Grumpy Grumperton

That would be me.
Sleep is a task these days. I can't get comfy, and I've developed some strange pregnancy twitchyness so that makes it even worse. I looked around online and found that restless legs are a pregnancy thing, woo. And they think it might be a lack of iron. So today I ate a burger and cooked eggs in the cast iron skillet for dinner.
It's like I can feel the crickets chirping on my skin. *shudder* I hope it works.

In other news, we went to tour the hospital tonight, only to have our tour cancelled. We'll see if we actually get to see where we're going before we have to go there for real. But we now know that it takes 15ish minutes to get there from here. So there's that anyway.

Knitting wise, I sent this out last week

For Erin to use on her baby. I've also made britches for our baby out of the same colorway. But I need to weave in ends and such on that pair.
And I sent out this pair of britches today:

They were boring to knit because of the all navy factor, but are way cute when done. They made me think of Harry Potter for some reason.

Also from today - a conversation:
Niall: Can I smell Mommy? Can I smell?
Me: Can you smell what?
Niall: Can I smell your armpit?

Yes. They helped me pick out new deodorant yesterday. Fun times.

Well? What do you think?

The first picture is with Niall, the second is this baby.
Both pictures are me at 30 weeks.


I think I'm smaller this time around.

Pregnancy Update

I went for my 30 weeks visit today and met the new doc in the practice.

They got the results from the redo of my gestational diabetes test. The first one I had a 136 on it and the cut off is 140 so they wanted me to retake it just to make sure. This time I got a 114, so no worries there at all.

They had to start the asthma protocol on me today since they put me on pulmicort. I wasn't on the protocol already because I hadn't been taking any meds, but with the summer ozone and baby taking up my lungs, and how much trouble I'd been having... ya, so I'm on it now.
This means I have to do a peak flow at every visit (I got above 400 today -excellent. The best I've ever gotten was 450).
I also had a quick ultrasound today to check growth. Surprise! It was nice to have a peek. She's perfect, head down, and weighing about 3lbs right now. Plenty of fluid and all looks good.
And now I'll have an NST done at 34 weeks as part of the protocol too. I need to figure out if I'm bringing Niall along for that, and what I'm doing with him otherwise. Although he's so interested in hearing the baby I imagine that he'd just sit there listening with wide eyes if I end up needing to bring him along.

All in all, everything is looking good. Rowan will be on track break for my next visit, so he'll get to come too. He's excited about that because he's been asking about how they hear the baby's heart, so that will be fun for him to see.

I'll be officially 30 weeks on Sunday, and I'm going to take a picture then because I have a picture of me at that point from when I was pregnant with Niall, and I honestly think I was much bigger then. It will be interesting to look at them and compare.

On the knitting front, I'm working on a pair of navy blue britches for an order. And a purple sweater for the baby. No pics though. I can't find the camera cord.

Sometimes it's so hard to keep from laughing out loud

I picked Rowan up from school today. This was our conversation in the van on the way home.

Rowan: Mom, I met a new kid today. And he said that he saw this guy who had rings in his nose and his eyes and his EARS! and a mohawk.

Me: Really?

Rowan: Yes!

Me: Well, you can't get any rings yet. You can just have a mohawk.

Rowan: Ya that guy was kind of scary. He was some kind of teenager.

Me: Oh.

Rowan: And he was kissing a girl in the parking lot.

Me: Well, you can't go kissing girls in the parking lot yet either, ok?

Rowan: Ya, that would be kind of dangerous.

The yard

Fran and Robert, this one is for you!

So... when we looked at this house to buy, we thought it was good for our family and we made an offer. As part of the closing, we had a survey done. We knew we wanted to fence in the back yard, and it would have to be done eventually, so we went ahead and got it done.
Imagine our surprise when it came time for the walkthrough before closing, and we found out that our backyard did not end where we thought it did!
We thought it ended right behind the shed, where some briars were growing up. But it didn't. Our realtor Jo was practically jumping up and down when we realized that the surveyor's flags were waaaaaaay back there. Beyond the briars. Meaning that our back yard was HUGE.

So we had a job to do.

This is what the back yard behind the shed looked like when we moved in.


The briars were huge. Thick and healthy, and they didn't want to go anywhere.
John's parents came for a weekend to help, and we quickly figured out that loppers were NOT going to do the job if we wanted it done before spring really hit and the briars grew even more.
So the next weekend

We rented a bobcat!
How fun, and how satisfying to see those briars come down.
We also pulled out A LOT of metal that weekend. An entire pickup truck load. I regret that I didn't get a picture of it. There were bikes, at least 6 tires, a bedframe, the backseat of a car... BUNCHES of stuff hidden in all those briars.
I joked with the neighbors that if they came home and saw crime scene tape up
they'd know we found Hoffa.

So after that, it was time for fence kinds of things. Our friend Robert came up from Charleston to help John out. They planted stakes and measured and did all those manly things.

And rented a post hole drill auger type thingy to make the job easier.

After that, John began to set the posts.

He decided to go ahead and set them, and worry about topping them after they were done. This ended up being a pretty good plan. I actually got to help there, measuring the posts and marking them, since pg me couldn't do any of the heavy lifting for the rest of it.

After that, he put up the sections, and finally, we had a yard!

This is the section that is pictured with the string above.


This is the other part of the front of the back yard, or all the yard we thought we had when we made the offer on the house. The shed is not pictured, but the wagon is right in front of it.


This is the same spot that I took a picture of before,
the picture with the briars and the bag caught in them... WHAT A DIFFERENCE!


And this is the one side of our bonus back yard.

And the other side.

Yay!

Future plans include moving the shed to the back of the yard, near where the little plastic table is sitting now. I'm also planning on a compost pile behind the shed. The swingset will be moved so it's under the big shade trees, and since there's no grass there right now I want to put in landscaping timbers in a large rectangle and fill it with mulch for the swingset to be on. This will give the kids a shady place to play (the slide gets HOT in the sun) and a soft place to land, and will give us less yard to seed with grass and eventually mow.

So that's the yard! We'd like to thank Tommy and Fran for financing the Bobcat weekend, and Robert for his help and knowledge in fence building. We couldn't have done it without you!

more pics

Today is the first day of FIRST GRADE!

Rowan is happy with his snazzy new shoes and his groovy new lunchbox.


At his desk in his new classroom. Here's to a great new year!
Yes, he goes to year 'round school. He'll have most of the month of September off.
It's strange to me to send my child to school in July, but Rowan doesn't know any differently, and I think the big chunks of time off during the year are going to be great instead of spending all his days off in the summer.


Niall wanted his hair buzzed too.
Actually, he asked for "fuzzy hair."


My two buzzed bandits.


And Loki, because she never gets her picture online.
And her ears are big and cute.


And big but not as cute... here's the belly.
I'm 5 months now. John did the extra sweet hubby thing yesterday and came home with a body pillow and an eggcrate for the bed. What a guy!

I'm going for that cool mom award or something

See... when I was a kid my Mom had this rule.
If you keep your hair clean, you can have it however you want it.
No matter what. Color. Shaved. Whatever.
Clean = freedom.
It led to some really strange do's for my brother.
Not so much for me, but I could have if I'd wanted.
So when Rowan started asking for a mohawk after seeing a kid at the pool who had one, and didn't forget about it after weeks went by, and kept bring up the really long mohawk dude from the Ellen show and saying he wanted one... well...
I kinda had to do it.


Before. All that luscious hair.


Parts of getting it done were ticklish.


Halfway done. He kinda looks like a skater dude.


It's all serious business when I get near his ears.


Mohawk.

He looks pretty cool.
He's very happy with the final product.
We'll need some fine tuning of a few stray hairs, but there he is.
I can't believe I did that.
Uncle Doug would be proud.

Massive picture post

Dial up users - beware.

A lot of things happened while I was feeling like less than a human being.
Funny how making a new human being can do that to a person.
At the end of May we went to Gatlinburg to see John's cousin James get married. It was a lot of fun and a great excuse to get snazzed up. But it was also VERY hot, so by the time this picture was taken some of our snazz had worn off. That's ok. It was all about the couple.


And of course the kids can pull of cute way longer than we can.


Next up on our list of exciting times, we went out and got a bunk bed for the boys. They'd been sharing a double bed since we moved here in Nov, but (judging from the bloodcurdling screams that would come out of their room after bedtime) the snazz wore off that as well.

They seem much happier to have their own respective places.
It makes them seem like BIG boys now.

HUGE on the list of wowie: Rowan graduated from Kindergarten.

(Obligatory blurry picture taken in bad lighting. I remember our photo albums being full of pictures like this. Now I know why.)
It was very cute, and they played the graduation march and everything. I was very proud of my hormonal self in that I managed to not cry. I did have to ignore the story that one teacher told about little caterpillars, but those are the choices we must make if we are to maintain some sort of shreds of dignity. And besides... HOW CUTE.

And HOW PROUD.

Rowan is really going to miss Ms. Gross and Mrs. Montgomery. I'm amazed and impressed with all of the things he's learned this year. And I remember my kindergarten teacher still, so I'm sure he'll never forget them.

Ms. Gross, Rowan, Mrs. Montgomery. K-grad 2008

So then we started summer, which led to the excitment of new floaty suits...

Yes, I do make them wear their swim trunks underneat. The tightness of the bottom of this suit is just a tad on the creepy side. But it works great to keep them alive.

...falling asleep on the living room floor...


...and for Niall especially, advancing the cause of mess-making...


But my bathroom did smell almond fresh once it was all mopped up.

...and checking out the cool new guy in the neighborhood.

This took some skulking around in the back yard, but isn't he pretty?

And finally, I'm doing well. I'm halfway done with this pregnancy. Baby girl is growing stronger, and John felt her kick, so that is exciting. I have another ultrasound in a couple of days, and hopefully that will be the last one that is needed.


So there you go! Our past little bit in pictures. And yes I'm back to knitting too. Yessss!
I see a cupcake hat in this baby's future.

I'm BACK!

WOOOO HOOO! It's like someone flipped a switch, finally, and I'm starting to feel like a human being again! In fact, I felt so good yesterday that it took seeing my belly in the mirror and a few little kicks to the bladder to remind me that I'm even pregnant. Yes! Hooray and hallelujah!

Tracy, your soakers are done and dry and ready to send. I'll be emailing pictures as soon as the sun gets out of my picture taking spot.

Everyone else, I'll check if you still want something. I know it's been quite some time - 14 weeks of hurling but who's counting? So if you have changed your mind don't worry about it. It's been a long wait on the wait list.

And news from here. It's a girl! I have another ultrasound next week to check for growth, so I'll ask them to look again and make sure. I'm still getting used to the idea. You mean I'm finally going to get to make all those frilly girly things?

Rowan graduated from Kindergarten last week. He was proud as punch, and though he's sad to leave his old school we're looking forward to starting 1st grade at the year 'round school. And it's close enough to walk. No more half hour drives!

That's about all the news from here. We'll be going to the CCA retreat in a couple of weeks, and the NACFC in July. Those are the big travel plans for the summer.

still here

still puking.
It WILL end. I know it will.
It has to.
16 weeks plus now.
Ultrasound is next week.
I'd really like to get back to regular life. I have things I want to knit (need to knit!), I have things I need to sew. I haven't done a single solitary thing for this baby except be sick. Not even a booty.

Sorry y'all. I'm down today. It's one of those days where the light at the end of the tunnel seems far away and very very dim.

How?

How is it possible that this little guy is 6 years old?


He was just 2 yesterday, I swear it.

Still kicking

Appointment today. All is well. Heartrate 155.
Niall still doesn't believe there's a baby in there.
Feeling fluttery movement now. That's nice.
Still throwing up. That's not so nice.

Trying to knit. Tracy, I'm so sorry it's taking so long.
I feel like the height of lameness. So close to finishing,
not having the energy or the will to do it.
It's been a rough couple of days. I'm sick of hurling.
Whine whine whine.... ya. that's all.

Here's this week's picture. I'm taking one every week.
A friend did that and I really enjoyed watching her grow,
so I'm copying her.

13 weeks here:


focused on his shirt, but it's cute:

Today I will knit

I just need to get off this computer first.

But here:


Yes, already! I'm 12 weeks, but I'm hobbit-sized and I have no torso.
Just nod and tell me I'm cute. I cried over not having sketti sauce last night. Ok?

Paint John, Paint!

Isn't it a wonderful man who will climb up on a 10 foot ladder to paint a room for you,
while you do the minimum of taping and painting at the edges,
and spend the rest of the time watching and telling him how pretty it is
from the safety and comfort of the couch?

Rowanism

So Rowan crashed his bike for the first time yesterday.
He wiped out nicely, going too fast and trying to turn too sharply.
He skinned his knee a little, nothing bad, and we did the bactine and bandaids routine and went back outside.
He wasn't up for getting on the bike again, so I told him some Uncle Doug stories about how he used to wipe out on his bike all the time.
Rowan was very interested in this, asking a bunch of questions.
I told him how Uncle Doug would crash really badly, and his legs would get all scabby and he'd get right back on his bike and keep on trying to do big tricks anyway.
Rowan says, "Even when his legs were all scabby and hurty?"
"yes"
"hmmm. So THAT'S why he looks that way."

Heee hee hee! Sorry Doug!

Niall-isms

Niall has been coming up with the funniest things lately.
This weekend I was lying down for a nap while he was napping. We don't let him nap past 3:30 or so, because he won't go to bed, so John opened the door to his room about then so he'd wake up. Then he decided to go outside and get Rowan from the neighbor's house.
So when Niall woke up I was sleeping and he didn't know where anyone was.
I woke to him walking through the house calling,

"People! Where are you? Peeeepuuuuuullll!"

Not Mommy. Not Daddy. Not even Rowan. It seems any people would suffice.


Also, when his zipper needs doing, he asks, "Mommy, do my barn door?"

Pregnancy craving

Take 2 waffles.
Spread one with Nutella, and the other with peanut butter (preferably smuckers natural).
Stick them together.
Eat with milk.


It tastes like a Nutty Bar.

Milestone - solo!

Rowan has always been reluctant to any steps to remove training wheels from his bike. I knew he could balance because I got him one of those little scooters for Christmas and if he can balance on those two little dinky wheels he can ride a bike.
So then I was reading about balance bikes, and how it's better to use those instead of training wheels because the child actually learns to lean and whatnot. But balance bikes are $$. But then my neighbor offered an old rusty 12" bike to us that we would be free to destroy. So we removed the pedals (actually had to saw them off they were rusted on, no going back now), chain, etc, and there you go. Balance bike.
He played with it all week and built up his nerve. And then I took the training wheels of his bike and said, "This is just like the walky bike, only it has pedals!" Wow! Concept!
It worked!
Rowan rides a bike.

In other news, I'm feeling like a human being again. So much that I'm actually considering knitting again! Hurray!

that knitting mojo

A long time ago Tanya lost her knitting mojo, and I said, "maybe you're pregnant." And you know what... I was right.
I didn't quite understand how the mojo could go away. Knitting is soothing and calming. Yarn is soft and lovely. How on earth could it be bad in any way?
Ya. That's what I said from the other side. But this time I've had a problem with my own mojo. I stil love the way the stitches all line up so nicely on the needle, and the way the colors come together as you progress on your work, but something about the way they slide from side to side...
**grabs spinning head***
I'm behind. I'm behind on my waiting list, and my personal knitting hasn't moved out of the bag. I've not even cast on a stitch for the occupant - and you know that's the first thing people ask - what are you knitting for the new baby?
Knitting? I'm proud of myself for managing clean (unfolded) clothing and food (when John doesn't step up and cook it) for the fam. Today is a banner day because I ran the vacuum.
I'm working on it kids. I am. I miss it terribly.

Why I haven't been knitting...

It's been making me really dizzy to knit. Very dizzy. and that makes me make mistakes that I have to go back and fix. Over and over and over. And I've had other things on my mind...

Yes, Baby D #3, also known as "The Occupant," is scheduled to arrive sometime around the 9th of November. Am I a little bit nutsy? Probably. But look at the cute little blob up there and tell me you didn't saw awwwww. :) And anyway, I've said over and over that I'm pretty good at motherhood. It's what I do.

Some of you may remember the horrendous time I had when I was pregnant with Rowan. And then with Niall, it was still pretty rough, but not as bad. This time it's still not a walk in the park, but it's worlds better than I've ever had it before. Dizzy and not knitting for a few weeks? That I can cope with. And they say that since it's normal morning sickness it should pass sometime in the next couple of weeks. Then all I have to do is get large. And we ALL know how well the woman with no waist does that.