Pages

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The "Ugh" Days

You know those days when you really just don't want to get out of bed? For no other reason than you feel like "ugh?" When we were childless, I had the option to do just that. Stay in bed, get up when I needed something, and call it good. Of course, if I was working it had to wait for a day off, but I always knew that in the not so distant future the opportunity would arise and I would be able to take a day "off."

Let me just turn this down a bit...
Once we had Monkey, that all changed. I no longer have any day when I can just say "I'm off" and it is understood that my butt will not be leaving the comfort zone. Because there is a tiny person who, regardless of whether or not Ben is home, who will need attention. Not to mention the fact that Ben has a finite amount of time that he can handle Monkey before a spark plug malfunctions in his head and he can't take it anymore.

It doesn't matter that it's Sunday, that he had his day to sleep in, and that I want my turn. It doesn't matter that I only got to be in bed 30 more minutes than normal...the baby needs the slave that is me MOMMY (or as Ben calls me, the professional), so I have to get up.

Hi Mom!
I'm not in love with this part of parenting. I tend to be a night owl, and regardless of how early I have to get up, I still can't fall asleep before 11pm. So most mornings I lie there listening to Monkey talk to himself over the monitor and think about how nice it would be to just go back to sleep.

But I get up anyway. Because that's my job. And then as soon as he sees me he gives me the world's biggest smile, and I know that any complaints I may have are well worth it, because all I have to do is
post signature

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

So I'm making this blanket....

I'm so happy to get back to project land. Now that Monkey is taking consistent naps and sleeping well through the night (OK, so he's been doing that for a while now, but it's still amazing) I have time to crochet and possibly sew again! I just finished a baby blanket for a friend, and have 2 more to go (for 2 other people). Then I have one to make for Monkey just because it looks so fun!

Of course, the picture to the right is the sample picture of what the finished product *should* look like, but I'm sure going to try! I'm thinking of doing the birds in my Alma Mater's colors and Ben's Alma Mater's colors, since they go together. Where I'm going to find extra soft yellow, dark green, maroon, and black yarn I don't know. Time to do some research!

I will post pics of the other baby blankets as the people who they are for receive them, but I don't want to spoil the surprise, so it may take a while. I'm really excited about the one I'm working on now as well as the next one...they are by far the most difficult I've attempted so far, but I think I hate myself enough I have it in me to do a great job. Of course, I could be completely wrong and they could turn out horribly, but if I don't post the pictures then the people they are for will never know the difference, right?
post signature

Monday, July 18, 2011

Mobility is coming! Mobility is coming!

Soon, Monkey will be mobile. We're talking within 1-2 months...and I'm thinking sooner rather than later. This brought about a slew of thoughts/feelings for me, and not all of them are happiness and light as I would want them to be:

  1. Yay! He's developing as he should! I will not be cursed with a lazy sloth child who I have to cart everywhere while he lolls in my arms, determined to put off putting his own energy into getting from point A to point B for as long as possible. This is a good thing!
  2. Oh no! I'll have to babyproof and watch him even closer than I do now to ensure he hurts himself the least amount possible. Naps will be even more valuable.
  3. I can never leave him with  Ben again. The man can't even keep the dogs off the furniture when he "wants" to...how is he going to contain a child?
  4. If I thought it was difficult to get anything done with him awake before, now I'm completely screwed really out of luck. There goes my life...both while he's awake and while he's napping, since now naps will REALLY be the only time I'll be able to get anything done.
  5. I need gates. Lots and lots of gates. Would putting him in a large dog kennel to get a load of laundry done be neglect? Wait....they already make those for children. Playpens will be my new best friend.
  6. Do they make baby knee pads? I'm sure they do. My house is about 80% hardwood floors or linoleum...his poor little knees are going to be beat to hell.

The child already makes it about 4 feet if he really wants a toy.  It won't be long now, and then the horror of the phrase "where's the baby" will become more of a reality...
post signature

Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Spartan Helmet


I did it.  Ben  asked for it, and here it is!  (Had to smudge out Monkey's face, so that looks a little weird, but oh well). If you can't tell (but I hope you can) it's a spartan helmet. It was my first attempt, and I must say I'm pretty proud of it!I think there are a couple of things I might try to do differently next time, but all in all I"m very happy with how it turned out. Next he'll be wanting a viking helmet, and then I'll really be in trouble!
post signature

Friday, July 8, 2011

I'm all official! (Sort of)

So, as many of my friends and family members know, I have become obsessed with crafting. Well, not crafting really, but crocheting. When I first started it, I though I would so a hat here and there and maybe a blanket or two. Boy was I wrong! It's taken over my life...when I'm not reading Sookie Stackhouse novels or playing horrible games like Plants vs Zombies (thanks, Ben, for getting me hooked on that). I did a count the other day. I am currently in the middle of 3 books, 4-5 crochet projects, and one other crafting project, and I'm seriously considering starting another sewing project soon. I'm nuts.

The next project will be Amy Butler's Everything Bag. I love this bag as a general tote, mainly because it has a divider in the middle. Plus I can choose fabrics that maybe, just maybe, will appeal to Ben so I might be able to get him to tote it around a bit, instead of complaining when I ask him to hold it for 5 minutes.

The big news, however, is that I started a shop on Etsy for some of my smaller crocheting projects. I don't even know if anything will sell, but I get so many compliments on the hats that I make I figure it's at least worth a try, right? I'm also going to expand to some small toys, so hopefully I can make a little cash off of the whole endeavor. The shop can be found HERE.

I'm attempting to make a "Spartan Helmet" a la 300 for Monkey, at the request of Ben. That's great, except for the fact that there are raised portions that are difficult to achieve with crochet...and there are no patterns for something like this (at least that I can find). So I'm writing my own. Fun...I'll have my own pattern! If it works out I'm going to attempt to sell that as well. I don't even come close to expect this to turn into a real profitable endeavor, but at least I can make a little side cash!
post signature

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

What is with our sense of justice?

OK, I'm a little confused. When a woman doesn't report her child missing for 31 days, LIES to investigators about multiple things including a made-up nanny, and behaves as if nothing is wrong when her child is missing,  doesn't that seem kind of, well, odd? Not to mention the smell in her car etc. etc. I'm not saying that it's concrete evidence, but dang people! Circumstantial evidence is not worthless! Seems like a certain famous trial in the 90's all over again (and I was 11 for that one!).

So, Ms. Anthony, regardless of what the jury says I am a) happy you at least got convicted of something even if it is so inconsequential that it's pretty much a blight on our entire justice system joke, b) more than a little pissed the hell off upset that you didn't get more and c) still believe you had something to do with that little girl's death and subsequent "disappearance." I don't really care what anyone else believes, that's their business. I hope that, if you did do it, you live the rest of your life in agony over what you did.

Now I feel better
post signature