Wow! It's been awhile!!

I caught a bad cold, so along with having all the fun pregnancy symptoms I had to deal with cold symptoms as well! :) I finished my other sister-in-laws scarf about a week ago. Here's a couple pics...








Sorry the pics are so bad! I took them at night. I ended up getting them a couple of gift cards to go along with the scarves. I made my brothers cookies and gave them gift cards also. Hopefully they like them! :)


Well, we had sad news... my husbands uncle passed away the day before yesterday, so he went down to Florida for the funeral. We ended up having our Christmas last night because he's not coming back until Monday. It's so sad when that happens anytime, but especially around Christmas. Well, the boys are happy playing with all their toys!! They are so unbelievably spoiled by their grandparents. Oh well the grandparents and the kids love it. What can you do? :) Write more later!!

My little peanut!

I went for my first ultrasound today and got to see my little peanut. The doctor said it's heart was beating strong and that the baby was measuring 7 weeks/2 days, which is right where I thought I was. No knitting to show but I can show you this WIP...





Not much else going on... just heartburn. I hate Tums. Write more later!

Started another Manos scarf...

I started "My So Called Scarf" today. I love how it's coming out! The Manos Del Uruguay is so much fun to work with. I love the varigated colors and the thick and thin of the yarn, it never gets boring...



Manos Del Uruguay - #113 Wildflowers


I'm making it a little skinnier. I cast on 26 instead of 30, I'm hoping to use some of the extra for fringe. This may become another Christmas present.


Well I have noticed in the last couple of days that I have really popped. I guess when it's the third everything is all stretched out and you just show sooner. Yes, I had a little belly from the last two, I kept about 5 lbs with each kid, but this is just ridiculous! I look 6 months not 7 weeks!!



Head cut off because I had just got up recently - not pretty!


Oh isn't it a lovely picture... haha! Anyway, I'm pretty excited my dad mentioned that he may be buying my boys bunkbeds. That will be so nice! I'd love to get them set up in their room, so I can start fixing up the baby's room. I know it may seem like I have plenty of time, but with work and everything, it will probably fly by! Well, not much else! Write more later!

I started and finished something today!

I got the idea for a quick scarf from the new Crochet Me issue. I dove in my stash and pulled out a single skein of Manos. I made up a simple pattern...


1 skein of Manos del Uruguay (135 yards).
size H hook

ch 17

1st row - dc in 3rd ch, dc to the end (14 dc), ch 3, turn.

2nd row - skip 1st and 2nd dc, and dc in 3rd dc, *ch 1, skip one dc, dc in next dc*. *repeat until end. Ch 2, turn. There should be 6 "holes."

3rd row - dc in 1st dc, dc in hole, dc in next dc, repeat until the end, ch 3, turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until yarn is gone - if planning on doing fringe it may be a good idea to cut off what you need first.

ch - chain
dc - double crochet


This was definitely a fun and fast project! I may be giving it to one of my sister-in-law's or step mother for Christmas. Or I may just have to keep it for myself! :) Here's a couple pics...








Well, not much going on here. Just kids and work! I've been feeling pretty good. No morning sickness thankfully!! I just have been so tired!! I took a nap today, I could've slept and slept if it weren't for the kids needing something! :) Write more soon!!

My life in a nutshell...

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be interesting to do.


15 years ago today, I was...
1. Getting very close to my boyfriend Chris.
2. I had just turned 16.
3. I was in 10th grade, probably the best year in high school



10 years ago today, I was...
1. Married for 2 years to my husband Chris.
2. Living in Hawaii.
3. Getting ready to leave Hawaii to open my business in GA.


5 years ago today, I was...
1. Enjoying my almost 6 month old baby, Bradley.
2. Married to my husband Chris for 7 years.
3. Just became a temorary SAHM (stay at home mom).


3 years ago today, I was...
1. Enjoying my 2nd baby Jake, who was only 2 months.
2. Just moved into our 2nd house in White, GA.
3. Married for 9 years to my high school sweet heart, Chris.


1 year ago today, I was...
1. Going Crazy with two toddlers (2 and 4).
2. Married for 11 years.
3. Helping my husband recover from being shot earlier that year.


So far this year, I have...
1. Decided to have another baby and got pregnant!
2. Decided to go full time and then part time again at work.
3. Got a puppy - who is a crazy dog, but is getting better?


Yeasterday, I...
1. Worked early
2. Came home and tried to take a nap (didn't work).
3. Ignored the dishes.


Today, I...
1. Went shopping with some friends at Ikea and Lenox mall in Atlanta.
2. Bought baby clothes for the first time for the new baby.
3. Watched a Christmas parade with the boys.


Tomorrow, I...
1. Will finish the dishes and the laundry.
2. Will get started on clearing out the boys' rooms.
3. Will go to work later on and try to stay awake!


That's it! :) I have been working for the last few days, so not much knitting going on. I have been feeling pretty tired lately, so that's another reason I haven't been getting much done. I'm still working on my co-workers new sock. I'm past the heel now. This one is going much faster!! I'll write more later! :) Sorry no pics today... :(

Tired!

I'm so tired lately, and I'm really trying to be good and stay away from caffeine. I'm having such a hard time getting anything done.. but that's nothing new! :) Well, I started over Helen's socks (my coworker). I had started the Gentleman's socks from the vintage sock book, but they were just driving me crazy! That pattern, the tiny needles. So I started over with some Mountain Colors Bearfoot that I got in Michigan. I'm loving it and it's going so much faster because I'm using size 2 needles instead of size 0! And I'm doing a simple pattern - 2x2 rib cuff and plain stockinette. Have I mentioned how much I love stockinette? :) Here's a pic...





I can't find the ball band right now, so I'm not sure which color this is. She wanted navy, well this is navy with some color thrown in. I hope she likes it!! Well, I received my sock yarn from the "Sweet Shop" today. It's so pretty...





I can't wait to see what Felicia comes up with next! Well, not much else going on here. Just looking forward to my first appointment next week. I hoping I get to see the little bean and see a heartbeat! So excited! Write more later.....

Argh!!

My Jaywalker sock is too small! I decided to try it on yesterday and I couldn't get it past my heel! I've never had that happen before. It's got to be the pattern making it tight... I should done the bigger size!



At least this picture finally shows the true color of the sock yarn.


I already took it apart. I will try to finish my other socks before I start again. I guess that was my punishment! :)


Work has been crazy lately... I work in a grocery store, and that's never fun during the holidays. Grouchy people buying so much stuff and huge, I mean huge, turkeys! I did see someone wearing a Noro vest/poncho today. That was pretty cool. I almost asked her if she knit it herself, but she seemed in hurry and it was cold. I knew it was Noro because it was knit in this famous colorway...



Noro Kureyon #95


Well, not much else going on right now... just a little heartburn and bloating... ahh the joys of pregnancy and it's just beginning! :)


P.S. I bought more sock yarn... aren't the colors so cool! I just love it! Felicia from Sweet Georgia has such a great sense of style! I love her yarns! Ok that's my confession for the day.

I should always check the dryer first...

A few weeks ago I couldn't find my keys... I ran around the house for about 15-20 minutes until I finally checked on top of the dryer and there they were. I've been searching for my camera for at least 3 days. I finally thought I should check on the dryer and of course there it was. I'm so absent-minded sometimes!! So now that I found the camera I can finally update!!


First I want to thank you all for your well wishes and kind words - it meant so much! So far no morning sickness, just back pain! I'm surprised it's starting so early this time! I read it's the hormone Relaxin causing it. Oh gee, I should've known it was a hormone!! :) Speaking of hormones, I had such bad PMS like hormones that first week I found out my mom was ready to move away! That has thankfully subsided!!


I have been working on a couple socks. My Jaywalker socks and my Gentleman's socks. The Gentleman's have been slow going for me. They just have so many stitches on them and the yarn is so dark it's hard to see. Anyway, enough complaining.. they are pretty... I just hope to have done by christmas for my co-worker. Here's a pic...



Picture is much brighter than the actual color.


And here's a picture of my Jaywalker socks. I'm enjoying these a lot! I love the pattern and the yarn! This is my award knitting after knitting on the other socks!






And last but not least... A late birthday present...



Debbie Bliss Merino Aran for the Moss Stitch Cabled Jacket from Book #3.



Color is truer in this picture.


Well, that's all for now!! It's so chilly here tonight! The wind is blowing so hard! It's definitely good sweater weather! Well, I'll write more later!

Pregnant!!

I woke up very early yesterday (about 4:15 am) and got ready for work. On the way to work I stopped at walmart and got one of those clear blue digitals. I went to my mom's house and took the test. It read "Pregnant" in about 30 seconds! I was so excited! I showed my mom and she was pretty excited too. She told me she can't stop thinking about it!



A very blurry pregnant readout.



I took a picture of the box, so dh could match up the blurry words from the test and the box when I emailed him the picture yesterday.


I can't stop thinking about it either! I haven't been able to sleep at all lately. I woke up about 2:00 am, just wide awake. And when I tried to go back to sleep my stomach started growling... Fiercely! So I had to get up and make something to eat. And then I was freezing. I go from hot to cold within seconds. Oh the fun is just beginning! :) I'm so happy though. I can't wait to see what he or she is going to look like and I can't wait to hold the baby in my arms. The estimated due date is July 25th, which is my mom's birthday. That would be a great present for her!


In knitting news... I've been working on my baby blanket, I'm probably a little over a 1/3 done. I want to do another blanket, or shawl actually... It's the one from Debbie Bliss's Special Knits book.






Another view, isn't that baby so sweet??

I may wait until I know what I'm having in four months, or make it in a gender neutral color like white or cream. Well, not much else going on here. Just had breakfast and still hungry. I'm going to be as big as a house before this is over!! :) Write more later!!

I think it might be postive!

I took another test this morning and there was an extremely faint line. I matched it up to the old test and you could definitley see it! I'm so excited! I knew all the symptoms couldn't be in my head!! :) I'm wondering if I should call my mom, I hate to get her hopes up! But I'm pretty sure it's positive. Yippee!! Write more later!

It's funny and not so funny...

I do this to myself every time! I imagine these symptoms. Heartburn, hungry, sore boobs, etc, etc. It was the same when I tried for Jake. It's absolute craziness on my part! I took a test today and it was negative. I had a feeling it might be. I'm not going to test again until I've missed my period. Well, I'm going to try not to think about it for a little while.


Unfortunately... I did start the baby blanket, so it is making me think of it somewhat. It's a cute project though... I love the colors! That's the one thing I did like about making the sweater. With every stitch it's something different. It's not something I would wear though, and I realize that now. Here's my progress (the pics aren't the greatest, but you get the idea)...



Not easy to take a good pic of it because it's pretty wide.



Close up of the Corner - Stockinette and Seed Stitch




Close up of the Middle - Reverse Stockinette, Stockinette and Seed Stitch.


I actually ended up tearing out what I had done last night because it was a little too small. So I cast on more stitches to make it the original size (28 x 28). I just hope and pray I have enough yarn. Well, not much else going on here. I work today and tomorrow, then have my Sunday off. I'd like to go to IKEA again, but I am worried it would be crazy again. Maybe I'll wait and go on Tuesday or Wednesday.

P.S. Bradley did great on the bus. He is growing up so fast. I'm so happy and lucky to have such a sweet and smart boy! :)

Baby Brain

I just can't stop thinking that I might actually be pregnant. I woke up last night around 2 am starving! I'm thinking of testing tomorrow or Saturday morning. I'm trying to hold off as long as possible! Well, since I have baby on the brain so much I decided to start the Big Bad Baby Blanket (again) from the Stitch 'n Bitch book. I took apart this....



Raglan Body Hugger - from Sally Melville's Purl Stitch Book. I really never liked this sweater!


And I got this....



About 900 yards of Koigu Kersti - K118L.



My swatch and close up picture of the blanket.


I got about 6 rows done so far. I'm making it a little smaller 24" x 24" before blocking. Hopefully it's not too small!


In other news... my baby Bradley took the bus to school for the first time this morning. He said he wanted to, so I wrote a note to the school. I put a sign around his neck (you could only get away with doing that to a 5 year old), and told the bus driver who he was. Oh he looked so sweet. My dh was unsure, but I know he'll be fine. It's the nice thing about him going to a small school, everyone watches out for everyone else. Now I'm just waiting for him to get home. Oh my baby is getting so big!! Well, I really should be cleaning. I have dishes and laundry out the wazoo! I'll get to it.. really I will.

Of course you had to know I'd start them....

Especially after that great justifying I did! I'm the princess of justification... my mother is the queen! Anyway... I started the Jaywalker socks the other day.





The picture is not the greatest (taken at night with flash), but you get the idea. Well, I'm trying not to think of every twinge as a symptom if ya know what I mean. It's so hard not to though. Not too much longer until I know for sure! Argh... I hate the two week wait! Write more later!

Sweet Shop Sock Yarn!

I ordered some hand-dyed sock yarn from the Sweet Shop, and it arrived the other day. All the yarn is either hand-dyed or handspun by Felicia of Sweet Georgia. I've admired her yarns ever since she started selling them not too long. Here's some pics of my yarn. I love the colors....








I was thinking of possibly using it for Grumperina's Jaywalker socks. I need to finish at least one pair of socks first though. I have too many started. Although... I was thinking of ripping those lorna's laces socks.


Speaking of socks. I've been working on my navy gentleman's sock from Nancy Bush's Vintage socks book. I joined Pixie's Solid Socks along for support! This yarn is so dark and plain, that I need all the help I can get! The pattern definitely keeps things interesting though. Here's a pic...





Well, not much else going on here. Just waiting, waiting, waiting... only 5-6 more days until I can test. Argh, I can make it, right?

Another small FO...

I couldn't resist making some baby booties to go with the hat...



Oh! Baby Baby Booties - RYC Cashsoft DK - Color Sweet.


I thought they were pretty cute, and pretty easy. Although the way the patterns written it leaves about 15 ends to weave in. I found it much easier to do it as I went. Well, off to work on my scoopy cardi. Write more later!

The Birthday that never ends....

I wish! :) My mother-in-law sent some money, so I ended up ordering the yarn for the Shawl Collared Jacket from Yarn Market. They had everything I need and at a pretty good price.



Cashmerino Aran and Cashmerino Astrakhan in Chocolate.


I have a small FO! I knitted a baby hat for good baby vibes! :) And it's pink for good baby girl vibes! LOL! If it were to happen this month it would be due on or around my mom's birthday, so I was thinking of giving the hat to her as an early birthday present. This is all wishful thinking... but I am thinking postive! I still won't know for about 8 or 9 days. Here's a pic of the hat...



Simple Hat from Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss
Yarn is RYC Cashsoft DK in Sweet


And I have been knitting some on my Scoop Necked Cardi...



Back and Fronts finished!


This is such a fun knit! It's going pretty fast too! I started on the first sleeve last night. I'm hoping I don't run out of yarn. I got one skein tangled up so bad I had to throw half of it away. And I just found out this colorway has been discontinued. Wish me luck!


Well, not much else. Just trying not to obsess too much about the possiblitly of getting pregnant. Chris told me not to obsess either...easier said than done! He's already talking about the truck he wants because we'd need more room for taking trips. Gee... do you think he just wants a new truck? :) Write more later!!!

Birthday shopping and other things...

Well, dh hasn't had a complete change of heart. We are not going to rush things. We are just going to see what happens...


In other news... I went shopping today. First we went to IKEA. What a crazy madhouse!! They were having 15% off everything this weekend. I think everyone in Atlanta was there today. It was pretty cool to see everything though. We were pretty overwhelmed, it is so much bigger than I realized! After IKEA we went to Why Knot Knit. I was hoping to get the yarn for the vogue Debbie Bliss jacket, but they didn't have it all, so I got some other things instead....



Manos Del Uruguay - 113 Wildflowers



Rowan Felted Tweed - 150 Rage



Rowan Vintage Style



Salina from Vintage Style


The Rowan Tweed is for Salina in the Vintage Style and I got the Manos to make a cross hatch scarf. The pattern used to be available, but I guess it's going to be released in creative knitting magazine soon. I may have it stashed away in a binder of patterns I collected when I first started knitting.


edited to add: I found the scarf pattern and it was actually from Sheep in the City. Unfotunately it's no longer on her blog, so I can't give a link to the pattern.


Ok... I have a confession... I have serious startitus lately. I started the Scooped Necked Cardigan from Debbie Bliss's first Noro Book. I finished the back in no time at all and just started a front. I love that it's done sideways. Here's a pic of the back...



Noro Silk Garden - #34


Well, not much else! I'm just doing laundry now to get ready for Monday. Fun, fun! ;) Write more later....

Change of heart?

Dh thinks we should be responsible. Responsible? I just don't think it would be irresponsible to bring a baby into this world that I know I would love with all my heart. Sure money would be tight, sure our car may need to be a tad bigger, but is that what matters? I just don't know? I told him he shouldn't have done that to me because I did get my hopes up even though I told myself not to. This is the one area you can't mess with my emotions because I feel so strongly about it. I'm going to keep talking to him about it. To tell him exactly how I feel. I know he would love another baby, but he can't get past the fact that he thinks it would be irresponsible. Maybe it would, but my heart doesn't think so....


Anyway, enough about that... I'm getting too emotional just thinking about it. Maybe my hormones are on overdrive!! :) In knitting news I have been working on socks. I have four socks started right now! I just started a navy blue pair for a co-worker. She wanted some, but didn't quite know how to ask me. She said she was hoping I would put some on ebay, so she could buy them!! :) I told her I would make her some, no charge!!! She is so sweet, almost like a surrogate grandmother. I'm using Knit Picks Essential sock yarn in Navy, and the pattern is from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks...



Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge pattern.


I also have got it in my head that I want to knit this....



Vogue Fall 2005 Magazine
Shawl Collared Jacket by Debbie Bliss.


If I get some birthday money from my dad I'm going to the yarn shop! I've just fallen in love with this sweater! I like the brown, but I'm going to check out the other colors when I'm there. I don't know if I'd get bored knitting two brown sweaters. Well, not much else! Write more later....

Yikes!

My husband and I were talking last night about possibly trying for another baby. It scares and excites me at the same time. I have been thinking about it so much lately. Not only have I been thinking about it, I've been dreaming about it a lot too. I just can't believe he's been thinking about it too. We were discussing getting bunk beds for the boys and fixing Jake's crib and room up for the baby. Oh my! I just can't believe we're actually thinking about it.


Then I started thinking about all the cute little baby things I could knit. And if it happened to be a girl... oh wow! Not that I'd be disappointed if it were a boy. I love my boys so much! I'm sure we still have a lot of discussing to do yet. But all I've thought about lately is feeling the weight of a sleeping baby in my arms. There is just no other feeling in the world. Well, I don't want to get my hopes up because we could change our mind... but I don't know. :)

More Early Birthday Presents!

I went to Borders yesterday and I kind of splurged and justified it by saying it was an early birthday present to me! :) This is what I got...





Actually the Sensational Knitted socks book I got from Knit Picks, the rest I got at Borders. I was so excited when I got home because the Simply Knitted Magazine had a Rowan insert with some great patterns, which included....



Birch - Which I love even though lace knitting kicks my butt.



Mel by Kim Hargreaves - I just love this bag!!


There were a bunch of other cute patterns as well. I also got Knit Lit the third from knit picks (not pictured). I can't wait to get all my housework done because I plan to escape to my room and cozy up with it!


In the Sensational Knitted socks book they had a class sock where you can learn how to knit with 4 dpns, 5 dpns, or 2 circulars. Well, I have been wanting to learn for awhile how to knit socks with 2 circs., so I did the "class" this morning. Here's my sock...



Class sock using cascade 220.


I tried to make it to fit Bradley, but it was too small, maybe it will fit Jake?? I was happy I was able to finish it. I'll probably start some "real" socks soon using two circulars. Well, in other knitting news... I've been working on my Kool-Aid socks. I think they're turning out pretty cute. Here's a pic...





Well, not much else going on here... just lots of laundry. Fun, fun!!!

The lace finally kicked my butt...

I should just give up on lace. I do well for awhile and then I lost count and I try to fix it and it just doesn't work. I threw it in the cabinet, where it will probably stay forever. ARGH! I officially hate lace now!! I'm going to work on my nice stockinette cutaway cardi now. I love stockinette.

Knitting so much my hand hurts!

I go from no knitting, to knitting too much! My house is a mess, and I've been knitting sweaters, socks, scarves, and lace! I finished my 2nd sleeve for my cutaway cardi, and started a new sock. I don't have pictures, but I'm not sure if I like the colors of the sock. I like the yarn (Lorna's Laces), but still trying to decide about the color (Vera colorway). I also finished one Trekking sock. I love it! It's probably my most comfortable sock yet. I cast on right away for the 2nd one. I can't wait to wear these this winter. Here's a pic...





I also decided to try some lace again. I finally found a pattern that's not kicking my butt (too much). It's from the Mystery Shawl Along 2. I think it's coming out pretty so far...





The yarn is from Knit Picks. It's alpaca lace in the peppermint colorway. I'm really liking it so far. Hopefully I don't mess up too bad! I've had to fudge a little here and there, but I don't think it will show up. Well, that's all for now! :)

Midwest Moonlight...

I got started on my scarf last night. I finally found the right yarn! First I used wool, and it was too thick. Then I used some RYC Cashsoft, but it was too pink. This Cascade Sierra is perfect... the yarn and color is just what I was looking for. Here's a little progress pic....





I think I'm definitely going to have fun knitting this scarf, and hopefully I can keep it from ending up in the UFO pile like a lot of my other scarves! Bradley (my 5 year old) asked me to make him some gloves today. Awe... how sweet. I think I'll have to make him some mittens. I just can't see me making those teeny tiny fingers, yes it will definitely be mittens!! :) Write more later....


edited to add:
I just ordered an early birthday present for me! I have been wanting to knit this sweater for a long time....



Debbie Bliss Moss Stitch and Cable Jacket (from book #3).


Well the yarn it calls for - Cotton Silk Aran has been discontinued. So while I was at Why Knot Knit yesterday I did some research. I wanted a denim color in the right weight and I found number 205. They had it in Cashmerino and regular Merino. Both very pretty. So I went online to research some more and saw that Discountyarnsale.com had both. I decided to to go with the Merino...



Debbie Bliss Merino Aran #205


Hopefully it looks good!! This is my early Birthday present to me!! I'll be 31 November 1st. Now to find that book... I know it's around here somewhere!!! ;)