Time Flies

Patient
Originally uploaded by allsmile

I can't believe my baby is getting so big! Just yesterday he decided he'd like to walk. I was sorta weepy all day, thinking of what a big boy he is and how quickly this year has gone.

Junior really is such a joy. I know I say that pretty much every time i talk about him, but it's true! He loves to play and laugh. I don't know how I'd make it through some days without knowing I get to go home and play with him.

Ok, so he can be a booger. he is REALLY curious and gets into everything. And now his favorite thing is to put EVERYTHING into his mouth. Every little piece of fluff on the floor, every crumb, everything. We are still having some trouble getting him to eat table foods without gagging, but junk off the floor he doesn't have any problem with.

Junior will be turning one year old on August 15th. We have a very small party planned, just my parents, Jaime's mom who is flying in from CT and us. We really wanted it to be a nice no-stress party for the people who love Junior most in the whole world.

My baby isn't a baby anymore!

Suburban Farmgirl?

What can I say? I'm a total Violet (of Lime & Violet fame) follower. First she got me addicted to Plurk. And then, the Plurkette Hencircle. I tried to hold out, but they she mentioned a project. I LOOOVE projects. So this is project #1, my introduction.

I'm Vicki, hi. I have a wonderful husband, Jaime. We've been married for almost a year, but we've lived together for 6-ish years and been together for over 7. We have a sweet boy, Junior, who is almost 11 months old (can't believe that). His middle name is trouble, and he has the sweet smile and beautiful blue eyes to get away with most of it. Jaime and I are working to re-claim our relationship after adjusting to the baby.

I work for the US Geological Survey as a budget analyst. It isn't what I had always pictured myself doing, but I have a thing for numbers. I LOVE my job. I work with some wonderful people and, while I don't always understand what the scientists are doing, I know it's important work. I'm so lucky I can leave my baby with someone I totally trust, Jaime.

I used to have lots of hobbies, in the pre-Junior days. I'm also still adjusting to having a baby (and a job). I have just recently realized that I need to take care of myself. Even if it's just 20 minutes for an exercise video and an hour for knitting before bed, I need that me time. Eventually I will get back to reading (I miss you reading!) and scrapbooking (god knows I have the pictures now). I would love to really throw myself into quilting and spinning. And I've always been down for some random craftiness.

The only other big aspect of my life if my mom. She was diagnosed with breast cancer my freshman year of college (she put off telling me so I would be able to concentrate for finals). She opted for a double mastectomy, so fortunately that cancer hasn't been a problem since. Less than a year later, however, she was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in her uterus. This isn't a cancer that surgery can make go away, it just hides for a while. There is no recovery. Since then she has been through multiple rounds of chemo and radiation. She has had surgeries to remover tumors in her ureters and her lungs.

Sooo, why the desire to nourish my inner farmgirl? I need simplicity. I love the whole idea of creating. I also love the idea of the sisterhood, the connection. I have been thinking a lot about connecting lately, especially as it relates to my blog. I was thisclose to retiring the old blog. But I just couldn't do it. I love being able to share myself with this community.

For anyone visiting my blog for the first time, I hope I've given a pretty good picture of who I am. And if anyone else is still reading, hopefully I've shared something new. I can't wait to see what adventures and projects are coming up.

Mobile Bloggin' It

So here I am in Denver. I'm here for the next two weeks for a work-related course. The hotel is fab (the Magnolia) and I have a vehicle from the office to get me around. Last time I went to a training I was stranded at the hotel with no way to get around. This time I'm armed with a car and the directions to four nearby yarn shops. Now I just need to find a McDonald's for food (whatever I don't use of my daily food allowance I get to keep).

I'm sorta excited to be here, out on my own. I've never lived on my own or traveled on my own so this is an adventure for me. And it's kida cool to be able to knit or read or whatever whenever I want.

Oh, but then there's this:



I miss my boys like crazy!!!

My Baby

Junior is getting so big!


taken 3/28/08

And yes, that is Jaime's favorite oufit to dress him in.

I have probably said it before, but we really do have it pretty good with Junior. He sleeps well, he eats like a champ (we rarely even use a bib, Junior doesn't like to let food go to waste by making a mess), he holds his own bottle. And he's just so much fun! All the toys we'd gotten him are really getting some use now as he's starting to figure things out and realize that not everything is a chewtoy (ok, there's still a lot of chewing, but still).


taken 3/8/08

Just in the past month Junior has started "crawling." Of course his form isn't perfect, he looks like he's doing the army crawl through a trench, but he sure is mobile. Every time we put him down he goes straight for the TV/stereo cords, the little booger. And of course he has no patience for sitting nicely with boring Mom and Dad anymore. So we got him what I lovingly refer to as his cage.


taken 4/3/08

We have a relatively small apartment and there just really isn't any way we can baby proof even one room well enough that he can be left alone. So we set up this gate in his room. It is genius! He can play with all his toys and have room to move around (my problem with all the pack-n-plays we looked at) and when we want to join in we just open up one side.

Everyone keeps saying that before long he'll be pulling up and walking. I just want my baby to stay small for a little bit longer

When Motivation And Energy Meet

Until a couple weeks ago, I really hadn't knit since my trip (had to go to DC for a work-required class for a week in February).


Fortunately, Junior has slept through the night since about 7 weeks and not long after that he established a pretty regular schedule of going to be between 8 and 9. I generally don't make it to bed till at least 10:30 and sometimes later, so it seems like I'd have plenty of time to get in some knitting or anything else. Except I was tired. I work all day and then come home and play with/take care of Junior so Jaime can have a break. I never even get a chance to eat dinner till the kid is in bed. So mostly I would just sit between his bedtime and mine.


For some reason though, I've been feeling a lot less tired lately. Work has been going well and Junior really enjoys playing with all his toys, so I can maybe even manage some dinner while he's awake.


Add this new energy to my recent motivation, namely the Rockin' Sock Club and suddenly I'm knitting again.

I had started the first sock on my trip but never finished it. Then all of a sudden the next shipment seemed to be sneaking up on me. One glorious Saturday afternoon alone and a few good lunch hours and I've finished sock one and am making good progress on sock two.





I REALLY want to keep up with this club, if I do nothing else knitting related this year. I just received the March club shipment and can't wait to get started. I had finished my Serendipity socks last night and just wanted to take a few pictures. This is how one picture turned out.



Don't know if you can tell but the bottom sock is a wee bit shorter than the other. Yeah, I sorta forgot half a repeat of the pattern on the second sock. I was just so excited to finish it! So I ripped back and am patiently (haha) working my way towards the finish line again. My new yarn keeps staring at me though...

Hopefully I'll have some finished socks to show you very very soon!

All But Given Up

I had basically given up on ye olde blog. Life was crazy (baby, work, holidays, baby, more baby). I didn't feel like I had anything to offer, maybe I still don't but whatever. Honestly, I was still adjusting and it is just now that I am finally feeling able to take some bits of time for myself. I know making time for myself is important, it is just something that I wasn't used to having to work on. I'll admit it, my life has been pretty easy and "me time" hasn't been hard to come by until just recently.

So in a nod to making myself a priority (not top priority mind you, but on the list at least), I've decided to come back to the blogging world. I missed you!


taken 3/6/08

Updates soon!!

We Made It

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. Junior's first Christmas went pretty well. He got some fun toys that he can almost play with as well as the biggie, his jumper.


taken 12/25/07

He seems to like it, except when he becomes fixated with getting the frog into his mouth and he can't quite get it. Then he gets pissy.

I got some nice gifts too. Jaime got me a beautiful Knitter's Satchel from Jordana Paige, some super cute, sock-showing-off clogs and a couple other little things.

How Goes It?

Slow and steady. No, just slow. I've made some progress on the beret for my mom. I'm not terribly confident that it will work out though. See, the store bought one she had made her head hot and she blames wool. And I know she hates acrylic (a yarn snob and she doesn't even know it) so I decided to try a cotton linen blend, appropriately named CotLin from Knit Picks. I think I'll at least end up with a head covering of some sort, I'm just not sure how beret-like it will be.

No other progress has been made. Well, at least no other knitting progress.

Junior is making progress. A few nights ago he decided not to go to sleep until 1AM and used that extra time to come THISCLOSE to rolling over from his back. I was there cheering him on and he was just almost there a few times. But then he got tired (ok, we both got tired) so we gave up for the day. Now I'm convinced he just likes spending time on his side. He's even fallen asleep like that a couple times. Sooo cute.

Daily baby pic - check out that hair


taken 12/7/07

Ho Ho Ho

So, what craziness have I gotten myself into with the Christmas knitting? I've never gotten too swept up in it, but this year (you know, since I have so much free time on my hands) I am way in. Here goes, in order of importance:

1. Beret for my mom (she'd like it before Christmas actually, ha)
2. Sweater for Junior (only need to sew in the sleeve and seam up one side)
3. Fingerless mitts for Jaime (he's wanted a pair for a while)
4. Shrug for cousin Christina (she's 4 months older than Junior, shouldn't take too long)
5. Hat for Jaime (to match mitts)
6. Cell cozy for mom (she keeps hers in a plastic baggie right now)
7. Stockings for Junior, Jaime, and I (maybe in time for next year...)

The worst part is that I haven't started any of it yet. I have a pattern for the beret, but I'm using a different sized yarn so I'll have to adjust. Same for the shrug. I'll be making up the mitt, hat and cell cozy patterns as I go. Wish me luck!

Daily Baby Pic

taken 10/24

Pay It Forward

Yeah, I suck. Moving on...

I managed to get myself swept up in the newest blog craze, Pay It Forward. Here are the details:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days. That is my promise. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I'm going to be getting something fabulous (I'm sure) from the lovely Ren. So, any takers?

(Not so) Daily Baby Pic

taken 10/23

Next time, my ambitious (for me) Christmas knitting list.

Day 8

Although I still have a fair number of projects in various states of not-quite-done*, I have become pretty monogamous with my knitting. I don't have the time or brain power for more than one project at once! So what am I working on now?

My main project is a sock for Sockdown: Ravelry. I decided a couple months ago that my life wasn't crazy enough, and I should try to knit a pair of socks a month. Of course, the prizes don't hurt. I'm knitting my first sock from Sensational Socks and so far I'm loving it. I apparently have unusually wide feet, so it is nice to be able to adjust for that easily. I actually left my sock, or more accurately toe, in progress at work, hopefully I can get some pictures soon.

Another thing I'm working on every great once in a while is Junior's Trellis. I LOVE this sweater, but HATE seaming. So once a week or so I pick it up and sew up a seam. I'm going to have to pick up the pace though, as he's probably pretty darn close to fitting into it.

Annnnd since I left my sock at work, I think I'm about to cast on for the famous My So-Called Scarf. I've wanted one for so long...

Daily baby pic

taken today

*Yeah, I've given up on the sidebar for now. And I've even become too lazy to link. I'm really just holding out for the Ravelry sidebar.....

Day 7

Yeah, I kinda missed a day. Whatever.

And I still haven't quite finished Miss Dashwood. But it looks finished...

Just needs another half an earflap and some buttons. I'm REALLY hoping Junior will go to bed before 11:30 tonight and I can finish it up.

I've really liked knitting this sweet little hat. It really wouldn't take very long, if I had more than 15 minutes a day to put into it. The pattern will definitely go onto my list of favorites.

Daily baby pic

taken today

Day 5

After a long day of work, there is nothing like coming home to my sweet boys. Junior has gotten into a bit of a routine, a biorhythm perhaps. He wakes up happy and smiley. He's pretty content all morning and into the afternoon. Then, just around the time I get home, he gets grumpy. He eats but isn't completely satisfied with that. He naps a bit, but wakes up whiny. We don't dare put him to bed, if he'd stay asleep anyway which is doubtful, because if we do he'd probably be up at 2AM. SO he fusses and whines (admittedly with a few wonderful smiles in between) until bed time. At least this I don't take personally. It isn't me, just his natural rhythm.

Daily baby pic

taken 9/21, so much for new pics everyday

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have an FO report to share :)

Day 3

Lately, Junior has been eating more. Like, quite a bit more. Two weeks ago, I pumped so much that we had to freeze 3 bottles worth. But this week, this week Junior has had 3 bottles of formula. Like I wasn't having enough self-esteem issues in the motherhood area. I was just getting over feeling like Jaime and Junior didn't need me, and now they sorta don't. I hate that I can't make enough milk to satisfy him. Ugh.

To look on the bright side, Junior is happy and healthy. Evenings can be a little rough when he starts getting tired, but he sleeps allllll night and wakes up all smiley. And he's probably growing if he's eating more.

Daily baby pic

taken 9/30, with my dad

I love that sweet boy so much

Day 2*

I've been home since 6 and this is the first time I've been able to do something without Junior. I had to eat my dinner with him laying on my lap. Someone is being a little difficult today.

So, Halloween is over and apparently the holiday season has begun. As in previous years, I've planned a few gift knits, but nothing too elaborate. Jaime and Junior need a few things. I'd like to make something for my mom and dad. I'm even thinking of keeping the family socks thing going with some holiday socks for us all.

Of course, I have a few other things to finish first...

Daily baby pic:

taken 10/4

*Let's face it, coming up with a post everyday is one thing. Coming up with a clever title is just beyond me.

NaBloPoMo

So here we are, at the first post for National Blog Post Month (NaBloPoM0) in which I attempt to post every single day for a whole month. Yeah, I'm a joiner. I figured that a month of posts might get me back on track here. Or bore us all to death, we'll see.

Today was a really good day. Jaime was FINALLY able to bring Junior to my job to show off. Of course everyone loved him :) Actually, he got the best compliment to date. A man at my job said that Junior looks really smart (and then added "like his mother," which I didn't mind hehe). Everyone says how cute he is, and of course I agree. But most babies are. It just meant a lot that someone saw something else. I guess I've always been more about brains than looks.

Yesterday my new-mom buddy in the office stopped by to show off her sweet little girl. She'll be returning to work next week, so I've gone into overdrive trying to knit something sweet for her. She made it to my shower and gave me a great gift, but Junior was really new when she had her shower so I missed it. So now I get to make it up. I'm making a soft yellow bonnet, Miss Dashwood. So far, I'm only on the picot cast-on.



Better get back to knitting!

Happy Halloween

Changes

This new life of mine is just filled with changes. I've always been big on continuity, stability. Change scares me. I get really anxious when I have to go to a new place or try something new, even when I know it will be good. But lately, I've come to embrace the changes that are taking place. Looking back at all the changes I've been through, I realize that everything that has happened to me has happened for a reason, to get me to this amazing place where I am now. For once in my life, I wouldn't trade places with anyone.

So, it's been a month since I've posted and so much has happened I hardly know where to begin.
I'm now back at work and that has gone so much better than I thought. I really enjoy what I do. I love the people that I work with. Being back at work makes me feel human again. I have a reason to get dressed in the morning, I am more than a pair of breasts. And Jaime is just AMAZING as a stay-at-home dad. Of course, he's almost too amazing. Ever since Junior got home, I've felt that Jaime was just a bit more in tune with the him. That has become even more apparent now. Jaime always knows what Junior needs, can always make him laugh or "talk." It's hard not to feel like my being gone everyday means missing out on the bonding. I've gone from the one Junior needed every 2 hours to feeling like they don't need me at all. I'm trying to frame the situation, and remember that it is good that Junior is home with someone who loves him and who is so good with him.



My mom is back to doing chemo. Can't remember what the last update I gave on her was, but they found a tumor in each lung that were recurrences of her leiomyosarcoma. They were able to remove both and now she's doing one week a month of chemo in the hospital. She has had a few issues with this round, but overall she's still doing really well. Of course, she is just completely in love with Junior. I try to make sure that they get plenty of time together, even though she isn't able to babysit anymore.



Life means change, especially with a sweet boy growing so much everyday. Guess I better get used to it.

Victory!

As I speak, Junior is slumbering away...in his crib! I really don't think he's slept there since his first week. Man do I regret letting him get out of that habit. We finally decided that it was time for him to learn to sleep on his own and not on top of one of us, especially since I go back to work next week (eek!). I hadn't had much luck, but today it just clicked and he's had two good naps there. My secret is a swaddler that my mom got from a garage sale. I was just never able to wrap him up tight enough and he'd always startle himself awake with his flailing.

Actually, it's been a big couple of days for the little guy. Yesterday out of the blue I decided to try feeding him without a shield and he's been eating fine without it ever since. I started on a nipple shield in the hospital when he was having difficulty latching on and while I'd tried without it a couple times, it just never seemed worth the screaming. Now I feel so free! I can nurse him anywhere without needing to worry about having pillows just right and a clean shield. And on a lesser note he has officially switched to size 1 diapers.



In other news, Friday Jaime and I got married. We've been married through common law for a bit, but we (I) wanted it to be official. As soon as I get the chance, I'll be going down the the Social Security office to chance my name. It's all very surreal

Freedom

I'm temporarily baby-less and it feels so good. Jaime took Junior to the store so I could have a few minutes to breathe. It's nice being able to knit (or blog) without having to worry about whether he'll need me rightthisverysecond. We even get to go out for a birthday (mine was Saturday) dinner tonight while my mom watches the baby.

So far I've eaten two chocolate chip cookies for breakfast, knit a bit on my forget-me-not socks, and posted this. Who knows what kid of craziness I'll do next!

Here's a newer shots of my handsome boy. I can't stay away from him for long. He's getting to be such a big boy.



I love that little guy more than I could have imagined, but he can be such a booger. He sleeps a fair amount, and even for some decent stretches at night, but he can only sleep on one of us or in his bouncy seat. I've been sleeping on our couch for over a month (it was more comfortable for the last week or so of being pregnant as well) because he won't sleep in his bassinet or crib (and so that Jaime can get some sleep since he's still working). I seriously miss bed.

I really have to say that this mother thing is so much harder than I expected. I know that sounds dumb, I should have known. But with my experience with kids and infants I thought I had an advantage. Well, I don't know if I've been working with numbers for too long or if kids this young are just a different animal (my best guess), but I have NO advantage. It's better now, but I've had some rough moments when he won't stop crying and nothing is working and I just break down. I'm supposed to be good at this and know how to make him feel better and sometimes I just don't. I'm so logical that in my mind when he cries he must want one of a finite set of things that have made him happy in the past and when none of those work I feel helpless.

Ok, end of vent. Despite those moments I'm really enjoying this new little person.