Feeling a Bit.... Antsy.

10 hours, 4 minutes until my c-section.

Just letting you know.

I'm not antsy at all. Really.

It Came!

The camera charger, not the baby. I am still pretty excited, though. The UPS tracking shows this: "Delivered to female adult." Is it me, or is that weird? The battery is charging, the infant car seat is installed, so I can go have a baby tomorrow. It's good.

Also, a funny moment from today.... R and I are walking in the parking garage towards the hospital for my pre-op appointment.

He says (this is completely not made up) "I think I am going to have a poop baby."

After a moment, I replied, "You're so romantic."

Hilarious, right? I thought it was.

So How Was Your Day?

So, today I did some dishes, played with my kid, ate a pile of carnitas we made yesterday, and I went to the hospital. Yep, contractions were about 3 minutes apart, pretty intense. Called dad, packed up Peanut, and drove down to the hospital. About halfway there the contractions started getting further apart, less intense. Got to the hospital, got checked in, got checked, got monitored for an hour and a half.

Turns out, not in labor. So, drive back home, get Peanut back from dad's (where she was driving her new Dora trike around their living room in her pj's), and drink some water. We get to go get this kid no matter what on Tuesday morning (scheduled C Section), so it wasn't so stressful. Just a little surprising, since I had no experience like this last time. It was a bit surreal to put on the gown and lay in the hospital bed... but I am glad to be back home.

We even borrowed my dad's camera, since my camera battery charger has disappeared off the face of the planet. I ordered a replacement from Amazon, but it won't be (supposedly) delivered until tomorrow. So until we get a charger, I am blogging photo-less. It feels weird.

In any case, I may post tomorrow, but be prepared for a quiet week, followed by many ubiquitous baby photos. Tuesday morning, send good thoughts my way.

A Free Christmas Gift Pattern For You...

Merry, merry.

Now I know this is probably too late for you to knit up for Christmas unless you are a super fast knitter, but I sort of cobbled together a quick scarf pattern based with great affection on the Elizabeth Zimmerman February baby sweater from the Knitter's Almanac that I am knitting for my sister and thought I would share...



Here you go:

Gull Scarf
Cast on 27 stitches with a long tail cast on. Knit three ridges of garter stitch. (This will be about 6 knit rows).

Begin the gull pattern, beginning and ending with three knit stitches:

Row 1: Knit 3, Purl 21, Knit 3.
Row 2: Knit 3, *K1, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K1 (Repeat from *two more times), Knit 3
Row 3: Knit 3, Purl 21, Knit 3.
Row 4: Knit 3, *K2TOG, YO, K3, YO, SSK (Repeat from *two more times), Knit 3

Repeat until the scarf is about as long as you want it to be.

When you get to nearly the end of the yarn (or as long as you feel like making this), you will end with three ridges of garter stitch. (This will be about 6 knit rows). Cast off in purl.

Pattern notes: This is 7 stitches long over 4 rows, so you can add repeats of the gull pattern if you want a wider scarf- it just needs to be multiples of 7 plus an additional 6 stitches for the garter edges.

I am still knitting on my scarf, which I have done in Rowan Cashsoft DK yarn in the "Madame" colorway, which is a really pretty bright pink. I am planning on knitting this with two skeins of the Cashsoft, which is about 240 yards of DK weight yarn. I am using a US size 8 needle, but you could go up a size or down a size without impacting the size of the scarf too much. Gauge doesn't matter too much, since it's a scarf. I would say that if you are a really tight knitter using a larger needle would be good, but use your own judgement. You may even want to knit a few rows of the gull pattern as a test to see what you think about it, first.

In any case, happy knitting and a happy holiday- whatever you choose to celebrate.

I Can Do It!

Dora the Explorer and Obama make me want to write that in Spanish. Chavez makes me not write it in Spanish.

I am, of course, referring to my crazy knitting schedule I have imposed upon myself. The Yarn Harlot writes about the same sort of thing here. I am getting there, though. I finished my dad's Christmas hat yesterday and I am about a third of the way through my mom's Christmas scarf. I also have about 6 inches left on my grandpa's Christmas scarf which is becoming a Christmas neckwarmer, since I HATE that Moda Dea yarn (it gets little hairs into my throat and eyes and I HATE it) and because I just found out my dad bought him a cashmere scarf a month ago that has not been worn once. So I am not investing more time in a scarf that won't be worn- I"ll just be finishing enough to join it together with a quick seam.

In any case, I did actually finish the rest of the Christmas knitting/sewing. If I end up with any extra time this week, I may make a babydoll quilt and pillow for Peanut. R is going to go get her a couple more things to open this week, but we're basically done. I can't believe it...

Merry Merry...

I am knitting my little heart out. Christmas is seriously sneaking up on me and I have the crafty fever that one can only get when one is due to have a baby right at the same time Christmas is supposed to happen. And the insane person is also planning only homemade gifts, as well.

Because yes, I am that crazy.

I have a house to clean, a baby to prepare for, and what am I doing? Obsessively knitting one hat and three scarves before Christmas. Seems reasonable, right?



Peanut is clearly giving me a look that sums up her feelings on the matter.

Also, we made almost-gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and stuff. It was fun:



I am now dreading the family meet-ups and in-law visits. (Can you believe I have to host my in-laws three days before I am due to have this kid? Am I just a glutton for punishment? I need a clean house for guests... Ack)

I hope you are having a less stressful holiday season, and that you manage to find the joy between the challenges. I know I am. Peanut has begun announcing, "Wook! Mommy! Wights!" every time she sees so much as a strand of Christmas lights.

Oh, I am a lucky mommy. Merry, merry.

December!

It is starting to feel like winter! (I know you non-SoCal people are doubting me here). We do actually have extremely mild versions of seasons here, I swear! It only got up to 64 today! Wow! I wore a fleece!

I love it when it gets cold (yes, for here, not for all of you in the hinterlands) and I love bundling up my kid. She looks adorable in a jacket and today, for the first time, she wore a scarf. Super cute.

I caught a pic of the moon just as the sun was setting on the Japanese Maple at my dad's house:



On the way over, Peanut and I saw a caterpillar, which is decidedly the wrong season:



I also wrapped my step-mom's present, and managed to get a decent picture of it before it went into the bag:



It was a hard color to get a picture of- the yarn color is called "Opulence" and it's a really garnetty-red, not at all magenta- very bluey red, but deep. I think it's really pretty. Handmade Christmas 2008! Yay!

Oh yeah, still pregnant, too. Woo.

I Like This.

Click here to read about my people. I know I have read about them before, but I really do love their message that they posted in Washington...

"At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail.

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.

There is only our natural world.

Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts

and enslaves minds."

Naps! Ack!

I think I may have actually just gotten the kid to go to sleep without benefit of a car or a stroller. It's funny, really, because at night she's a dream- sweet and compliant and wonderful. But naptime? Blech.

That only took a couple hours or so. And a fair amount of screaming and temper tantrums. Not exactly my favorite part of the day. I am sure it will get better once she gets a new routine going. Little kids don't exactly thrive on change.

Hell, neither do I.

For a change of subject, it's been very wintery feeling here. Grey, cold, and knitting-friendly.

Speaking of which, back to the grind since the munchkin is actually asleep. Christmas is sneaking closer and closer, you know?

It's Oh So Quiet...

Peanut is asleep. Finally. Have I mentioned how I hate nap-negotiation with a toddler? 'Cause I do. I know that it is way more fun to poke your mom in the neck with a stick, but really? You're 19 months old. You need a nap-otherwise you become HORRIBLE to be around. The smiles and sunshine and "Mommies?" become "Peanut SMASH" and hysterical meltdowns the like I have honestly not seen since I was in high school drill team (shut up, I know).

Today I gave up and stuck the kid in the car and went to the drive through Starbucks- which is just far enough away for her to fall asleep on the way to. Tomorrow I am enlisting my dad to take her out in the stroller. I can't walk too far right now without contractions, so it doesn't really work for me right now. I don't actually mind walking with her normally. Keep in mind that I am also normally at work, so there is that, too. God bless Mrs. H, is all I can say. She is a woman with worth beyond rubies, or whatever the hell the quote says.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, here is my current shadow. Ack.



That pink bit is my massive stomach. Blargh.

I have been getting a fair amount of knitting in, now that I am home. I have recently finished a kid's hat, a gift scarf or two, and I have started a million projects because I am a glutton for punishment. R got me "The Expectant Knitter" for my birf-day, and I started the kid's legwarmers this week.



On an unrelated note, do you know how it feels to see someone do something that you try to accomplish all the time without any seeming effort? My step dad took these pics of Peanut on Thanksgiving. Can I just say, wow?





The colors are so deep and vivid. I know I just got a new camera, but his makes me seriously jealous....

Happy Turkey Day...

I am officially on maternity leave as of today. My belly is a planet unto itself, and I am simply stuck in its orbit, waiting.

It is funny how different the second time is, how you think you know how everything is going to be but then you don't... Kind of like life. I swear this kid is trying to kick my ovaries right out of my abdomen right now. I am also vaguely worried that she senses my belly button is a weak spot and she may try to make a break through there. Some of the contortions my belly has been though in the past couple weeks just don't seem natural...

I am beginning to get anxious to meet her... She's a forceful little lady so far.

Thanks for All the Fish...

...and the encouragement. It really has made a difference to know that you guys are thinking of me, and that all is not roses for you, too. Somehow this misery does seem to love company. So thank you all. You've made a crap week a whole lot better.

In other news, I had to go to the DMV this week to renew my driver's license and to pay the past due registration for the car that stopped running (so we can donate it to the Jane Goodall Institute). I haven't been since I got married (six years, in case you were wondering), and the California DMV has a new system where you get assigned a number and then just wait until the computer calls your number. Because it's a letter/number combination, it feels a whole lot like some institutional un-fun form of bingo. But, at 8.75 months pregnant, I was rather glad to get to sit and wait, rather than stand in line. I have to say also, that to their credit, the people were all (mostly) nice, and I did get done in just under an hour. Since R had Peanut, I was actually looking forward to the wait, so I could make some knitting progress on my socks. Here they are so far:



The wait didn't end up being that long, so I was a little weirdly disappointed that the wait at the DMV wasn't longer. I know, I know.

In other news, I found out on Wednesday that the doctor's office messed up and didn't schedule my c-section on the date they told me they would (I picked December 22nd). The best part is that it isn't fixable- the hospital has no openings now during that WHOLE WEEK. So, instead of celebrating the holidays with my new baby, I will be too pregnant to move. They have me on December 30th, instead. So now I will be spending New Years in the maternity ward. (Unless the gods of childbirth would like to have me go into labor on my own so I can have my c-section early...)

I also finished knitting a cashmere scarf for my girlfriend. Knitting with cashmere makes me wish that everything was made out of cashmere. Most rich-people accoutrements mean very little to me, but a closet full of cashmere? I wouldn't say no to it. Here's the scarf:



More holiday knitting in my future, interspersed with some baby knitting....

I'm Tired of Being Tired....

So I had a root canal today. (And I found out that I am likely to need two more soon). One of our cars has died, so we have to likely buy another. I have to take R to the doctor today because he dislocated his hand this past weekend. He also cut himself badly enough to need stitches the weekend before. On election day, I knocked a chef's knife off the counter directly into the top of my foot. Prop 8 passed, so now our friends can't get married. (By the way, fuck the Mormons).

What exactly is with us? The past three months have been pretty crap-tas-tic, if you ask me.

I need some good stuff soon. Tell me lovely stories, magical happy lies, please. I'd like to ignore life a little bit, if you don't mind.

Thanks.

I'm Going to Knit...

....Socks.



Check it, yo.

Peanut's Pink Hat...

I knitted Peanut this pink hat. She announces, "Hat Me." when she wants to wear it. Yeah, it's that cute.



It's pink alpaca yarn:


Sunset pink, really.

Proposition 8

So, I already wrote a little about my thoughts on Prop 8, which unfortunately passed. I had a most amazing experience, watching Obama claim his place as an American president, only to wake up to Prop 8 passing the next day.

From the sound of things, there are still protesters in my 'hood. Read about it here, and if you are reading this on Friday night, get your butt down there. I'd go but I'm 8 months pregnant and supposed to stay off my feet (and I have a sleeping kid, too).

So, in honor of this travesty, I am posting my husband's response to an idiot who commented on my previous post about Prop 8. I really do love him. Here he is, in his glory>>>>

"[....Wifey is too angry to respond right now due to the assumption you've made that she hasn't "read anything about what Proposition 8 is about." Because she disagrees with you? Classy. She must be ignorant. ]

Is it about the children? Funny thing about being a taxpayer in a democracy. You don't get to decide where your tax dollars go. I don't get to say to Uncle Sam "Hey, howza bout you don't use my income tax to fund the occupation of a country that never attacked us?" And you don't get to decide what your free education teaches the children. Gay people exist. As in, they are an objective component of this planet. Are you opposed to teaching children facts?

And really, Chauncey? We're ignorant? "It's about letting the law makers know they can't revoke something..." Lawmakers didn't revoke anything. No one revoked anything. The judicial system fulfilled it's Constitutional role and determined that a law passed was not consistent with the Constitution of the United States of America. Once the gubment sanctions an institution (such as marriage) and bestows benefits to those who enter into this institution, The freakin Constitution applies. Equal Protection Bizatch! And for the strict constructionist out there, I don't recall which Article has the "No faggots clause."

It's not the state's role to decide what is or is not palatable, or as you so logically put it "sacred" to "the majority of the people." It is to fairly (and Constitutionally) interpret and implement law. Majority rule, as any careful reading of the Federalist Papers (and I doublemotherfuckingtripledogdareya [shout out to Ms Hannah] to honestly tell me you've read these 85 little darlings that are, in many ways, more important than the Constitution itself when it comes to deciphering the Founder's intentions) will tell you is only half of the function of the Constitution. Minority rights is the other half.

You see, once upon a time in this country it was sacred, and I mean that literally-preachers preached it- that slavery was ordained by god and "the majority of the people" agreed. At a slightly later date in our history it was sacred-again, the churches (and I guess god and "the majority of the people") agreed that women just weren't smart enough to vote. You see where I'm going with this? You see where my wife, and millions others like her might be "bitter", might find laughable your belief that the god you choose to worship, your god of 2008, is somehow more accurate in it's (really it is "his" isn't it? Your god totally has a penis, huh? No deity with a clitoris would be opposed to gay marriage) conclusions about our society?

I do feel the need to close with your own words. "The only people saying that it is about their right to love who they want to love is [and really, Chauncey, when you start with the plural of "people" you really need to follow up with "are" not "is,"] people like you who obviously have a beef with religion." Obviously, we are people who neither believe in, nor subsequently fear, hell, but atheists are maybe 5-8% of the population. Even if this pile of hateful nonsense passes, there will be 40-49% percent of Californian's voting against it. I don't think that 10% counts as "many voting no on 8." There will be hundreds of thousands of religious folks voting against this next Tuesday. Will they all be people who "have not read anything" about Prop 8? Will they all be "bitter?"

Please, for your own well being, don't bother responding to this. I'm too exhausted from masturbating to topless pictures of David Beckham whilst simultaneously teaching my daughter that a princess can marry a princess to respond to any more nonsense. This isn't even my blog, but while I'm here, talking about gods and shit, I may as well take the opportunity to say What the fuck, god?! My birthday present from you (Nov #1 mofos-I like gold, cheese, and What-The-Fuck-There's-A-Nailin' Palin-Porno--Gimme dat!) every year is supposed to be colder weather. I have to deal with a chode this sweaty in late October?! Bullshit, Jesus' daddy, bullshit."

Yes, this is the love of my life. I am one lucky lady.

If only everyone here could marry the person that they loved....

Wow.

President Obama. Wow.



"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
~Gandhi

Change can happen. What a lovely, lovely surprise.

Thank you, America.

You've Got 34 Minutes Left...

To Make A DIFFERENCE here in California. Go to it.

November Already?

Peanut was Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween:




I sewed the hood and knit her a sweater:




Halloween rocks. Dora the Explorer cookies for dinner? Never. But on Halloween?



Also, I am learning how to knit socks. More later.

The Short Post

This is a (short) dispatch from out West.

Update: Peanut's sweater is a little more than half way done. I finished the second sleeve and have about an inch past the sleeve seams.



She is going to be Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween. I made her cape:



I'll post a pic of her in it once I re-hem it (I made it a little long). It is ADORABLE on her. I also got her a tiny basket to carry. She looks SO CUTE it hurts a little.

Once I am done with the sweater, and past Halloween, I am going to get back to knitting my own sweater:



I have the back finished and have begun shaping on the front left panel. And I have not touched in almost a month. Please note that I have only been knitting since the beginning of September.

I'll post something a little more, um, written soon. I am just so tired.

But a little note before I sign off:

If you are in California, and you are registered to vote, please Vote no on Prop 8. Revoking rights to marry for consenting adults is just wrong. I may not have as much money as the Mormon church to fight for something I believe in, but I do have my tiny blog with my tiny readership. So here you are: discrimination is wrong. Treating people differently based on something as non-important as sexual preference is silly.

Don't take away rights because you are scared of what schools might teach (kids are not taught anything about marriage- that's your job, parent), or because your church told you to (yes Mormons, I mean you), or because you don't like the idea of "non-traditional" relationships.

Remember- you have a chance to be on the side of the angels. You can be the one on the side of kindness, or hope, of love and progress and equality. (Good things, right?)

You can be the one person at your church who understands that love is love- and that trying to mandate who people can love is ridiculous at best. If you are uncomfortable with "non-traditional relationships", maybe you need to remember that generally, the gay guy/gal in your neighborhood is so not that into you. You are probably safe, regardless of whether that person can get married or not.

Please pretend that I finished this entry with something witty and clever and erudite. I have to go to bed.

Wocka Wocka

Ok, I have been slacking on the blogging front lately. I've been knitting, you see. I want it to be colder soon, so I am making sweaters aplenty so that the weather might catch onto my idea.

So far, we've had two little bouts of the dry, hot Santa Ana winds. Not exactly what I want, but very much in character for the season here. I guess it gives me a little bit of time to finish another little sweater. I am making my second Elizabeth Zimmerman baby sweater, which she titles the "Baby Sweater on Two Needles, Practically Seamless" (which is the title I prefer, as it is so long and descriptive and telling) but is more commonly known in Knitting Land as the "February Baby Sweater" from the "Knitter's Almanac." I made the baby version in a mauve cotton, that I showed in an earlier post, but this time I am going to get the pattern right (in red wool for Peanut), gosh darn it.

I upped the needle size and used a thicker yarn and cast on a larger number of stitches to make the sweater for Peanut. She wears about a 2T or 3T on top, so I think I am on track. When I started this project, I knitted it and then ripped it right back out about 6 times (no exaggeration) because I kept dropping stitches when it finally occurred to me to use the stitch markers that I bought without really knowing what to use them for.

Yeah, duh.

So, I have learned something here, boys and girls. That is what you use your stitch markers for- for marking stitches. Who knew? As I type this it just seems so obvious, doesn't it? This sweater is really starting to come along-finally. I just began the sleeve shaping for the first sleeve. Yay! I'll post a picture of it this weekend.

I've also been working on a scarf for my dad for Christmas:



I'm not sure whether this is going to end up being a scarf or a neck warmer thing- I think my dad might use a neck warmer more than an actual scarf.

My writing teacher/friend, the wonderful Rebel Girl, posted a link to this recording of Virginia Woolf speaking about writing that just totally blew my mind. It was just so insane to hear her voice- just nothing like I would have imagined. You really should click over and have a listen- it's utterly mesmerizing and strange. An unexpected treat for a Thursday.

Oh yes, and I am still all kinds of pregnant. Yep. Still pregnant. Actually about 30 weeks now, so I am thinking of it as the home stretch. New baby (code name Dangerfeet) is crazily active and knocks about as if she owns the place. Which I suppose she does, at least for now.

What else have I been thinking about? I'm late to the party of my new love of the Yarn Harlot who I have found to be very funny and apt. I heard her speak in an interview via podcast on the Knit Picks podcast, where she talked about rarely having any security personnel confiscate her knitting needles. However, she did mention that once, a security person took away her banana, explaining that it was a gel. Um, right. She said, in reference to airport security, "...there's no way to know what they're thinking...once they've taken away a banana, all bets are off." You can see why the kids like her.

In any case, this is already far too long. I'll be back soon. Maybe this weekend I'll post a pick of the little red riding hood cape I made for Peanut's Halloween costume. It is sooooo cute, if I don't say so myself.

Thought For the Day

Can we give the phrase "liberal media" a rest already?
If the media is too "liberal" maybe more Republicans should learn to read and write.

::::::::::::::

Sunday

Well, I finally sucked it up and Peanut spent the first night away from us last night. Oh my, it was hard. We needed to practice, since I am due to have Dangerfeet in December. R is nervous about leaving me alone in the hospital (sweet man) and so we figured on having Peanut stay at my dad's house. I was worried about it, and worried about Peanut and worried about me.... But she was really fine. And I was really fine, too. R and I went out to dinner for our anniversary last night and walked over this morning and picked her up at my dad's.



We walked fast, but I did stop to take a couple quick pictures:



R finds this cat hilarious:



This afternoon, we went to "Pa's Pumkin Patch" (note that is not my misspelling):



Peanut rode the train:



Peanut shows signs of wanting to be a weightlifter when she grows up:



I really love this sign. When was the last time you made a pumpkin cry?



Peanut finally picked a pumpkin. She had a lot of fun. So did R and I.

We've been married six years now. How lucky am I?

Random Bit of Stuff...

Here is my favorite thing this week. (Boo, this made me IMMEDIATELY think of you).



Also, I finished the baby hat for Dangerfeet:



Which matches the sweater I knitted her:



And the sky was swirly and cloudy, and I needed to take a picture.



More soon.

Beauty, Eh?

My kid is cute. I think I may have mentioned this before. It bears repeating, though.



She's like a little ad for cuteness, I think:







Dang, I think I might keep her.

October

It's definitely feeling like October here. The Santa Ana winds are beginning their dry way across Southern California, our wildfires are igniting, and my hands feel like desiccated paper, left in the sun for years. 'Member, how I was hoping that October would be better than September?

Um, not so much.

Family stuff is afoot, and badness abounds. I really won't get into it all here, because the badness affects me only periferally, so I don't think it's my business to publically discuss it. Let's just say I am getting an education about what Medicare will and will not pay for. Death, they'll cover. Living, it seems... Well, not so much.

In any case, I have some pictures to post. Here's the sunrise on Wednesday, from my bathroom window:



I love my little peek of the first rays in the morning. It reminds me of being a young insomniac, catching dawn from the other side of night.

I also finished my baby sweater:





I did actually mess up the pattern of stitches, as it was supposed to be more regular, but I kind of like how it came out- like coral or something, maybe a wild Celtic knot, unbound.

Finally, our neighbor's kid knocked down our tree:





It sounds worse than it was: our tree has been dead since we moved here in 2003, so I think it was just time.

Oh, my. I am so tired. I am actually going to bed at 9:30 PM on a Friday. I am so old.

Are You Gonna Vote?

You're going to vote, right? 'Cause you're cool like that. Sarah Silverman thinks your gramma should vote too.


The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

This chick cracks my shit up. She has told two of the funniest jokes (are they jokes?) that I have ever heard. Um, the one about a Jewish girl being raped by a doctor and about um, a slur for Chinese people. I really suck at explaining jokes.

Look it up. That's what Google is for.

Have a good week.

Stuff.

Well, I am getting nearly done with my baby sweater knitting project:



This is based on the Elizabeth Zimmerman baby sweater pattern from the "Knitter's Almanac." It's really a great pattern, and actually pretty easy. It's very satisfying.



My stepmom and I went to the garment district in LA this past weekend, and I bought a bunch of pretties, including some Amy Butler fabrics. I made a little knitting bag to keep my work in:





Here are some of the lovely things I got:



I mean, who could pass up green corduroy for $2 a yard? I mean, really.