Please Excuse This Inturruption for a Momentary Squee

Kim just went to the library and picked up _The Opinionated Knitter_ for me! Now, I have the pattern for the Baby Surprise Jacket!! I cannot wait to knit it!!! *dances*

Life will only get better if I could convince Kim to drive me to Augusta for Arby's (weird pregnancy cravings)

Baby Update!

Right now, I'm heading into the last trimester of my pregnancy. This is around the point where I complain things are going waaaaaay too quickly! Very soon, my appointments to see my midwives are getting closer, as well as a home visit. I had an ultrasound, and among things, it told me that my "expected due date" is at the end of September. While I don't believe it, it's weird to think that next month may be the last baby free month o-O I have SO much to do in the next months! And, of course, no energy to do it.

I feel fat, swollen and winded. My midwives have told me that that's perfectly normal to feel and rather healthy as well. Well, great. I tend to wake up with lots of coffee ...I mean energy, but am out by noon. *grumbles* I've been taking many naps lately.

We are having a boy! I'm not quite sure what to do with a boy (I come from a matriarchal family) but I'm sure I'll figure it out. My aunt has a couple of boys. They're unruly little things that pee on things. Yeah... Abby's unhappy with the idea she's going to have a little brother. I think she's warmed up to it somewhat. Right now, our name for him is Finnegan, or Finn for short. It may change when we see him (Noah perhaps). Before the ultrasound, we only had girl names picked out (Grace was our favorite). Finnegan was a name we really liked, but stayed away from because we know another Finnegan who's going to be born in October. Our other names just don't sound as good though. I'm looking forward to having a boy. A bit worried about him getting Autism (runs in the family), but we're not going to vaccinate him so that should help. I'm looking forward to having a little guy running around in a kilt and stompin' boots. And knitting him a willy warmer for when he runs around the house naked. It will be a change of pace, but any baby would have provided that.

I'm officially out of work. Well, sorta. I keep getting called back in to work a couple hours here and there. I'm not sure what that means. I consider it a tithe for my employee discount ^-^ I'm sorta freaking out about not having an income, but at the same time not. I remember someone telling me that the only things babies REALLY need are clean diapers and a boob. That's been my mantra. And I've been able to knit things to make up for frivolous spending.

Right now, I'm still drudging along on my baby blanket. Ugh. I'm trying to knit 2-3 fish a day. It still feels like it will never get done. After, I plan on knitting Finn a hat, some socks and I want to learn how to crochet so I can make the only pair of baby booties that I've seen that doesn't look like a giant sock, or a pair of mary janes. I also want to knit a baby surprise jacket, but that can wait until after he's born. As well as the Lobster Claw Mittens. I want to knit a bunch of those for babies being born this year.

Today, I am uncomfortably pregnant. Last night, I couldn't get comfortable because where ever I'd lay, I'd lay on baby parts. My back hurts. I can't see my toes anymore. I could last week if I remember correctly. I think I'm just really huge right now. AND! I can't eat enough. AND! My boobs are leaking so damn much. Granted, I kinda missed it when they leaked, so that makes me happy.

I'm still working, which doesn't make me happy. Frankly, I love my job but it's just so tiring. It's hot, it's being on my feet for 7-9 hours a day. It's a lot of damn work. All I want to do is sit around, and knit. Clean occasionally. Cook dinners and huge breakfasts. And knit. OMG knit. I'll be off of the schedule hopefully July 3rd. But, I really sincerely doubt that. They need all the already trained help they can get, since the majority of the crew is needing training. Still, I'm looking forward to the day where I can just hang out with my family, spend time with Abby, knit, work on scrap books and not have to worry about needing to be at work. Or, needing to preserve my energy so I can have some when I get there. I'm very much not looking forward to all the stress I'll have when both Kim and I are unemployed.

Very, very soon Kim and I will be having guests up. First, Casey is arriving Monday. Then, on the 4th, Meg and James will be here for a week or so. My mom says she wants to come up around July/August. And, in the end of August, Jenn and Trevor I think are still planning on visiting. It's going to be a very crazy summer!!


As far as knitting goes, I've definitely made time for it ^-^ I finished my calorimetry. I added another button since it's pretty long, but I'm very happy with it. And it's *really* warm. Which, isn't good in the summer, or at work. It'll be lovely in the winter. My fishy baby blanket is drudging along. I just want to get it done, but I haven't really had the desire to just sit and knit through. Also on the needles is f.p pea's organic guernsey. For some odd reason, I'm getting wicked ladders where my stitch markers are. I'm *almost ready to frog, I'm just hoping I can pull it tight enough and make them go away :-P I also cast-on for Norberta. It's proving to be a fun and quick knit. I feel bad knitting soooo much for the baby that I feel like I should be knitting something for Abby. I plan on casting on for Swing Thing, Reid and perhaps a stuffed bunny. :-) That's after I knit my Mommy Snug sweater (which I'm afraid I'll never get around to and wont be able to wear it until NEXT pregnancy!)

I've been on my computer so much this morning because I have an auction on Ebay that's ending at noon. I'm really hoping I'm the winning bid. *crosses fingers* I think I may pause from hitting the reload button and work on my baby sweater...

Minor Ventage

So, since I'm on a fiber diet (damn NaKniSweMo), I decided to really bust my stash. Which is a lot of fun, since I have a lot of nice yarn stashed. *grins* Anyways, I'm using some lovely hemp yarn, Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy. It's super soft, really nice and in a very mellow, natural looking color. So, I decided to make the Pea Pod Sweater Set from Kate Gilbert and Interweave Knits. It's a really fun pattern, at least what I've done. It's very easy and a simple knit. In theory at least. However, I've cast on and froged 2 times. I'm going on my third. I think my issues is with the gauge. Of course, I didn't do a gauge swatch (dumb ass), but there was someone who used the same yarn, with the same pattern and it worked for them. I started on size 5, then moved to 4s. Now, I'm going to try one last time with 3s. If that doesn't work, I'll forget about it. It's just marginally irritating.

Fo? WIP?

I live in an artsy, fartsy sort of apartment building. I'm one of the only doors that doesn't have an apartment number on it. Today, I got an urge to bust some stash. I used some size 10 needles and Lion Brand Jiffy yarn. It's very simple, the edges of the six puckered a bit, but I'm very happy with it. It looks good and it shows what kind of an artist I am.

My Fiber Diet and NaKniSweMo

This year, Knit Grrl is hosting the 2nd Annual NaKniSweMo. I must be crazy, because I decided to join. NaKniSweMo is the knitter's NaNoWriMo. In the month of November, you knit a sweater. 50,000 stitches. For the past week or so, I have been obsessed with it. OBSESSED!

I plan on knitting the Mommy Snug from the fall Interweave '06. It calls for an aran/worsted sorta yarn. I've decided on Cascade 220. Mainly, because they have this one color, "Summer Sky Heather", which is a blue/green sorta color that is exactly what I want. The only problem is the sweater will be hand wash only. *shrug* I'm willing to deal with that. Plus, Cascade 200 is at $7 a ball. The Superwash of that is $9 a ball! Dramatic price difference, another reason I went with 220. There are buttons along the side of the sweater, so I havn't picked those out. In an ideal world, I'd learn how to do some torch working, and make said buttons out of glass. I do have a month to prepare, so who knows.

So, because I'm about to shell out almost $100 on yarn. I'm going on a fiber diet. Unless it's for Secret Pal or a swap, I'm going to knit out of my stash. Though, I won't discourage any yarn or fiber gifts :-P If I do finish my sweater in time, I plan on rewarding myself with this bracelet (the one that says "...as soon as I finish this row")

I think I have a problem

My stash is taking over the house. No, really. Between fabric stash and yarn stash, I have more that I'll probably ever need. Eventually, I'll post how much I have. But, that's when I find it all. I feel like a pack rat. Seriously, I have yarn and fabric stashed away in every nook and cranny of this apartment. I found some 10 balls of various self striping sock yarn the other day. Plus, if memory serves me correctly, I have maybe 4 other balls? I don't even know. I really think in order to save my house (and sanity) I need to go on a diet and work to bust my stashes.

That would be oh, so terrible too.




In other news, I bought the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs pattern today. I went out to find some last minute things for my SP10 (sending the package out later than I'd like, sadly).

And, in much cooler news, I'm on ravelry!!!!!! *dances* And, it's much cooler than I could have ever had hoped. Seriously, if you're not on the waiting list, get on it now!!! I'm busym0mmy there, add me since I seriously need friends ^-^

Road Trip!

So, I'm going to Rochester from April 27 to May 5. I am so looking forward to going back home. I'll get to hit up all my old favorite spots: Tahous, Simply Crepes, Spot. We may even get a chance to go to Vertex (!) and we'll probably hit up a diner or two. It seems like every time we go back to Rochester, it's a food tour. Lol. I'm also *really* looking forward to taking Abby to the Strong Museum of Play and the Zoo.

Perhaps what I'm looking forward to the most is my knitting project. Come on, every knitting looks forward to long car rides! The longer the better! Uninterputed knitting time!!! I'm just not sure what to cast on for. I want something simple, but not mind numblingly boring. I don't want to have to do a lot of math on the road. I'd like to finish it in a week, not including blocking. And, I'd like to keep it to what I have in my stash...but that's not written in stone ;-)

I'd like something portable, though there's a part of me that kinda wants to start an afghan and have it grow over my lap as we drive. I was thinking Knucks, but since I have to make all the fingers seperatly, it doesn't seem like a very good car project. I might make a pair of socks, I can do that in about a week, right? The gloves I'm working on for Abby and me I'll probably have done before we leave, and I don't think I want to make another pair. Though, if I did, I'd make the Body Count mittens. I was comtemplating toteing some scrap yarn and making a pannel for an afghan, but I'd like to have an entire project done, not a part. Sweaters would be out of the questions. Maybe Java Jackets? Those are fun and cute. And, I'd like to make a bunch. Also considering making some eggs. Those are fun and simple and nice for Abby. I kinda want to be selfish and make something for myself ^-^ Maybe simple lace might be fun. Then I'd deffinatly have to make a trip to my LYS. Oh noes. Another idea would be those spiffy fiber trends felted clogs....

I need to decide soon!!! And, I need to purge needles. Amazingly, I don't have *that* much on the needles right now.

Oh, did I menchon I'll be there for my birthday? Yea! Now, if all of my friends hadn't moved away...