Last Day of the Year

Here are some pictures to share:

My father-in-law took this one of Sean, he does not look 3 day old here. (It's from yesterday). He looks much older than that!

I love this little guy sooooo damn much.

This is a picture of the three of us from tonight, we went to Jamie's step-Aunt & step-Uncle's house for dinner. I felt great tonight in "dressed up" clothing and with jewelry on, and out of the house. It was MUCH needed!

A recap of what's been going on, (and then I'm going to sleep) (I need sleep). Yesterday we had visitors all day. Sean got spoiled by his grandparents and by mommy's friends. Mommy also got spoiled. Angela replaced the ring that I flushed down the toilet with the exact same one - that made mommy's day. Angela also got me a pair of pj pants - so that I don't have to live in Jamie's.

Yesterday was just overwhelming with guests. Today we had a few too, but not as many as yesterday. Tomorrow we're not allowing any visitors. We need an US day. We havent had one since going into the hospital on Tuesday night.

Today, while checking his diaper, I got peed on for the first time. That was quite funny, and my sister saw the whole thing go down! It's hard changing a boy! LOL. I think I need to invent some pee-pee tee-pee's!

Last night I had a little frustration in the middle of the night for an hour, Sean just wouldn't latch on to feed, and he was screaming for a good hour. It was really intense, and being over tired now, I just couldn't handle it, and it was very emotional. Today we're doing a lot better, and I think my milk is starting to come in, instead of colostrum. That is just beautiful actually, because Sean needs to gain a few more ounces so that he's at a healthy weight for his bris (circumcision) this week. He checked out of the hospital at 4 lbs 14 ounces (he lost 7.9% of his birth weight - up to 10% is considered an okay loss). This happens to all babies, so I was told not to worry. They wouldn't have let me out of the hospital otherwise. Sean needs to be at least (or VERY close to) 5 lbs 8 ounces - which is 5 and a half pounds.

Today Sean didn't make a poop at all - but he has peed. Should I be worried? If there is no bowel movement by tomorrow, I think I'll call the CLSC. I just don't want to call if it's nothing, because one place I think I read that during babies first few days, it could be 1-2 poops.... if at all. Ugh, so frustrating! I just hope he's not constipated, but he's eating enough, so it's not lack of food. He's quite the eater once latched. (We're still working on that.... sometimes he takes right away, sometimes he takes a few moments).

Today we caught Zeus in the basinette. And then later we caught him under the baby's crib, he snuck into the baby's room. I am getting very frustrated with Zeus. Jazz has no problems, and is chill. Zeus on the other hand, I think is VERY jealous of my attention to Sean, and lack of attention to him. I need to make it up to him. I really do. But he is frustrating us.

All the chores are getting very neglected, but that's normal, right? The only chore we're not ignoring is Sean's laundry, because of the lack of outfits he fits into right now because of his size. Those items need to be washed. I was totally NOT expecting a small baby, I totally was thinking that I had WAY too much newborn sized clothing, but to be honest, he actually WILL get to wear all of it!

Between my mother, sister and father-in-law (oh, ok, and a little bit me too), this kid does NOT have a lack of pictures. I've been slowly uploading pictures to my FLICKR account - so do go and check on my sidebar.

This is one spoiled kid let me tell you. He keeps getting presents and presents and presents. I wonder if there is anything he doesn't have! LOL

Alright, it's almost midnight and I should go ring in the new year with my hubby and newborn. I just wanted to come down after a feeding before bed and have a few minutes of ME time. I haven't had any lately. I hope to actually get some knitting done tomorrow. I'm jonesing to knit!

Happy NEW YEAR Everyone! May 2007 bring you everything you wish for and deserve!

In 2006 I:
Got pregnant.
Went to Vegas.
Went to Europe on my belated honeymoon.
Kicked tenants out of my apartment.
Graduated from Graphic Design School.
Learned to use my sewing machine.
Learned to cross stitch.
Learned to cable.
Learned to knit socks.
Gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

In 2007 I will:
Be the best mother any son could ever ask for. And that's all that matters.

Birth story is still in progress. There is 30 hours to cover! Check back soon!

What My Son Doesn't Fit Into Today

Here is a picture of Sean, in a NEWBORN outfit. His feet reach the CROTCH area of the outfit and the legs have nothing to fill them! He's that tiny! In search of some preemie outfits :)

In other news...

What a fluke - Halloween Lover and I both gave birth to boys on the same exact date! Her son was born at 1:15pm, a couple of hours after my son was born! Too cute. View her beautiful son here.

In other news, I noticed that Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's new book is coming out in March! So very excited:


Casts Off : The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting (Paperback) March 30th, 2007 . I will definitely HAVE to pre-order this book. It's just a must.

More to come soon on my first full day home as a mother.

New Tete A Claques: Le père Noël

Click here. This is HYSTERICAL

(Warning, it's in French).

Sean Edward

If you've wondered where I've been.... (no wifi at the Jewish General Hospital!)

Introducing Sean Edward!
Born Thursday, December 28th, 2006 at 4:44 a.m.
Weight; 5 lbs 5 oz.
Length; 19.25 inches

(Yes, mommy is knitting!)

Birth story to follow shortly.

What a Jew Does on Christmas

Today is my reflection of what a Jewish gal like me, does to entertain herself, at 9 months pregnant, on Christmas Day.

I first of all, slept in. That felt great. I woke up just after noon at some point, I can't recall the time exactly.

Upon getting up, I ate a bowl of yummy Sugar Crisp cereal. That stuff is full of sugar and fatening, but I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy and well, I just don't care!

Then I checked my loto ticket from Friday night:

Jamie had purchased tickets a few weeks ago, and since then we've won free tickets for the next week's drawing just for having 3 matching numbers. Wouldn't it be funny if we just keep winning free tickets until we randomly win the lottery? Ok, knock on wood, I'll keep dreaming. I have to go claim my free lottery ticket.

I made a bunch more stitch markers, and after one picture I got lazy to photograph more, so I'll have to do that tomorrow and then upload them all to my Etsy Shop for sale. Here is a sample of one of the sets I made:

These also come in pink and white (instead of the purple). I plan on selling a set of 5 stitch markers for 5.00$US plus shipping. Shipping will be very minimal as it can go as lettermail.

I also got a LOT accomplished on my baby checklist. I went to make sure that I had everything on the baby list:

Baby list is complete. The only items NOT checked off are breast milk storage bags (need to look into that and make sure also that the breast bump that I have works properly and all the pieces are there - it was a hand-me-down that was never used, but who knows if everything is there). Also, I don't have a swing for the baby or an entertainment center thingy, called an exercauser. Those two are not that important for the first few months of Sean's life. I do have 2 vibrating chairs, one upstairs and one in my office, so those can keep him napping while I'm in other rooms of the house, plus also - I have the basinette. He's not really going to "play" for the first few months anyhow. Not until he can sit up and keep his head stable anyhow.


I also worked on my hospital bag. A lot of the items are last minute anyhow, like the popsicles for during labor, my slippers which I wear regularly, plus clothes to wear there after giving birth, and to come home in (for me)... because I wear the limited amount of clothes that still fit me, I can't pack them yet. But all of Sean's hospital outfits and his perfect "coming home from the hospital outfit" are packed and ready to go.


Today I worked on some knitting. I realized that my knitting needles match my nail polish! I am quite concerned though, I don't think my nail polish is going to last long, I notcied after getting home that the polish didn't go quite to the edges of my nail, she did a good job, but my nails have been growing SUPER fast, now that I'm pregnant, and it just won't last long at all. Oh well, what can I do?

Both cats joined me today while I knit on the couch. I watched a bit of the Eagles vs. Cowboys game with Jamie (he's a HUGE Eagles fan) GO EAGLES! And then after the game (and a delicious dinner prepared by my hubby so I didn't have to stand on my swollen feet), we watched Deal or No Deal and then 1 vs. 100 on NBC. There was nothing else on.

Here is the progress of casting on the Column of Leaves Pattern, which the awesome woman I'm spoiling in SP9 kindly emailed me, and even though it's a pattern you REALLY need to concentrate on, I can follow it and watch TV at the same time! But it really required concentration. I have no idea how the pattern author mentions that after a few repeats you get the hang of it and memorize it, because it's an 8 row pattern repeat, and NO TWO ROWS ARE THE SAME! Is she mental for suggesting it's memorizable? (Is that even a word??)

As promised:
4th Day of my 38th week of Pregnancy! Wow - I'm busting! I have been in PJ's since Friday night when we got home from dinner, (yes, I change my pj's daily!) and just to show, this Habs tshirt is a medium. I have it in Medium (which is mine) and in Large (which is Jamie's). (I got them both for free for filling out credit card applications at the Habs game - lol... they never sent me a credit card though - ha ha - but I got these 2 free tshirts in the process. (I've been living in them literally! I do wash them - don't worry!) But above, I'm barely fitting in my size Medium anymore, Jamie's Large fits well over my son in my belly!

And just for fun - here is a shot of my face being exfoliated with that wonderful face mask stuff I purchased the other day when I picked up my antibiotics.

Notes to mention:

- I did NOT yet finish Bed Rest by Sarah Bilston but I did get to read a bunch more pages. Maybe tonight I'll finish it. It's such an easy and quick read - but I fell asleep last night reading.

- I FOUND the missing baby sock. I had lost a baby sock while doing a load of reds. There was a bunch of sweaters, tshirts, socks, pants, shorts, all reds, done in a load together. 4 socks went into the dryer, but upon folding them, I only found 3. Today, I inspected every arm and every foot, and found the missing sock.

- Speaking of missing socks, I even found one of MY socks in the foot of a baby sleeper. A sock that went missing a few weeks ago, and I had no idea what happened to it! Found!

- However, I am still missing one Winnie the Pooh scratch mitten - that got lost in the wash, and I can't find. Maybe it'll eventually turn up. Just like the sock did!

I have not left the house since Friday night upon returning from dinner for my mother's birthday. It feels great to just veg around the house. It also feels great to NOT spend money. While I was *thinking* about going to the opening of Fabricville around the corner from my house tomorrow, I decided against it. I had a dream last night that I bought material there at their grand opening, to make a handbag that matches my diaper bag. I do not need any more material, and I actually have material that matches my diaper bag, and could make a nice tote bag from it, as well as a skirt that I want to make - once my child bearing hips go back to normal. So, I will STAY in tomorrow, and not go anywhere. I do not need the sales that are going on in ANY stores... so I will stay in, because I don't need to spend money for the sake of spending money. This plan sounds great to me.

So, this is how I spent my Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. I hope Santa brought you everything you asked for! Whether it be knitting related or not!

ps - My Knitting & Crochet Library are now listed on my sidebar, with links (incase you want more information on the book!)

And We Have a Heel

I forgot to post the other day, my friend Cynthia, who kicks ass, received my Xmas package that I sent her. Here are the contents of her awesome package:

I sure packed the box full.
Last night I started the book Bed Rest by Sarah Bilston and I read HALF of it in one shot. There is just over 200 pages, and I've read about 100. It's such an easy read, and it's a good book. It's just too bad that the main character is on 'bed rest' due to the fact that she has low amniotic fluid and it's crucial to the development of her baby. I hope to finish reading the rest of it tonight! I'll let you know my opinion once done, but so far, so good!

I slept in today until about 1pm. As soon as I get up I took my antibiotics, which was actually an hour late in taking them, and my body knew it - because I woke up in a coughing fit. Damn this bronchitis. I hope it clears up fast and soon. My uterus can't take the coughing anymore!

This afternoon Jamie and I watched the movie Invincible. It was fantastic. I really recommend it. This afternoon after the movie, I took care of chores, and did a major clean up in my bedroom closet. (Jamie and I each have our own closet. My fave part of our bedroom!) Anyhow, I also got a lot of Sean's laundry done, and his "coming home from the hospital" outfit (as well as some outfits for him to wear in the hospital) are clean and in my hospital bag, which I plan on finishing tomorrow (as best as I can - some items are last minute to be packed - because they are my comfort items I used daily - like my slippers, etc..) I have some games packed - travel scrabble, cards (travel cribbige board) so that Jamie and I can play - depending on my mood and how easy this labor will be. I still need to pack some reading material, and some knitting - of course! I am still not sure what I should knit while in labor. Should I finish an easy WIP? Should I start a brand new project? Still debating!

This evening Jamie and I watched yet another movie (after he made a delicious pot roast for dinner, with some potatos - it was delicious. So delicious I was starving while it was cooking, it smelled soooo damn good!) We watched the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. It was exactly what we needed, a light, dumb comedy. Boy was it dumb. But it was funny.

Today, I have progress on my "married sock":

We have a heel!

Woohoo!

Tomorrow I shall start on the heel on Jamie's "married" sock. (Gotta keep the same progress!) The only difference between the two socks, are the fact that he wanted a longer length on the heel part. But besides that, they're identical (besides the color of the yarn!).

Some images I promised to post:

This is the bib and burp cloth that I got as a gift from my friend the other night for Chanukah.

And this is the onesie that she got me for Chanukah as well. It's funny that once you get pregnant, even though you're getting gifts for your birthday, or chanukah, or whatnot, that the gifts are really for your baby! That's two chanukah gifts I've received, that are completely for Sean! (This one above, plus my brother and his girlfriend got Sean his name in hockey player letters (I'll photograph them once I glue them to his toy box), but the gift was "for me"... lol)

I did get one gift that was for myself (and for Jamie):

And the reason I'm showing you this gift, is because of the way it was given to me. A note on a post-it note! My grandmother is too cute. I just had to share this cute gift. I have to tell you, I've never received a card on a post-it note! This is definitely the first!

To all my friends who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a happy and merry one!

Lazy Saturday

Today was a lazy Saturday. I slept in until noon. Got up, putzed around. Eventually Jamie and I watched the movie Man of the Year, the new Robin Williams flick. I really enjoyed it. I am a huge Robin Williams fan. It was a really good comedy.

I worked on my step-mother-in-law's crochet purse while watching the movie.

Then, we chilled a bit, I watched some Intervention show on A&E about a girl who is only 23 years old and 50,000$US in debt. She's a shopaholic. This episode made me NOT want to buy the Lorna's Laces colorway I was watching on ebay. Actually, I was watching about 4-5 different colorways, and went and deleted them after that episode was over. I decided that I do not NEED another skein of Lorna's Laces, even though I WANTED another skein of the yarn. There is a huge difference between need and want. I feel good about my decision!

This evening Jamie and I watched the Habs get creamed by the Bruins 4-2. It was not a good game tonight. I don't know what was wrong with Huet. It's very possible that the Habs 5 game winning streak got to their heads, and they let their guard down. I guess they can't win them all, right?

After the Habs game, Jamie and I started to watch the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the 2nd movie. Just over an hour into it, I shut it off, Jamie was passing out on the couch, so I sent him to bed, and I decided to come online, check my email, blog and now I'm going to go crawl into bed and start reading Bed Rest by Sarah Bilston, which I borrowed from my brother's girlfriend. It looks cute, and I didn't want to spend almost 20$ on a hardcover, for a book that I'll only read once. I had started reading the book Confessions of a Supermom by Melanie Hauser, but it turns out it's a little "out there" and I just can't get into it. It's just not realistic fiction and actually, I just can't follow the writing. A mother who gets super cleaning powers? What the fuck is this garbage? LOL. So, onto a new book.

Tomorrow I'll photograph the purse for my step-MIL, and show you the progress. I have no pattern, I'm inventing it as I go. I just wanted to make her a nice little handbag, and I know she's just love it!

I've picked out yarn to make myself the Column of Leaves Scarf. I am going to use the yarn that I picked up in Vigo, Spain this past September. The author of the pattern suggests that it would look nicer in a solid color rather than the variegated that she made it in, as it would show the leaves a lot better. I think the 100% pink lana merino extrafina will be perfect for this scarf, and I have just enough yarn for it!

Tomorrow Jamie and I are planning on watching the movie Invincible, it looks really good. It's with Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear, and that's all the names I recognize.

I can't believe the countdown to D-day (due day) is LESS than 20 now! 19 days left... Wow. If Sean isn't born early, and make it to the single digit countdown, I think that's when I will get really anxious. I think I must start trying all those things that may be myths.... Spicey foods, walking, maybe even that word that rhymes with hex...?? Do these actually induce labor? There are a whole list of "labor inducors" and I'm definitely NOT trying castor oil.... just the thought of that makes me ill...!

Bed time with a good book, goodnight!

News Report: Flushed Ring Not Rescued

This morning I couldn't sleep in. I woke up with a coughing fit. I hope that just means that my meds are working, as I need this cough to go away. I can't be coughing and in labor at the same time - I just don't think I would be able to get through both at the same time!

This morning all that came in the mail was an issue of Woman's Day Magazine (which is my substitute for 3 issues since For Me Magazine went under - they lasted just about a year - and then folded, too bad, I liked that magazine) and we also got a Chanukah card from my friends Lauren & Seth in Philadelphia.

So this morning I did the STUPIDEST thing I've done so far during my pregnancy. My new ring that Angela got me for Chanukah.... well, I kind of flushed it down the toilet. Yeah, you heard me right. Down the toilet. Let me explain....

I went to pee. I didn't flush right away. I took my rings off to wash my hands, putting them on the ledge of the cabinet above the toilet - my cabinet (Jamie has his own above the sink). Anyhow, I washed my hands. I dried my hands. I blew my nose. I then flushed the toilet (I was waiting to blow my nose, so I'd only have to flush once). Then as I flushed, I went to grab my 2 rings to put back on, and the new one got knocked into the toilet, as the water was whirling, and down it went. I swear to god, everything happened in slow motion.

I kicked myself. I am so mad. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this ring. And it was a gift. I'm going to go replace it, because I loved it, and felt really bad.

I told Angela this afternoon what happened. She said she got herself one in another colour, at the same time as purchasing mine, and she got home, and has not seen hers since. She swears these rings are cursed. I didn't even have mine a full week. I got it last Friday night. I am so mad. I can't believe it happened.

Jamie said he wanted to tell me that "He told me so".... but he didn't. He knew I'd learn my lesson when I flushed something down the toilet. He says I've been putting my rings and stuff there, and I told him that he should have told me. That maybe I'd have listened, lol.

I did some blog reading and emailing, and then prepared to leave my house for my manicure, pedicure and eyebrow wax. It felt SO great to have my eyebrows waxed. Like you wouldn't believe! It was definitely very uplifting, as I've been feeling very "down" lately. Not depressed, just ready to give birth and get that part over with - and well, with the gloomy weather outside... it's very "down" lately. Gloomy. Droopy. You know it. Winter blues. LOL. And I don't do much these days... so...

My manicure and pedicure were great as well. I got my fingers and toes painted a dark shade of red. I love red. Red nails are awesome. I own red nail polish but NEVER wear, because frankly I can't apply it to myself. Impossible. Just doesn't work. Doesn't look nice when I try to do it myself. I leave it up to the professionals to do a good job:



Those spots are not smudges, it's the light reflecting onto my nails from the ceiling.


Zeus snuck by this photo (above!)After my appointments, I went next door to the bookstore to browse around. I came across them selling this Szechuan Scarf kit. I would have gotten one, but unfortunately it was 100% Acrylic (NASTY!)


Tonight we went to a Grill for dinner with my entire family. It's my mother's birthday today, and it was my sister's birthday on Tuesday, (the 19th), so we went out to celebrate. Above, is a picture of Jamie and I. I think it's alright. I can't wait to give birth and to lose all the swolleness. I'm swollen everywhere. My hands, my fingers, my face, my legs (really badly), and my feet and ankles are HORRID. Water retention is bad. I really don't want to have problems, so I'm going to try and keep my feet up as much as possible.


I took these cookies from my parents house tonight. My dad got this huge gift basket, and he gets sick from mint, and my mother hates mint, so I got these DELICIOUS mint cookies. They are to die for. I gave up chocolate cake tonight (I'm not a chocolate fan to begin with), and so these mint cookies were a treat! I loved them soo much I took the rest home with me.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 7C (45F). Sunday, 5C (41F). Looks like it's going to be a green Xmas in Montreal. I wonder if that's ever happened before! LOL. No snow here. How sad and disappointing!

Three Times' a Charm [500 Blog Posts!]

I went to my GP this morning. I have bronchitis. Again. Blech. I'm on antibiotics, it is NOT contagious, and it's only in the front of my lungs, not the back. What the heck does that mean?? Damn my lungs. I think after I give birth I'm going to hunt down a lung specialist. This is not normal, to get bronchitis THREE times in ONE YEAR. Especially since all three times have been after getting pregnant. (End of May 2006, End of September 2006 and now). In the past I've gotten bronchitis two times a year, It's been consistantly like that since 1999. I think it's about time I see a specialist. Is a lung specialist what I'm looking for? I don't know. I'm going to start asking around, and I'll speak to my doctor the next time I see him.

At the pharmacy filling my prescription I bought myself 1 trashy magazine, some face maks that feel soooo good on the face, as well as, some juice and my meds. I love reading trashy magazines once in a very blue moon. Being sick and feeling like crap, I figured today was a good day.

Look at these nasty nasty horse pills!
Upon getting back from the doctor (stopping on the way home to fill my prescription for Biaxin and Vitamin C, which I have to take twice a day for a week, exactly 12 hours apart), I came home, and started doing a few things on my computer. And then I lost internet and cable. Look what happened:

This cable that you see, is hanging off my house. It USED to be attached from pole to pole... giving my house internet (my tenants too lost cable/internet). Within 5 minutes of me getting off the phone with Videotron, and going outside and taking a picture of what fell down, a service guy showed up. That was fast. Especially when the guy on the phone told me it could be anytime between now (when I was on the phone with him) and 9pm. The last TWO times I've called for service, they've shown up immediately. This is now the third. I am VERY impressed with them. Maybe I'll write them a letter for their great service.

So, I have my calendars on my bookshelf in my office, ready to go. That's two 2007 calendars and one perpetual. All knitting:

I hope I never lose track of what day it is - LOL!

I signed up on amazon.ca to be notified when they are allowing customers to pre-order the next Harry Potter book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I believe it's the last book. I wonder when in 2007 it'll be released. That is a darn good question.

Today Jamie and I received a really nice gift from someone Jamie works with for Chanukah:

An awesome baby monitor. Now, I have no idea how good this one is, as I've never seen it before, but I do plan on taking it out of the box this weekend and testing it... hopefully it'll be good, to work in the basement while Sean's sleeping upstairs.
Specs:

Private Connection™ Monitor with Dual Receivers
Product: : J2457
Ages: Birth & up

For parents who want their connection with baby to be as private as possible, this monitor gives you a choice of 10 channels to reduce the likelihood of someone picking up your transmissión. Plus, 900 MHz technology offers a more powerful signal, with excellent clarity and greater range than most nursery monitors.

So with sound lights, superior range and 10 channels, you get a closer, more private connection with your baby. And with rechargeable batteries, you’re also saving money! Includes dual receivers for added convenience. Includes two 3.6 volt V (3 X 1.2V) Rechargeable NiCd Battery Pack. Compatible charger power adaptor included.

I really want one of these two:

13 cupcake holder.

Or the 23 cup cake holder.
I saw them at Walmart the other day. But I don't make cupcakes. So why do I want this? I couldn't tell you? Can it work just the same for muffins? I make muffins. LOL.

Today I did a HUGE de-clutter in my office. I cleaned up (almost all) of my craft supplies (non-knitting related). I feel sooo good about this de-clutter. A lot of it was collage/scrapbooking stuff, that I just decided I am NOT going to use. I always feel great after a de-clutter, don't you?? I think it's part of my nesting. I'm sick with bronchitis, and I still am managing to clean!

My growing belly is moving my stretch marks up my belly (not too happy about that), and I've gone some around my still-innie belly button. It's very itchy as my son grows inside of me.

Tomorrow I look forward to my manicure, pedicure and eyebrow wax in the afternoon. I am soooo darn excited. Ahhh - a foot massage! (My hubby hates feet - so no massage from him).

I was feeling too sick today to do belly shots for the start of my 38th week. I will get to those tomorrow - after my manicure! How's that!

I'm expecting a bunch of packages in the mail, and tomorrow is the last mail day before Xmas. Then, there is no mail on Monday (Christmas Day) and usually not the day after Christmas (Boxing Day, December 26th). So, there probably won't be any mail until Wednesday of next week - what a bummer. I hate holidays for that 1 reason. NO MAIL! And then the same thing will happen the week after, as well - with New Years' Day being on a Monday, there probably won't be any mail on the 1st or the 2nd. In the mail, I'm expecting:

- a package from my secret pal
- a package from knitswap (I traded a ball of yarn for a ball of yarn)
- 2 set of stitch markers from the swap I hosted
- a package from Raesha
- and the destash yarn I purchased (knit picks and regia)
- also my yarn from the destash swap that Patty hosted
- eventually, the sock blockers I ordered on ebay. (They only custom make them once you buy and pay, which I did - so I'll probably only get those in the new year) (But it's on my list of mail I'm waiting for!)

Alright, I'm coughing. I'm going to go take my meds and head to bed. Why do I feel like this is going to be a long weekend, since I have NOTHING to do, and I can't do much? :( We're not going anywhere for Christmas (even though we've been invited to parties and dinners and such) but Jamie and I are taking a quiet evening to ourselves. I hope it's nice.

This is my 500th blog post in a year and 2 months. Actually, I think I started this blog exactly a year and 2 months ago (Oct. 21st 2005 I think!) Wow, that's 1.36 posts per day. (Hee hee!)

ps - I made an earring sale last night (thank you Jennie!) and another stitch maker sale today (thanks Barb!). My Etsy shop is doing well - whether the orders be through there or through email or in person, this was such a good idea on my part - and it's keeping me busy!

Taco Bell Opens in Quebec!! (Oh and Mary got Opal!)

So now I'm going through a phase where I'm not sleeping in. I just can't sleep in anymore. Jamie leaves for work, and poof - I'm up! No alarm - nothing. Just wide-awakeness!

Today I loaded up my images and posted in my Etsy Shop. I'm now online. Once I've finished all the tons and tons of stitch markers that are in progress, I think I may offer to Secret Pal 9, that I've got stitch markers for sale, and I can mail them directly to their secret pals. Maybe some of my stuff will sell - that would be really cool. Hopefully over the next couple of days I'll finish everything up (beading) and get those on track.

Just MINUTES after posting my sales, Marga bought my Firefly Stitch Markers. Thanks Marga! They're already in the mail to you! Enjoy! (And I even added in a little something extra for her!) I'll be making more Firefly Stitch Markers incase anyone is interested.

I was browsing Etsy today, and came across this: (So simple to make, and kinda funny actually!)

Sean will be giving Nana & Zayda (Zayda is yiddish for Grandpa) this above gift for the holidays. It's now wrapped, but I wanted to photograph it before it went into the bag. It's a poker picture frame, with his picture in it. I thought it was really cute. Jamie's dad and step-mom are HUGE texas hold'em players.... I thought it was appropriate!


Guess what???????????? The FIRST EVER Taco Bell is now open in Quebec. Now I don't have to go to Ottawa, Ontario or Plattsburgh, New York for Taco Bell. They opened up minutes from my parents house - (like 20 minutes without traffic from my house). Oh, I think I'm having a taco craving. I kid you not. I believe they opened yesterday. They are in alliance with KFC (or rather PFK in Quebec!)

I finally took Sean's Lobster out of the packaging today. This Lobster, is a laundry basket or toy basket. It'll be a toy basket for him to keep his toys in, to play with in our basement. Isn't it just ADORABLE????

In other news before I talk about going to our local Stitch 'N Bitch tonight, I went back again to my local police station, AFTER CALLING THIS TIME - to make sure there was someone there trained to install a newborn carrier into my car. The guy who answered the phone said that there was. I said I would be by shortly. I think I was there like 45 minutes later, and yet again, like yesterday, I JUST MISSED the person or people who are trained to install the seat. Now, I probably could read the instructions and do it myself, but - there is NO wiggle room with those, and well - with my belly - there is no room for me to do it! And to be honest, I'd rather the police station to do it - not my procrastinating hubby.... (he's said a couple of times he'd do it, and well - hasn't!) I was told someone should be there between 11 am - 1pm tomorrow and I will call and RESERVE the person before going in. The station - is LITERALLY around the corner from my house. I kid you not. THAT close!

Today, I discovered what a REALLY BAD period cramp must feel like. I've never had a really bad one, (just mild), but I had a contraction while in the parking lot of the post office around the corner from my house (had a few things to mail out for Jamie) and well - it was awful - but I did some breathing, and then it passed. I think it lasted almost a minute. It was this awful pain, and my uterus got really really really hard. Harder than I've ever felt it go. So - I guess they're starting! But they're not regular at all - and not all as bad. I think I've had a few today, but nothing to start me into labor, not yet anyhow!

This afternoon I beaded a bit more, and I started working on a secret knitting project (I'll reveal it once done - it'll be a quick knit). I'll give all the details afterwards.

Tonight, I had a good time at the Montreal Knits Meetup (SNB). We were a nice little crowd. (Angela, Alison P, Peggy, Jennie E., Deawn, Kadi & Mary showed up for a few minutes with some goodies! More about that below). It was Alison's first meeting, and she had a really good time, especially since she drove all the way into town from Terrebonne in traffic nonetheless!!!

These Teething Pain Relievers are from Deawn. She brought them to me for Sean, for when he's teething and is crying. You give him one dose, and apparently it's supposed to let the baby stop crying. Anyhow, she got them for free from Pharmaprix near her, so I told her to grab a few more boxes for me!

This is a picture of Deawn taking a picture of me taking a picture. Do you follow? It was funny.


Jamie asked me for 8 inches in his sock before I turned the heel. Finally - I've knit 8 inches of sock number one, and I'll add a few more to my sock, before turning the heels on both. I do not want my socks to be 8 inches tall - because USUALLY - I only wear ankle socks (tennis socks). But for some reason, this pregnancy has allowed me to want to knit a pair of socks a little bit longer than just ankle socks. So mine will be maybe half of Jamie's length - so let's say 4 inches or so for mine. I'll be working on mine tomorrow, so I will post some pictures. Tomorrow, I have nothing going on - but some more chores, so I hope to watch a movie or something, relax and get some knitting done! And maybe some more in that Cross Stitch for my mother. I also have a sock monkey that I want to make for Sean.

So, Mary (who lives just above the coffee shop - lucky girl!), stopped by our Stitch 'N Bitch tonight, as the Opal yarn I INSISTED her brand new company (Online Yarn Shop - called Ariadne Knits) HAD to order! Ariadne was supposed to get online tonight, but it has not yet been uploaded. Maybe tomorrow??? Anyhow, I was telling Mary that I have been eyeing two different colorways from Opal's Rainforest Collection, and she was able to get both! However, she was only able to get it in 6 ply (which is a good thing, because it'll make for a more durable sock), and not in 4 ply - which is what I'm used to knitting with for sock yarn. So without any more delay - I present to you - my 2 new fave balls of yarn:

Above - Opal Rain Forest Flamingo!

And Opal Rain Forest Ladybug.

Now, to be honest, I find that 18.60$ is a LOT for a ball of yarn (cost me 38$ for both with my 10% off Montreal Knits Discount) (Thank goodness for Paypal payments for their online shop, so I could pay for it by Visa! Hee hee!) But still - that's a lot for a sock yarn. That's why I only bought 1 ball of each - lol... I can't wait to finish my married socks, and my mother-in-law's birthday purse (which I should get cracking on - her birthday is Saturday - thank goodness I have some lee-way time - as they're going to be in Toronto from Friday morning - Wednesday or Thursday for Xmas - so I have some extra knitting time) and then I have a scarf I want to knit for myself - my secret project to finish knitting - and then perhaps another pair of socks with my new yarn!

My good friend Lainie, in California, sent me this picture of her at Starbucks today with her daughter. It's such a sweet picture, and I love it. I can't wait to have my own son to kiss and hug and give my heart to! I'm sure he'll win my heart the instant he's born. I have no doubt about it. Something about this image of Lainie and her daughter, just made me want to cry (tears of love and laughter of course!)

Isn't it just precious?

And with that... I bid you a good night and sweet dreams.

The Nasty Soup

This morning I made that concoction that my doctor gave me. (He didn't want me taking antibiotics so far into my pregnancy). So, I boiled it up:

Looks pretty gross, eh? You then strain it - and then drink it with lots of honey! It's a mixture of:

- 2 bags of Cammomile tea
- 2 bags of Linden (Tilleul in french) tea
- 3 onion skins (not the onion, just the dry onion skins)
- 10 walnut shells (not the walnut itself just the shells)

Boil. Strain. Add honey. Drink.

And you know what? I felt a lot better all day. I think I'm going to drink one more glass before going to bed tonight. The amount I have is for 2 days worth of tea apparently. Hey - whatever works right?

I've finished all my Xmas shopping. Well - almost anyhow! I just need to figure out something for my father-in-law and then I'm all set.

Angela gave me a gift card to Omer DeSerres for Chanukah, so I went over there today, and found this awesome bead kit (on sale for 24.95$). I picked one up. (It also comes in blue). I've been beading a lot lately (earrings & stitch markers mainly). Anyhow, I wanted the beads for beading, and the case..... for this:

An organizer for my stitch marker collection! Hee hee. So far, the ones in here, I've made some and some are from stitch marker swapping. I'm ADDICTED to collecting stitch markers. My case will be a LOT fuller once I finished my Clapotis, which has about 20 stitch markers for that project.

Thank you Angela for the awesome present!

I also stopped by the Bead Emporium today, and picked up some beads. With those beads, I made some earrings. I plan on posting them on Etsy to sell (probably tomorrow). If anyone is interested in a pair - let me know! They're for sale! Two different size earrings. The larger are 1"2/8th large and the smaller are 7/8ths of an inch big. I am very excited to set up shop - but I can sell them privately as well!

I also made some stitch markers today for my new Etsy shop (coming soon to my sidebar). These above are a set of 5 fireflies (I thought of you Marga!) I haven't figured out a price for them yet, but they'll be available in my Etsy shop.

Here is one more set of stitch markers (set of 6) that I made today. I have been having fun crafting.

Speaking of Stitch Markers - here are some that were received in my swap:

Above, I gave these to my swap partner Angela (who is technically blogless). She's had them since last Wednesday's SNB meetup.


And these above, I sent to Lainie, in California. She has received them, but I guess not blogged them yet.

Speaking of Mail received - my Secret Pal has received her Xmas Package that I put together for her. Here is what I sent her:

I love love love the sheep notebook that I picked up for her! If I didn't have a collection of journals already (I kid you not - impulse buys and addiction!) then I'd buy one for myself, because it was just tooo cute. I just have way tooo many blank journals, and now that I'm journaling online, instead of paper - I do NOT need any more journals! I could probably open up a store with the amount of journals that I own. (Ok, I know I'm exaggerating, but still! (Some of them are just too gorgeous that I don't want to use them!) My pal emailed me to tell me that she plans on sleeping with the scarf I sent her, as it is just TOO soft and comfortable. I agree - I almost didn't want to part with it!

Here is some other mail my SP9 pal received from me this week. I sent her these out in 2 different envelopes. She just blogged that she receives about 2-3 pieces of mail from me each week. Yep - that sounds about correct. It's all about spoiling now isn't it?? I sent my pal some awesome magnets, some more of my handmade stitch markers (Yep - I'm obsessed with making them!), some recipes and and Xmas card. I love funny Xmas cards - even though I'm Jewish and don't celebrate Xmas - they're soooo much fun!

Tonight my friend Saskia came over and had dinner with me. I gave her an Xmas present (we exchange one every year) and I'll photograph and post tomorrow what she got me (or rather for Sean!)

However, I do have to admit a snag with preparing her Xmas present. I was supposed to go to her house for a housewarming/Xmas tree decorating party, and she wanted everyone to come to that party with an ornament for her Xmas tree. This is her first apartment. Anyhow, I found these really nice picture frame ornaments, and wanted to pick a picture of the two of us into the frame. (She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, so I wanted to put a picture of the two of us from then). However, when I went to print one out on 4x6 paper (to fit into the 2x2 slot in the ornament), my printer was doing fuzzy weird stuff:

As if the ink was NOT drying on the photo paper. So, after different tests, and maintenace in my control panel on my computer, I settled with going to Pharmaprix and printing out on their digital machine. Here is the end result:


Now, I had done this on my home printer if it was working properly, I would have sized the image properly to fit more hair and more of my wedding veil, etc, into the picture. But I had to settle with what the photo machine printed out at the shop. I am not sure if it was my printer, the printer paper, the ink I'm using - or what. But, it's REALLY frustrating - let me tell you!

Saskia loved the rest of her presents, and I will blog about Sean's gifts tomorrow.

Tonight I gave in and purchased on ebay some Sock Blockers. I've been eyeing them online for about 3 months. But the seller I've been watching didn't have the ones I wanted up. Anyhow, needless to say, I contacted them, and she did have what I wanted, just didn't realize that they weren't listed. I really wanted the yarn and needles one (not one of the other 10-12 ones she has in stock - woolie the ram, aids ribbon, cat, dog, moose, etc...) Nope, I wanted this one in specific:

And I can't wait to get them in the mail! I sent a request for the amount with shipping, and will pay immediately, so that I can get them soon! I ordered a size Medium (which covers shoe sizes 7.5-9.5 women's). I'm a size 8 - so it's perfect!

This evening I watched the movie Over the Hedge. It was really cute. I was shocked on how short it is - 1 hour and 23 minutes. Are kids movies really that short these days?

Meme

MEME

The first sentence (or two in my case!) of each first post of the month for 2006:

January: Wow. It's a brand new year. 2006
February: This is my current WIP. It's almost 30 inches long!
March: This morning the guy who will be renovating my bathroom woke me up earlier than he was expected.
April: Today Jamie actually devoted some time to spring cleaning. I was really impressed with the job that he has done.
May: School was long, our courses got changed from when I had seen the schedule before I left for Vegas.
June: Today, I am feeling sooo much better. My nose is still running but my cough is about 90% gone.
July: I've been knitting up a storm, so here is my latest addition to the charity blanket.
August: This morning I had Merlyn a little bit entertained as I had work to do.
September: I have been sleeping in all week.
October: Today I got up just as J's first guests started arriving for his annual hockey pool.
November: This morning before leaving to the dentist I got some mail.
December: Slept in a little bit today, but got up still early enough.

Today Was Swap Mail Day!

I got up early this morning to go to my Obgyn apt. I brought my doctor's nurse some coffee & timbits, and I think she really appreciated it. Every week now it's been the same faces sitting in the doctor's office, all very pregnant women. I wonder if I'll run into any of them at the hospital. It would be nice to see what their babies look like, etc - after seeing them for so many of my visits to the doctor's office! I lost 4 lbs of the 7 lbs that I gained in water retention - I'm not as swollen as I was - phew! (Feel good about that!) I am still not happy with what the scale says - but that's a whole other story. I've definitely come to love my body more now that I'm pregnant, but I still have to get it in my head that I'm pregnant - and that is what the scale reflects!

Good news! Sean started dropping lower and is making his way down the birth canal! Who knows when he'll be born, but it could be any time now. Time to get my car seat installed and finish packing my hospital bag (can we say procrastination?) I don't have another appointment until January 4th, 2007, only because next Monday is Xmas, and the Monday after that is New Years day, so the 4th is the next time he's in the office. Originally I was given an apt for this Friday morning, but my doctor was like - "I don't need to see you - everything looks great - who knows maybe you won't even make it until your January 4th apt!" Who knows!!!

On my way home, I took the bus to the shopping center around the corner from my house, and mailed off a very small and lightweight package for a knitswap I'm involved in. I had a ball in a certain colorway that this woman in the USA was looking for - and she's mailing me back, a ball of sock yarn - Mega Boot Stretch in Colorway 704. I think it's a very nice color that she's sending me. She said it should go into the mail today or tomorrow. I've never knit with Mega Boot before, can't wait to check it out.

Upon returning home, I received some mail from my Stitch Marker Swap that I hosted.

I got an awesome little package from Rosanna! What a sweetheart. I got a TON of stitch markers and also a ball of yarn! (I forgot to photograph the yarn - so sorry - I apologize!)

I received some blue stitch markers - very pretty!

I received these really awesome stitch markers - an added bonus. You see - the swap called for 5 handmade stitch markers per swap. Rosanna sent me 15!!!! (5 blue beaded ones, 5 snowmen & 5 presents!) They are just too cute:

To view more angles of these stitch markers (I was playing around with my camera) click here.


Rosanna also received a package from me today in the mail! dellybean as well. Here is what I sent them!

Mail to Rosanna: (Photo curtosey of Rosanna)

Mail to dellybean: (Photos curtosey of Dellybean)

Dellybean Modeling a pair of earrings that I sent her. Apparently they remind of her of fish!

I ordered some yarn from Destash (new stuff posted and sold daily! You REALLY have to be quick!) and I can't wait to get it in the mail. I think I got a good deal for all of this - and some is for me, and some is for gifts. I'm not telling what is for what - I guess you'll have to wait & see! I'm in love with the pink colorway from Knitpicks.

This afternoon I went to do a few errands, but didn't go far from my house. Hubby still is worried about me driving too far and having a bad contraction (which I don't think I've had yet, still!) I picked up a few items I needed to finish the last of my Xmas shopping.

I went early to what I think will be my last Pre-Natal Aqua class tonight, and at first I thought I was having a private class, but then a new girl (Shayna) showed up, which was actually good, because even though I enjoy chatting with Hendrica, I just wasn't feeling too good, and didn't want to make an hour's worth of conversation. Shayna talked for almost the entire hour, and it was nice to just listen. I was in the pool for a good 20 minutes before the class even started, and I can sooooo see my groin muscle NOT hurting tomorrow one bit! The water REALLY does wonders. Hendrica wished me an easy delivery, and made me promise to send pictures once Sean's born. That will be my pleasure. What bothered me tonight, oddly, was the fact that this Shayna girl is one of those people that uses her entire face and facial expressions to speak. To me, I just thought she looked rediculous, and I think I had to bite my tongue a few times to not laugh.... why this amused me, I couldn't tell you. It just looked retarded!

This evening I worked on cleaning up the tags on my blog (I didn't realize there was sooo many spelling errors from fast typing and almost duplicates of the same tag), so I cleaned that up, in preparation to move my blog from private to public. It's going to be very freeing! I can just feel it!

I've also been working today on some earrings and stitch markers. Oh - I love to bead. Tomorrow I want to head out to Omer & the bead shop. Because I haven't had any contractions yet, and my groin muscle felt great last Tuesday (the day after my aqua class), I'm taking advantage to drive a *little* further than Jamie's limitations for me (with his permission of course), and go to both shops. (I must get out of this house - I don't want to go stir crazy!)

Jamie's working late tomorrow (12-9) to help out, so we get to sleep in and cuddle tomorrow. (I've been sleeping back in the bed - the futon on the floor proved to be just as bad as sleeping in the bed. It's a lose-lose situation either way - I just can't get comfortable!)

Every Day is Sunday

To me, being at home at the end of my pregnancy, every day is a Sunday to me. However, today, I got to share it with my hubby. I just love that. We spent the entire day in our pj's just chilling out.

This morning I did run out to my GP's house. He's the doctor friend. He gave me some good news - I don't have bronchitis! PHEW! Which is a good thing. Thought, he wrote down this odd mixture of stuff to boil (I'll have to do it tomorrow, I'm missing 2 things I need for it, so I'll talk about it tomorrow). He didn't want to give me antibiotics for my dry cough, due to the fact that I'm at the very end of my pregnancy. And you know what? I don't blame him. At least the Robitussin is helping for now.

We brought home fresh Montreal bagels - mmmm - and had a delicious brunch! Then we chilled and watched Survivor from Thursday night, an episode of Entourage, and then the movie You, Me and Dupree. It was funny stupid.

I made dinner tonight, Gnocchi with my step-mother-in-law's tofu sauce, and some salad and garlic bread. We then sat down to watch tonight's finale of Survivor Cook Islands.

All throughout the tv watching today, I worked on Jamie's "married sock". The reason I worked on his, is because he wants the leg part (including the top ribbing) to be 8 inches long, where I don't want my sock that long, so I worked more on his today. I'm about 2-4 rows away from 8 inches now, and then I'll see where my sock is at, and then I'll start turning the heel.

Here is almost 8 inches of his sock (above).

Patty, my Secret Pal 9 Hostess received a surprise in the mail this past week, I mailed her out some stitch markers, because she had mailed me some. Just like that. Above is what I made for her! Little feet from the mommy-to-be me! I like both fancy and simple stitch markers, ones that yarn doesn't get caught in, cuz I've had yarn rip due to getting stuck. The simpler the better. But nice and fancy too works, if it's non-yarn catching! LOL. I am sooo excited to see what stitch markers I'll get in the mail from the swap I hosted! Very excited to see what comes!

Zeus made himself comfortable on my yarn bag (that holds my sock project) - how cute!


I had fun tonight playing around with Flickr Toys. So I made myself a badge. And I loaded my flickr banner into my sidebar.

Along the lines of coming to terms, I've realized that, I have much more of an appreciation for my body now, after going through almost a complete pregnancy, than I've ever had before. Before becoming pregnant, I was always self-conscious, and now, I just appreciate my body so much more. Of course I'm going to try to get back into shape after giving birth, but I will just not obsess over it, and it'll happen when it happens. No deadlines, no nothing! Just breastfeeding, exercise, eating healthy and staying active! How's that for a new year's resolution?!

Tomorrow I've got my weekly OBGYN appointment. I hope Sean has dropped and perhaps I've started to dialate?? I'll keep you posted once I blog tomorrow!

2nd Day of Week 37

I had a really bad sleep last night on the floor. The bed, would have been not any better. My son, whom now I have to count the fetal movements for, and if he moves less than 10 times in one day, I have to rush to the hospital... is quite active, that I've lost count in counting and I gave up on counting. I think my body would tell me if there was any problems. And if I started to notice lack of movement, I'd start counting... but he's very active let me tell you! And when I'm sitting in a position that he doesn't like - he lets me know it!


This afternoon Jamie & I did a mad cleaning in the house (still on my nesting kick I think - I had energy to clean that I didn't even realize I had. My office - SPOTLESS (Floor needs to be washed, but in regards to organization and such, it's spotless!) I can even see my desk! Wowo! Haven't been able to see my desk in a couple of weeks, and it was just one huge pig sty! LOL. (Laziness of pregnancy I tell you!) But, since we were having dinner guests tonight, and one of them, has never been to our place before, (and we've really met before properly), then I wanted to make a good impression. Good impression includes a clean house!

I was just just just done as they rang the doorbell. But I was sweating to get everything done, and my cake in the oven. I baked an apple cake. Yes - I baked in the last few weeks of my pregnancy. Francesca had heard soooo much about my "famous" apple cake, that she wanted to try some herself. Plus, Daniel requested it.

Daniel is one of Jamie's long time friends. They've been friends since Kindergarten I believe. That's a 25+ year friendship. (Since they were about 5 years olds, and now they're 31). (They're both one of the oldests in their grade, being December babies - they were born 10 days apart. Daniel is December 1st, and Jamie December 10th).

Francesca and Daniel met at Daniel and Jamie's friend Larry's wedding this past August. Larry married Grace, who is Francesca's first cousin. Francesca was a bridesmaid, and Daniel a groomsmen. They ended up walking down the aisle together, and the rest is history! They've been an official couple for just over 2 months now, but they've been talking since August 26th.

Francesca is really sweet. I thought she was older than me, but she's only 22! She's really mature for her age though. She's sooo much more mature than a certain 22 and another certain 24 year old that I know! Age really doesn't matter. It's completely the person. And she acts older.

Francesca totally didn't have to, but she brought a gift for Sean and one for me too. She was really impressed that in my 9th month of pregnancy, I was baking and cooking, and wanted to thank me, because she doesn't cook or bake.

She brought me this really nice Laura Secord basket. Mmmm, chocolates & candies.

And Sean received this really cute onesie! He already had the hat, mittens, booties and bib all Habs - but now he has the onesie! I really want to get him the blue sleeper that is with the same pattern on it (full arm & legs with feet), but I don't know when the next time I will be in the Bell Center, or Fairview Mall (near my parents house) where they have a Habs store. Oh well - eventually! I wouldn't get a him a newborn one anyhow, I'd probably get him a 3-6 month one, so I have time to pick it up! I definitely want to treat him to one though.

Tonight during our fondu dinner (which was soooo good), we watched the Habs game. It was a big deal, because all 4 of us are huge fans. Even Francesca! Anyhow, it was a big deal game too, because they were playing against Pittsburgh (SIDNEY CROSBY! He's a cutie for a 19 year old). Crosby will totally play for the Habs when he becomes a free agent in a few years, I can sooo see it. He's a HUGE Habs fan, and his dad was even drafted by the Habs as a goalie, but never played.

Tonight, our start was Saku Koivu! He scored 2 goals tonight. (Too bad he couldn't go for a Hat trick!) Also - what impressed me was Lapierre's 2nd goal (3rd point) in 3 games. He's a rookie that was called up and in 3 games he has 2 goals and 1 assist! This kid's on a role. We even got to see a few minutes of Higgins tonight. He played about 15 minutes in total in the three periods, Higgins is back! We just need him to score. And did you see Bonk's face??? I don't think he could have been punched any more than he already was! Nasty! We had a really NICE win of 6-3 tonight. Comme C'est Beautiful!

As promised, some belly shots in my new coral shirt. Here is me... 2 days into my 37th week of pregnancy. (And ready to pop - let me tell you!)

Look, Ma, Still an Innie!

And with that - I bid everyone a good night, I'm off to *TRY* and sleep!

It's the Little Things That Count

Today I got up from sleeping on the futon mattress on the floor, and yet again, there was no mail for me today. The floor. It was an okay sleep. A good thing, I didn't get up ONCE during the night to pee. I don't know why not. I didn't do anything different than I usually do. I didn't drink less fluids than usual. How did I manage to get through the night without having to go? That, I don't know. While trying to fall asleep last night, I started reading in What to Expect While Expecting the 9th month chapter, as well as all the labor and delivery stuff. I still have more reading to do... but I am starting to get really excited to give birth. How odd is that?? However, once Jamie got home from work, he did take me to the post office, to mail a bunch of stuff that looks like this:

Amongst my Secret Pal's package, Cynthia's package, Raesha's package, a secret package for a certain someone who reads my blog, as well as 2 Chanukah cards, there are 2 Xmas cards that I wrote, yes - I gave in and wrote TWO. So sue me!

After lunch, Walmart, the post office, Angela came over this evening and hung out with me. She brought along some goodies for me. What a nice friend she is! It was for Chanukah! What a sweetheart. I was already in the progress of putting together an Xmas package for her, but it's not ready yet, and well, I'm 9 months pregnant, she can wait a few extra days.

I got some cool goodies such as:

Some earring posts and some stitch marker hoops for my beading. Which I hope to get a bunch more done before Sean enters this world.

I got a gift card to Omer DeSerres, yey - craft supplies! I can hear them calling my name!

Some awesome stitch markers. I LOVE how simple they are. Angela did not have me as a partner in my stitch marker swap, but she did make me some, it was soo thoughtful of her!

And I got this awesome glass ring. It's pink, with black & auburn lines in it. It's absolutely gorgeous, and it does fit ONE of my swollen fingers right now. I'll have more options of fingers to wear it on, once Sean is born. Color is hard to tell in this image, I just realized. But it's pink! And I love it!

I convinced Angela tonight, to straighten my hair. I hopped into a quick shower and washed my hair. I even blow dried it. And then, Angela straightened my hair for me. (I can never do it properly on my own head). Anyhow - it's amazing how the little things in life can be sooooooo uplifting. I swear, I feel like a whole other person just because my hair looks nice. It makes me feel good.

Here is a picture of me and my straight hair. Look Angela - I'm wearing your ring that you got me for Chanukah!

We had a fun girlie night tonight, watching What Not To Wear on TLC, and just hanging out. It was really nice. And trust me, this type of thing will not stop after I give birth. I still plan on having girlie nights with friends, and living and enjoying life. So thank you for coming over Angela. I had a good time!

No belly picture today yet. I felt blah all day, so I didn't take any. Tomorrow, I will model my new maternity shirt that I found at Walmart today, and I will take some belly shots. I wasn't going to buy any more maternity clothes, but to be honest, I am SICK of the same 4 pj's I have, I am SICK of the 4-5 outfits that I have to wear during the day, that actually still cover my belly. So... I gave in, and at Walmart today, I bought myself ONE shirt. And that was very uplifting as well. It's a coral color. I will model it for you tomorrow! Promise.

Another thing that excited me today, is the fact that I found a nursing bra with an underwire! I bought one, and I will see how it is, and if it works and feels great, then I will purchase a second one. I already have one that isn't underwire (wearing it now actually, wanted to wear it to see how it feels) and I think 3 in total will be enough. All we're missing now is the baby!

I *believe* that I had my first contraction this morning. I am pretty sure that is what it was. It stopped me in my tracks, and my uterus felt hard like a watermelon. It lasted almost 30-45 seconds, but once again, it didn't hurt. So I don't know if that counts as a contraction? I really am not sure what I am feeling, so I am not sure if I have the right to call it a contraction? My doctor told me on Monday, that I would know when I was having a contraction... but what if I really don't know?? There is always that possibility, right??

Today, I decided that I am not into scrapbooking. It is just NOT for me. I will NEVER get to my wedding scrapbook. I will never get to my Vegas Scrapbook, and I will certainly never scrapbook all my Honeymoon pictures. That will never happen. (I still haven't printed any of my honeymoon pictures, because I am still waiting for Loblaws (Photolab.ca) to have a 2 for 1 sale on their prints. Usually around Xmas they have a special, but we'll see if that happens. I'm keeping my eye open for a sale. But for real, I'll never ever end up scrapbooking them. I will possible scrapbook/college some stuff for Sean... as a memory book style, not really as a scrapbook in the way women scrapbook these days. Maybe I am just going through a phase, or maybe I just don't have the patience for it anymore. Maybe I would rather be knitting?! I have so much scrapbook stuff, that I am just not sure why I bought, or what to do with. I am organizing my stash to see what I have, and then I'll decide what to do with it. I literally have enough stuff for a wedding scrapbooking kit - maybe I could sell it somewhere?? But who would buy this from me? I refuse to even try on ebay, it's just NOT worth it. I also have a ton of other material... once again, probably impulse buys, stuff that I thought I would use, and well... probably will never. Is that the way the cookie will crumble??

Maybe this is my way of de-cluttering my life?? Preparing for baby? Taking inventory of what I have, what I will use, what is necessary?? I am kind of looking at it that way. I feel like I've been doing a good job decluttering, but I still have a lot more to do/organize. All in due time. I guess I still need a little bit more time before Sean arrives, even though I'm spent, and want him to arrive already. (This knitting mama really wants her body back!)

Today via email, according to What to Expect While Expecting, Apparently, I can expect the baby's weight gain to be about half an ounce per day. (Boys, though, are likely to be heavier at birth than girls. And here's a bit of boy baby trivia to back that one up: Moms carrying boys tend to eat more than moms carrying girls — a foreshadowing of teenage refrigerator raids to come.) GREAT! Just what I needed!

So I ordered this book for my sister-in-law for her birthday. She was asking me a million questions on granny squares, so I figured it would just be easier to get her a book of her own! Plus, I was running short of ideas for her for her birthday/chanukah, so I will give her that, with some yarn and perhaps some crochet & knitting needles (I think I want to go thrifting!) and she'll be really happy, I'm sure. I'll take care of that now, because the next time I will see her, is when Sean's born (she's coming in for his bris). But I want to know that it's taken care of, and here for her. I love ordering things online!


Crazy mitten girl posted on her blog again. Should we allow her out of mitten purgatory?

I got some other good news today, but I'm waiting for the okay to share the info! I forgot to ask earlier if I was allowed talking about it.... so I hope so! Cuz I am super excited about this news!

I Think I'm Nesting

Today has been an interesting day. I had the shivers all night last night, and now I have an achy throat and an achy ear. The ear has cleared, but the throat... I really hope I'm not coming down with something.... that would suck.

Today, I saw this:

If I had extra money, I'd sign up. But 240$ US - I don't have that kind of extra cash lying around. Should I find 240$ US (278$ CAD) extra (like win the lottery on Friday night), then I'll be signing right up. How cool does it sound? If you are interested, you can sign up here.

Because I had such a shitty sleep last night, in bed, (I think it's my bed that is the problem, and tonight, I'm sleeping on a fouton on the floor - I'll let you know tomorrow how it is), I took a nap for about 4 hours form 10-2pm, on the couch, with a nice fire going in my fireplace:

Zeus, came in for some warmth as well:


Upon waking up from my nap, I continued watching some more Season 5 of The Sopranos (I've got one episode left of Season 5, and then I'll watch Season 6 Part 1. I still can't find a date for Part 2 airing on HBO):

My step-mother-in-law brought me over some more cinnamon pecan balls (since they're my favourite) and I gave her some of my minestrone soup to try, as well as a bunch of frozen bannanas to bake with):

I made some hot chocolate, to enjoy:

And I knitted on the couch. Wasn't in the mood to cross stitch today. Then, at some point mid-afternoon, I got this wild urge to CLEAN. (Maybe this means I'm nesting?)

And I cleaned the ODDEST things in my house. I started off by cleaning the stove with Easy-off. It's spick and span clean. Then while showering, I cleaned the walls of the bathtub (it was just easier to do it while I was soaking my hair!) and besides a dishwasher load, and laundry, I also took off EVERY key off my keyboard and cleaned my Logitech Keyboard. You would not believe how dirty the thing was:

Gross, eh??

Here are all the keys I took off:

And now, it's ALL spick and span clean. I've vaccumed in hidden areas where you'd never guess you'd find cat hair, I've done more loads of laundry. I've cleaned my desk drawer (re-organized it). I've cleaned the cabinet in my office, it's all organized now too. I cleaned up my messy desk (it's actually clean now, and there is a workable surface!) I've also got more cleaning on tap for tomorrow. I want to re-organize my tupperware drawer. Yeah - who does that? Only a woman in her 37th week of pregnancy, I tell you!

Today I also finished up some crafting and sealed some packages to be mailed at the post office tomorrow. I plan on mailing Raesha's Xmas Swap package, Cynthia's Xmas Swap Package, a surprise to someone else in the mail (I'll reveal it when she gets it), as well as TWO Chanukah cards that I felt bad for not writing, so I wrote them, and they are going in the mail tomorrow (Chanukah starts tomorrow night after sundown). I also have to mail something Jamie sold on ebay, and I think that's all the mailing I have to do for tomorrow. I need to get my Secret Pal's Xmas package finalized, and get that into the mail next week for her (mail seems to get to her fairly fast, seeing as though she lives in the same country just a few provinces over!)

This evening, while on the phone with my sister-in-law - who called to ask about granny squares (she thought I could explain to her over the phone how to do one - but when I told her that there were HUNDREDS of patterns on the internet for them, and for different sizes as well - I am not sure she understood what I am talking about). I think for her January 2nd birthday, I'm going to get her a crochet afghan book.... I didn't know what to get her, and now I think I do! So, while on the phone with her, with an Oatmeal Mask on my face (exfoliating baby!) my doorbell rings. Now, I'm not expecting anyone, and Jamie was out at my parents house watching the Habs game (4-2 over Tampa Bay - GO SAKU! He scored 2 goals in the 3rd period!) and it was Canada Post - just my lucky night! I even apologized to the Canada Post driver for my lovely Oatmeal face!

I was not expecting anything yet in the mail (I'm hopefully expecting some mail next week, but not this week!) And to my delight, I saw this:

And unravelled the tissue:

And revealed this:

It's a Lamaze Freddie the Firefly, which arrived from NY State, from my lovely friend Marga! Thank you Marga, I am sure that Sean will love it! I've hung it for now in his crib... we'll see where it ends up? (Stroller? Car Seat? Everywhere?!) What a surprise to receive something in the mail!

So, remember that really ugly pair of mittens that my friend got in the mail? Well, the girl who sent them, has commented on her blog about her opinion of them. Click here to read what she has to say. If this girl deletes what she wrote, let me know, I saved a copy and can still share. It's kind of pretty funny.

From our lovely friends at What to Expect While Expecting:

Week 37: The Dynamic Duo: Effacement and Dilation

Only three more weeks to go (can you believe it?). Actually, now that you're 37 weeks, your pregnancy is technically considered full-term — which means you can safely go into labor any day now. The big mystery, of course, is just when labor will actually begin. It's anyone's guess when your baby decides to make his or her appearance (sociably early, or fashionably late — or precisely right on time?), but that doesn't stop your practitioner from taking a shot at it.

Unless you specifically request otherwise, most practitioners will perform internal checks of your cervix to assess your readiness for labor. Just what is he or she looking for? First, for dilation, or how far your cervix has opened (it needs to open to ten centimeters for the baby to pass through into the birth canal). Next, for cervical ripeness (making you wonder, perhaps, is this a cervix or a peach?), which is the consistency of the cervix. (It starts out being firm like the tip of your nose and softens to the same texture as the inside of your cheek.

Next he or she will check for effacement, or how thin your cervix is (it'll be 100 percent effaced before you push your baby out). The position of your cervix (it moves from the back to the front as labor approaches) will also be assessed, and last but not least, your practitioner will measure the station (or position) of the baby in relation to your pelvis (the lower down your baby is, the closer you are to delivery).

Although it all sounds very scientific, it's actually not at all. Having a cervix dilated to three centimeters or being 50 percent effaced is no indication that labor is imminent. You can be very dilated and not have your baby for weeks. Or your cervix can be high and closed during an exam one morning, only to be open and ready for business — and labor — by noon.

Sean - mommy is ready to meet you - so any time you want to come join us in the world... we're MORE than ready to welcome you.

I'm going to go try out sleeping on the floor. I'll let you know how it is tomorrow!

Belly shot to come tomorrow too!

Swollen & a Little Hormonal

I couldn't fall asleep last night, so I was up until 6 am this morning. I finally crawled into bed, after watching a number of episodes of Sopranos (Season 5), and working on the Cross Stitch for my mother (progress below) (I really don't think Xstitch is for me, by the way) (I'll explain further below). I finally got to sleep around 6am, BUT it was uncomfortable, and I kept tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable, but I couldn't - and was having pains in my back, and after an amazing day yesterday with no groin pain, it's back today. I slept in today until 2pm, when Zeus woke me up by throwing up. I caught him in time, jumped out of bed, and threw him into the hallway. (Easier to clean off the hardwood floors, than my bed that he started getting sick on (Pukey the cat we call him), or even my carpeted bedroom floor. Dang cat.

My sister came over for a few hours this afternoon, to avoid traffic into the city. She had a final exam tonight for one of her courses. She has 2 more classes to take to graduate. Unfortunately the 2 courses left are both offered on the same night next semester, so she'll do next semester, plus summer school and end in the summer. She'll have her marketing degree. I quized her on a bunch of stuff, but I could tell she was nervous. She called me after the exam was over, and said she thinks she did pretty good. (GLAD!) Oh - she saw the baby's room for the first time today, and loves it! YEY! (It's been a while since she's been over).

Tonight, Jamie and I had Halishka's for dinner (Cabbage Rolls in English - Halishka's I believe is Yiddish). There was plenty of leftovers, so Jamie will take lunch again tomorrow to work (he's loving this cooking binge I've been on) and even for me for lunch tomorrow.

Patty, my SP9 hostess convinced me today to sit back and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. Luckily I had a hot chocolate with marshmellows. (I'm not a chocolate eater, but love love to drink hot chocolate or chocolate milk).

I pulled out my super huge mug (that I use a few times in the winter to drink tea, and that's it):



And filled it up with hot chocolate and marshmellows. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Oh, here is my progress on the Cross Stitch (In between the black skirt, there is WHITE crosses, so there is more work done on it, that is hard to tell!):

To show my progress, here is what I've done on the "pattern": I highlight with markers after I've worked on a stitch. Now, I don't know what I did wrong, or how I counted, pregnancy brain maybe.... but there are some extra stitches that I have no idea where they came from! As you can see, the blue line under the skirt, somehow I managed to add some extra skirt! That's okay, it'll just be unique and I'm sure my mother will NOT notice the difference - lol. I hope not anyhow. Anyhow - this is exactly why Cross Stitching is just not for me. The counting - ahhh - the counting! I am DYING to finish this already, so I can frame it and give it to my mother, hopefully by her birthday on the 22nd and then continue on knitting!

Look where I caught Zeus. Sleeping in an extra newborn car seat that I got my hands on.

I want to share with you, Shelley - my very adorable Secret Pal. I'm spoiling her, and here is a picture I requested from her. I asked her to model the hat I sent her! She posted it on her blog, and I had to snatch the photo and share it. She's just a cutie! Shelley and I have been really close, even though she has NO IDEA who I am!

I've started REGRETTING chopping off my hair back in August. I'm totally growing it back. That was a REALLY dumb pregnancy move to make. I SHOULD have listened to my hubby. I wish it would grow faster, so that it could fit into a pony tail without falling out. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! That's what is bothering me today.

I've got a headache, a little one, so I am going to go TRY to lie down. Maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight, it's a good possibility. I'm a little zonked from lack of sleep, so maybe that is why I have the little headache (though I won't take anything for it - for Sean's sake).

Tomorrow on tap - relax, cross stitch, laundry, a little crafting, and who knows what else is in store. I just want this groin muscle to heal, and I need to keep my feet up so that the swelling goes down.

Maybe I'll get some knitting done.... I hope! But the Cross Stitch comes first. Must be done by next Friday. Shoot - I TOTALLY forgot about my step-mother-in-law's purse that I want to make her for her birthday. ARGH! Gotta get my act into gear on that too.

Wow - I can't believe tomorrow I start week 37. Will my dream come true? Will Sean be born in his 37th week of being in my belly???

Crappy Customer Service & Melt in your Mouth Truffles

A congrats to Andrea of Superhero Designs on the birth of her beautiful son Benjamin. I am actually jealous, because she gave birth earlier than her due date, when my son, probably has no intentions of showing up any time early...! However, my friend Jennie emailed me last night to tell me that she had a dream about me the night before, that I gave birth this upcoming Saturday. So unless my son decides to drop tonight or tomorrow, and put me into labor, then I don't think it'll be this Saturday! I bet the chances of Sean being born on Saturday are as good as my chances of winning Loto Quebec's Super 7 this Friday night with the two free tickets I got as my winnings from last week. What is funny is that Andrea's newborn son Benjamin was born at 6 lbs 12 oz, which is EXACTLY what I'm hoping Sean will be. I keep joking because I was born at 6 lbs 11 oz, and Jamie was born at 6 lbs 13 oz, so I thought it would be cute if Sean were smack in the middle, born at 6 lbs 12 oz... Maybe he will be, who knows. I asked the doctor on Monday if he could even give me an approximate weight - and he could not.

In other news, my grandmother loaned me a hoop today. She thinks that's what it's called, for my Cross Stitch project:

While this hoop has proven to make things A LOT easier, I still don't think Cross Stitch is for me. I guess we'll see how I feel when this project is done. It's just a really long process, and a lot of counting. I have worked on this a lot tonight (put the knitting on the back burner, so I can get my mother this very belated Mother's Day gift sometime before 2006 ends and my son is born), progress picture tomorrow.

I got my recently ordered amazon.ca order, with the gift certificate I received, and received the 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual calendar, which I have to say starts the year off and ends the year with the color PURPLE. Oh - just my fave color in the whole entire world. CAN YOU HEAR MY SARCASM? People - I hate purple! LOL. Here's proof.... Thank goodness only the first 9 days of the year are purple swatches... it then goes into shades of blue. I like blue.

In my order also came the two novels WICKED and SON OF A WITCH by Gregory Maguire. I can't wait to eventually get to read them. Thank you Telus. At least you made ONE customer happy.

Jamie came home tonight from work with some gifts from suppliers. Gosh, I love Xmas. He brought home a bottle of wine (Oh, I can't wait to have wine again), and he brought home TRUFFLES. The most delicious, melt in your mouth, they're so good you think you've gone to heaven and back, truffles. And you know what my friends? I'm NOT a chocolate person, I personally don't care for chocolate. I do not know what this pregnancy has done to me. At first Jamie came into my office while I was watching a movie (more about that in a minute) and told me try one. I shoo-ed him away. He said "No, no, really... you have to try these, don't you trust me?" I said "Honey, it's chocolate." He said, "No, no, trust me"... so I trusted him. And grabbed a handful more before he went back into the other room to watch the Habs kick Boston's ass 4-3 tonight. (What's up with ) Tomorrow, thought, the Canadiens will hold their 42nd annual visit to two Montreal-area children's hospitals. I wish I could be there, it must be a pleasure to see smiles on those kids faces. Also - before tonight's game started, there was a moment of silence to honor Gainey's daughter, and you couldn't hear a whisper from the sellout crowd of 21,273 during the 30 seconds or so of silence. To quote: "I'm sure that Bob was watching the game and he was touched by that," said Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau, who has been in daily contact with his friend and GM since he left the team on Saturday. "I think tonight, maybe Bob will go to bed with a smile." If you don't know what happened, here's the story:

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey, who has taken a leave of absence from the team to be with his family following the disappearance of his 25-year-old daughter Laura, who went overboard from a tall ship about 700 kilometres off the coast of Cape Cod on Friday night. The search was officially suspended on Monday evening.

- So sad. My thoughts are with the Gainey family. What a tragedy.

This afternoon (after sleeping in until noon today, I crashed last night after the lack of sleep from the night before), I went to go see Bon Cop, Bad Cop with my grandmother. I LOVED this movie. First off, I don't recommend anyone in the Montreal area who is in their 9th month of pregnancy to attend a movie at the Dollar Cinema. SO UNCOMFORTABLE.

The movie, though, was excellent.

Synopsis: Martin Ward (Colm Feore) and David Bouchard (Patrick Huard) couldn't be more different: one speaks English and is from Toronto, and the other is a francophone from Quebec. One obeys the law, the other makes his own. When they are forced to work together on an investigation whose geographic jurisdiction is as mysterious as the motive of the crime they are out to solve, their differences both threaten the investigation and help pierce its mystery. (The film is 50% in English and 50% in French.)

There are subtitles for those who don't speak french. I definitely recommend you seeing this movie. I told Jamie he HAS to see it.

Then this evening, on my computer, I watched The Devil Wears Prada, which I downloaded from Torrentspy.com. It was the full movie, excellent clarity. It's amazing what you can download off the internet. What a cute movie. Chick flick, for sure.

Today, I finally made my mother-in-law's Minestrone Soup Recipe. I think it came out quite good. Jamie will be having some for lunch tomorrow, so I'll wait for his reaction. He'll be my critic!

Tonight I watched the season finale of Nip/Tuck. What a messed up show. I wonder what will happen next season, now that the characters are moving on to California, instead of Miami, where they have been for the last 4 years/4 seasons of the show.

I want to leave you tonight with this beautiful image. If I ever need a center piece, I'm definitely getting styrofoam balls and making some of my own. What a fun project!

A Long Way To Go

Alright, about my day. Well, first off, I never got to sleep last night. I just couldn't. I maybe closed my eyes for an hour this morning between 5:30 am and 6:30 am. I think it was a combo of sleeping in until 4pm on Sunday, and being uncomfortable that got to me.

I had my 8:15 am OBGYN apt this morning. A re-cap. The nurse Harriet got there late. She told me that she got addicted to something on the internet before coming in and then got stuck at every red light. (However, before she told me this she got chewed out by a patient in the waiting room, and we both made fun of that girl together while she took my blood pressure and weighed me). The weighing thing; I'm starting to get really annoyed with it. I feel like a beached whale, and I'm retaining so much water I'm swollen everywhere. I gained 7 lbs of swelling in the last 2 weeks. Harriet told me to tell the doctor when he saw me that I'm really swollen, and his response? "Welcome to the 9th month of pregnancy". LOL. The doctor did his check up and announced that Sean has not yet dropped, and I have a long way to go still. He definitely won't be a December baby, that's for sure. And the pain in my groin area... I pulled a muscle, or was it a ligament (or is that the same thing?). He said there is nothing to do about it, and it may get worse. Today, at my appointment, I did get my "paperwork" that has to stay on me at all times, and it will be required when checking into the hospital when I'm in labor.

After my apt, I got breakfast at McDonalds, and then took the bus the three blocks home. It was too slushy out, and my feet were killing, so I didn't chance walking.

This afternoon I went to the post office to mail some stuff for Jamie that he sold on ebay, and I also got Lainie's package in the mail. I still have 2 more packages besides my SP9's Xmas package to finalize (one at a time), and get in the mail, but I feel soo much better that I am on top of things! I have a swap package to finish for Cynthia, and another for Raesha, which both will be mailed by latest Friday. (The deadline we set).

I did some groceries before heading home, and that took me a long time, because I was having really bad groin muscle pain, and so it took me forever to walk around the grocery store. I needed a few essentials (cooking oil, all purpose flour, and some ingredients to make my mother-in-law's minestrone soup recipe, which I will be making tomorrow).

Today, Zeus took a break in an empty diaper box:

And then it was Jazz's turn in the same box:

I totally forgot to take my 36 weeks shots on Thursday, I've been feeling really icky these last couple of weeks, so lack of motivation to be photographed looking like a swollen beach whale, I present to you, 36 weeks, 4 days: (A picture taken in my office:)

And due to my hormones, and my pimply face, I LOVE photoshop today, and the clone stamp tool. I've eliminated my pregnancy pimples, and I actually wish I could erase them in real life. Wouldn't that be nice? I'm using stuff to hopefully get rid of them, they are driving me nuts though.... I thought, really, that I was supposed to have the best skin of my life??

My rings are now worn around my neck, I can't get them on my swollen fingers...

My SP9 Pal received a pre-Xmas package in the mail today. Along with some cotton yarn that I sent her, in a bunch of shades of her FAVE color, I sent her this hat... which I whipped up in no time, now that I can crochet in the round (Along with green, she likes baby pink and baby blues, so I made her this hat in baby pastel pink!):


Now she's ready for winter in Edmonton! (I hear it's been nasty cold there!) I saw this style hat in a magazine once, and doodled (sketched) it out, and decided to create it.

Came out pretty good, I think. All you need is yarn, a crochet hook and some chunky buttons.

So, a friend of mine, got this today in the mail as her gift in a mitten swap. Do you notice anything wrong with these mitts??


Even Jamie, who doesn't knit, was able to pick out that the two THUMBS DON'T FRIGGIN' MATCH, nor does the width and size of the actual mittens. I am horrified that someone would actually mail this out to someone else on swap-bot.com!!!

Another funny thing.... Click here. Sorry, had to share!

Tonight at Aqua, the INSTANT I got into the water, my muscle pains and aches disappeared. The INSTANT I stepped out of the water, it returned. Gravity I tell you. It's not on my side. I felt great in the water, and I loved the hour that I was in there. I don't think I could have stayed in any longer though, my fingers were starting to prune! I look forward to my last Prenatal Aqua next Monday night (18th). The Monday after that is Xmas Day and the Monday after that is New Years Day. IF Sean isn't born yet, which I'm hoping he is - then I'll go to Aqua on Monday January 9th, 2007, providing I can still get into my bathing suit. But I have a hunch that this next class on the 18th will be my last. Too bad for the holidays being on Mondays this year.

More tomorrow about how I'm feeling.

I'm now officially ZONKED due to lack of sleep from last night.

Cross Stitching Isn't For Me

Today is Jamie's 31st birthday. And he let me sleep in until 4pm. I wanted to spend the day with him, but, he said I looked so peaceful sleeping, that he left me be. He spend the day doing some hockey card stuff on the internet. He says he now knows why I like to swap so much - because it's soo much fun! He's been trading hockey collectible cards or something over the internet! Funny guy!

We went for dinner at 6pm with his father and step-mother. It was a really nice dinner, and though, not feeling too good, I didn't eat much. We went for Chinese. We brought home leftovers, Jamie will probably take it for lunch tomorrow to work.

He says that he spent his birth just the way he wanted to. He doesn't like to make a big deal out of his birthday. I am glad he got to spend it just the way he liked to.

Tomorrow I have an 8:15 am OBGYN appointment, and then I have a bunch of things on my TO DO list that I hope to get accomplished. I don't know if I will make it to Aqua tomorrow night, I will see how I feel. I've been kind of depressed over the last few days, fucking hormones. I don't know what's gotten into me. I hope to snap out of it soon, and I hope the doctor gives me some news on any dialation or cervix effacement tomorrow, because I'm counting down the days now until Sean's born. I think the nurse is going to kill me tomorrow, I think I've gained a lot of weight in the last 2 weeks since my last appointment, and I don't think it's a good thing for the baby. I will speak to the nurse tomorrow. I'm supposed to be only gaining a pound a week, and in the last two weeks I think I've gained a lot more than that..... but my boobs do feel a lot heavier. (Maybe it's my milk production - who knows). I'll find out more tomorrow at the doctor's office.

I can't believe tomorrow is the 11th, and my official due date is January 11th - just ONE month away. It's time tomorrow to finalize my hospital bag, and finish washing those last few baby items.

Today, I finished watching Season 4 of Sopranos. I'll re-watch Season 5 starting tomorrow ( I'm pretty sure I've seen all of it with Jamie) and also re-watch Season 6, which I did watch this past summer - to catch up for Season 6 part 2 which SHOULD start sometime in the new year. After I'm done catching up on The Sopranos, I'm not too sure what I'll do with my time while knitting. Maybe I'll watch a bunch of movies.

Speaking of knitting... I have a picture update of my progress on the married socks:

I think they're coming along nicely!

I've also started working on the Cross Stitch I'm doing for my mother.
Here is what I've accomplished so far:

To be honest, I am NOT sure that Cross Stitching is for me. I don't think I like it. However, I will finish off this one that I'm working on, I'm not going to let it go to waste, so I'll do it, frame it, give it to my mother, and then continue on in life with other projects (such as knitting and crochet, scrapbooking perhaps, and definitely sewing), but I think I'll be giving up on the Cross Stitching!

To show you what I've accomplished above in retrospect - here is the pattern highlighted of what I've done so far. (I'm highlighting as I go on, what I've done):

I am going to go upstairs and read, hopefully it will tire me out. I have to get up super early tomorrow to go to the doctor, and I'm no where near tired because my dear husband let me sleep in. I don't think I've slept in until 4pm since high school. Wow! I guess I really needed my sleep!

Sean, mommy wants to meet you already, when are you coming?!

Habs Game

Slept in until about 11:15 am today. Then we got ready and went for lunch with Jamie's mom and her wife. Jamie told me I was right about this restaurant that we went to - he remembered it being different than it was. I stuck to just a few of the 'safe' item in the buffet, and made sure not to over-eat. This restaurant really is nasty.

This afternoon Jamie & I went to do a return at Sears and I couldn't find a teflon pot (I need a medium size pot), so I'll look at another Sears (or my grandmother suggested I try looking at Canadian Tire). Then we headed to the Baie, where Jamie had received an early birthday and chanukah gift certificate from his dad and step-mom) and needed a new winter jacket. With his gift certificates, he ended up getting a brand new jacket (The Baie was having 40% off on all winter jackets - what a great deal) a new thick winter sweater in a nice charcoal grey, and a new pair of winter gloves, and still has money left over!) The guy at the cash was an idiot. Basically, the gloves were only supposed to be 15% off, but the girl at the cash next to him, told him they were the 30% off ones, so I kept my mouth shut. Then, Jamie mentioned that he'll pay the difference on his HBC credit card, so this weekend, if you use your HBC credit card, you get an additional 10% off on your entire purchase. (They guy new we had a gift certificate). Anyhow, what ended up happening, is that extra 10% off the entire purchase, brought the amount down significantly, and the gift certificate ended up covering the entire amount (with a bit of money left over on it) and well - we saved a ton of money today and had to pay nothing out of our own pockets! Jamie was super happy about this. And he loves his new jacket, sweater and gloves! Now he's all set for winter! (I can't wait until I give birth so I can fit back into my boots (ankles are too swollen to fit into them!) and into my own winter jacket - and not a borrowed one that my belly fits into!) Oh - I can't wait!

Tonight we went to the hockey game. The Habs played Buffalo. It was a good game (I got 2 rows knitted during 1 intermission on my sock) and we lost 3-2 in a shootout. Buffalo is the number one team in our division and conference, so to get a point for going to a shootout with them, is fantastic!

Here is our boys after the 2nd goal of the night, tying up the game! Spotlight is on them!
Our seats (season tickets) give us a great view of the last 4 flags for the last 4 stanley cups won. I took a picture of it.... just cuz!



This video above is of the National Athem being sung before the game. The crowd goes WILD after it's over - it's a great feeling while you're there!

This video above is of the 2nd goal of the evening. I was filming the crowd screaming "GO HABS GO" and they scored while I was videoing! Fantastic!

I told Jamie on the way home in the card tonight, that since he didnt get me an anniversary card this year (we were in Europe and his excuse was he forgot) I told him he's not getting a birthday card from me this year. He says he doesn't need a birthday card, that he knows I love him. LOL. He's funny. He did say that if I don't get a him a birthday card next year, that he expects his son to get him one. (Or make him one with the help of his mommy! LOL)

I realized that I don't do much these days. Trying to do last minute chores and sleep as much as I can. I've been slowly washing all of the baby stuff (Gotta pre-wash everything! Trying to get every last bit washed) and I need to finish packing my hospital bag (not done yet - and it could be any day now... so I should get on top of that!) The car seat needs to be installed into my car properly. I've gotta take my car into Acura this week as I don't think my car starter ever worked from the beginning. I need someone to look at it. This week I've got my Monday morning 8:15 am OBGYN apt, and Jamie will drop me off, and hopefully it won't be too cold to walk home. Tuesday I'm going to a movie at 3pm with my grandmother. Wednesday I think I may have plans at night with 2 friends, but I will play it by ear, and see how I feel. Thursday, I'm supposed to be spending the day in the west island at my parents house, and then watching the game at night with my siblings, Jamie and Paul (who is dog sitting at my parents house, since my parents are in Mexico til next Saturday), but once again, we'll see how I feel.

Jamie doesn't want me driving any more. Unless it's just around the corner. He is afraid, that since I need both my legs to drive stick, that what if I get a contraction while driving and cause an accident or something. He's probably right, I shouldn't be going too far by car on my own.

Knitting Lazy Day

Recently, I made a big decision that I never thought would actually happen - This year, I’m not sending out Holiday Cards. No Christmas. No Chanukah. No Happy Holidays. I’ve always been big into written, paper/pen communication. I’m a big letter writer, card sender, and thank-you note giver. That’s why it surprised me when it peacefully occurred to me a few weeks ago that I wouldn’t be sending a batch of cards out this year. It just feels right. And I’m learning to listen to my intuition. I think I don’t want to send them out because I wonder if anyone will miss them. I’m curious as to whether I too, will miss the process. So I’m just going to sit this one out. It feels right. But it feels kind of weird, too. I never get any back, and well, why send out when no one ever says anything about getting them, etc. Maybe I'll send out next year with pictures of Sean... but for now, this year, I'm sitting this one out.

Today, I slept in until 12:30pm again. I watched Sopranos Season 4 (I'm half way through season 4 now) and I worked on catching my sock up to Jamie's. I'm back to being caught up now. I caught up, and then knitted 10 rows on Jamie's sock more, so now I've got to knit 10 more in mine to catch up! Hee hee... The joys of knitting 2 pairs of socks at once. This way no one complains!

After the 2x2 ribbing I did, I'm doing now a two row pattern repeat. Row 1: knit. Row 2: [k3, p1] repeat to end.

The picture above was scanned in my scanner. I didn't want to take out my camera and then have to deal with my retarded card reader, so I scanned it. Now it looks flat! Anyhow! Next progress report, I'll photograph it and not be lazy!

Tonight we had my in-law's over for dinner and poker. Some friends came for poker. The usual suspects.

What else is going on today? Last night I finished Not Buying It. To be honest, I was very disappointed with that book. It had some good ideas, but not what I was expecting out of it. I picked my next book to read, I'm going to start reading Confessions of a Super Mom by Melanie Lynn Hauser.

Tomorrow, I have lunch with my husband's mother and her wife.

Wicked The Musical & Wicked Mail

Every body is talking about WICKED. It is not playing in Montreal just yet, maybe it'll come, but I've decided that with the 25$ gift certificate to amazon.ca - that I'm going to get this book. I'm also curious to the sequel - Son of a Witch. I hope the musical will come to Montreal. That would be great! I've downloaded the musical soundtrack, but I'm not sure what the theme song is, and I'm not sure what it's all about - so I'll see if I enjoy it!

I got some pretty WICKED mail today! (I think the word of the day is WICKED!)

Here are my awesome goodies:

I got Last Minute Knitted Gifts, which I wanted to order, but Amazon.ca says it'll be a few weeks before they can even ship it out. The book Mother, Lainie, who sent it to me, contributed to it. (I'm not sure how yet, I'm waiting on the answer to that!) I got some blue cotton yarn (to make something for Sean!) and some gum, and some scrapbooking stuff. The pink t-shirt looking thing is some gum. (I love gum!)

I also got:

Baby Alpaca Brush, which is 80% baby alpaca & 20% acrylic. It is sooooo soft. I need to find something to make Sean. Maybe a nice cozy sweater! I hope he's not allergic to alpaca!

It took me a while to realize that the cloth had my initial "R" on it! But it's wicked cool! You can find then entire alphabet and number patterns here. Lainie said I can use it for my face or the dishes, whatever I choose!

THANK YOU LAINIE!!!!

I need to finish working on her Xmas package and mail it. (Pictures will go up once she receives it!) Lainie wanted to mail my out early - even though we set a December 15th deadline!

I cast on and started knitting my married sock. Once I get back to the amount of rows that are already knitted in Jamie's sock, then I'll continue on knitting both socks at the same time. For now, I'm just going to knit mine until I'm back on track. I feel like it looks like there are now too many stitches, and that it'll be too loose when I wear the sock? Ugggh. I feel like I'm hating the sock now, but I'm going to give it a few more rows, and then try it on, and see if I'm just imagining things or not. It may just be my hormones! LOL!

Piddleloop has been crafting with the kids. I would love to celebrate Xmas and make some of these. (Tree ornaments with YARN inside them!) Where do you even find "empty and clear" ornaments to fill yourself? LOL!

Today I got this email from Pregnancy Weekly:

Week 36: Walk the Walk of a Penguin -- or a Pregnant Woman

Welcome to your last month of pregnancy! By now, you're definitely looking the part of a nearly full-term pregnant women (wide load, coming through), but are you walking the part? Do you have that telltale stride, the penguin waddle that many third-trimester moms-to-be seem to affect? The pregnant waddle is not in your imagination, it's in your connective tissue. Those persistent pregnancy hormones (when will they leave you alone?) cause the connective tissue in your body to soften and loosen. And that's particularly important now that you're nearing D-day (delivery day). Your baby — who's grown quite large by this point — needs to squeeze through your pelvic bones, so it's a good thing that they're more flexible now.

The downside to all this joint flexibility (besides the resemblance you now bear to your feathered friends up north) is discomfort in your pelvis and hip. Add the pressure from your baby's head (burrowing deeper and deeper into your pelvis now) and your heavier uterus weighing you down, and it's no wonder it's a pain to walk around these days. To relieve the pain, relax with your hips elevated, do some pelvic exercises, take warm baths, apply warm compresses, get a massage, or try some complementary and alternative therapies. A belly sling may be helpful, too.

There is a happy upshot to all this pelvic discomfort, believe it or not. As your baby drops into your pelvic cavity (and keep in mind that not all babies drop before labor begins), the upward pressure of the uterus on your diaphragm is relieved. Once this "lightening" (as it's known in the pregnancy business) strikes, you'll be able to take bigger and deeper breaths. Your stomach also won't be so squished anymore, making eating a full meal more comfortable.

Pelvic discomfort. Yeah. I'm feeling that 100%. You want to know what it feels like? It feel like my pelvic cavity is being hit by a bowling ball. It's such discomfort. I know I say this every day now... but it's really really bad now. I'm going to talk to my doctor on Monday. See if there is anything I can do. And yeah - I waddle. I walk like the penguins!

I saw this on msn.ca today:

The Top 10 Baby Boys Names of 2006
1. Aiden (Rank in 2005: 1)
2. Jacob (Rank in 2005: 2)
3. Ethan (Rank in 2005:3)
4. Ryan (Rank in 2005: 6)
5. Matthew (Rank in 2005: 5)
6. Jack (Rank in 2005: 8)
7. Noah (Rank in 2005: 16)
8. Nicholas (Rank in 2005: 4)
9. Joshua (Rank in 2005: 9)
10. Logan (Rank in 2005: 19)

In 2006, Sean was ranked 43rd. In 2005, Sean was ranked 48th. In 2004, Sean was ranked 40th. In 2003, Sean was ranked 35th. In 2002, Sean was ranked 46th. In 2001, Sean was ranked 42nd. In 2000, Sean was ranked 40th.

So, I feel good that Sean's name is not one of the top ten common names. I would never name my child a name that was too popular in recent years, because it sucks when you get to school and 10 other kids have your same name. In recent years, the name Zachary was on the top 10. I will not be able to use this name for my second boy, (after I have my daughter of course!) because now there are 2 Zachary's in the family. My 3rd (but close knit) cousins Cliff & Lolita have a boy named Zachary, and my first cousin Josh, who knocked up his ex just days before they broke up and started a custody battle on their 2 year old girl Jordyn, (My cousin Josh won full custody by the way), is having a baby boy, due January 3rd (just a week before me if he's on his due date), and they are naming him; Zachary Kenneth Charles {Insert Whatever Last Name He'll Take Here}.

In 2006, Zachary was ranked 23rd. In 2005, Zachary was ranked 17th. In 2004, Zachary was ranked 11th. In 2003, Zachary was ranked 9th. In 2002, Zachary was ranked 14th. In 2001, Zachary was ranked 14th. In 2000, Zachary was ranked 7th.

I have less than 10 pages left in NOT BUYING IT. I was hoping to finish it last night, but wasn't able to. My eyes drew heavy and I couldn't finish the last few pages. Hopefully tonight I'll be able to read them! And tomorrow, I'll pick out a new book to start.

Frogging Socks & Free Online Calendar

Last night, I managed to read September, October and November in NOT BUYING IT: MY YEAR WITHOUT SHOPPING by Judith Levine. I do have to admit that a lot of it is boring and very political, but I'm still kinda enjoying it at the same time. It's really hard to explain. And I've got just about 20-25 pages left in the book, and at this point, I'm going to finish reading it - but I'm not really 100% enjoying it. (I'd say maybe only 65% enjoying it - which means I don't half hate it, so I'll continue reading for now). So close to the end, I just want to finish it already, and move on.

Got up today at around 12:30pm, and shortly afterwards, my grandmother called to see if I wanted to go out for lunch. So we went to Harvey's for a hamburger, and then we went to do a return at Walmart. While at Walmart I picked up laundry detergent (I'm trying Tide Liquid for the first time - it's sooo much cheaper than Tide powder for the same amount of loads of laundry), and toilet paper. We're down to our last roll of toilet paper, so it was that time to buy some!

After Walmart we ended up going to Winners, I bought nothing, even though there was PLENTY of super cute baby items, but my grandmother found boots. She was actually looking for an end table for her dinning room (to put food on and stuff when guests come over to play cards, or whatever, and there is no room on the table) but didn't find what she was looking for. While in that mall we saw that Bon Cop, Bad Cop is playing at the Dollar Cinema, so I'm going to go with her on Friday to see the movie. We have a date at 3pm.

This evening I went to the Second Cup for the Montreal Knits NDG meetup. My friend Jennie showed up tonight, and I was finally able to give her the birthday gift that I have had for her 26th birthday which was November 10th. In it, was a hat that I knitted for her (I've previously knitted this hat for someone else before, for the first Booty Swap that I did, so Marga received a similar hat!) So now that she's received it - I can finally post it!

She tried it on, and the color looks great on her. I'm glad she likes her gifts. Jennie, has also mentioned that Sean has definitely dropped/lowered (she's training to be a nurse!) I am sooo relieved that someone has mentioned this - because I can't really tell myself. I really hope that this is a good sign that he'll be here soon, because as you've been reading - We're SOOOO ready!! Hee hee!

Speaking of gifts, I've received my Chanukah present from my sister. She got me the Stitch 'N Bitch 2007 calendar as well as the 2007 Knitting Calendar. I love them both, but have not yet really sat down and looked through them properly. Very excited to look through them. (The clock in the middle was given out as a loot bag at a dinner party that Jamie went to tonight for work - very cheesy clock - on a DVD-R - I guess for a computer supply company, it suits them! I don't have a clock for my office, so it was perfect for me. Won't complain, it was free!!!)

In the 2007 SNB Calendar, I got a coupon code for a free online calendar (mailed to me daily) for one of their other calendars. There are sooo much to choose from - I have no idea which one to choose? Has anyone had any of these before? I don't need the Stitch N Bitch one (which is on their list below!) as I have it in real life - but wouldn't mind getting another one by e-mail! Just can't decide which one!

Brainteasers 2007
Cats 2007
Dogs 2007
Golf 2007
Cars 2007
Country Wisdom 2007
Book 2007
Duct Tape 2007
Wait, Wait....2007
Stupidest 2007
Mensa 2007
Sudoku 2007
Ripley's, Believe It...2007
Uncle John's 2007
Women 2007
Trivia 2007
Bible 2007
Jokes 2007
Tunes 2007
Wine 2007
Zen 2007
14,000 Things 2007
Beer 2007
Cocktails 2007 Sports 2007
Age Doesn't Matter...2007
Words 2007
Dads 2007
Moms 2007
Fact or Crap 2007
Bad Cat 2007
1,000 Places 2007
Stitch 2007
Why Do Men...2007
Bad Dog 2007

What to choose? What to choose!?

Tonight at knitting I frogged my sock, and re-cast on the new amount of stitches. For some weird reason it looks like TOO many now, but I guess I won't be able to tell until I've knit up a bunch of rows, and try it on. Maybe I'm just freaked out because I frogged almost 30 rows of knitting and have to re-start, that I don't want to re-start again. That would suck!

Peggy helped me start my Cross Stitch, which is on my list of things to accomplish before Sean's born. (Still a lot of stuff on that list, but we'll see how much I can actually get done. Anyhow, we'll see how fast I can get it done, I think I understand how to do it now. It's a gift for my mother, and it was supposed to be for Mother's Day 2006.... and now we'll see if I can get it to her by Chanukah 2006. Maybe! Just maybe! Once it's done, I'll post a picture of my final result, it's really cute though, I think. It will look like this once done: (Found this on the internet)

Jamie also got this bottle of Sparkling Ice Cider, which I can't wait to try after giving birth! It was another gift that he got tonight upon leaving the dinner party. Gotta love free stuff. What's funny - is that it came with the price tag STILL on it! Can you believe that?? How Silly! Mmmm, ice cider!

Just Stuff... going on around here....

This morning I took care of a bunch of mailing. I have stuff that needs to go out now, but at least it's taken care of. The three brown envelopes, and one purple one at the bottom are the envelopes I'm mailing for my stitch marker swap. (My stitch markers were also made this morning!) My belly is really starting to get in the way! I can't lean into the table anymore, or my desk. First off, I get kicked by my son in the stomach, and second, I spill food on myself because I can't get over my plate when I'm eating. The extra weight is only causing uncomfortness and back pain, and I'm ready! I will pray everyday for my beautiful and healthy son to be born already. I had a dream last night about delivering the placenta after giving birth, but all I recall from that dream is a nurse massaging my stomach in order for me to deliver the placenta. Is that usually how it works with a vaginal birth?? I recall possibly reading about that - so maybe that's why I had a dream about it? So far, lately, the dreams I've had were that 1- I gave birth in my 37th week (Thursday starts week 36!) 2 - I was a pro at breastfeeding and had no problems and 3- getting my stomach massaged to deliver the placenta. So if all three come true, then I'll be having a vaginal birth in just a week or so (depends on what day in my 37th week I give birth) and I'll be a pro at breastfeeding. Wouldn't that be fantastic now??


Today I've been knitting. Jamie's sock is coming along great. I did 20 rows of ribbing k2, p2, and then so far 10 rows of this patterns: row 1; knit. row 2; [k3, p1] to end. I have done the same in my sock, then when I decided that it was enough to try on, and I tried it on, it don't fit. I can't get it over my swollen ankles. Now, I'm not sure if my feet will ever go back to it's original size after pregnancy, but to be honest, even if they do, the sock is still way too small for my foot. So... I'm going to rip it out tomorrow, and re-start (not in the mood to re-start it tonight). But I'm loving the colors and all that jazz.

I'm already half way through Season 3 of Sopranos. Really - it's addictive. (I did the same thing last winter break with Six Feet Under - I think I finished all 6 seasons in under 2 weeks or something like that!)

Wow, I can't believe that my hubby is turning 31 on Sunday, I'll be 26 on my next birthday, and I'm having a baby boy in a matter of days now. 37 days left until my ACTUAL due date. Wow. THIRTY SEVEN. I remember when it was like 137 days left.... and I thought the end of the year would never come, and everything would pass by slowly. To be honest, it's gone by SOooooooooooooo fast..... time speeds by. Days come and days go... and I'm going to be a mother.

I am trying to recall if Jamie got me a birthday card this past year for my birthday. We did NOT exchange 1 year anniversary cards. (Well, I bought him THREE and he forgot to even get me one, since we were in Europe during our anniversary, and he didn't shop beforehand), so I never gave him a single one.... I'll save them for next year or whenever... I never filled them out... and cards don't expire or get old! LOL. But if he didn't get me a card this year, then I'm not getting him one! I already gave him his present (he LOVES his Irish Hiking Scarf) and well, yeah!

Ok, I'm just rambling now.

I've taken off my rings. My hands are soooo swollen. My engagment ring and my wedding band are now on a chain around my neck. I was best taking it off now, when I could still kind of slide it off (with a struggle). Also, I don't know what I'll have to remove during labor at the hospital, so it's best to remember to keep them safe around my neck now, then to have to take them off and have no where to put them later on. At least on a chain - if I have to take them off my neck too - then it's safer and kept together, and I can put it somewhere safe.

I really hope my feet and hands go back to normal after giving birth. I don't need to buy a new shoe wardrobe because some feet DONT go back after. I have a nice shoe collection, I don't need to buy more! I don't WANT to buy more!

That's it for today. I'm going to go read a bit, and then head to bed. I've just got September - December to read in NOT BUYING IT, and then I can start on a new book! Haven't decided which book I'll line up next. I have a bunch I'm dying to read though!

I really hope I do NOT wake up with really bad indigestion or heart burn or whatever it was, in the middle of the night tonight. Last night, it was soooooooo bad, I wanted to die! I had to run to the kitchen, find the Tums and chew 2 so fast you wouldn't believe it. I felt so gross. So happy that the tums worked right away. Thank goodness I had tums in the house. (Hubby has Rolaids somewhere as he gets heartburn a lot, but I had no idea where he put them, and I wasn't going to start waking him and bothering him at 4 am!) Oh, it was the worst pain I've ever felt and the gas! Oh my.... I thought I was going to explode.

The Married Socks

As promised, here is a photograph of my very small front yard, with the very little bit of snow that fell over the weekend. It has not snowed since.

Today, in the mail, I finally received the stitch markers that Patty, my SP9 Hostess has mailed to me. She is super sweet and she sent them to me for no reason at all!

So last night I cast on two pairs of socks. I am making (AT THE SAME TIME) a pair for myself, and a pair for my husband. I have no name for the pattern, because I'm inventing them as I go with the Sock-u-lator, but they are going to be called the Married Socks. I'm married to my husband, and they're for us, so they're my married socks. I think that's a good title for them.

Here are the first 15 rows of each sock... my progress from last night and noon today until I left to pre-natal aqua. (The socks for me are obviously the ones with the pink in them!) I am literally knitting the exact same amount at the same time for each sock. Otherwise it's not fair, right?

Pre-natal aqua felt soooo great tonight. My membership ran out last Tuesday, so now it's just $10 per class. That's fine with me, because that just means that December will cost me 30$ (only 3 Mondays in December with classes - 4th Monday is Xmas). I honestly "forgot" that I was 35 weeks pregnant, carrying a watermelon at my waist while I was in the water tonight (besides all the baby talk in the class - lol)... I really do feel weightless and it feels sooooo fucking amazing on my joints, muscles and every other inch of my body.

When I got home from Pre-natal aqua, I came home to the two kitties on the bed fighting. I made them stop and pose for this picture, lol.

Notice my basinette in the background? It's blue and yellow to match my blue room (which I painted upon moving in!) We have a "Fly" net over the basinette right now, so the cats do not jump in. I'm SHOCKED that I have NOT yet caught the cats in the basket under the basinette. The basinette right now is on Jamie's side of the bed, but will move to mine once Sean and I return home from the hospital. Right now, with no baby, it's in the way on my side of the bed.

This is on my wish list, and it's pretty much the only thing I want right now, lol... I have NEVER seen these in a Montreal knitting store, but maybe they have them? I don't know. They're 21$ on ebay, and you can get a whole assortment of kinds. I like the ribbon ones, to support breast cancer, but they have ones with cats, dogs, you name it! Sheep ones would be cool too, but I don't think they have ones. I don't even care if I find them in wood or plastic or whatever! I just would like to find for about a size 8 (I wear a size 8 women's socks). Hmmm, maybe next year I'll invest in a pair, right now it's not in the budget/need list.

Other than that, I'm almost done Season 2 of Sopranos. (I'm addicted, what can I say?)

I feel weird about the fact that I'm in my 35th week of my pregnancy, less than 38 days left until my due date, andI have NOT had any contractions yet. I'm seeing my OBGYN on Monday at 8:15 am (lovely time, eh?) and I am going to ask about that. I'm also going to see if I've started dialating or any of that jazz (effacement?) yet. Usually that stuff starts a few weeks before a first pregnancy, so I'm going to see if I've started yet. I *think* I've felt what is known as Braxton-Hicks, where the uterus gets tight and then releases, but sometimes I'm not sure if it's just Sean moving and pressing against my belly to make it feel tight. But in regards to contractions, I haven't experienced any yet. I am at the point where I am very curious what this horrendous PAIN everyone talks about actually feels like. I'm curious how my physical and mental self will respond to this said pain. Will I even feel pain? Will I have an easy delivery? Will my son pop right out like other family members of his have. (My step-mother-in-law, both her children slid right out of her!) Will I want the epidural? Will I take it if offered? Will I be able to focus on other ways to deal with this said pain? Lots of things will happen in the next 38 days or so, and I'm trying to mentally prepare myself, as well, I'm trying to get all the loose ends tied on my to-do-before baby list. (And if some of those things don't get done, well, then, I'm on maternity leave for a year, so I suppose they can get done during that year....! There's always tomorrow!)

Tonight I was a really good wife, and I helped my hubby scan a lot of hockey cards that he wants to sell on ebay. Today, is still a .10 cent listing day on ebay.ca, so he's busy posting like crazy, and I'm done my portion, I just scanned 50+ hockey cards. Boys and their toys! LOL.

Now, I'm going to go crawl into bed, and watch some Sopranos. I have a hunch I'll fall asleep at a decent hour, I'm zonked from aqua! I was also up late last night watching Sopranos and then reading more of Not Buying It. I'm already at June, from her January - December 2004 year of Not Buying It!

It Snowed!

It snowed today, and I didn't take any pics yet. (Tomorrow!) I don't think this snow is going anywhere soon, so I'll get a chance to photograph it tomorrow!

I was playing around with my camera and colors today, and this is one of my fave shots that I took. I love the color arrangments! Color is sooo much fun to play with!

Tonight we went to my parents house for dinner, and my sister took some photographs of me.

Here are my 35 weeks 3 days shots:

I still think my belly is tiny for 35 weeks! I really hope Sean's not a big baby, so this could be a good thing!

Tonight, I met Piper. She's the beauty in the front, and Bosco, is the beauty in the back. Piper is so tiny compared to Bosco! Ah, they're sooo good together. Piper is a little scared of men, which is funny, because she lived with two men before coming to us.

My parents had a cake for Jamie for his birthday tonight, so more blowing out the candles for him! Cake was sooo delicious (Oreo cake!)

I don't really like this picture of myself. I had just thrown my hair up and uch! Oh well. I feel uch anyhow! Time to have the baby already! LOL.

My slice of Oreo cake just before I dug in. It was delicious let me tell you! Hee hee!

I wound 2 cakes tonight of sock yarn. One ball of Regia color 5045 (blues) for Jamie's socks and one ball of Trekking XXL Color 161 for myself. (The Trekking was a gift from Lil Rose Thorn for the booty swap!) Jamie requested a pair of socks, and I'd like a pair for myself, so I figured I'll knit them both at the same time (knitting A.D.D.) and this way neither of us can complain that the other socks will be done first! Hee hee - I'm smart - aren't I - for a pregger?

Alright, I'm going to go cast on and watch Desperate Housewives which I taped from this evening. And then more Sopranos it is! (I watched 3 episodes of Season 2 last night, in a row, and then read - I couldn't fall asleep! I was in bed, with the lights out watching TV, not tired, and then I used a flash light (I felt like I was at camp!) to read, to not disturb Jamie!)

Apple Cakes and Cups of Yarn

The Cup-of-Yarn Scarf Knitting Kit is a really cute idea, however, it's:

"Delightful kit includes 270 yards of acrylic yarn, bamboo knitting needles and instruction booklet. Completed scarf is machine-washable and shrink-proof. Imported."

270 yards of ACRYLIC! Blech. Too bad it wasn't something a little more natural! LOL

Today, I slept in until 2pm. Yeah - I blame my hubby for not waking me up sooner. Upon getting up and eating a bowl of Lucky Charms (my current cereal of choice), I went to the grocery store to pick up apples for the cake I baked for dinner tonight, and picked up a few things at the pharmacy, and also hit the bank.

Came home, baked apple cakes. (One to bring to dinner and one for us at home). My mother requested an apple cake for our dinner tomorrow night at my parents house, so I'll have to go out tomorrow morning and buy a few more apples (the 2nd cake I made today is NOT big enough for the 10 people that we'll be tomorrow night).

Tonight we went to dinner off the island (in Longueuil), to visit Jamie's friend Michel & his long time (common law wife at this point) Louise. We were joined by Louise's friend Chantale and her boyfriend Jean-Marc as well as their 7 month old boy Olivier. What a cutie! Dinner was nice, we had a beef & onion bouillion fondu, and I tried deer for the first time. It was delicious! (I'm still not crazy about trying horse - but I gave in and tried deer!) I've been VERY daring during this pregnancy! I've tried mushrooms (still think they are fungus though), and duck while in Europe. And now, to add to that list of daring tries, Deer! It's amazing the things I didn't know I'd like or not like (mushrooms!) Has anyone else ever been daring to try things while pregnant?

The hardest part of getting together with friends, is watching them all enjoy glasses of wine, when I can't. It's the one thing I can't wait to have again - a nice glass of red. Oh - I dream. I can taste it... only a little over a month away, and I can enjoy 1 glass of red. (I plan on breast feeding, so I just want ONE!)

This afternoon I took some 35 week photos. I "think" my belly has lowered a bit.. but I can't tell myself. And my hubby has no clue either (men!)

Here is a picture of Jamie tonight with the apple cake I baked. We put in a candle for his birthday (which is next Sunday):

I got no knitting done today. I'm going to go crawl up in bed and read. I'm really into the book Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping (very interesting). I'm just not in a knitting mood right now. I'm not into any of the projects I have going. I hope it's just a phase. Maybe I need to start something new. The purse I'm knitting for my MIL, it's not exactly what I was hoping for, with the yarn that I got. I'm going to work on it a little further and see, but right now, I'm just not sure. I have still a while, her birthday isn't until the 23rd, and they're in Toronto for Xmas this year, so we'll probably celebrate everything when they return after the 27th. Still plenty of time (unless Sean is born early!) - which now I'm hoping for, because I'm sooo ready! It's "that" point of the pregnancy. Thursday marks my 36th week - the start of my 9th month, and you know what? I'm done! Ready! Fully ready! Not scared anymore. Not nervous anymore either! I'm just spent!

Houston We Have a Completed Baby's Room!

Slept in a little bit today, but got up still early enough. I watched a little bit of Sopranos in bed, and worked on my crochet kippahs (which apparently, my husband doesn't like the colors of! - but that's a whole other story). Just a little while later, the doorbell rang, with my delivery of Sean's crib!

Houston, the baby's room is complete!

Here is a view of the bookshelf I set up for Sean, with all his book! He's got quite the library already!

It's amazing how much the room feels complete now with the crib. Everything else has been in place for a few weeks now, and well, all it took was the crib for it to actually look like a baby's room. Yes, there are other things in the room that make it a "baby's room" - but it really took the crib! The basinette that we got is in place in our bedroom already, (with a "fly" net over it so the cats don't jump into it).

This afternoon I finished watching Season 1 of the Sopranos. Onto Season 2 now!

I'm starting to be in a lot of pain. My back is killing me. My pelvic area is sore from Sean's head moving around and pressing down. I don't think I look like he's lowered himself, but I can't really tell since I see myself every day. I guess I would need someone who doesn't see me every day to tell me. Yesterday I was feeling icky and gross, so I didn't take my 35 week photos yet, but I will either tonight or tomorrow. I can tell you though, that he's stretched my belly some more, because I've grown another inch at the waist (I'm measuring myself weekly, to track my belly growth from navel to navel). I'm really uncomfortable, and it's "that time"... "that time" to me means, that I'm ready for Sean to be born, and move on with life as a mother! I'm ready to sleep on my stomach again, and fit back into MY clothes! Sean - your mother is ready to meet you! Also - I'm not enjoying the in and out of bed 4-5 times per night. They weren't kidding when they said it was a few times per night... I think the amount of times I pee - is a little excessive - and I could do without!

My in-law's came over for dinner tonight, before playing poker, (our regular Friday night poker game) and brought over a cd burned with pictures from my nephew's 4th birthday party, when we were in Beauce, Quebec. I hadn't seen any of his photographs yet from that weekend that my FIL took, and loved this one. (Auntie Robyn is an instigator! She started the purple cake on Merlyn's nose, and then he put some on me, and then put more on himself! LOL)

Oh- GOOD NEWS! I called my doctor's office this morning upon getting up and asked about my results from the Glucose test. I DO NOT have Gestational Diabetes, though, my sugar levels are still a little high. I should stilll watch my sugar intake, but I shouldn't worry. With only 5 weeks left until my due date, I shouldn't worry about getting GD now. Phew! What a relief! (Knock on wood - this has been the easiest pregnancy ever - no morning sickness ever - no complications medical wise.... maybe this means I'll have a quick and easy delivery and a baby that sleeps and doesn't cry too much? So, a girl can dream - right??!)

Alright, going to crawl into bed, played one game of poker tonight, (lost) (Jamie won game two!) but my back is now killing me due to sitting too long at the dinning room table, and I must go try and get comfy.