Spring?!

Wow, I've been absent for a while! It seems like lately, after the boys have finally gone to bed, all I can do is stare at the computer and/or tv. Not much is going on upstairs. We have definitely been dealing with some sleep issues, and there have been a couple of personal issues I've been dealing with as well (nothing major, but my mind has just not been up for blogging).

The weather here has really been fluctuating. In one day it will snow several inches, melt a couple hours later, then the temperature will be in the 60s the next day. Ahh, spring in New Mexico! When it is nice, we've been trying to spend as much time as possible outside. Our daffodils are blooming, we pruned the fruit trees, and the grass is starting to slowly turn from brown to green. As I've mentioned before, this will be our first spring in this house. I'm excited to see what surprises will sprout in the coming months!

Today I sent out the package to my swap partner for the "Can't Wait 'til Spring!" exchange I hosted. I had a lot of fun putting the items together. The bag is a project I crocheted a while ago, but it went perfectly with the spring theme. I purchased the fabric charm pack at a local quilting store, and the book came from a local bookstore. I haven't read it, but it certainly looks interesting. I have already added it to my own reading list! I also included some all-natural diy spring cleaning recipes, as well as a couple of Burt's Bee's lip balms. I hope that my partner enjoys her package!

Let's see, I've also been bowling, experimenting with not wearing deodorant, planning our garden, reading Reading Lolita in Tehran for a book club, and trying to get organized for our first family-of-four vacation. We will be leaving for Tucson on Saturday for a five-day trip, so wish us luck! :)

I hope everyone is enjoying longer and warmer days!

Brotherly Love

Having a new sibling can be difficult, and we've had our fair share of jealousy and issues associated with Ben's arrival. Looking back, at 23 months old, Matthew was still a baby himself when Ben was born. Recently I've really been enjoying watching Matthew and Ben come to terms with each other. I'm sure they'll always have their moments, but I can already see their relationship blossoming as they interact more and more.

Dress-up has been very popular around our house lately. Matthew likes to tell us that he's "getting pretty." The other evening my mother told him, "no, honey, you're handsome." Matthew's response: "no, I'm pretty." I have to say that my husband, as a very masculine, football coach, meat and potatoes kind of guy, is taking all of this rather well. :)


Ben is the third little boy to wear the hat in the following picture. This kind of hand-me-down truly warms my heart. It makes me smile to think of the heads it's been on.

Monday

After procrastinating for three weeks about switching over the email to our new computer, I finally did it today. It took about ten minutes. Why did I wait so long? Well, I was afraid of the hundreds of emails that were awaiting me there, and well, I'm a natural procrastinator. Lists, such as the one above, sometimes help since I like crossing out what I've accomplished. I guess I'm a visual learner.

My husband and I take turns sleeping in on the weekends. Typically, he gets to sleep in on Saturdays, and I get to on Sundays. Since today was a holiday and I got to sleep in yesterday, I got up with Ben at about 6:00am while Pat and Matthew were sound asleep in our bed. Although I love sleeping in, I also really cherish my early-morning time with Ben. He and I don't get to spend too much time together, "just the two of us." I enjoy watching him play, grow, and learn. And, of course, there's much cuddling going on as well! :) While holding Ben, coffee in hand (cream AND sugar, thank you!), I watched the changing of the sunrise. During the thirty seconds it took me to find my camera, it had already turned from pink to yellow. I thought it was definitely still worth a picture.

Walking in Their Sleep

This afternoon after lunch Matthew broke Ben's crib by jumping in it. This made nap-time a bit more difficult than usual, and I really didn't want Matt to watch any more TV (he's on a big Caillou kick right now). So, I got the stroller and the Ergo out, and we went for a walk. Both boys fell asleep after about ten minutes. Unfortunately, goat heads knocked the wind out of my sails, er, tires, before I could get too far. My arms got a workout, though, trying to balance the stroller with a flat on one side!
(Those of you from White Rock/Los Alamos, can you guess where the above picture was taken?)



Amazingly, I was able to get Ben in our bed without waking him up (thanks for the tip, Britton!) :)

Plenty of crafting has been going on here, but there are some finishing touches that need to be made before any pictures are posted...

One Small Change, January: Baking Bread

I signed up for the One Small Change challenge over at Hip Mountain Mama to help me with my New Year's resolutions. Here is an excerpt from the site:
"We want to challenge each of you to make 1 change each month leading up to Earth Day (April 22, 2010). It can be small or it can be huge, but all we ask is that you decide on something you will do to make a positive green impact and follow through with it. If everyone makes 4 changes between January and April, this can have a huge effect."
The resolutions that have been on my mind the past weeks are all "green" and will hopefully help me express myself creatively, have a peaceful effect in my home, and improve my family's overall health. I also liked that the challenge involved focusing on one resolution per month, so as not to be overwhelming. Head on over and check it out--it's never too late to sign up!

My resolution for January is to bake bread on a weekly basis. My Aunt Nancy taught me how to make her fabulous high-altitude whole-wheat bread many years ago, and although I've made it many times, it's never been on a very consistent basis. I would really like for that to change. It's not a very difficult task; it just takes a little time. Plus, it's very therapeutic punching my fist into the dough when I knead it! :)

Of course, Matthew loves helping his mama bake. Right now I measure, and he pours. The teacher in me is looking forward to lessons on fractions and conversions in the future! Seriously, studies have shown that children entering grade-school today have less knowledge about fractions than previous generations due to the lack of hands-on learning in the home...Anyway, it's a quality activity for Matt and I to do together when Ben is taking his morning nap. Plus, the house smells wonderful as the dough rises and bakes!




It's a good thing this bread is just for our family, considering that Matthew licked it! I guess it serves me right for getting preoccupied behind the camera. Matt is such a boy; it cracks me up: he calls my kitchen utensils "Mama's tools," and when Pat gets any of them out of the drawer, Matt says, "no, Papa Bear, those Mama's tools!" When we were making the bread he pulled a cork screw out of Mama's tool drawer, told me it was a jackhammer, and began using it on the dough! Ah, life with little boys (and big boys!)...

(Matthew really does call his father "Papa Bear." I can't remember how it started, but it's so cute!)

Thoughts During Walks Revisited

I created this blog nearly two-and-a-half years ago when Matthew was just a couple of months old. At the time we were going on VERY LONG walks, as it was just about the only way for him to get in a good nap. I would seriously walk around our neighborhood for one to two hours at a time! His napping got better, the weather got cooler, but we still got our walks in just about every day until I became pregnant with Ben. By then Matt was getting pretty big for the Ergo (plus it got difficult to carry him with my pregnant belly!), and he refused to sit for any length of time in his stroller. Also, I have to admit, I got a bit lazy.

So, I've been thinking about changing my blog's name. I've been going back and forth about this decision, and I'm glad I've decided to wait. The boys and I are getting out more now, and I'm enjoying my walks once again. This afternoon we went out for about an hour. Matt was in the stroller and Ben was in the Ergo. By the time I got home, both boys were asleep. Ben's now up and exploring our office while I type this, and Matt is still in the stroller (in the house). How I love not having twenty steps to climb before reaching our front door!

It's been cold here the past few weeks, and the snow from before Christmas is still on the ground. Typically, it melts soon after it has fallen due to our brights sunshine and fairly warm temps. I love the smell of fireplace smoke in the air, and there were tons of birds out looking for food (note to self: pick up a bird watching guide at the library!). My thoughts today were on my own past and how much I've come full circle: we walked passed a couple of ex-boyfriends' homes, the pool where I lifeguarded in the summers, a friend's house who passed away when we were eighteen. How things have changed: now I have two babes, a husband, a house, four pets, and a lot of history!

Now, I don't necessarily want to make "walking more" a resolution, but it is something that is being more and more incorporated into my life again. It makes me feel good, helps my boys rest, and helps me to gather my thoughts and have increased motivation. So...perhaps it is a New Year's resolution, then. I just don't want to jinx it!

On to crafting--
After seeing Ellie's great thermal cowl, I knew I wanted to make it. I even had the yarn the pattern called for in my stash. All the ribbing did take longer than I expected, so I was only able to make one before Christmas for a friend. I would like to make more, but I just need to remember to allow myself more time!

Several of my friends received these sweet crocheted caps. I found the pattern in the Winter 2007 Knit Simple magazine I had stashed away on my shelf. It was fun to do some crochet after weeks of working on the knitted Christmas stockings for the Advent calendar. I already have yarn picked out for a crocheted cap for myself!


I have many more resolutions, or perhaps I should call them "goals" or "ideas" for 2010, so there's much more to come! What are your New Year's goals? :)

Some Thoughts

This afternoon I attended a memorial service for a former student of mine. I had attended services of parents of students, but never a student. My heart is heavy as I grieve for this sweet, charismatic, friendly, and always smiling seventh-grader. I often go back and forth in regards to my teaching career: do I want to go back to teaching? Do I want to stay in elementary or pursue a licensure in special education? Do I want to go down a completely different career path altogether? I still don't know the answers to these questions, but what I do know is that I was blessed by so many children in just three years of teaching. I hope that, in my own way, I added something positive to each one of their lives as well.

Right now I'm focusing on my boys and being the best mother I can be. When a tragedy occurs it is natural to hug your loved ones a little tighter, give more kisses and say more "I love yous." That is what I'm doing, and I'm extremely thankful for this time I have with my children.

I want to use this opportunity to discuss something deeply personal. On this little space, I often showcase my crafts, the positive aspects of my life, and the special moments I have with my family. I do not, however, want to paint the picture that my life is perfect. I was diagnosed with post-partum depression a couple of months ago. It was difficult for me to admit that I needed help, and I constantly felt like a terrible mother. When I ran into someone at the grocery store who said, "I bet you're a wonderful mother," I walked away feeling guilty and inadequate. I would read other crafting blogs and wonder how these other mothers seemed to have countless hours of crafting time, take beautiful pictures, homeschooled, etc. all while having more children than just my two. Something I once enjoyed doing (browsing crafting blogs) became a constant reminder of how I never seemed to measure up to my internal concept of the Perfect Mother.

After some urging from my own mother, I did end up seeking help and am on an antidepressant. My husband and I also both try to set time aside so that I can have time to create. Having a hobby like knitting has been very therapeutic for me. In her article in the summer issue of Living Crafts magazine Sonia Choquette wrote: "...a personal teacher of mine once suggested that the root of depression is that a person's creativity is blocked or shut down in some way so they are not doing what the soul needs most to do, which is to create."

I am not writing this for people to feel sorry for me. My hope is that someone may come across this post, read it, and understand that no one person, and no family, is perfect; it's healthy to seek professional help; it's important to find a creative outlet and somehow make time to create.

WIP: a Couple Days Late

I've been plugging along on my Christmas knitting, or at least trying to anyway. We've had a bit of a rough week with crummy side-effects from vaccines, not much sleep, and a pretty full schedule. At the end of the day all I want to do is sleep, which is what I did last night. Usually, even if I'm tired, I try to spend some time crafting since it makes me feel good, but last night it was light's out at 8:30. Luckily, the boys were tired as well!

Back to the Christmas knitting: I found the pattern for the sweet little gnomes at the blog, Plain and Joyful Living (now added to my sidebar). They are knitted flat, but since the finishing is "sew as you go," it's really not that bad. They're addicting little guys. My first was the red gnome--can you tell? I made it to go in Ben's stocking along with the matching ball from my previous post. I'm definitely going to re-knit the hat, although it makes me smile looking at it (so maybe I won't re-knit it; I don't think Ben will mind).

After Matthew saw Ben's gnome he asked me to make one for him. He said he wanted it to be blue and was very insistent. We've been working on colors, so I pulled about five different colored skeins out and asked him to choose which one he wanted. He picked up the blue skein and said, "blue, Mama." Translated: "I said the blue one, Mom. Why do you keep asking me this?" I lovingly obliged and enjoyed giving it to him on a Saturday morning after he woke up.

Below is a pair of Later Gator Mitts I've been working on. They're from Stitch and Bitch Nation, a book I've had for years now yet have never made a project from (it's a bit too trendy for me). I think that Matthew will enjoy having a pair of these mitts and am even making a pair for one of his friends. Another good thing: I'm using yarn from my stash.

I've been learning some difficult lessons about taking care of my knitted projects. Last spring when I was VERY pregnant I didn't take the time to wash and store my garments/accessories properly. Now I'm paying for it. I'm finding evidence of moths everywhere and am having to wash and mend numerous pieces. My finished Wisp is another example of not taking care of my knitting. I finished it shortly after Ben was born and kept it in my knitting basket until a couple of days ago when I finally got around to blocking it. Sadly, I found a couple of huge holes right in the middle. I haven't found any evidence of moths, so I think that a pair of scissors got it. I took it to my LYS yesterday and got some good suggestions on how to fix it. So, here is another WIP: mending my knits and learning from my mistakes!

WIP Wednesday II

We've had a couple of cold, wet days this week. I took this picture at about 7:30 am on Monday morning. Matthew was so excited to play in the snow, but I found him outside crying after about ten minutes because his hands were so cold (he refused to wear his mittens). Poor little guy. It was, however, a good lesson about why it's important to wear warm clothing when it's cold out.

Due to the cloudy day, I wasn't able to get good lighting for today's work-in-progress photo. I am proud to say that I've been working on at least one of my Christmas goals: a mini-stocking Advent calendar. Unfortunately, I can't find two of the stockings. Hopefully they'll reappear as we continue unpacking.

Before I had kids I absolutely loved rainy, snowy, cloudy, and/or cold days. I would curl up with a blanket on the sofa, watch movies, knit or crochet, and drink tea or occasionally hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. Post-kids, however, it's a little more difficult to do any of the above (especially the peppermint schnapps bit!) I'm fine with Matt going out in the cold, even encourage it, but he's not always willing. He'd love to sit on the sofa and watch a movie as well, but there's only so much tv I'm going to let him watch. So, after a major tantrum because I turned off the tv, he finally settled for some play dough. I gave him the "man," he found the clothes pin in the laundry room, and behold: his very own forklift. He was very proud of his creation!

Knitting the Time Away

What do you do while waiting anxiously for a baby to come? Knit a ton of bibs, of course! Actually, most of these will be gifts, but it has been a fun and calming process.

I have been wanting to make the Petal Bibs from One Skein for quite some time now, but most of my friends/family have been having boys. Finally some little girls are on the way, so I ordered some Knit Picks Cotlin and got started. I ended up knitting three, but my first had so many mistakes that it won't be gifted. I learned quite a bit, though, about short rows, applying an i-cord, and being sure to check my gauge. I knit the first on size 6 needles, and it turned out WAY too big and floppy. The two pictured were knit on size 4 needles, and they're just perfect. The pattern is such a great design, and I will be sure to make more of these in the future.

A couple of weeks ago, when I was thinking that our little one was going to come any day, I started looking for patterns that would be very simple knits. I settled on the Baby Bib O' Love from Mason-Dixon Knitting, but made up my own pattern since I didn't have the book. I used Rowan Handknit Cotton DK, which is a lighter weight yarn than the yarn used in the pattern. The size of these bibs are more appropriate for an infant, and the original Bib O' Love is sized more for a toddler. I also wanted the strap to be adjustable, so here is what I did:
CO 33 stitches
Knit in garter until desired length was reached
WS: knit 7 sts, put on holder. Bind off 19 sts. Work the next 7 stitches in garter for about an inch. Bind off on wrong side.
Reconnect yarn to 7 sts that were on the holder and work for 23 garter RIDGES.
*Buttonhole row (RS): knit 2, knit 2 together, yarnover, knit 3
Work 3 Garter Ridges
Repeat from * 2 more times
Bind off on the WS
Weave in ends and add a button to the "short" strap side

This was also a learning experience for me, and I made improvements on each bib. Although the design is not my own, I enjoyed making adjustments to fit my needs.

So, what now? I've picked up my Wisp that's been hibernating since last summer, and I've also started a blanket for the Linus Project. I checked out some movies at the library today, and the newest issue of Mothering Magazine came in the mail. I am planning on relaxing this weekend and, most importantly, I am at peace with the fact that this little one will come on his own time, even if that means past his due date.

Update

In a nutshell: I'm still pregnant. Both my ultrasound and OB appointments went well on Thursday, so there wasn't any need to induce or have a c-section. Our little guy is quite big (they think about nine pounds!), but he's healthy and the placenta is still supporting him well. We have much to be thankful for. Having said that, I am READY to have him! It's been pretty tough here at the end carrying around nine pounds of baby, plus "high" levels of amniotic fluid, and running after a toddler. Since this will probably be the last time I'm pregnant (but never say never, right?), I'm trying to enjoy and cherish it, but again, I am READY for my sweet boy to come.

In Preparation

I feel as if I'm now as prepared as I'm going to be for the *big* day that will hopefully arrive soon. All of our bags are packed, the house is at least semi-clean (thanks, Mom!), there are some frozen meals in the freezer, and I've finished the last of my baby knitting.

This afternoon I finally sewed the buttons on to the Harvey Kimono that I made for our new arrival. This is actually the second Harvey Kimono I've made (I made one for Matthew shortly after he was born), and even though all of the seaming is a beast, I just think that it's such a sweet pattern. I also love the yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery's Cotton Comfort. It is such a treat to knit with and the perfect yarn for baby garments. I highly recommend it! Underneath the sweater in the photo is a stroller quilt that my very talented friend made. I am very fortunate to have her in my life and be the recipient of such a sweet handmade quilt (thank you!).

A week and a half ago, during one of my ultrasounds, our little guy measured to weigh a little over eight pounds! I am thankful that he's a healthy size, but I have to admit that it scared me just a bit. I thought that for sure I would have had him by now, but here we are, still waiting. I have another ultrasound on Thursday and, based on that, my OB said that we'll "revisit our options." I am afraid that he'll push for either an induction or a c-section, neither of which we would like to do. Of course, we'll do what's best for the health of the baby and my own health, but we really have our hearts set on a natural birth. Please send prayers and thoughts our way for our little guy to come soon, preferably before Thursday. :)

Dough!

I survived my weekend on my own and perhaps even planned a bit too much. We had so much going on Saturday that we didn't have much time for outside play--something that is a must with an almost-two-year-old boy. Right now it is snowing (and actually sticking!), and we've been having high winds all week. Typical New Mexico spring weather. So, I've been trying to come up with more inside activities, especially because I'd like to have a little arsenal handy for when little brother comes.


Last week we made play-dough using my favorite recipe:

4 cups flour
2 cups salt
4 T cream of tartar
2 T vegetable oil
4 cups water (with food coloring added, if desired)
Mix together and stir over low heat until dough is stiff. Turn over on counter, let cool and knead. Store in an air-tight container.

This recipe keeps very well, although I have heard suggestions of keeping it in the fridge (we haven't, and it's been fine). I like the feel of it so much more than store-bought play-dough, plus I know the ingredients that went into it. Yup, I have a play-dough eater!

I have enjoyed searching the internet lately for activities to do with toddlers. Although I was an elementary teacher, I never took any early childhood classes. I am sure learning a lot now, though! Having a child is definitely the most hands-on, rewarding, practical, and difficult course I've ever had! Anyway, here are just a few of the websites/blogs I've come across:

The Toby Show (Click on the "Cheap and Easy" button)
Chasing Cheerios
The Crafty Crow

I'm sure there are many more out there--please let me know if you have any recommendations!

Update: The snow mentioned above brought about six inches and a snow day--yay! Spring break starts Monday, so this year it's extra long. :) (I care because my husband's a teacher).

A Fun Article

When I received my new issue of Mothering Magazine (or, as my husband likes to call it, Smothering Magazine) on Friday, I was thrilled to see an article about crafting/blogging mamas. Five women were showcased, including Amanda Blake Soule from SouleMama and Amy Karol from Angry Chicken. It was fun and inspiring reading about these two crafting/blogging "celebrities" who I have been following for quite some time now (I also have both their books!).

If you're not familiar with Mothering, it's a natural parenting magazine that's a little off the beaten path. I look forward to every issue and read the magazine cover-to-cover. I even read all of the advertisements (and I can't say that about any other magazine)!

Just the Two of Us

As many of you reading this have already experienced yourselves, or have observed others experiencing, pregnancy can often be a series of ups and downs. Yesterday was definitely a "down" day for me. I was feeling absolutely huge, my back was in constant pain, I was tired from having a toddler in my bed the night before, my dogs wouldn't stop barking then tracked mud through the house when I let them in, and I was cursing our two-level house every time I had to use the bathroom or take Matthew to the potty (we have one bathroom, and it's upstairs).

I was trying to rest when the dogs prematurely woke Matthew up from his nap. I brought him into our room and was lying down with him when my husband called. My patient husband heard an ear-full about my day, and while talking with him I was just about near tears. That's when Matthew sat up, leaned over, and gave me a great big kiss and hug. After I hung up with Pat, Matthew continued to shower me with hugs and kisses. Those five minutes abolished all of the negative emotions I had been feeling that day. My back still hurts as I am typing this, I still feel huge and tired, and I wish we had a downstairs bathroom, but I will always cherish this time with my son. I know that with two it will be double the work, but I'm already looking forward to double the love.

I am actively trying to slow down my days, as I know that Matthew and I will never have this "just the two of us" time together. This morning, while running errands, he and I treated ourselves to a decaf hazelnut latte and applejuice (I'll let you guess who got what), and shared a slice of blueberry coffeecake. Earlier in the morning we sat in our pajamas cutting and pasting pictures onto cardstock (more about this later). This afternoon he "helped" my wash the dishes and organize his room. I am finding that even though I can accomplish chores at a much faster pace by myself, it is more pleasant and meaningful to have Matthew by my side. He is becoming such a big boy! I really believe that him feeling "helpful" will help with the transition when his brother arrives.

These days are so special. I am trying my best not to just anticipate the BIG day coming this spring, but to appreciate and treasure all of the little moments right now.

Why Mama Never Became a Hair Stylist

Even though I loved Matthew's ringlets, it was time for him to have a hair cut. He was starting to have a little mullet, and he had been mistaken for a girl on more than a few occasions. So, the other night while he was in the bath, I got out some scissors and did some cutting. It actually didn't look too bad until his hair dried. Now I really will have to take him to the salon (and start knitting up some hats!). The good thing about hair is that it grows back, right? My school kindergarten picture shows some VERY crooked bangs (you know, the thick bangs that were popular in the '80s and started at the middle of the top of the head...) that my mom cut the night before school pictures. I have always given her a hard time about that picture, but now I guess that most everything comes full circle.

Matthew also wasn't very impressed with the hat I made.
But I liked it! The pattern is the Between-Seasons Cap from Designer One Skein Wonders. I used O-Wool Balance (50 % Organic cotton, 50% wool), and it really did take up one skein except about half a yard. This hat is actually for a friend, but I bought a skein for myself as well. It will be perfect this fall!