somewhere close to my age. Maybe she's a knitter... (How cool would that be?!?!?!)

Another Day. :)

The sun is shining, it's starting to get warm. Even thought it's supposed to snow tonight, I'm still feeling pretty good today.

Baby News

So I went to the doctor this morning. At 28.5 weeks, I am measuring out at 33cm! This child is HUGE. In my three previous pregnancies, I've measured out at just the week we were in. I'm telling you, this size thing with this boy is freaking me out. However, I did ask doc at what point does measuring out so much larger than expected become a concern. He told me that if it looks like Baby is still looking really big at about 37 weeks, I'll be sent for an ultrasound to estimate fetal weight. And if he's near 9lbs, we'll go in for induction. I've had an induction before and it was not as terrible as I had been told it would be. I didn't feel that the contractions were any worse than those of my first labor. And there's no comparison to my third because I was brave enough to have an epidural that time. I will not go without an epidural this time.

I considered a homebirth this time around. It has many appealing points. But I've decided I'm too much of a chicken and a wimp to go drug free. Especially if this child keeps growing at this rate!

I've been lazy in my knitting lately. I just can't seem to pick it up! I'm looking into future projects but can't keep at the ones I've got already going. It's not like I have only one thing going. I've got plenty of UFO's at my disposal.

I suppose part of it is being so tired. We just traded the living and computer rooms. That was exhausting and it's not even really done. There's a million things that still need a new home or to be dumpstered. And to top it off, during the switch, the USB cable for the camera got misplaced. I've got knitting updates I wanted to get onto Ravelry that I can't do anything with. It's irritating to check into my notebook and there's no progress showing on anything. And talk to G about where it went? HA! That's helpful. (And I wanted to get a picture of Scarfy (see previous post) on here. Just so everyone could see how lovely Scarfy really is.)

I suppose that since I've got some time right now, I really should get moving on Kyle's sweater.

Poor Scarfy (or) The Scarf No One Wanted

So I made this scarf. I personally think it's beautiful. It's made of four different yarns in different purple and turquoise colorways. But I made it for someone. It wasn't for me. Sure, I could just keep it for myself. But that's not the point.

Well, original recipient (we'll call her "A") has been over to my apartment a few times since I finished poor Scarfy. And has yet to collect the prize. I've pointed Scarfy out to A each time she's been for a visit. (Nudge, nudge, your scarf is still waiting for you.) Now, I'll admit, A's favorite color is green. But I know full well she likes blues, too. Her team coat would look great with Scarfy! A green scarf would clash like vomit on a white bedspread. And yet, Scarfy has never gone home with her. Poor, neglected Scarfy.
After several nudge-nudge's, I decided that, despite A saying she liked Scarfy, perhaps, somehow, mysteriously, she really did not. OK, pride hurt, ego bruised. And then over it. Too bad for A, if she can't appreciate art, well, so be it. Scarfy will have a new master chosen. So we move onto, uh, we'll call her "B".

B has come for a visit before Scarfy's original intended has brushed him off too many times. She has commented on how attractive Scarfy is, how soft Scarfy feels, how nice Scarfy is. Oooo, Scarfy has an admirer! But B is told that Scarfy is someone else's. B shows great disappointment in learning this. AND SAYS THE FOLLOWING: "Well, if A doesn't like/want/love/worship Scarfy, please, send him my way." I file away that little thought and go on with life, anticipating that Scarfy will be taken home A's next visit. And, of course, A's next visit comes and goes and Scarfy sits here, patiently waiting for his ride home.
So the new master for Scarfy is chosen. It will be none other than... da da da... B! On B's next visit, I tell her that A has decided that Scarfy was not made for her. B goes on and on about how A is nuts, anyone in their right mind would love to have Scarfy, A does not deserve Scarfy if she "forgets" to take him home, etc., etc. Yes, I think, Scarfy now has someone who will love him as he deserves! I love him, in my own way, but again, Scarfy was made with the gifting kind of love. And he does not match my coat. I'd look like a colorblind fool wearing Scarfy with my Green Bay Packers coat. I ask B if she would like to take Scarfy to be her own. She shrieks with delight and dances in circles with Scarfy cradled in her arms. (OK, she did shriek with delight but the dancing didn't happen. One can dream that their knitting will someday have such effect on people...) And then the visit ended.

I go about picking up this and that around the apartment. And find... WHAT?!?!?! SCARFY?! No, this can't be happening! Why are you still here? We found you a new loving owner! (Didn't we?) What is going on? Why can't you leave? Is there still a ball of one of your yarns attached to you and the recipients are just waiting for you to be finished and your ends weaved in? No, that's not it, you're all done and ready to move out. Your bags are packed, you've been taken off the lease, you've said your goodbyes. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!

I don't get it. What immovable force is keeping Scarfy here? Have I really let go? Am I hiding Scarfy before his masters leave so they must leave him behind? No, Scarfy was sitting on the yarn drawers, right by the front door, each time A left. And Scarfy was on the table when B left. Do I (or does Scarfy?) somehow create a blind spot in A or B's field of vision when they're getting ready to go? I cannot comprehend this. Is this a common occurrence in the knitting universe? I can't imagine someone behaving this way in relation to a knitted gift. A is an excellent crocheter, she knows the time it takes to create something by hand. B, does not do either, but I forgive her that.

What will we do about Scarfy? Poor, lovely, soft Scarfy. How he must feel.

I guess I'm buying a new coat.

My Intelligence Level

It seems it may have dropped. I can't even figure out how to add a picture on a Ravelry post. I feel incredibly stupid. I've read and reread the directions on it, what am I doing wrong?! I blame in on winter. I can't deal with this white shit any longer! It's sucking the life out of me. And, apparently, my brains.

Moving Along...

Ohhhhhhhhhh......... I'm so flipping tired today. This pregnancy is really doing me in! I want to sleep twenty hours a day. Not that I can, there's too much for a mom to do!

I have, however found some help. I was hopping around the net a few days ago, looking for a "Moms with ADD" kind of group or something and came across a link for a site called FlyLady. ( http://www.flylady.net/ ) I am the world's second worst housekeeper. ( I won't say I'm the worst. I know there's worse out there, just read "Dear Margo". A guy wrote in one day saying he has come home from work to find dirty diapers on the floor! http://news.yahoo.com/s/dear_margo/20071130/en_dm/margo_howard20071130;_ylt=ApXcJk2rmSFRmm9MtBfOmSb9mc0F .) So at least I know I'm not the worst. So I was pretty excited to find FlyLady. I've gotten all signed up with her Yahoo group and ha
ve started. Rather pleased with myself. It's really nice to know that there are others out there who can't get it all under control (at least some of the time, anyhow).

I'm getting along with #4's sweater. Pretty quickly considering I'm not getting much time to work on it. It will be the first "official" sweater I've made. I've made two vests for the girls but those had no seaming up to do (worked as one piece to underarms, separated for back & 2 fronts, joined at shoulders with three-needle-bind-off). The first was from a pattern and the other I made up as I went along. Anyhow, I'm making progress faster than I thought I would. Here's my swatch:. I chose a nice manly mix of navy blue and medium-dark green for my little guy.

And here's a pic of the beginning rib on the back (I haven't taken pictures since I started, ok?! I'm working on it!): . I'm really a lot further than these pictures show. I'll try to post an update tomorrow!