Suddenexpression's Blog

It’s A Girl!!!!

suddenexpression — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:08:43 +0000

A big surprise to my husband and I since we were so sure we would be having a boy! We sure are very happy to have our little girl Annabelle June join us though. I don’t think I’d want it any other way! She joined us on January 14th, even though I went to the hospital on the 12th. More on that later. After a C-section delivery, she entered the world at 8lbs 13oz and 21.25 inches long. She is our world now!

*And FYI, I get a $10 credit at Shutterfly for posting my birth announcements to my blog! How cool is that!!*

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New Year, New Life

suddenexpression — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:13:46 +0000

Everything is new this year. First, we starting off in a new house, new state, and technically a new country. Back in the United States and boy does it feel great!! What else is new…..oh yeah! A BABY!! My original due date for baby was January 11th, and it has been changed to January 6th (AKA TOMORROW). Well, needless to say baby is still in my tummy and decided to stick it out till it’s due date. And I sure never thought a person could be so impatient! But I want this baby OUT!! I want my baby Abs in my arms! (explanation: whether baby is a boy or girl initials are AB so Abs for short!) Have I been watching NCIS too much?

Onto knitting, not much has been done. I’ve still been knitting but it’s only a little bit here and there and definitely not enough progress on anything to share. And for some reason I get the feeling baby is going to let this “little bit at a time” trend continue. I have found a local yarn shop though, and cannot wait to start attending their Knit Night! Oh, and shameless bragging…..I got a swift for Christmas! Yes, that means my husband found the yarn shop on his own and walked in without me dragging him!! Amazing, I know! My “Knit The Queue” page didn’t make much progress last year because of the pregnancy. So I may revamp it, make it smaller, and try to do what I can this year. So there’s my knitting goal!

Other goals? Well I’m not doing any official New Years resolutions this year. I have the baby to concentrate on, and I know I need to make sure to take time for myself too. So I am going to try to go to Knit Night every week as soon as I feel ready to leave babes for 2 hours. The great thing is that the hubs should get home before it starts so I don’t have to worry about how to get there and child care. I’m also hoping to read like I did last year and I’m proud that I read more than 12 books in the year. This year though, I’m making a lesser goal of 8 books to read, since I know I’ll have less time. I also hope to get a teaching job in the fall. That’s a big goal of mine this year, now that I’m back in the states and I have more opportunities.

Hope Everyone had a great holiday season and a Happy New Year!!

We Made It

suddenexpression — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:42:22 +0000

After several weeks of traveling we have made it to Kansas (insert Wizard of Oz pun here). Oddly enough the first person we spoke to; the lady checking us in at the hotel’s name was Dorothy. Just something to think about. We actually arrived on Monday, but I haven’t had the chance to post till now.

We had a great 2 weeks visiting family in Rochester. Nice to see alot of people again. And had an amazing baby shower which I’ll have to share pictures from. It was so nice to really spend some time with my family this time around too. Something about having a baby inside you that just makes you want to have some one-on-one time with your own mom. Then we made a 10 hour trek to Indiana for some resting. And really for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be with family on Thanksgiving for the first time in a few years. And some quality time was also spent with a few of the nieces and nephews. The big benefit? Not having to go out of our way at all, because we would have been driving straight through on our way to Kansas and with my big pregnant belly the rest in the middle was needed! Then….another 10 hour drive!!

So, thats it. We are done. Kind of. From Germany to Kansas. Now…we have to find a place to live. But luckily for the cats that doesn’t mean anymore long car rides. Our Edgar was so stressed from everything (including the gigantic cat Spike at my parents’) that he licked himself sore. Literally. He has lesions from over cleaning. Now he’s on anti-biotics and steroid spray. But he’s getting better.

I’ve done a bit of knitting too. Not quite as much as I would have expected since we’ve done so much traveling, but I do have to get the camera up and running so I can upload some pictures of what I’ve been working on to share with everyone. More to come!

MIA

suddenexpression — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:21:42 +0000

I’ve been pretty absent lately. I would say I apologize, but I guess I don’t have to because it’s my blog and I’m in control of it. But I do promise that within the next month or two I should get back to normal. As long as I have an internet connection. We’re in the process of moving from Germany back to the states. The movers come today and tomorrow so I’ve been pretty busy getting everything prepared. Then we’ll be spending some time traveling before we actually get to Fort Riley. Once we get there I’m sure I’ll be busy trying to find a place to live, until housing opens up, and getting in with the doctors to make sure my baby is good and healthy. So maybe 1-2 months might be a little hopeful. But that’s what I’m sticking with because that’s what I’m hoping for I guess!! I may still post some periodically. Hope to actually. But things will be a little more sporadic around here, and thought I owed you all an explanation!

Miss Me?

suddenexpression — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:46:46 +0000

So I may have got my knitting mojo back as you all know, but it seems I lost my blogging mojo in the process. I’ve been thinking about it, and thinking about it. I’ve learned that thinking about posting doesn’t write my post though! I mean, wouldn’t that be great? Lay in bed and think about your post, next day you wake up and it was published? I guess technology isn’t quite there yet.

Alot has been going on with life right now, which may have affected my blogging mojo as well. We have a little over 2 weeks left here in Germany. I’m very excited, but also a bit overwhelmed. There’s alot to do in the next two weeks. This is also my first move, so it’s a bit different to me. Getting things planned out, and having the army come in to move all my stuff. Not to mention, the baby is still on my mind with this move. I have to think about what might not make it in time, and make sure all baby essentials are in our first shipment of goods. Then we have to pack. Pack for 2 weeks of travel and however long it might take before we get our first shipment. Then I’m also trying to get the house cleaned up and ready.

Baby is doing well! We are now at 28 weeks and a few days. Time sure is flying by fast!! And it is just going to go faster with the traveling, holidays and moving. We had a 4D ultra-sound 2 weeks ago. Wow, I can’t believe I haven’t updated since then! I’m so sorry my husband couldn’t be there for it, but I have to say I am purely fascinated by the means of technology now. I could see my baby just like it was sitting in front of me, not still inside me. I could see that our baby has my nose, and my husband’s lips! Also attended a few classes this week….1 on Labor and Delivery, the other on Breastfeeding. Now the patience has apparently run out and I very much just want my little jellybean in my arms!

Knitting. That’s why we are all here anyway right? For my knitting? I have two finished objects right now for Finished Object Friday. I know, I’ve been holding out on all of you! It is of course safe to assume these aren’t both from this week. But they are pretty recent. Remember my little owl Edgar thought he was going to sneak away with? Well I managed to save the birdie and give him eyes too! I also finished the Entrelac Beret I had been working on. I used Knit Picks Chroma Worsted in Bittersweet Heather and Smoothie. I have to say that yarn is the perfect yarn for this pattern. AND I have enough to make another hat if I wanted to. I haven’t quite decided though if I want to make another hat or some matching mittens. I did fall in love with entrelac though and am excited to knit more!

A favorite WIP

suddenexpression — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:07:09 +0000

And quick! Not only is the WIP quick, the post will be too. I’m on my way out the door in a few for my 3D Ultra-sound. So excited. Everything from last week has made bits of progress, not much. But I knit this up in two days! Using all scrap yarn. Now I just have to scrounge up some scrap white worsted weight to finish it! I think Baby Jellybean will love it! Go check out other WIPW posts at Tami’s Blog!

It's Not A Real Bird Edgar, I Promise....

More Frogging

suddenexpression — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:22:24 +0000

At least I can say it’s a different project this time. Have you ever started knitting something and absolutely loved it, then picked it back up a few months later and hated it? Well you might remember me starting to knit the Hemlock Blanket with the hand-dyed rayon that came from New Mexico. Love the pattern. Love the colors. Hate it together now. Originally I loved it. So I spent the better part of knitting night yesterday just ripping it out. Has this ever happened to you? I don’t know why I loved it, then all of a sudden I seemed to hate it. I couldn’t even look at the project. I just had to rip it out. I’ll tell you I hesitated in posting a picture because I really don’t like looking at it that much. I must admit though, it did have one purpose in it’s existence. It really helped me get my knitting mojo back. I guess that was it’s only purpose.

Frogged

suddenexpression — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:04:24 +0000

Yep. You heard the “ripp-it, ripp-it” my frogging made! My lovely, challenging Modern Classics Christmas Stocking was ripped out. What did I learn? That I need to remember I’m a tight-knitter therefore I don’t always need to use the needle called for. And that when you rip two colors out you end up with a mess! But no worries. It’s back to the point of progress it was at last week. Just on a larger needle. It wasn’t something that was so hard I wanted to give up on. The tightness of it was just pissing me off. I still love the challenge of colorwork and plan to add more to my queue now that I’m becoming confident that I can do it. Not much else to share for the week. In fact I didn’t even plan on blogging, but felt that I should be able to come up with something to blog about!! Just no pictures to share either!

Startitis?

suddenexpression — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:03:19 +0000

I’ve cast on a whole bunch of new projects between now and my last WIP Wednesday post. I believe that was two weeks ago. I seem to be on a every other Wednesday schedule with these posts. Anyway, I’ve been taking advantage of the overpowering knitting mojo I seem to have!

The black scarf is an idea I’ve had in the back of my head for a while. Abby from Knit Knit Cafe would call it “brewing”. I bought that yarn 2 years ago, shortly after I arrived in Germany. It is Chiara by On Line. And it’s gorgeous. My plan was a fancy, dress up type scarf. I finally pulled it out last week and tried about 2 or 3 patterns I didn’t like. And this yarn has a big halo, so it’s not easy to pull out. Finally my Vogue Stitchionary Lace arrived and I found the perfect stitch. I once again wasn’t sure, but decided I needed to see more than one repeat of the pattern. Once I did I loved it. I’m going to continue on. I haven’t quite decided whether to block it or not when I’m done, but I suppose that’s a decision I don’t have to make quite yet.

Then I cast on for another project I’ve had sitting around for quite some time. I bought the Modern Classics Christmas Stockings Kit (now discontinued) from KnitPicks before my first Christmas here. Once Christmas passed, I decided I’d wait. Then I waited too long for last Christmas. Finally I thought that would be a good challenge for travel knitting. When all my attention can be placed on it. So I thought about setting it aside for when I fly home. But it was too late. I got it stuck in my head and figured there was no harm in starting now! And who knows, maybe I’ll have 1 done by Christmas! I’ve never really done colorwork before. Nothing this hard anyway. Just a hat with a star shape in the top of it. Thats all. I like this. It’s therapeutic in a way. And because I don’t have to wear it, it’s a good beginner colorwork project! Then I don’t have to worry if the carries along the back are too tight. But I must say, I’m very glad I now know how to knit English and Continental. I think it makes working with two colors MUCH easier.

Finally, I gave in. I gave into the pattern that seems to be going viral among the knitting world. Seriously, if you don’t believe me look up the words “The Beekeeper’s Quilt” in Google. You may be overwhelmed with results. On Ravelry 1,523 people have it in their projects and 2,882 people have it in their queue. Knitting these little hexipuffs are just so darn fun, and cute! And simple. Did I mention simple? Did I mention I don’t have to buy yarn for it? I just use all my scraps? I can’t forget to mention though, that I do not plan on finishing it any time soon! This is by far a very looonnng term project for me.

As far as reading goes, I picked up Rachel Ray’s The Big Orange Book from the library today. I was thinking about finding some recipes that don’t revolve around meat. Possibly some more healthy recipes. But the picky eater I am, this may be hard. I saw this book and remembered loving it. I have it actually, but it’s one of those things that is among the boxes in my parents basement. So I got it out to take another look. So far, I’ve actually found a few things straight out of the vegetarian chapter that look good. This surprises me! I’ll have to try one of them next week. Check out what others are knitting and reading over at Small Things.

She’ll Have To Learn

suddenexpression — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:00:54 +0000

She seems to think everything for baby is really for her. Do you think she’s trying to tell me something? Look at those oh so innocent eyes!

Mifflin is making herself nice and comfy on a baby cocoon I knit up quite a while ago, actually. I don’t think I ever got a picture of it and posted about it. But I pulled it out yesterday when I was packing up baby’s stuff to prepare for the move. I wanted to get it on my Ravelry project page. The pattern is Button-up Baby Wrap by Kimberly Wood. The yarn is Knit Picks Bulky that I dyed myself. Maybe you would like to see the actual project? I promise it will look much cuter with baby inside!