Happy Weekend!

It is Friday, and I am in a good mood! I think I've been in a little bit of a hormonal funk lately. (Using the word funk always seems odd to me because my Great Grandparent's last name was Funk, so it has a different meaning for me than just the usual usage.) My cycle has returned and I'm still getting used to all the hormonal swings I haven't had to deal with for a year and a half.

Has anyone else checked out Twist Collective yet? It is a new online magazine with both knitting patterns and articles. The layout took me a little while to get used to, but I immediately bought the Come Together and Jaali patterns. The checkout process was very easy, I used paypal, and when I checked the e-mail address I used with paypal I had already received a link to download my patterns. You can download them for 100 days, or 3 times. The patterns I received seem easy to read and are beautifully laid out.

If you want to see pictures of my beautiful baby girl, check out my photographer's website. Click on Babies. On the first page of pictures, her picture is in the top row, middle square (all in white, standing next to a white chair). On the second page of pictures, her pictures are in in the top row, middle square, and bottom row, right square. Nicole takes beautiful pictures and we have always enjoyed our sessions with her. If you are in the area I highly suggest you check her out. If you do, would you mind telling her I sent you? I get a free picture with every referral. I feel ok having Nicole post Audrey's picture because her site has way more security measures than mine does, so I'm not as worried about someone stealing her picture.

And because I can't have a post without a picture in it, here is a small flower we found during one of our evening walks. Have a good weekend!

Generosity

Where did the past few weeks go? Well, first Audrey got sick. I figured we were doing pretty well, two weeks in daycare before she got sick. Unfortunately it was a virus, so we just had to suffer through. Then I got sick. And I understood why Audrey was screaming her head off. I really wish the Dr would have told us from the beginning to use Ibuprofen. Tylenol just did not work long enough. But Audrey is back to her happy self and I am starting to feel normal. I actually did laundry yesterday! Mainly because the only pants I had left were either way too short or had a hole in the rear.

It is amazing how generous people are when you have a baby. We got so many beautiful and useful gifts. Here are a few of the fiber related ones. This sweater was made by Pam who runs Knitter's Palette in Lakeville, MN. I could not get the color right, it isn't quite this dark. Audrey looks so cute in it!

This was a blanket made by the ladies who attend the Knitter's Palette Sunday and Friday groups. It is Baby Cashmerino, lined and has a crochet edging. It is so soft and beautiful!

This blanket was crocheted by my Grandmother. It was the last blanket she made. It is so beautiful! We got Audrey's 3 month pictures taken with her laying on it.

Hopefully when the next person I know has a baby I will remember to be so generous. I know I loved all the handmade gifts I was given.

Life Continues

Well, I have been at work for just over a week, and so far it is going well. Work is just busy enough to keep me occupied without stressing me out. The house is a complete wreck, but pretty soon I'm sure I will find a method to keep everything in order. Chaos is to be expected with a major change like this.

Audrey is doing very well at daycare. She loves all the activity and her nap schedule has adjusted well. Everyone says she is a joy, but I'm sure they tell all the parents that!

I realized that I never shared some of the knitting I had done for Audrey.

Here are two pairs of booties and a pair of socks. She only wore the socks once. I missed the short window of time that they acually fit her, plus I made the heels and toes too pointy! She wored the pink booties ALL the time. They were the only thing she didn't kick off. Both booties are from the 50 Baby Booties to Knit book. She doesn't fit in these any more and I haven't had time to make her more.

This is her 3-6 month sweater. Pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and knit in Malibrigo worsted weight yarn. She looks so cute in this. I am hoping to get her 6 month pictures taken in it. I have enough yarn left over for a baby hat, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

4 months

I can't believe that Audrey will already be 4 months old tomorrow. She has gotten so big, 13.05 pounds! She is such an easy baby, and so beautiful. Of course I'm prejudiced! I wish I could post pictures of her here, but with all those wierdos out there I just don't feel comfortable with it.

I signed up for the gym today. They provide 2 hours of daycare a day. I plan on taking full advantage of it! Plus I think it may help her with the transition to full time daycare. I want to start running again. I have a plan all set up that will help me accomplish the reasonable goal of running the Twin Cities 1/2 marathon in october. My pie in the sky goal is to run the marathon, but I won't be dissapointed it I don't accomplish that goal. I'll be tracking my pogress here, and as soon as I get some pictures taken I'll share what I have been knitting.

Making the Christmas Rounds

I'm back visiting my parents and inlaws in KS and OK. Everyone loves
Miss Audrey and wants to spend a lot of time with her. What am I,
chopped liver? But seriously, I think it is so wonderful that she has
so many people who love her. I just wish we lived closer.

I have been knitting and managed to finish a couple pairs of booties
that she has already outgrown. I am almost done with a sweater for
Audrey. It is the Childs Placket Sweater from Last Minute Knitted
Gifts. I am using Malibrigo in a beautiful light blue. I'll use pink
beads to close the placket. I love doing these small sweaters, they
are so quick! Well, I should get back to family. I've ignored them
long enough!

Getting in a groove

It is amazing how having a baby can completely throw your schedule
off! But serously, this experience has been so wonderful and
exausting. Right now Audrey is asleep in her swing. I am too afraid to
try to move her to bed!

I have been knitting and was running before it got too cold. I'm
signing up for the gym after the new year and Audrey is starting to
take regular naps, so hopefully there will be a lot more running,
knitting, and posting in the near future.

In the mean time, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Coming up for air

Thought I'd give everyone a heads up. My baby girl, Audrey Anne, was born on September 11th, at 5:24 am after 22 hours of labor, and a C-Section. She was 8 pounds 4 ounces, and 21 inches long. Both she and I are doing great. Everyone says I am recovering quickly, but I do feel very sleep deprived! It will probably be a while until I am back on a regular basis.