Thursday, January 31, 2008

My Homemade Socks!

Many moons ago I took a sock knitting class at Woolbearers my very lovely local yarn and fiber shop.



Two weeks ago I actually finished my socks! They were done on 4 double pointed needles....not a fun way to knit in my opinion! But I am happy with the final project even though they bled all over my laundry ;)

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Finish Line

Just a few odds and ends to tie up. And I dug the camera out of the hospital bag since the cell phone just wasn't cutting it!

Here are "the boys" actually finished and hanging on the wall!!! Knowing my craft completion record I am highly impressed that I got these done! Nothing short of a miracle I assure you!



Many posts ago Mary asked for a picture of the bedding...so here ya go! Hope the shot is good enough. Nothing exciting. Just really cute sheep and rabbits etc. The stuffed frog is named Clive. I have had him since college and he actually got engaged to a matching frog named Simone on the same night I got engaged! (that is a story for another post)



Here is the very adorable little set my brother (heretofore known as Uncle Travelling Matt) sent for Ben. The picture didn't come out too clear, but it has all different colored polka dots and the hat has an adorable little doohicky on top and the sleep sack has cats and dogs and says "meow" "arf" etc.



PS I will be impressed if anyone can explain the Uncle Travelling Matt reference! I will give you a hint: Sprockets

LAST Holly Hobby Boy!!

I figured maybe if I actually finished and hung up the last of the little appliques for Ben's room that I would go into labor :)

So here is #4 the last of the group. Will hang them all this evening. My due date is tomorrow :)


My First Meme!

Emma over at Charming the Birds From The Trees tagged me for this cute meme! It is my first tag and I must say I am tickled to be tagged ;)

The rules for this meme are: (1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Ok let's see:

1. I sleep with a stuffed mushroom named Skootch. My dad gave me my original stuffed mushroom (named Mushy) when I was very young. My the time I graduated college this mushroom had seen better days. Since then I have rescued several of the same exact mushrooms from ebay and now I have at least a dozen...so when one gets used up I move on the a new one and retire the old one (to my closet). I think I am on my third mushroom :)
2. I love the smell of mothballs
3. I hate when Claudio falls asleep before me
4. I am known for my preferrance and collection of ugly shoes
5. I think Ron Paul is a superhero
6. I get really excited to get the mail everyday

Ok and I tag: Julie, Jess, Heather, Mary, Pat, Lily

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Holly Hobby boy #3



Only got one more to make...And then of course to hang them :)

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Waiting for Baby......and waiting...and waiting....



Well, I have none of my own pictures to post since I have packed the camera in my hospital bag.

I really shouldn't complain....I am 39 weeks today....and therefore not late yet. But I thought I would give you all an update along with my latest observations...

1. Contrary to popular belief midwives aren't always less interventionist than the good ole regular obs! The midwife insisted I MUST be induced by my due date and that it was non-negotiable...the ob was perfectly reasonable and gave me at least to 41 weeks.
2. Your first baby doesn't always drop early and Ben is happily curled up just as high as ever.
3. Jumping jacks, jogging, running up and down stairs, long walks, full moons, changes in barometric pressure, threats to call Super Nanny for infant disobedience do nothing to change #2.
4. I have a serious fear that if Ben doesn't come soon he will not stay small long enough to wear all of the adorable clothing he has received...and he has received some exceptionally adorable outfits.
5. My promise to give birth during the Super Bowl may very well come to pass
6. I am sick of the taste of water
7. The realization that the pregnancy induced sleeplessness is just the beginning of what is probably going to be several decades of no sleep.....but luckily I am too exhausted to care.
8. The cat has been soooo wacky lately. Does he know something I don't?
9. Things I would like to eat: a gyro, a REAL knish with a pastrami sandwich and derma, a good cheesesteak, real onion rings, Indian food, buffalo chicken fingers.
10. What I am having for dinner actually: leftover meatloaf....the injustice!

Friday, January 18, 2008

My Birthday Poem from Claudio...

One and thirty years ago
you came into the world
a lovely wisp of innocence,
a pigtailed little girl.

And on this January day
I call into my mind
the birthday of the wife with whom
my own life is entwined.

I wonder if, upon that morn,
when I was five years old,
some sense of you in me was born
as prophecy foretold.

I grieve—for Lord, I also miss—
those years we two unknown
across a hundredmile abyss
danced and played alone.

But though the years now come and go
and leave us worse for wear,
take their tolls on our poor souls
and tempt us to despair,

Heaven's promise, solemn vows
of sweetness and of joy
of happier times beneath the boughs
tell this expectant boy:

That we the best of childhood friends,
will yet have danced and played—
in the day that never ends
a little lad and little maid.

And one eternal year again,
you will be in the world
a lovely wisp of innocence,
a pigtailed little girl.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Just Warmin' it Up For Ben...



This is where I found Bunny last night when I went upstairs to get ready for bed. I NEVER thought this would be an issue as he hates being IN anything.

Poor Bunny got some vaccinations yesterday and so today is in a drugged stupor. He still hasn't gotten up for breakfast......and this isn't a cat who skips meals. Poor little Bunny!

Friday, January 11, 2008

What Passes for Winter in South Jersey

We have been having thunderstorms since last night and temps in the 60s...we are expecting a "cold" front....going down to the upper 40s....ohhhhhh reeeaaalllll cold!







I WANT A BLIZZARD AND I WANT IT NOW!!!!!

37 Weeks and Counting!

Is she pregnant??


Ohhh yeah!! LOL...


Doesn't this shirt remind you of the NEW Strawberry Shortcake??
If you can't wear horizontal stripes when pregnant when CAN you wear them ;)

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Just for Suz!



Yes, that is me under that blanket! This is the ever so luxurious, softer than imagineable, snuggliest blanket that ever existed. We refer to it as "liquid blanket" and it was a gift from dear Suzanna and Mary Charlotte.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Genius!



Poor Cla! I finally figured out how to get him to take care of his "honey do" list promptly......barricade him into the basement with it!! MWAAHAAHAAA!!!

Hee hee....He doesn't look amused does he?

A Day That Will Live in Infamy!

Eight years ago today Claudio and I met for the first time!

So I thought I would post our song (Love Remains by Colin Raye):



Here is another favorite of ours (Just Another Day in Paradise by Phil Vasser):

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Bunny Prepares for Baby

I am almost certain that Bunny (whose new name today is Mr. Shmoobutters) knows the baby is coming. He is very interested and protective of the nursery and just other strange things he does lately...he knows soon he won't be the center of attention....and frankly I think he is interested to see what is coming!



I finally started to think about packing my bags....so here is my open suitcase I plan to take (and yes the Mushroom comes to the hospital...can't sleep without it!). Bunny NEVER EVER EVER sleeps IN anything...he has no interest in boxes or baskets or anything of the sort. Yet I came upstairs to find him sleeping in my suitcase! By the time I got the camera he had gotten up and was just sitting on the top of it...but still....shocking for our cat!



And here is Mr. Shmoobutters snuggling with Claudio. He has been extra snuggly lately.....knowing his time is limited LOL..

He is so cute (and so is Cla) with his little paws curled in front of him.

Friday, January 04, 2008

The Nursery!

Here are the long awaited nursery pictures! Sorry for the delay....pregnancy has finally hit me......like a ton of bricks....oy vey.



The crib...obviously :)



Ok, now here is maybe a stupid question, but I am stumped. With the understanding that the bumpers MUST be tied securely to the crib.....well then how do you raise and lower the side of the crib? I can't tie the bumper to the side of the crib I need to lower because then you can't lower it. So what do you do? Am I missing the obvious??




The dresser/changing table...where the real work is done ;)



The wood cubes my parents got and lovingly painted for Ben. Here are the diaper changing supplies, the burpers, the receiving blankets, the washcloths, the sheets and towels, some toys, etc. They are one of my favorite things in the nursery (second only to Ben...who isn't even here yet LOL)



Ben's bookcase. Everything a boy could want.



All stocked up...from breastpump to boppy and everything inbetween.



Two little appliques I have made for Ben. There are two more I am working on. Once a few things are put on the walls the nursery is officially complete.

The Best of Friends...the Worst of Friends...

It is pretty well established around here that Claudio and I are characters...

But we are not alone!



Two close buddies...the mushroom, Skootch, and the sock monkey, Liebemonkey. Clearly the best of friends. (and in case you wondered about the mess of pillows and blankets...yes, that is how I sleep...no explanation necessary *achem*)



Then there is Bunny who daily convicts himself by sitting at the end of the bed staring through the bars on the footboard like he is a criminal in jail. He is buddies with no one....he is a rebel..a loner..he is a cat. (He hates the mushroom and downright denies the existance of the sockmonkey)