Adventures in Knitting and Mommyhood

New Bloggy Home

2009-05-08T15:18:00.002-04:00

I've decided to switch over to wordpress. You can find me at http://gidgettm.wordpress.com

Tadpole Socks

2009-04-23T15:32:00.002-04:00

My very first pattern:

Please stop by Ravelry or email me if you'd like the pattern.

2009-04-17T11:30:00.001-04:00

I've been busy doing a lot of baby knitting. It's really just taking over my life right now. And Steve has been out of town and will be again shortly. I feel like I'm losing days and sanity. Chocolate helps. Really that's about it. I've been trying to write a more substantial post, but this is about all I can seem to manage. Most of my energy is devoted to chasing after H, finishing up the last of the baby knits so I can send them to their intended recipients, and praying that one of the two interviews Steve has had will lead to a job.

1. Easter Bunny, 2. fish and starfish, 3. WHW, 4. Blanket, 5. Soaker, 6. Stripy Soaker, 7. Katja, 8. IMG_5889, 9. IMG_5841, 10. IMG_5837, 11. Fishy Side, 12. PF Soaker back

Cloth diapering

2009-04-13T15:09:00.002-04:00

Once I found out I was pregnant and living in a place with a washer/dryer, I knew I'd be cloth diapering.

For me, cloth diapering is super easy. I also can tolerate the diaper changes better than the few times we have used disposables. I do laundry every other day for the most part. And in the summer, I line dry them.

I really love to talk about cloth diapers, so if you are thinking about using them, or just have questions, feel free to message me.

Almost Birthday Yarny Goodness

2009-03-19T14:02:00.003-04:00

Shibui Knits Sock in Anime:

Shibui Knits Sock- Orchid:

Indie Dyer Supersock- Storybook:

Tuscan Grove Venice- Galileo:

Dream in Color Smooshy- Beach Fog:

Happy like whoa. I need more needles and time....

Good News, Bad News Edition

2009-03-16T16:21:00.004-04:00

Good News: I finished my brother's sweater.

Bad News: I wasn't 100% happy with how the zipper bands and bottom hem came out. If you are making Avast, bind off the bands very, very loosely.

Good News: I blocked the Maja shawl and I love it! I wish that I had the extra skein or two of yarn it would have needed to be full size, but I can always make another.

Bad News: I found huge holes in my jaywalkers after I washed them. Note to self, do not wear handknit socks with handknit felted slippers. Time to reknit the heels.

Good News: It's been over 46 degrees for three days in a row. This means I can take H outside for walks and exploration time.

Bad News: I found an eraser in his diaper. I'm pretty sure he ate it and didn't just stick it down his pants, but you never know.

Busy, busy, and bored

2009-03-12T12:35:00.004-04:00

So far, March is keeping me on my toes, but also has me bored. I think H is going to get a bunch more teeth soon, but I always say that and then he doesn't get teeth for months. He is in the process (about halfway there) of getting his front, left tooth in. Teeth are slow moving things in my house.

What else...

I submitted a sock pattern to Knitty.

I finished my brother's sweater (it's blocking, so no pics yet).

I'm about 1/3 through one baby project.

I cast on for another baby project.

The Maja shawl is blocking, too.

I want it to be warm enough to take H out for walks (low 40s isn't cutting it).

We are waiting to hear where we will be living next year. Right now, my husband is position-less (he is a college professor). Hopefully we will hear something before June.

My brother came to visit last Friday and he'll be back on Sat.

There is a sweet contest going on from the peeps over at Phat Fiber. Check it out here.

I got a skein of Noro in the mail from a Ravelry group random act of kindness. That ruled.

4am and nothing to do but think

2009-02-24T09:52:00.002-05:00

It's 4 am on the dot. You woke up screaming and shrieking. I know you must have had a bad dream, or your teeth are really hurting you. I hurry to put on socks and a sweatshirt, it's cold outside of bed (57 to be exact). I rush in to rescue you from the crib and you sweetly snuggle into my shoulder and sigh, happy to know someone will get you.

I heat some milk and then we sit down in the armchair. Everything is so still outside. There is no breeze to move the two ropes dangling from the tree across the street. There are no runners this early, and no cars with people on their way to work. It is eerie. Even the house across the street is dark, their baby must be sleeping well today. (Normally, I see the flicker of their tv in the early morning that matches ours. I wonder if they also take comfort in the fact that there is someone else up with their baby like I do.)

You sigh and look at me, questioning why you are up. You close your eyes and try to go back to sleep. I am trying to will you to sleep with my mind, but I know in my heart that you are up for the day and so am I.

I both hate and love this time of the morning. I'd rather be sleeping, but I know I won't get this quite, still time with you for much longer. Even 30 minutes into our morning, you are trying to push away. You want the warmth and comfort of mama, but you also want to go exploring. I keep you in my arms for another few minutes, then turn on Sesame Street and curl up on the futon. You do such a good job of playing quietly, so I can get as much rest as possible. We watch the sun come up together, and then we start our day in earnest.

Actual knitting content

2009-02-11T08:07:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a lot of under the radar knitting, so there aren't many bloggable pictures.

Secret item one is completely done and very cute. I can't wait to show it to you, but for the moment it is in hiding.

Secret item two is halfway through and I'm pleased with how it is turning out. I'm hoping to submit it to Knitty.com, which means there can be no pictures until it is either rejected or the issue comes out.

Non-secret item one is the Maja wrap. I'm knitting it using Noro Cash Iroha, which is absolutely lovely. That could be the cashmere and silk though. I will most likely be short of yarn, but only by one pattern repeat.

Non-secret item two is the Christmas sweater for my brother. It's, uh, taken a bit longer than it should have, but he's a nice enough guy that it doesn't seem to bother him. I've replaced the original cable with the one seen below. I like it much better and I think he will too. More details on my Ravelry page.

Shopping Tips

2009-02-06T12:15:00.003-05:00

We eat fairly to very well on a somewhat limited budget. Here are some tips:

1. I always make a two week menu before going shopping. Sitting down and deciding on around 8-10 meals helps avoid impulse purchasing. That number accounts for at least a few nights of leftovers and all of our lunches. Recently, I've started a spreadsheet of menu ideas so I'm not completely overwhelmed when it is time to do menu planning.

2. I organize my shopping list into store areas (produce, dairy, protein, condiments, etc). I'm not sure if it helps save money per se, but it does eliminate confusion and shortens the time I'm actually in the store.

3. Do not buy items that are not on the list unless they are a necessity (like milk- Cheese Its do not count just because they are on sale). I tend to just do a general fruit/veggies line because I like to see what is local and looks good. Not strictly on the list, but not an impulse buy item.

4. Don't buy junk food. No chips, pop, cookies. Not only will you lower your bill, but you will (theoretically) be healthier.

5. Only buy meat that is on sale. Look up the flyer and plan your meal from that, or go in with several meal ideas that are 'flexible' on the cut and type of meat.

6. Eat before you go. Make sure you are full. It is harder to throw everything in your cart because it 'just looks good' when you are really not hungry.

7. I find that I'm able to keep to my budget better when my husband isn't with me. I feel guilty about indulging in extras when he isn't there. When he is there, I will get things we don't need because he wants them and I want to make him happy. You might work better with someone to hold you accountable.

8. Try to go to the store when it is not crowded. I find that I do better when I have time to think about whether I really need that extra ____ when there aren't tons of people around.

9. If you can, use coupons. I hardly ever buy things that are pre-made or pre-prepared, so I don't collect coupons. But, if you are getting cereal/salad dressing/ frozen pasta, check to see if you can find a coupon.

10. Keep a large pantry. If I notice flour/sugar/canned tomatoes/etc is on sale, I will typically get at least two. I might spend more that trip (like $10), but chances are I'll save money later. We could probably make at least a week's worth of food based on my pantry and freezer alone.

Here's an example menu from the beginning of the month:

Ground Beef was on sale, so I based most of the menu around beefy meals.

-tacos w/refried beans

-enchiladas

-sloppy joes w/salad

-meatloaf w/mashed potatoes

-thai beef with mint w/rice

-sweet and sour pork w/spring rolls

-pad thai

-thai omelet

-32 bean soup w/bread

-grits/sausage/eggs for breakfast

(yes, I tend to get on ethnic kicks)

Anyone still reading? Questions?

A flash of things to come?

2009-02-02T15:54:00.002-05:00

It started when I tried to put H down for an afternoon nap (because although he doesn't think so, he still needs one). As per usual, he started making a fuss- shaking the bars of his crib, whining loudly. But, after a little bit, he quieted down.

I thought he had gone to bed, but apparently not.

15 minutes later he was super excited, squealing/laughing- definitely not napping. I went into check on him.

He had taken off his pants, shimmed off his (poop filled)diaper, and was having fun being half naked in his crib. I opened the door and he just laughed at me. :-)

It wasn't too bad, all things considered. None of the stuffed animals were harmed in his hijinks, nor did he take the opportunity to pee.

I probably would have started laughing too, had I not just washed his linens on Friday. Sigh, trying to get ahead only results in more work!

One Year

2009-02-01T14:17:00.003-05:00

Oh, the first year.

It is hard for me to believe how fast it went, or how much you grew. You don't really resemble the tiny, sleeping infant we took home from the hospital any more. The infant that who would only sleep nuzzled into my chest for the first two months. The one who was scarred by his own hiccups (unfortunate because you got them at least three times a day). The frustrated little three month old who wanted to so much on his own, but his body wouldn't let him. The infant that would glare at me when I put him down for 'tummy time'. The little baby who started screaming in a college cafeteria, causing a pack of frat boys to glare at me. Which earned the response: "Safe sex kids, safe sex!"

The four, five, and six month old who couldn't nurse properly, causing both of us much heartache. You don't really resemble the baby who learned to roll over, be amazed, and smile really big when you righted yourself. The one who slept through all of the 4th of July fireworks, much to our amazement. The baby who attacked our plates when we tried to eat dinner (oh wait, you still do that).

You spent much of months seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven developing your little personality. You fell in love with walks in the stroller, quietly sitting, watching the world go by. Sometimes you would hum little songs. So cute. I don't know if you will continue to sing me songs and look in amazement when we go for walks, as there is a foot and a half of snow on the ground. I do know that you will no longer sit sweetly for pictures.

You eat what we eat now, you sit and "read" your books, you want to do things for yourself. You are outgoing and funny. You are full of energy. You are my joy, my love, and the best/worse boss I will ever have.

You are still my baby, even though you are getting bigger every day.

Right, I have a blog....

2009-01-11T11:59:00.004-05:00

To round out my Christmas knitting I finished up my bil's second tooth. Then, I added faces to both.

I made him some great fingerless mittens, from the Tornado pattern.

I left off the flip top, as I didn't think he would use it. Totally not because I ran out of yarn.

I finished my mom's socks:

Then I whipped up three hats in two days. I don't know why, I was a knitter possessed.

1: Unoriginal Hat
2: Baby hat and some mittens:

3. Thorpe
After all the Christmas gifts, I decided I needed to knit on my Lizard Ridge (it had been hibernating since August!).

More details about everything on my Ravelry page: Gidgettm

The massive amounts of knitting may or may not have been influenced by the massive amounts of snow we've been getting...

Thank Bob That's Done

2008-12-13T15:10:00.003-05:00

I finished up my sister's Harry Potter House Sweater three days ago. It finally dried and I snapped some pics:

Details on Ravelry.

So sick of Christmas Knitting

2008-12-09T13:28:00.002-05:00

There has been a lot of knitting going on here. But sadly, it all just looks like piles of gray stockinette stitch. I'm almost done with the second sleeve of the Harry Potter sweater and the second of my mom's socks. No pictures until they're finished- I'm sure you can use your imagination.

Progress

2008-11-17T14:22:00.003-05:00

The Harry Potter sweater continues to grow. I'm about a half an inch shy of splitting for the armhole decreases. All in all, it is going pretty fast with a 9 month old around. I'm thinking it will have a few inches of ease, so it should be comfy and cosy (not just oversized- right??).

I finally started my mom's socks. She didn't want anything lacy, so I opted for a 3x1 rib. I'm not in love with the pooling, but I couldn't stand the thought of starting them for an 11th time (no, I'm not kidding). I figure my mom can deal. :-) I'm just about to pick up stitches for the gusset.

And one finished item. This was actually done awhile ago, but I kept forgetting to take pictures of the finished stocking. I still need to duplicate stitch Henry's name onto the instep and add a loop for hanging, but nothing too major. I really enjoyed this project and the end result is really nice. Ravelry link here.

Up to my eyes in St St

2008-11-12T10:05:00.002-05:00

I'm definitely in the Christmas knitting mode. Every project I'm working on is a present for someone else. I thought I had a pretty good handle on my gifts, until my 16 yr old sister called and requested a sweater. Since I can't resist a teenager asking for handknits, I said yes. But then I thought it would be unfair if my sister got a sweater and not my brother, so I started a sweater for him. Why yes, I am a glutton for punishment.

My sister picked out the House Sweater from Charmed Knits. It's been progressing nicely. I have about 5 more inches than in this photo. I converted the pattern to the round, since I knew it would go faster that way.

I didn't let my brother pick his sweater, I just started on impulse one night. I chose Avast from knitty.com. I left off the bottom cable for now, since I wasn't sure if I wanted to use the cable given in the pattern.

I still have another tooth to finish, a pair of dashing mitts, another pair of felted clogs, and a sock and a half left to finish before Christmas. Somehow that looks worse on "paper" than it does in my head. I also need to knit H another hat and possibly mittens. Time to get off the computer and knit!

This was going to be about knitting, but....

2008-11-05T10:24:00.004-05:00

I am so incredibly happy today. Yesterday, I voted, hoping that there would be change in our country. I voted for my son. I voted for his future. During the primaries, I couldn't seem to express how happy it made me to choose between a woman and a candidate of color. It was extremely satisfying to be able to choose someone other than a white male in my lifetime. And it wasn't lost on me that not too long ago, women and minorities weren't permitted to vote. Throughout the election process, I felt terrified that things wouldn't turn out the way I hoped they would. But, for once, the general population has proved me wrong.

I am proud that so many people came out to vote yesterday. That so many people took the time to educate themselves about the candidates and the issues. I can only hope and pray that this trend continues and that people start realizing that their votes do make a difference. I wish people would start realizing that being educated and wanting to better yourself doesn't make you elitist. It makes you involved and engaged.

The one dim spot in an otherwise joyous day is that Californians passed Prop. 8. I'm not sure why people are so afraid of change. Hopefully, this type of thinking will change in the coming years as well. Because I don't want to raise my children in a country that promises freedom of religion, but then denies two people marriage because of their interpretation of the Bible.

For the first time in a long time, I can say that my country has made me proud. I hope the trend continues. I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief and I can't wait to see what happens next.

VOTE

2008-11-04T13:11:00.001-05:00

Please, please, please get out and vote today.

(real post to follow)

Standing

2008-10-04T08:54:00.001-04:00

There is standing going on here at Chez Jenna. H is pulling himself up on everything and anything possible. He can skooch a little in either direction and wants to be able to stand by himself, but falls down if he tries. It's pretty cute and doesn't seem to bother him at all.

Now that he has mastered pulling himself up on things, H decided he was going to try to climb. So far, he's only managed to climb up on some boxes in the kitchen, but still. Things are changing here. :-)

He's also becoming a little love bug. He'll give me kisses if I ask him and he tries to share his crackers with me. So sweet. And he'll call out for me if he needs a hug. It is so funny, he's growing up and still so small all at the same time.

Massive Knitting Update

2008-10-03T08:20:00.004-04:00

Nothing like posting everything all at once. Most of these are Christmas gifts, so the descriptions are vague on purpose. I've been kind of amazed at my ability to get so much knitting done after H has gone to bed. Normally I feel like I don't get a lot done, but those rows add up!

First up, Helena from knitty.com. I made the four year old size for a friend's daughter. Her birthday is in Nov, so this will soon be winging it's way to North Carolina. Full specs on ravelry.

Then I finally finished up my Pomatomus socks, also from knitty. Details here.

Next, a bear I was making for charity. But when I finished it H grabbed it and hugged it and started laughing. Guess I'll have to make another for charity.

Then I made Grrr, which turned out more like an orangutan than a lion. Shrug, it is still super cute.

H's Falling Snow Stocking. Still in progress. I'm planning on making some changes to the foot portion, so that it is all in red. Overall, this is a nice colorwork pattern- fairly easy since I haven't done fair isle in awhile.

A stuffed tooth. Pretty self explanatory. The pattern could be a bit better written. I'm thinking of making another one and I might tweak the increases/decreases/short-rows. I haven't decided if I'm going to put a face on it or not.

The unoriginal hat. Such a quick, easy knit with great results. I wish I liked knitting on larger size needles more, because I'd make a whole bunch of these.

Calorimetry two. Had to tweak the pattern so my needles/yarn would come out somewhat similar to the finished measurements.

Finally, the Ilean cowl. Another quick and easy knit. Details here.

I've actually got more to blog about, but either they have no pictures or the pictures are on the other computer. Besides, this post is probably long enough as it is. :-)

The Things We Eat

2008-09-12T08:29:00.003-04:00

I found this on a knitting blog and thought it was pretty neat.

Bold entries are things I have eaten. Entries in strike-through are things I don't really want to try. Entries in italics are things I've eaten and never want to eat again.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison- in sausage form, not too bad
2. Nettle Tea- sounds interesting
3. Huevos rancheros -not a big fan of stuff other than cheese on my eggs
4. Steak tartare - Love
5. Crocodile
6. ~~Black pudding~~ this is a maybe, but it would have to be with Anthony Bourdain
7. Cheese fondue -Love
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho- I'd really love to try this, but there are a scarcity of good ethnic restaurants in Erie
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses- sounds like something I'd eat
17. Black truffle- I don't think truffle oil counts here
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes- blueberry wine
19. Steamed pork buns- thinking about them makes me miss the dim sum restaurant in Toledo
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes- yummy
22. Fresh wild berries- double yummy
23. Foie Gras
24. Rice and beans- I wish I could make proper beans and rice.
25. ~~Brawn, or head cheese~~ - I'll leave this to my husband
26. ~~Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper~~ - no, never
27. Dulce de leche- Love
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda- ooh, this sounds pretty good
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut- I may eventually come to like this, so I won't italicize it just yet
35. Root beer float
36. ~~Cognac with a fat cigar~~- I know I will not appreciate this, so I'll leave to someone who does
37. Clotted cream tea- I'm assuming they mean a clotted cream tea as opposed to tea with clotted cream
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O- good way to get drunk fast
39. Gumbo- not my thing
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. ~~Whole insects~~
43. ~~Phaal~~
44. Goat's Milk
45. ~~Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more~~
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin- I may have had sea urchin sushi, but I can't remember
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV- not my thing
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin- I'm not sure what this is...
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. ~~Roadkill~~
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong- to me this tastes like wet campfire
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.- I'm confused as to why someone wouldn't want this...
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

I've tried 47 out of 100, looks like I need to get tasting.

timing

2008-08-27T11:02:00.005-04:00

Now (7 months, 16#2oz, 26.75") Then (2 months, 10#1oz, 22.75")

H has a special knack for waking up just when I'm about to post. He has proved this to me no less than five different times.

He is getting bigger everyday. I'm happy, content, and starting to miss some of his babyisms. Lately he has been super cuddly in the mornings, which is nice. I love my snuggles. :-)

I completed the Ravelympics (a few hours before the deadline too).

I finished up the shell and legs on my long lingering Sheldon (from knitty.com).

Next up was the Trellis sweater (also from knitty.com). I've been wanting to make this ever since it came out, and even more so when I found out I was having a baby boy, but gauge problems had stumped me until now. I ended up using the yarn called for in the pattern, which is a rarity for me. I still had gauge issues, so I cast on everything in the smallest size, 6 months, but it measures somewhere in the 1-2 year size.

I'm focusing on Christmas knitting now. And surprisingly, I'm actually making progress. Hopefully an update on that soon.

Artisan Bread Part Two

2008-07-20T19:47:00.003-04:00

Jeff Hertzberg (one of the authors of the book) left a comment on my last post and I wanted to address his question regarding knitting and baking.

First off, thanks so much for the comment! I really have been enjoying the book a lot and since we've got it, I haven't needed to buy bread from the store once.

For me, knitting and baking are very similar. They are both crafts where you take very simple things (flour/water and string/sticks) and make incredibly complicated end products. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I know that I can turn ordinary items into such extraordinary things.

I'm very much a "process" person. Yes, I'm elated when the finished project turns out like I wanted it to in my mind, but most of my enjoyment comes from actually working through the steps. The rest of my enjoyment comes from sharing my rewards with other people. I love baking for people. I always get comments about how much time it takes people or how they could never do x, y, or z. I really don't buy into that mentality at all. If you have the desire to learn, you will find the time to accomplish anything. And, while I'm not an expert baker or knitter, I do take the time to try to improve my skills when I get the opportunity.

Last , but not least, I think it is important to regain some of those old world skills. I'm very glad for modern inventions, but I think we can't forget our past. I also try to cook from scratch most days and can food when I'm able. It wasn't so very long ago that people made all of their own food and clothes. (Plus, in my husband's mind, we'll be prepared if the apocalypse comes and we have to live off the land.)

And lastly a super cute picture of H meeting a doggie for the first time:

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

2008-07-10T15:19:00.004-04:00

I love this book so much. For my sake, I'm figured I'd document the process.

First: I mix up the water and yeast. The book says you don't need to proof the yeast, but I find five minutes makes a huge difference in the rise that I get out of the bread. Then I add in the salt and flour. I mix it all up with my hands, fun! This is what it looks like after the initial rise and after a night in the fridge.

And a close up of all those bubbles:

The top looks like of gross.

I start the process by putting a sheet of parchment on a cookie sheet. I dust the parchment with cornmeal. Then I dust my hands with flour and pull off a large hunk (the size of a small cantaloupe, not a grapefruit like in the book). I don't usually need a lot of excess flour to shape. I let the dough rise for at least 90min, if not more.

Then I dust the top with flour and slash the dough to form vents. I preheat the oven completely (so to 450) and when it is ready, I get the cup of water to pour in the boiler tray (to make a crispy crust). I slide the parchment/dough off the cookie sheet onto the baking stone, pour in the water, and quickly close the door.

After 35 minutes of breaking I get a nice loaf of bread. The oven was running a little hot this time, normally the loaves aren't this dark (still really yummy though).

Cut and enjoy!

Hallelujah

2008-06-21T09:40:00.004-04:00

HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!

(7:00pm-6:30am, 3 days short of 5 months)

My body was seriously excited about the continuous sleep.

I was going to say someth... Ooh Shiny

2008-06-20T13:48:00.005-04:00

I keep writing posts in my head, but then I get distracted by something else (usually the baby) and forget to write them down.

Like: How it seems so cruel for the gas station at the end of our street to keep up the $3.36/gallon sign when they no longer sell gas.

Like: How I got my hair cut (~15 inches) because it was driving me crazy in the heat, but it is no longer hot,hot,hot outside.

Like: How I'm thinking about going back to work, which is both exciting and terrifying.

Like: How things have gotten much better since my husband now volunteers for baby duty sometimes. And how it is really amusing that H seems to save up his dirty diapers for daddy and has let me off the hook for two whole days. (!)

Like: Sleep training (or whatever you want to call it) is way harder on the mommies than the babies or daddies. That said, knowing that he'll be in his crib from 9-10 and 1-3 has definite perks; such as eating lunch, writing blog posts, and keeping sane.

In the end though, I will just leave with a cute baby picture:

Musings

2008-05-23T19:16:00.004-04:00

I thought I'd start off with a cute baby picture. H has been getting more and more enthusiastic about interacting with the camera when I try to get a picture. It is both fun and frustrating.

I've been wondering lately about how to manage daddy/H time. Because I'm a SAHM, I feel that the majority of childcare should fall to my shoulders. At the same time, this job doesn't come with much down time, which could drive me insane pretty easily. I also want to be able to give the husband time "off" once he gets home, because I know that I needed time to decompress after being at work all day.

But how does one balance your partner's need for down time with your own? I get about 2 hours of "free" time a day during H's naps. I usually take 45mins to an hour to read blogs and check email. Any other free time goes to doing laundry, cooking, or (in rare cases) cleaning. We're also back to getting up at least three times during the night, with official wake up time starting at 6:45. I've been passing off the baby until 8 or so, which does seem to help.

So, my question is: what baby duties should the non-stay at home person have?

My First Mother's Day

2008-05-16T12:20:00.002-04:00

start whine In all honesty, it kind of sucked. H isn't sleeping well and is having issues feeding well. Steve didn't have anything planned and had to tutor for a few hours at school. Plus it was a rainy and dismal kind of day. We ended up having Arby's for dinner, which was okay because I didn't have to cook it. Chalk this up to one more thing in motherhood that didn't really turn out like I had expected. I really wish there was a nice picture or card to remember it by, but perhaps it is best that I just let this memory fade. Steve's parents did send a yarny gift and a Target gift card, which was really nice. Even if the gift card was used mostly to get things we needed for the house and cds for Steve. I did get the Flight of the Concords cd for me and the new BNL kid's cd for H. whine over.

Done

2008-05-03T15:51:00.004-04:00

Yay, Jaywalkers are done.

As you can see, my gauge was slightly off (hence the mis-matching feet). They are so comfy and stay up really well. I only had a few yards of yarn left when I was done though, so if I were going to make them again, I'd either have a second skein waiting or use something with a bit more yardage.

In mommy news, H started rolling over this week. He only has done it once (from his tummy to his back), but he keeps coming thisclose to doing it again. He really wants to be moving on his own. He's also started laughing. It is so adorable and every time he does it I start laughing too.

Top 5

2008-04-14T12:23:00.002-04:00

Things I love about H.

1. He smiles with his whole body. You can see his smile in his ears, eyes, hands, and feet. It's amazing. I can't seem to capture it on film, so I am trying to commit it to memory.

2. His half sneezes (they come out more of an awwhoo). This is my favorite noise in the world. I will be so sad when he no longer does this.

3. How his foot fits in my hand. H has big feet for a baby, so I am trying to take the time to remember what his feet and hands are like at this age.

4. His morning waking up smiles. These are so sweet. They are different than the during the day smiles because he's still sleepy. They make waking up early so much better.

5. His concerned 'Baby McCain' face. When he is deep in thought or looking worried, his face scrunches up and looks like they took John McCain and put him in a 3 month old's body.

It's A Virtue

2008-04-10T18:17:00.002-04:00

I really could use some patience. I wish that I was better at waiting for other people to decide where we will be living next year, but it is a little hard for me. I really wish these things could be decided earlier. And for the most part, it seems like it is completely arbitrary over which candidate they choose. I can only imagine what Steve must be feeling if I'm freaking out over these decisions. So, if anyone is reading this, please keep us in your thoughts/prayers. Possibilites are here, Georgia, Texas, and NC. I suppose if everything goes wrong, we could live with our parents, but please God don't let that happen.

one down, one to go

2008-04-03T12:30:00.006-04:00

I finished one jaywalker:

It fits a little weird, but it fits, so all is well. It is such an easy pattern to memorize, so it is easy to pick up and put down (important feature with an infant in the house).

I also finished up another pair of longies for Henry.

I dyed the wool with Kool-Aid enhanced with food dye. These are from the Itchy-Fingers Longie Pattern, which is great. I love all the customization you can do and it really flies by.

I'm also working on getting H to sleep in his crib. It goes well one day and then not very well the next several. Today he took a morning nap there, but it was a short one. It seems that he does best if I let him cry (but not too much), rock him and give him the pacifier, and then put him down. Sadly, that doesn't always work and I can't figure out why he'll fall asleep in the crib one time and not another. And he flat out refuses to go to bed in the crib. I've tried the dr's suggestion of putting him down, letting him fuss for 10 minutes, going back to reassure him for a minute, and just repeating that until he falls asleep, but he never actually falls asleep (I did this for over two hours and decided it wasn't happening). So, if anyone reads and has some tricks, that would be great.

Who Needs Sleep

2008-03-29T12:05:00.003-04:00

Last night was hard. It was the first time we attempted to put H in his crib for the night. I tried to go to sleep by myself, but I couldn't. The 9 weeks since H has been in bed with me, I've dreamt of the day when I could stretch out and have the bed to myself. But once it happened, I couldn't deal with it. I missed him so much. I laid awake for 3 hours listening to the monitor and trying to reassure myself that he was fine and I was paranoid (which I was). It felt so odd to not have him next to me (or in me for that matter). The attempt lasted until 12:30, when he started to stir and I practically ran to get him and bring him back to bed with me.

Sadly, this all meant that I'm trying to function today on even less sleep than normal and H is all messed up and doesn't want to nap properly today. So, we're both feeling a little like this:

Starting Over

2008-03-28T15:52:00.004-04:00

My past blogging attempts have all fallen by the wayside, however, I'm no longer working in an office, so I figured that maybe I might be more diligent now that I'm a sahm.

It also helps that I'm 99% sure no one reads this anymore, so no pressure, right?

I guess I'm also craving an outlet for my projects and thoughts, since making friends in Erie hasn't been the easiest for me. Thank god for the yarn store. I know that to non-knitters, this sounds really geeky/weird, but it is so nice to know that there is a place where you will fit in. Overall, most knitters are really easy going, nice people.

Motherhood is going well, although it can be extremely frustrating at times. H got his first set of shots on Wed. and I'm sure it was much harder on me than it was on him. He did so good, he only cried for a minute or two, but he did get a little cranky and feverish later in the day. He is working on rolling over. It's so cute, he gets about half way there and then tips back. :-) H also babbles a lot now. He'll even "sing" along with me when I sing the ABC's.

The knitting has been going well. I was so happy after H was born to get started knitting again. It really helped to make me feel more human again. I started to knit a shawl for a little bit of knitting stimulation, but I haven't gotten very far since it requires me to be alert while reading the charts. My brain hasn't been able to handle it lately. My mother-in-law sent some really wonderful yarn for my birthday (socks that rock). I started a pair of Jaywalkers and I'm pleasantly surprised with the lack of icky pooling. I'm not so sure how they'll fit when they are done, as it is a bit snug to pull on (maybe this means they won't sag after a few hours of wear?).

So, yeah- welcome to the new blog.