knitting, gus gus, and other things.

Remember when I mis-measured my March project? Well I did it again. I was about to cast off and wanted to re-measure just to be sure. We were at my in-laws and it was late and I didn't want to bother my MIL asking for measuring tape so I asked Erik to find a ruler online for me to measure from. We both just assumed it was to scale... but it wasn't. So when I got home and re-measured I discovered that it was, in fact, incorrect and I needed to take it apart again! Curses! So I pulled it apart one last time and I am hoping third times the charm.

Gus Gus slept over a couple nights ago. Gus Gus... what an awful nickname, but I can't help it -- it stuck. It started as variations of Grunty Gus, Grumpy Gus, Fussy Gus. It was inevitable that I would drop the nouns (they are nouns... right?) and Gus Gus is cuter than just Gus. To me at least. I also call him Pukey Pete sometimes, but that's really no better.

I even managed to re-work some of my March Knitting Project while the boy slept on my chest. Man, he smelled yummmy. Puke and all. And it was nice to have some added motivation to sit and knit that silly thing. I get frustrated just looking at it now -- uuugggghhhh!!!

I forgot how nice it is when babies can't move. All he wanted to do was snuggle. And eat. There was plenty of eating as that boy is growing growing growing. He had doubled his weight by two months (putting him in the 12lb range now... he started out itty bitty). Having an infant again also made me realize how nice it is when they grow up a bit can move and feed themselves and sleep through the night. And fetch things for you -- that's also key.

I asked Erik if he was excited to have a baby of his own and he said that yeah he was... in a few years. This is huge progress. He was snuggling with a sleepy and adorable Kaden at the time so it may have been a little unfair to ask in that moment, but I'll take what I can get.

I worked the first shift in my new permanent full time line today. I don't know how much I'll like it. I love being able to say no if I absolutely need a weekend off. I love being flexible. I love working with different people all the time. And I love going to the plastics floor for a break every once in a while. And now I am stuck. I'm not really stuck, but you know... it's just a change.

Well Erik is feeling unwell and he is moaning on the floor in the kitchen so I should probably go tuck him into bed. He has been making up songs while playing guitar lying on the floor. Ridiculous songs about the George Foreman Grill, having blood drawn, feeling sick, buying underpants, aching, eating chocolate cake, and other bizarre things. He even tried to make me sing along with him.  Thanks, but no thanks.

Bonne Nuit!

high hopes

I had hopes of writing an interesting post today, but I am exhausted. Kaden slept over last night and we didn't get much sleep. And we just had friends over for an early birthday dinner and dessert for Erik (his birthday is actually Monday). So now I must go to bed as I work in the morning. I will leave you with a picture of the little mister.

Have a good weekend.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a lovely weekend! 

*** *** ***

quick update

I feel like I should write something, but I really don't have much energy right now. I miss writing. You know? That's one thing I miss about being in school. I dreaded papers, but it felt so good to have to articulate yourself. The process was painful (countless hours researching, then writing, then re-writing, then editing, then editing some more), but I loved being proud of the work I had done. I miss being challenged in that way. I miss being forced to write well.

I made this yummy recipe for dinner tonight. Yummm. I didn't cooking until 7:30pm -- the light throws me off. I still feel like the sun should be setting at 4:30pm. So glad it's not! I love the longer days.

We were visiting Erik's family in Washington this weekend. A wonderful, but all-too-brief visit. The weather was gorgeous (and rainy at times) and we got to spend some time out in the sunshine. It.felt.so.good. Have I ever mentioned how much I love Erik's family? I do.

Mandi came for a visit today with her little munchkins. Kaden is growing quickly and Sawy is as darling as ever.

Today I finished a sewing project -- more on that later. I managed to help a friend out and fulfill/complete a new year's 'resolution'.  Let's just say I am super excited about it and it is super adorable and I will be making more of the same thing in the near near future.

And that's about all for now. Kaden is coming for a sleepover tomorrow -- Mandi and Kev are having a date night with Sawy on Saturday. I'm excited for them... and for me.

Oh! Another thing I am excited about: Lindsey's ultrasound next week! Her hubby can't make it so I get to accompany her. She is already 19 weeks along. Wow, that has gone quickly (for me at least... she may beg to differ)!

Have a good night!

Music Monday... too late Tuesday?

Oops. I must apologize. Two weeks in a row Music Monday has been delayed. I have a good excuse though... I didn't post one.

This week is an interesting choice for me because I don't actually particularly like this song. I am interested by the song and I have it stuck in my head but I don't really enjoy it. It is very peculiar.

At any rate. I do appreciate the artist, Andrew Bird. He has been very inspirational for singer/songwriters for a long time and I actually like that his music is interesting to listen to even if I don't really enjoy it. I would rather hear something like this rather than mindless blather regarding partying, riches, fame, booty, etc.

This is Andrew Bird with Anonanimal:



I promise I'll be on time next week.

Until then, keep your Birds anon.

EDO

just south of the border

We have headed south for the weekend. Just south of the border to Erik's parent's house in Washington to visit family. Erik's sister, the one we visited in Minnesota, is down with her three boys so we came to see them.

On the way down we stopped in at my brother's house for a quick visit. It was much too quick (aren't they always?) but it was so nice to see my beautiful nieces. 

Erik even managed to squeeze in a tea party with Hailey! 

I was amazed at how big Jordyn as gotten! She's only a month older than Kaden, and only a pound heavier, but she seems so much bigger and so much more grown up. She can control her head and she's smiling and she was awake and alert (I think I have only really seen Kaden alert 3 or 4 times... that boy love to sleep!).

And then we made it! This is Erik with Jamie... the littlest nephew. And now we have three and a half glorious days on the west coast with our family and I am so excited. 

So excited.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a superb weekend! 

*** *** ***

just me and my babes

I'm heading off to work, but I wanted to share these photos of me and my babes. These were taken Sunday afternoon.

I just love these little people.

Music Monday

Good day. It's time for music.

Here is another song from My Brightest Diamond. This one's called 'We added it up'



I really like how clever she is.

Here's to a good week, better each day.

Until next time, keep your inexhaustibles exhausted.

EO

one gorgeous mama.

My friend Mandi is one of the most beautiful women I know. Wouldn't you agree?

grumpy

Today I am grumpy.

For no apparent reason too.

I slept well.
I worked out today (go me!).
I ate well.
It snowed this morning.
It was sunny for a bit this afternoon.
I read a little bit.
Knit a little bit.
Watched a show.
Ran some errands.

And I'm grumpy.

I've been grumpy the whole time.

Ugh.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a sun-filled weekend! 

*** *** ***

finally some sunshine

It was a beautiful day today. I must admit that I didn't leave my house until 5:00pm, but I still managed to enjoy some of the sunshine. We had Chinese food with some people from where Erik works and then we decided to take a little stroll down by the beach.

I had enough foresight to bring our new camera along. After months of saving and then months of humming and hawing over what to get we finally settled on the Canon Rebel T3i. That was the easy part actually. I was perplexed over which lens to get along with it and decided to start out with the 50mm f/1.4. Good choice? Even if it isn't please just tell me it is.

 

Erik actually went and ordered the camera and the lens one day while I was at work because I couldn't commit. I'm very bad at spending money, unless cards or yarn is involved that is. I still have some money saved up to get another lens... I just have to decide which one. I'm thinking the one we have will be good enough for now. I can accustom myself to the camera and hopefully improve my photography. Maybe even figure out what I like so I can make a more educated decision when purchasing our next lens. Any recommendations?

Anyway. To enjoy the beautiful sunshine we had today Erik and I went walked to the lake and snapped a few photos. I pretended I knew what I was doing as I adjusted the aperture and ISO, but really, I was mainly pretending.  I read part of the manual, but there is so much to take in. I just played around for a little bit and familiarized myself with a few things. Actually, I don't know anything more now then I did when we went out.

I know this is completely unrelated to everything else I am writing about, but I feel so lucky to live where I do. I can walk to this beautiful beach in 15 minutes, and it isn't even the closest one to my house. I can't believe only two people have taken me up on my offer to house you if you make the trip out here. It really is a lovely place.

I'm hoping to read some more about the camera and to go out snapping more photos. Maybe focus on one thing each day to start... just to get a handle on things. You know, learn about aperture one day and play around with it. Then tackle ISO the next. Or something. My biggest pet peeve is when people buy fancy pants cameras like this one and then use them like point-and-shoots. I do not want to be one of those people.

I at least figured out how to manually focus the thing -- Erik has some work to do in that department. I did appreciate him taking an interest in the whole picture-taking thing though. He is usually very reluctant.

I'm excited to learn more about this handy little piece of equipment. If anyone has advice regarding lenses, tips for learning (contemplating taking a coarse to learn about the camera/basic photography, but I'm hesitant to do so), or just any advice in general really, I would love to hear it!

some things

I caved and bought the Hunger Games Series. They were cheapest at Costco, in case you're wondering. I bought them on Saturday and I am already finished them. I haven't read for fun in SO long and it was wonderful to get lost in a book... or two or three. I thoroughly enjoyed them, though I can't recommend them as quality literature.

At church on Sunday I was holding a baby a family is fostering. He is ten-months-old and adorable!! Maelle saw me with him and bee-lined straight for me whining and crying and wanting me to pick her up. I scooped her up in my other arm and she proceeded to try pushing the little guy out of my arms, trying to climb over to his side, and squeezing me around the neck. I tried putting her down, but she wailed so I picked her up again. I ended up having to dish of the young'n to calm her down. To be honest, I was pleased-as-punch that she was jealous. It was cute.

She's never done that when I've been holding Kaden, oddly enough. Though when I'm holding Sawyer she often wants to join us. And vise versa. Sawy is often interested when I have Maelle in my arms. But that's not jealousy, that's just because they're friends. 

I was out with Milena and Maelle on Monday (at the gym...what what!) and when Milena drove me home Maelle pointed to my house and said "Uncle Erik". I said, "yeah, Uncle Erik is home". And she proceeded to say "uncle, uncle, uncle" desperately pointing at the house. M had to leave so she didn't get to come in for a visit. She wasn't very happy about that, but I thought it was cute that she wanted to see him so badly. I've said it before and it remains true -- Maelle likes me a lot, but she adores Erik.

Going on my third night shift. Joy! They haven't been too bad. I'm off until Monday -- unless they're short and call me in.  I love having weekends off!

Erik and I just started watching Game of Thrones. I don't get it, but I do find it interesting. I like Sean Bean and Erik is intrigued by it so we watch it. The books were recommended to me by a friend at work, but I don't know if I would like them. Maybe the show would make more sense if I read them though. Not that I care that much.

I just realized I measured my March knitting project incorrectly and have to take the whole thing apart. I was one inch away from being done and I have not been enjoying the pattern. I don't think I would knit the pattern again, which is sad because I have loved everything else I have made. This project is just a bit too boring. I need to get a start on those bootees to jazz things up a bit.

Erik's sister is on the coast visiting my in-laws. She has her three boy-ohs with her. We are going home next next weekend to visit them and I can't wait! Maybe I will re-knit my project on the way down. We are leaving after a night shift so I will probably just sleep.

I got a new camera. More on that later.

And that's about all for now folks. Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Music Monday

Hello again and welcome to the late show err... Music Monday.

I had a busy day and really need to sleep so I will be keeping this post minimal.

Phillip Glass. Well known composer. Awe-inspiring, beautiful, emotive, soothing, thought provoking.

Metamorphosis Two by Phillip Glass. Enjoy.



Until next time...

EO

when in ghana

These past few weeks I have been looking through my Africa photos and reminiscing about where I was last year at this time. At least a couple times a week I will sift through to see where I was on that particular day.  Sometimes I find myself laughing. Sometimes the memories make me angry all over again. Sometimes I feel indifferent. Sometimes I see pictures I don't remember taking, people I don't remember meeting, and events I don't remember experiencing. Erik's always telling me I'm forgetful. I usually just smile.

A year ago, at this very moment, I was stranded on the side of the road in the middle of who-knows-where-Ghana with 17 other girls waiting for a trou-trou to come rescue us. Our trou-trou had stopped working so we sat, shivering our buns off (it was 33 degrees celsius that night), and waited. For about four hours. It was pitch black and I unfortunately had the scoots. Bad.

I had thankfully predicted that we would be waiting for a while so I had started off walking far from the group to move my bowels. It was a good thing too because I think I "went to the bathroom" some 20 times before we were rescued. Each time I would walk less far so as to not come across any of my previous movements.

My dear friend Kelsey was kind enough to accompany me. It's frightening walking in the middle-of-nowhere with who-knows-what lurking around and dropping your pants. Kels kept watch/pointed her headlamp in my direction so I could see around me. Now that is a true friend.

And that, my friends, is where I was a year ago today. I'd go back there in a second -- scoots and all. 

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a splendid weekend! 

*** *** ***

 I know there aren't supposed to be any words, but I just need to point out that if you look closely you can see Sawybean snuggling with me in the reflection of the computer. Who wouldn't love a sleeping babe, a snuggling small child, and a little Return to Me?

beaming

My sister, Lindsey, is pregnant.

After months of thinking about how to announce it
and many evenings sitting in front of the computer screen trying to start this post
I decided that just coming out and saying it was best.

My sister, Lindsey, is pregnant.

It doesn't get old
and my excitement never wanes.
It is exceptionally wonderful news.

Lindsey is due in August.
She's 16 weeks tomorrow
and will be 40 weeks on my fourth anniversary. 

I found out just before Christmas and have been beaming ever since.

Beaming.

Sleepover at Auntie's House

Sawyer and Kaden came for a sleepover Friday night. I would have them every night if their parents would let me. And if my husband would let me. But, I take what I can get.

showing me where my eyes are.

I was surprised that the Bean woke up more than the little Buck did. She hasn't woken up in the middle of the night at my house since she was three or four months old, but she woke up three times!! The first time was at 1:30am and I stumbled out of bed to go to Kaden, thinking it was him. When I realized it was Sawy whimpering I went in, snuggled her for a quick second, then laid her down with her puppy and blanket and she fell asleep instantly. The little dude woke up at 2:30am for a feed and then we had a bit of a snuggle before I managed to put him down and get some more rest.

It's a good thing I did too because Sawyer woke up at 4:30am whimpering again. She quickly returned to sleep, but woke up one last time at 5:30am, at which point I brought her into bed with us because I had no idea what was going on. The poor little Bean. I was delighted to have her warm little body cozied up to mine though and we soon fell fast asleep.

I woke up to Grunty Gus making a racket in the living room (where I had made a little bed for him on the floor... the good thing about small infants). I prayed that he would settle and I would get a bit more sleep, but it wasn't meant to be. His grunts soon turned to wails and I was summoned to warm another bottle of milk to satisfy the little man. That was at 6:30am. Sawy climbed out of bed and joined us in the living room at 7:30am.

I can't believe I just went in depth on our night... I know most mama's go through this every. single. night. and it really wasn't a big deal. In fact, I am disappointed when the kids come over and no one wakes up -- less cuddles for me! I just felt bad for Sawy because she never wakes up in the middle of the night. In fact, I don't think I've been up with her since she was three or four months old. I wonder what could have been bothering her. She fell back asleep too quickly for it to be anything major, but there was obviously something.

Speaking of the Bean, she still adores her little brother. She will straighten out the blanket on the floor, lay down, and then pat the area beside her saying "peease, peease, peease" indicating that she wants her little brother to lay beside her. Or she will run to the couch, sit in the corner and hold her hands, palm up, saying "peease, peease, peease". If I take too long to respond she starts rubbing her chest signing please and continue begging "peease, peease, peease" in a pleading fury! It's quite adorable.

You can also often find her hugging him, kissing him, and attempting to pick him up. She especially loves giving him attention when he is sleeping on the couch or the floor. And she is generally gentle, but her loving sometimes gets aggressive. I can tell when this is happening because she grinds her teeth slightly and develops a bit of an underbite. We wrestle when this happens so she can let out some of her energy and then she goes back to being gentle.

Sawy is forever pointing out Kaden's eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, tongue, ears, hands, etc. She also loves to copy his breathing. You know the sporadic, unrhythmic, occasionally absent, quickening breathing of an infant. I didn't realize what it was at first, but every time Sawy held Kaden she would breathe strangely and loudly. We soon figured out that she was copying him.

And little man Kaden. He is gruntier, gassier, pukier, and generally noisier than his sister was. But he is adorable and a rather content young man. When Sawy was unmoving she slept in a little bed I made on the floor or in a laundry basket in our room. Maybe it's a second child thing, but I let Kaden sleep in the living room because he is so noisy! Our house is small so he was probably only 15 feet from our bed, but I wouldn't have done that with Sawy. I was afraid my dear husband wouldn't get any sleep and I like to accommodate him in any way possible when I have young ones in the house.

Sawyer developed a bit of cabin fever on Saturday so we went for a little walk around the neighbourhood. She was cranky when I was feeding Kaden on the couch so asked her to get me a book to read to her. She disappeared into her room and came back with nothing. I asked again if she wanted me to read her a book and she shook her head no so I left it at that. Sawy disappeared again, this time into my room, and reappeared with a pair of my shoes. She brought them over, placed them directly in front of me, and said "peease, peease, peease". I told her we could go for a walk after I fed Kaden and she said "ya! ya! ya!". She ran around excitedly for a minute and then proceeded to try putting my shoes on for me. Oh Sawy.

By the way, my baby surprise jacket is 100% completed! And I am probably 40% of the way through my March project -- not the bootees. Proper update later.

still my little girl

I'm so glad this one still loves dishing out cuddles. Even though she is a responsible big sister she is still my little girl.

Music Monday

Hi.

Back for your musical treat? You came to the right place. Today a video dear to my heart.

David Bazan was part of the band Pedro the Lion. The band was originally had the vision of being a sort of worship band, in fact I believe they started as a worship band in a church in Bellingham, WA. They became fairly popular but eventually broke up after one of their more creative leads, David Bazan, couldn't keep his act together any more. He had a bit of a drinking problem you see. He struggled with alcohol while on tour and eventually it hit hard at home. He also struggled with many elements of faith that they were having more and more pressure to profess due to their "Christian" band status and popularity. He decided to leave the band, regroup, and go solo. This of course is only bits and pieces of the whole story but it's as much as I know.

I came across Mr. Bazan in the aftermath of these events. The album that he had just came out with was brutal and beautiful, brutiful. In it he sang about his decisions, struggles, secrets, doubts, and pain that he caused. When I heard his songs, especially when I heard him live, I was struck by his ability to communicate all of these things through his songs. He has an ability to display a dubious thought in the present tense and his regret of it in the past tense all at once. I'm not sure what that is called or if it even makes sense but that's the description I'm sticking with.

Here are a couple other things I really enjoy about David Bazan:
1. He toured the US through means of house shows. He would come to your house and play for you and your friends if you were able to pay him for it. Basically he would charge $500, you would get 25 people together who wanted to see him play a show and charge everyone $20 to pay him. Then he would show up at the designated place and play a personalized show. Pretty cool, I wish Radiohead did that.

2. He ends every concert with his cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

3. He sings very low.

This is David Bazan covering Hallelujah



I know I know, it started half way into the first verse, there is annoying people talking, and it sounds like he is singing into a pillow. Why did I choose this video? Because I was there, in Seattle, watching this show, just to the right of the camera, and during this song I was fully absorbed. To this day this is my favorite version of this song. At the end when he yells the final hallelujahs you wouldn't believe how hard he actually yells it. He seriously puts everything he has into it. It. was. incredible.

Until next time, keep your halle's lujahed

EO

decisions decisions

I had decided to make something small for March as my "new project", but I have an itch that needs to be scratched. My hands need to be put to work with that rhythmic in, around, out, over, off that I find so soothing. 

These Saartje's Bootees (ravelry link here) were my intended March Project. And I will still make them this month, but I also need something bigger on the go. I may as well knit two new patterns this month because who knows if I will have time to actually complete one per month for the entire year. Exciting things are happening in these parts and I need to be prepared. And, summer doesn't lend itself to a ton of knitting.

Back to the bootees. I have the yarn. I have the pattern. And I only need to learn one stitch for them. I just need to go and learn that silly stitch. I have attempted to make them twice on my own and with tutorials online, but I need to bring in the big guns -- the ladies at the yarn store. The ones I am hoping to make will be blue and grey.

But that's not enough. They aren't the type of project you can just get wrapped up in. I hope to have them completed in an evening. In two evenings at most. I need something to sit and linger on. Enter options here.

Option 1: The Owlet (ravelry link here).

I think this sweater is adorable!!! Erik says it's the type of sweater that people will look back on and say "that was so 2012". Owls are the "it" thing right now. And they are. But I have loved them since far before they were that. You can also add little buttons to this little number to really bring out the owls. How cute is that?? And really, who cares if it's defining of 2012?? It's 2012. Who doesn't love things distinctly 70's??

I think I would want mine to look exactly like this one. I would even use the same yarn. I love love love it!

Option 2: Plain Vest (ravelry link here).

The only thing holding me back with this one is that I have already knit a vest before. But I would be able to make this for an older young child rather than a small infant like the ones I have made. And it's much more feminine than those were too. I think it's sweet.

Option 3: Baby Kina (ravelry link here).

Simple and sweet. And not a vest... it has sleeves. And I already have yarn I could use for it. And I could make it for either a baby or a small child depending on the pattern I purchased. I promise it looks much cuter on a human being than it does on a hanger.

Option 4: Gramps Cardigan (ravelry link here).

I know I just made the Baby Sophisticate, but I can't resist this grandpa sweater. There is something adorable about little babies in old man clothes. I found this particular cardigan here on the same site I came across the Owlet sweater above. This sweater will be made at some point this year. Probably not this month, but eventually. I need to wait until I'm feeling particularly wealthy because I am going to have to splurge on some delicious yarn for this.

Option 5: Sunnyside (ravelry link here).

I personally prefer the green more "manly" option. I like the cable stitch on it... something else I don't yet know how to do. And the best part is that the pattern is free on ravelry. Seriously, if you knit or crochet at all then you should definitely join ravelry... it's free and there are so many ideas. I can see this sweater being done in a deep but bright blue or maybe in a yellowy-green. Who knows!

Option 6: Maile Sweater (ravelry link here).

I know it is very similar to the one above, but I like it better than the purple one. I think it's the pattern along the bottom that makes the difference. And I love this colour. Love it! And look at it in the blue. And how cute is that baby??

And these are only a few of the many many many patterns I gawk at daily. I really do want to make something adult sized one day, but yarn isn't cheap and it's much easier to buy one or two skeins than it is to fork over the money for seven or twelve!!

Feel free to weigh in. Which is your favourite??

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a sunny weekend! 

*** *** ***