Central Park in progress

I've given in to my whims of being obsessed with out of season items - I'm going to do the afghan marathon for the ravelympics and I have started my central park hoodie. So far, I love everything about this project. I love the pattern, I love that it's on US9!!! I love that I've been working on / off for a week on it and I'm just about done with the back - I've made armhole decreases, and have to work for another 5 or 6 inches. Love the yarn - cascade 220 heathers - it's a green, but there's teal-ish / turquoise-ish / lime-ish in there. Hard to photograph. Anyway:

One thing I realized after I started and made my way through the first cable, was that I should have switched the charts - they are meant to be knit A-B-C. I'm a lefty so for it to be all matchy-matchy with the pattern I should have worked C-B-A. Don't care, makes it all the more unique for me.
Cable close up

I think that will be a future moo card or something.
Posting quickly, have to get the baby.

8 months!

Didn't we just do June? My silly girl, time is flying!


8 months old and you already can do so much! You've become rather attached (to me) which I am ok with, but don't you know that everyone wants a piece of you? You make so many people smile when we go out and about - everyone also thinks you look about a year older than you are. We tell them it is the hair - oh, the hair! It's so light now - with highlights of gold and red, just like Mommy's! We took you to get your bangs trimmed at the salon and you did great! Your latest trick is sticking your tongue out at everything, and even while you babble.


You are still on the move - getting faster every day! Not quite full on crawling on your hands and knees, but you combat crawl your way over to Jackson or across the room. Standing up is now fun again - you've gotten so strong to pull yourself up! We were very surprised to go get you from a nap and find a stuffed animal in your bed. We watched on the monitor and saw you pull yourself up and then were standing, ready and waiting the next time we came in to get you. Just last night you managed to pull the plastic bag that holds your hair clips off from the bookshelf - and into your crib! You must have had to work at that for a while - but good, puzzle it out and use those little grey cells!


You are still eating like a champ - even if you don't love it (not every meal can be bananas and mango!) or wearing your bib! I'm still having fun making food for you and we have been branching out giving you things to try: pasta, avocado, clam cake, ice cream, couscous. Keep on keeping us busy!!

July 101 Update

Can't believe it's already July 30!!
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Original post here. Updates: January, February, March

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I like a challenge. I love lists. I think this sort of list would be good to help me keep some focus (on me) now that the bulk of my focus is on my family. This list has been inspired by my family, friends, and the other lists in blogs I read...

Day Zero, Home of 101/1001 Project
The Mission
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My List
Start date : 01 January 2008
End date : 28 September 2010

Key
Not yet started
In progress
Complete

1. Fill the large collage photo frames. (1/3)
2. Hang the photo-filled large collage photo frames (1/3)
3. Declutter: sell or give-away 101 material items I own (15/101)
-yarn, -clothes -books
4. Learn to use the drop spindle. Completed: 3/11/08
5. Make enough yarn on the drop spindle to make a hat.
6. Learn to crochet.
7. Use crochet to make a simple amigurumi character.
8. Open a savings account for Lorelai and save $250 (250/250) Complete: 5/17/08
9. See 10 movies in the movie theater (3/10)
**1)Sex & The City
**2)Hancock
**3)The Dark Knight
10. Submit my resume to the new science museum. Completed: 2/28/08
11. Attend a sheep and wool festival in CT
12. Go to the local farmer's market 15 times (4/15)
13. Submit photos to the Durham and Guilford Fairs each year (0/6)
14. Submit knitted objects to the Durham and Guilford Fairs each year (0/6)
15. Photograph Lorelai on the 30th of each month (8/33)
16. Cook one new recipe a month (8/33)
**"Chicken Bruschetta Bake" from the Stove Top Stuffing Mix Box. Just ok.**
**"Curried Lamb" from Woman's Day Magazine, crock-pot recipe. Bland.**
**"Stuffed Pepper Soup" copycat recipe of 99 restuarant recipe. Burnt the soup. Ick.**
**Turkey & Brocolli Casserole thing from Taste Of Home Magazine. Not bad.
**Mini Lamb Burgers with Couscous Salad from Real Simple - Delish!
**Baked Mac-n-Cheese with Chicken Sausage from "6 o'clock Scramble" online - yummy!
**Blueberry Cake from Cooking Light - ok, but all the blueberries sank to the bottom!
**Chrispy Chicken Romaine Salad - back of the bread crumb box - ok
17. Drink 2-3 Liters of water a day.
18. Write a letter to Koji and Noriko to tell them about Lorelai.
19. Knit a sweater for me that fits and I love. Glee!
20. Knit 30 socks (15 pairs) (4/30)
**Bartholomew's Sock #1 done 1/21/08**
**Bartholomew's Sock #2 done 2/4/08**
**Lenore Socks #1 & #2 done in 10 days! 2/14/08**
**Two wee socks (one for the wee sock swap) 3/30/08**
21. I want to make the “Heirloom Ring Blanket” for my mom. Deadline: December 2008.
22. Sign Up for the 100 Push Up Challenge
23. Complete the 100 push-up challenge: initial test, Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
24. Update the blog once a week for a year. (12/52)
25. Go to four dachshund meet-ups. (1/4)
26. Make updated moo cards.
27. Make my own granola.
28. Get a routine physical with an internist. Scheduled for August
29. Get a body scan to check on the freckles / moles.
30. Go to the dentist twice a year (0/6)Scheduled for August
31. Start doing yoga once a week, build up to three times a week.
32. Take Jackson for a walk daily, weather permitting. (Let's face it, he's a dachshund and doesn't fare well in cold, wet, or snow)
33. Save $1 for every item completed from this list.
34. Sew a pair of pajama pants.
35. Read 10 books. (10/10)
**1) The Good Good Pig
**2) The Memory Keeper's Daughter
**3) The Tender Bar
**4) You're Not You
**5) Water for Elephants
**6) Diary
**7) The Know-it-all
**8) Prince Caspian
**9) Smotherhood
**10) Redstripe
**11) In Defense of Food
36. Create a coordinated Halloween costume for Lorelai and Jackson.
37. I'm going to allow myself to purchase yarn with the condition that an equal (or greater) amount leaves the house.
38. Clean out and organize the junk drawers in the kitchen (2/2) Complete: 6/29/08
39. Write recipes on recipe cards as needed. No more torn out from magazine papers!
40. Send the grandparents a card / Lorelai photo once a month (5/33)
41. Post an Update of my 101 each month (5/33)
42. Grow plant / veggie garden from seed.
43. Grow 3 "new to me" plants / veggies each year (3/9)
**1) Broccoli
**2) Peas
**3) Corn
44. Give blood once a year. (0/3)
45. Read "The Killer Angels".
46. Try out peapod or other online grocery service.Complete: 1/2/08
47. Try out g-diapers.
48. Clean out email inbox and maintain so there's never more than 100 messages in there at a time.
49. Get a professional portrait of Lorelai. Adorable.
50. Buy 5 gifts from etsy.com each year (1/15)
**PrettyInPosies hair clips for Lorelai**
51. Clean out / organize the bloglines reader to remove blogs unupdated / uninteresting / topics /etc. once each year (0/3)
52. Get back in shape to fit into my regular non-maternity clothes.
53. Bring old maternity clothes and newborn clothes to Beyond the Stork. Donated or put away
54. Replace the lights along the front walk. Complete: 6/8/08
55. Get back to at least my prepregnancy weight (minus an extra 5 - 7 pounds)
**As of 1/11/08 I'm down 28 pounds! 13 more to go to get to pre-preg.wt**
56. Buy a scale to keep an eye on #55.Complete: 1/15/08
57. Rediscover my yarn stash - pair up 20 new projects with stash yarn. (0/20)
58. Complete 20 projects using stash yarn (3/20)
**1) Snowman Hat **2)Bunny Cozies **3)Batman Hat
59. Knit 30 baby hats for charity, donate in Lorelai's name. (1/30)
60. Make my own sushi.
61. Make photocards for Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving on home computer.
62. See a Broadway show.Complete: 5/3/08 Macbeth
63. Visit New York City.Complete: 5/3/08
64. Snorkel in the British Virgin Islands.Complete: 4/22/08
65. Try 10 recipes from Alton Brown's "Good Eats" (0/10)
66. Host a holiday dinner for the family at least once a year. (1/3) Easter '08
67. Garden indoors with the AeroGarden, maintain the water and nutrients.
68. Get a bikini wax.
69. Vote for president.
70. Listen to 8 audio-books. (3/8)
**1) Microthrills by Wendy Spero
**2) The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood
**3) Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
71. Get my first tattoo
72. Go back to church
73. Knit three projects from each knitting book I own.
**Itty Bitty Hats a)Snowman Hat b)Bunny Tails Hat c)Upside-Down Daisy
**Mason-Dixon Knitting a)Baby Genius Burp Cloth
74. Join a local mom+baby group.
**Does Gymboree count? Went to class on 1/9/08, plan to keep going**
**Found a local group - much better in terms of time and location!**
75. Copy the phone numbers in my cell phone into my paper address book.
76. Reinstall itunes.Complete: 1/3/2008
77. Expose myself to new music: Listen to one new artist a week (3/143)
78. See if the nerds / geeks can rescue the data from the Dell hard drive.
79. Get back on birth control. completed 1/13/08
80. Write a letter a month (2/33)
81. Sort through the boxes brought home from school.
82. Fully update stash on ravelry.
83. Fully update books on ravelry.
84. Fully update needles on ravelry.
85. Set up an etsy shop. Complete: 6/27/08
86. Sell 25 items from etsy shop. (1/25)
87. Get a table / space at a local craft fair.
88. Knit Dan & Virginia's wedding afghan. Deadline: June 2009.
89. Knit afghan for me!
90. Re-read 10 books that I read when I was in grades 6 - 8. (0/10)
91. Purchase a TerraPass / CO2 offset for my car / home / acrylic knitting.
92. Knit all holiday gifts by December 13.
93. Embroider a onesie for Lorelai.
94. Use the canvas / knit bags not plastic when shopping. This is a full time habit now
95. Try sign language with Lorelai - 5 signs (0/5)
96. Come in second in the fantasy football league.
97. Read more than just the Art section of the New York Times Weekend Edition (\2\4/143)
98. Eat vegetarian for a week.
99. Learn to make pancakes.
100. Eat out at 5 new restaurants (5/5)
**The Time Out Tavern, Durham, CT
**The New Deal Steakplace, Westbrook, CT
**Mia Dona, New York City
**Nellie Green, Branford, CT
**Miso, New Haven, CT
**Tuscany Grill, Middletown, CT
101. Smile everyday. Be a good example / role model for my daughter. Be a good wife to my husband.

Ocean State

Lorelai and I went in to Rhode Island with my mom to visit my grandmother and spend the night. We had a really great time and it was good my grandmother got to have one-on-one time with the baby - we're seeing her again at Labor Day, but everyone will be there, so this is special for gram. She loved it - especially when she went to give Lorelai some ice cream and told her "You have to sit up" and Lorelai sat up! No joke. Made Gram's day! We had gone to Champlins for dinner - chowder and clam cakes, YUM! After, we walked over to the beach - first time for Lorelai - didn't go down near the water, maybe next time.

What's this?


Sand? Hrm.


My girl is a thinker.


I brought knitting, but didn't take it out of the bag at all. I'm halfway up the back on my Central Park Hoodie and I'm loving it!!

Kids at play

Kids at play
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

Lorelai and I bought a new toy for Jackson on Friday - it's a long dog, with a rope middle. Friday night he spent 2 hours working on destuffing the tail end (successful!). This morning, he got the rest of the stuffing out of the head. Makes me think of that petsmart commercial with the dachshund and his bobo. That's clever (toy was basically the same shape / size as the dog) but not really true - dachshunds like to destuff and then they are done. Lorelai is entertained by the fluff every where. Luckily she hasn't tried to mimic Jackson (yet).

Knitting while you wait

Friends of ours are expecting a baby boy any day now. Actually the little one is a week late and it was thought mom would be induced on Friday and we could go visit today. Well, there weren't any beds available, so now the induction is put on hold until Monday! Hoping it would help things along, I made Logan a new hat, hoping that would be the magic touch for him to hurry on up! I'll be making him a pumpkin hat later on, and have burp cloths ready for him, but this hat is special.

Batman!! I felt a little strange knitting a black hat for a baby, but his Dad is a huge fan of Batman, so I am confident it will be appreciated. I followed the Lil' Devil Baby hat pattern and used Rowan handknit dk cotton (plurkers this is why I asked if 92 yards would be enough) - I have a bit left over. Started and finished in one day, super!
Size-wise, Lorelai can wear it -

So there's room to grow.
Even though we're not going to meet Logan this weekend, we are going out to dinner. Yay - new restaurant for us, somewhere in Middletown. Good times.

Not right either.

I've got this idea in my head to make a witch hat. For babies. I started with one pattern and got something way too big. A bit of re-thinking and I decided to start again and this time make the newborn size (less knitting to see if it works!) Well. It doesn't match what's in my head. I'm not sure what to do next. I think I've got the brim down, it's just a matter of shaping the body. Something with the decreasing...

The body seems too tall or something.
It is a newborn size so there's no way it will fit Lorelai, but even so - I think we might be done with hats... (I may have to tie her hats to her head this winter!)



Jackson is off barking at a chipmunk fart or something, so here's Lorelai for Dogs on Thursday reading one of her favorite books "That's not my puppy"


And Lorelai's newest trick? The tongue is out, all the time!

neener neener neener

not quite

not quite
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

I'm trying to create a hat for Lorelai - I'm using other patterns as a guideline and this is the version 1. So far, I'm not too sure. There is a mistake in the brim, and it's not quite big enough for me - nor is it small enough for Lorelai. So, yeah. I may or may not finish this one now - I think I would rather start anew - I have a different idea now.

Finished - the weekend and knits

This weekend went by in a bit of a blur. We had friends and their dog down for the weekend. Their dog Bailee is a bassett hound and Lorelai thought he was just the funniest thing ever. Poor Jackson :) We saw "The Dark Knight" - OMG. I thougth it was very well done, raised some interesting points, had a good story flow, Christian Bale is growing on me, I still adore Heath Ledger. Violent though - I covered my eyes several times.

Friday I finshed the "Laurel Toddler's Basketweave Cardigan" I knit for Schaefer. I am pretty sure the colorway is Emily Dickinson The best buttons I had were a kind of raspberry, and I think they add a punch of color:



With the completion of that project I can return to some lingering projects. I've got Lorelai's Halloween costume in progress (I'm one of those people who hates seasonal items out of season - like Christmas items for sale before Thanksgiving, etc. I saw candy corn for sale at the grocery store already. UGH. But to make something seasonal is different right?) I really want to get going on my Central Park Hoodie (need needles) and I've signed up for the Ravelympics Afghan Marathon for a gift for my mom (hoo-boy, if I finish that I'll be thrilled!)

Possibly there's more destashing to be done as well. My "craft room" looks like a hurrican hit - i've got yarn / magazines / needles all over the room trying to sort through it and get a plan together. Should get back to that now actually.

Entertainment

Things I'm finding funny:
Beaker "Ode to Joy"



see more dog pictures

And Dr. Horrible? brilliant. Gotta love NPH!

Filler

Fifty things you didn't know about me. At least I don't think you do.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Sometimes.

2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? Yes, hated it.

3. Do you own a gun? No

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I've never been to Sonic!

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Dachshunds!

7. Favorite Christmas Song? Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song"

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee & orange juice

9. Can you do push ups? one or two

10. Favorite movie? Say Anything, Singin' in the Rain

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? my engagement ring

12. Favorite hobby? knitting and photography

13. Do you work with people who idolize you? Sure, Lorelai doesn't really know anyone else, and I'm the source of Jackson's treats

14. Do you have ADD? no

15. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? I'll answer it later (procrastination)

16. Middle name? Given: Mary but Officially: My maiden name

17. Three thoughts at this moment: I wish it wasn't so hot / humid, I hope Lorelai is having a good nap, I should be working on that sweater...

18. Three things you bought yesterday. blueberries, peas, peppers

19. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly. Coffee, orange juice, water

20. Current worry right now? my brother is off on a two week hiking trip by himself

21. Current hate right now? drug commercials

22. Favorite place to be? laughing with family / friends

23. How did you bring in the New Year? We had dinner with the in-laws.

24. Where would you like to go? the beach, New York City

25. Name three people who will complete this. whoever else feels like it!

26. Who's answer do you want to read the most? Um, see #25

27. What color shirt are you wearing? black t-shirt

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Can't say I've had the opportunity

29. Can you whistle? yes, but my mom can't!

30. Favorite color? ocean blues

31. Would you be a pirate? I've got a little of the Captain in me.

32. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't

33. Favorite girl's name? Lorelai

34. Favorite boy's name? Nathaniel

35.What's in your pocket right now? lint

36. Last thing that made you laugh? Lorelai

37. Best bed sheets as a child? flannel penguin sheets

38. Worst injury you've ever had? giving birth

39. Do you love where you live? I love the people I'm with, I love the people I'm near. This isn't a perfect town, but I love New England, so I'm content

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2

41. Who is your loudest friend? Betsy when she gets going

42. How many dogs do you have? 1

43. Does someone have a crush on you? Just my husband

44. If you could marry a movie actor/actress who would it be? Brad Pitt

45. What is your favorite book? Little House on the Prairie

46. What is your favorite candy? Mike & Ikes, Jellybeans, good'N'fruity

47. Who is your favorite sports team? Jets, I guess.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? I have no idea... Time to Say Goodbye (Andrea Bocelli)

49. What were you doing at 12 AM last night? sleeping

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? That was not a good dream.

Picture Story - Baby

(I'm almost done with my sweater seaming... hopefully this afternoon...)







Lorelai stood, by herself on her own two feet, no support other than her own being. Two seconds, then she plopped back down. Little one, you are almost doing this too fast for me!!

My new favorite photo: Happiness.

We're cooking!

We're cooking!
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

Man, now that she's moving (all over the place, and she's fast too!) - it's hard to get a not-blurry picture! Anyway, I was shelling peas this morning for the next batch of baby food (peas and carrots) and Lorelai was exploring plastic measuring spoons, a wooden spoon and a pot. Good times!

Spider Photos

Hard to photograph a toy in motion, but here's the toy in action with the wee one.



My new favorite photo (even if it's blurry)


Funny Hair Photos:

FOs! Finally!

My blog has been wordy for a few days now. Today I've got knitting to show! Yay!
When I posted my to-do list back on Friday, it included "spider face" and "blog spider, broken dpns" - Here's the spider:


Lorelai and I go to a baby group that uses plastic easter eggs with stuff inside to shake when we sing songs - I took it one step further and knit up the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" - he's about 3.5 inches long and 4.5 inches across with his legs. I'm thinking about making more (I have ideas for a whole animal set!) to sell either on etsy or a local craft fair. Lorelai is napping right now, which is why the photo is of me holding the spider, not her. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cotton DK, and when I was making the legs (icord) I used my US2 dpns. Not the best idea as I broke two of them in the process:


I'm still knitting burp cloths (again, to either sell on etsy or a craft fair) - I think I have made enough for Lorelai - she's less drooly now, and not spitting up so much... but they are just like potato chips - can't knit just one. And they are easy enough to work on while she's crawling around - I can drop it to go grab her, knit while I watch her, and it's great mindless tv knitting.

The roobeez shoes are just for scale. I love how the stripes really striped! Peaches'n Creme (or Sugar'nCream?) yarn. 1 skein = 1 cloth.

Also exciting news, I'm now a LoopyGroupie!!

I had ordered a "To-Go" knit pouch, kitchner dog tag (because I can never remember how to do it correctly), and a pattern for Merry-Janes. It was my 6th order, so I received the tote bag, a key chain, peppermints, and a skein of jknits "Florida" - so very cool!

The Loopy Ewe rocks!!

Yesterday, Betsy was in town for a whirlwind visit and Lorelai and I were lucky enough to be on her "must see" list :) She helped me with some destashing (which, by the way - yarncycle on ravelry? incredible. I posted stuff there and it was all taken / claimed within hours!!) I have gotten "rid" of ~30 skeins since the weekend. Yay! More room for new yarns (just don't tell Dan yet!) I am dreaming now about sweaters and blankets. I want to make a blanket for my mom for christmas / her birthday (considering it for the ravelympics) and for Dan / me for next year (our 5th anniversary!). And Betsy is way ahead of me on her Central Park Hoodie... What is it with knitters and dreaming out of season? I don't want to be like the marketers at the stores - I saw candy corn for sale at the supermarket already!!

I'm in a finishing mood, so I should go back to my test knit & model knitting or cleaning....

Destashing

Going through ravelry because right now that's the easiest way - I'm doing a small destash. Let me know if you're interested in anything.
Also destashing / Free-cycle style here
And books.

Accountable. aka Being a grownup is boring.

Here's my to-do list for to-day. Probably overly ambitious. Whatever.
In no particular order of importance.
*Find out what time the party on Sunday is. 1:00pm
*Find a green salad to make for party on Sunday.
*Get ingredients for green salad (and grocery shop for oj, half-half, milk, etc)
*Make Lorelai food cubes peaches, plums
*Try plums with Lorelai (with cereal?)
*Make blueberry muffins
*Finish spider face.
*Blog about spider. Broken dpns.
*Work on model knitting. Get sleeves done today.
*Work on test knitting. Get through decreases & eyelet row.
*Clean shower.
*Run load of laundry: Wash. Dry. Fold. Put Away.
*Burn CD.
*Dig out yarn for Betsy, Virginia?
*Cull stash for destashing - blog it / ravelry it
*Post office run - green swap, birthday in a box returns.
*Ebay stuff. take photos
*Dust.
*Swiffer.
*Vacuum.
*Find new credit card / call to activate it / destroy expired card.
*Bring box of clothes to basement.
*Bring goodwill clothes to car.
*Renew library books. Better yet just bring them to the library.
*Order snapfish prints.
*Photo Lorelai / Happy Birthday for MIL
*Get cards out in the mail for MIL birthday!

Stuff that can probably wait until tomorrow:
*Food cubes for Lorelai - sweet potato, carrots, apples
*Weed the garden.
*Dig out the wildflowers that are overwhelming one bed.
*Uncover desk: File paperwork. Chuck Recycle old magazines. Put knitting supplies away.
*Bring donation clothes to goodwill.

More Stuff I'm thinking about

Some of this I already plurked.

We're looking into getting a whole-house-fan. We are lucky enough to have central air, but when the weather gets hot and the house heats up there is little to no air movement, and it doubles (at least) or electricity bill to run the AC. Honestly, I don't like the A/C. It's July, it get's hot I am ok with that. I just want to feel a breeze or the air moving, and to be able to sleep ok at night. I have bareley slept under the covers since last March! Granted, I was pregnant so that made me warmer than usual, but after having Lorelai I'm still running warm! Anyway, I had called this one guy who gave an estimate (without even coming out to the house, and he was the one who tried to joke with me) that was really high. My father-in-law contacted their Mr.FixIt guy for another quote and he came out today. It's do-able, but not easily. At least his quote was less. As he's checking out our attic, he says "That's a funny way to build a house" - do you know how many times I have heard / said some variation of that? "Why would the builder do this or that?" "Gee, that's an odd way to have this or that?" I can tell you why - because the builder (who is my next door neighbor!) built this house as he accumulated materials from his projects! When my in-laws were in this house my mother-in-law fixed a whole lot of "quirks" - and then we have picked that up as well. I'm kindof tired of just shrugging it off or shaking my head. House stuff = headaches.

Last night I saw a new Tampax commercial. I already hate the Kotex / Happy Period ones. This one did make me giggle at first - Mother Nature giving a gal her monthly gift (and she says "Here's your monthly gift" as she hands the girl a red box), but seeing it again made me roll my eyes. Those commercials are so stupid!

I made brownies last night - they were good, but I think they would be better if I had one of the brownie edge pans.

I read a plurk that we are now closer to Christmas 2008 than we are Christmas 2007! Gotta get started on my list / projects!

Stuff I'm thinking about

Eloquence has never been my strong suit.

Anyway. This is really a non-knitting post, while there's progress on my projects, it just doesn't seem blog-worthy to post about the two rows on this or the ball winding for that. I want there to either be a completed object, a whole lot of progress or a problem. No I don't really want knitting problems, but they do make good photos and blog fodder.

Lorelai and I went to a "Baby & Me" movie today. We saw "Hancock" - not a baby friendly movie, but a grown-up movie and it was better than I expected it would be. I will keep my eyes on what they are showing - it's a worthwhile trip - for $5.25 (my admission) you get a new movie, the lights are kept on, the sound is not so loud, and down under the movie screen there are diaper changing areas. They also had a muffin cart to sell muffins (it was a 10:00am showing) and coffee. Lorelai was up and about the whole time - I was hoping she would sleep, but that didn't happen until the last 5 minutes of the movie, I could feel her body start to go limp on me. But it was ok because there were other people there with kids - so it was no big deal to feed / nurse / change a diaper. I would love if they showed "Indiana Jones" or "WallE" or "Mamma Mia".

I'm just about finished reading Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" - it boils down to these key points I'm getting a little obsessive grabbing the boxes of food / containers in the fridge. Since Lorelai I have made more of an effort (without really realizing it) to follow those points... While I am not 100% won over (as I ate some high fructose corn syrup candy at the movie today) - I love my cheerios and perdue chicken shortcuts and sushi and can't stand boiled veggies - I do think he makes some good points. I would encourage others to read it and see if you don't feel the same way. I will definetly seek out his other books after this.

I have to call a new dentist and new doctor for appointments. I've been putting this off forever - I have a dentist and doctor, but they are 45 minutes away - closer to where I used to live with my parents. I'm a big girl now, and I should take care of myself. Still. Ugh.

I am still thinking about gdiapers too - amazon is running a sale on them, so it seems like a good time to order. Having a diaper with a degradable component would lessen my guilt about the regular disposables.

yeah. my mind feels full.

Lounging

Three day weekends that start on Friday are always the best! My brother Matt was in town on Thursday, so we had dinner with my folks and him. Friday we went to Long Island for a party. Yesterday we did very little - well, that's not entirely true. I bought supplies to make baby hair clips / barrettes, Dan & I washed the kitchen floor, we watched "Drillbit Taylor" (it was about what you'd expect), had chinese food. Today we're off to his folks for dinner as well. I was poking about the internet and Dan noticed right outside the window next to the computer desk:

A bunny just lounging.

(I love my camera. That photo is through the window screen with lots of zoom. Yes, I'm technical like that.)

What was Jackson doing?

Lounging.

Lorelai is lounging now too - she might be almost done with her nap, so I probably should go check on that. Yesterday she was all over the place creeping and crawling. She ended up under here:

She got in there all by herself. Really hard to get a photo of her smiling this time. Oh well.

Knitting has been slow and steady. Finished and started more burp cloths, am onto the sleeves for the toddler sweater and the foot of the noro sock. Every little stitch counts!

Updates

This morning seemed quiet enough. L. and I were getting ready to go out and meet friends for a coffee / starbucks snack. We took Jackson out for a bathroom break and on the way back into the house he stepped on a yellow-jacket! Poor guy - he started whining / yelping / crying and not walking on that paw. So I called the vet - can't really tell about any sort of stinger - Jackson already has a thing about his paws, so I couldnt' get too close. No apparent swelling, but I did give him half a benadryl (in cheese! yummy). His breathing has been fine, so I don't think we have an allergy issue. You can tell he can't get comfortable - he would sit, then get up and move to another spot, lick his paws, lie down and repeat.

He's better now - using the paw, gently. He's been mostly sleeping / resting and accepts me picking him up when it's time to go down stairs.

I've been pretty good about splitting my time among some of my more pressing projects - I finished another burp cloth last night. The color was hard to photograph, but it's the swimming pool colorway - deep / bright blues:


Noro Sock #1 is coming along - I'm on the foot.


And I'm working on a toddler cardigan for schaefer yarns - love these colors - it's like peas and carrots and pinks!
Almost done with the neck edging, then I can do the back and sleeves.

Lorelai says to have a safe and fun holiday weekend!