Let the blogging begin . . . again

Okay, we're here! All of us! The 3.5 year old who just might be posted on Ebay, the 9wk old that has just stolen my heart (check back when he's 3), and me!! We're braving the winter months in Wisconsin. I hate them. . .. We have about 5 inches on the ground and it's 15 degrees right now. Humans should not be made to live in a place like this!

I've been knitting off and on for the last 9 weeks. A few rows on the Chevron, seaming a few things on Felix and doing a few rows of E's new blanket. Nothing has been really floating my boat . . . until now!

I casted on Monkeys with Space Dust from Socks That Rock! I'm totally in love and can't wait to get these socks finished!!!! I can't get over the colorway. It's prue heaven to look at. I really am very shocked and impressed it looks this good. I need to get my butt in gear and get a few pictures up.

I also wanted to share a pic of my newest little man. I'm so in love it's crazy!!!! He's a chunky monkey compared to big brother! He's been in 3-6 mo clothes and size 2 diapers for almost a month now!!!! HUGE compared to S! S is smittened and gentle as a lamb with his baby brother. It's just me and DH that get abused (you need to see my fat lip!!). Is there a law against Offspring Abuse???

E is sleeping like a champ. He goes down around 9:30 and wakes around 4:30. Then it's back to bed for a few hours. Of course the slew of snowblowers that get kicked on at 6am in our neighborhood isn't allowing anyone to sleep past 6-6:15!!

Still here and Still Knitting

Well, life has settled a bit now that E is 4 weeks old. The grandmothers are gone and today is my first day with the newborn and preschooler. So far so good, but they've only been up for 1.5 hours!!!

I finally finished my MILs Cabled Bag at 6am Saturday. No pictures b/c she was walking out the door to the airport as I finished it!! Now it's on to the Felix sweater! I have everything done except the seaming!!!

My early arrival!!

Well, there's another little man in my house to knit for!! E was born on October 1st at 5:33pm. Labor was so much easier this time. With S it took 4 days b/c I was induced so I guess anything would be easier!!

The low down . . .Around 2:30am 10/1 I rolled over and my water broke. I got DH up, we got the last few things together for my hospital bag, called the OB and doula, headed to the hospital. When we got there and all checked in I was only 1cm and 60% efaced. I chose to labor on my own for a few hours. At 10am I was still 1cm. The doc said Pitocin, I was okay with that, but wanted just a little more time. So finally at noon, I was STILL 1cm. We got the pitocin drip going. I labor with DH and the doula until 4pm when I just couldn't take the contractions any more. My knees were buckling.

The drug man came in around 4:30pm and I got the epi. He did a great job. I was able to freely move my legs and lower torso, but only felt strong pressure. At 4:35pm I was at 6cm so the pain med free labor from noon-4:30 really helped!!! My OB was called and he arrived around 5pm. I was fully dilated by then. My BP was running high all labor so they gave me something to bring it down. Once I got a normal reading (5:15pm) I started to push.

E was born at 5:33pm!!

He's gorgeous and we are SO in love. S is doing okay. Not great, but he'll adjust. My mom arrived today to help us out over the next few weeks!!

I'll be knitting soon, but until then, I'll be with my newest man!!!

Wow!! It's been too long!

I honestly thought on a few days went by since my last post . . NOPE!! Too much time.

Not much is going on, S started 3K on the 11th. He was THRILLED and is settling into a new routine. He is gone 5 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'll tell you 10 hours a week to be totally alone is just unbelieveable. I only have another 4-6 class days before E arrives and my time is once again taken with another little man. That's right only 18 days until my due date. How did 9 months go by so fast???

As for knitting . . . lots of starting . . .not much finishing. I did love the Chevron Scarf, but put it in my hospital bag b/c I was going to fast on it. I want it to be with me during labor. I hope to finish it while in the hospital. So that's packed away.

Then I started Mirabella Socks in Socks that Rock Silkie (colorway: Foo-Foo). I love the pattern and color, they're both so girly. The only problem is that my hands are swollen and holding size 1 or even 2 needles is just too hard. Those had to go away for a while!

Low and behold, a co-worker of DHs had a baby. The two boys are close, I've only met the wife once. Perfect. Baby project, easy, big needles . . . a blanket!!! So I ran and go some decent acrylic (yes, I did say acrylic) and decided to do a Fibonacci Baby Blanket in some really neutral colors (taupe, dark taupe and cream). They're not *baby* people so I think a pink blanket woudl have been too much. Got my 10s out and started knitting a 30x40 blanket. I did about 3 stripes and realized that I REALLY liked the blanket, more than I thought I would!! It's so pretty and calm!

E's getting it. No way I can give this away. It's too pretty. S is getting a navy blanket I was working on for E. It's in Cotton Fleece. . . . . now what to do . . . my two boys are both getting new blankets, but this new little girl needs SOMETHING!!

Baby hat. That's the ticket!!!! I can do 2-3 quick baby hats from Knitting Rules and give them to them next week. I'll even add a cute embellishment to one of them to show some extra work!! Well, did one in 2 days. and it's so pretty. I just love Encore Colorspun. The shading looks like a yummy ice cream cone and it really just blends together beautifully.

Pattern: Basic Hat Recipe (large newborn size) Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee

Yarn: Encore Colorspun Worsted

Needles: US7 DPNs Bamboo

Not knitting, but too sweet not to share

S and I had the *Belly Shots* today. I love this one b/c it's so him.. He's excited to be a big brother. This picture has me tearing up every time I look at it.

***I totally love Portrait Innovations. They're a chain and FANTASTIC!!!!!

We were on a break . . . .

Felix and me . . . . I cheated on him. He's sitting patiently on the chair in the bedroom and I've been frolicking around town with someone new . . . the Chevron Scarf. She's beautiful, a real winner. No problems, colorful, a real doll. We're having a blast together. I'm still trying to work out my issues with Felix and his neck line. I'm sure in a few days, we'll be back together again!

Here's my newest project. I'm thinking it'll be done in the next week or so. It's FAST and I love it:

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarns: Silkie by Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Wild Tide (2007 Rockin' Sock club colorway) and Sherbert

Needles: Size 5 Circs - Addi Turbos

Knitting standstill . . .

Friggin', frackin', freakin' Felix sweater . . . . .

Why have I been absent for almost 2 weeks. . . . not pregnancy, not the 3 year old, not the summer weather . . the FELIX!!

The neck band just won't work. Now I admit, my child has a HUGE head. Always in the 90th or higher percentile. Add that to a 12th percentile body weight and 87th percentile height, he's shaped funny. Honestly his head doesn't look so big compared to the rest of him, but clothes sure to tell a different story.

Without the neck band, the sweater is a PERFECT fit!! Looks good and drapes beautifully. The neck band SUCKS. I've made it 6 ways to Sunday and it always ends up too tight. I've done larger needles, less rows, different stitch pattens. I've done the neck band about 7 times so far. Nothing is working.

I'm mad and have nothing cheery and positive to say so I've been avoiding blogland!!

I decided to go ahead and take the sweater apart and frog a few rows of the front and back to make that neckhole bigger. That *might* give me enough space to do the black neckband and have it fit Logger Head!!! =)

Updates soon . . .