september twenty-one

This morning we had brunch at my cousin Phil & his wife Lisa's house. Their son Oliver is 4 months older than Sean. Also with us there were Jenn & her husband and their son Jakob, who is exactly 20 weeks (5 months) younger than Sean. Jakob is 13 months to the day older than Mack. The boys played really well together.

From left to right Jakob, Sean, & Oli.

This evening I went to my parents house for dinner (in between there was some kid nap time, and some adult tv watching time) and Sean didn't want to sit still for a photo tonight, but I wanted to show you Sean & Mack's matching shirts today. (It reads: My Mum Is The Most Beautiful Woman In The World). Hee hee! Yep, they're going to kill me one day in the future for dressing them alike in ridiculously cute to me but embarrassing to them shirts. I'll deal with it when the time comes.

There's been knitting last night/today/tonight, but it's top secret so I can't show you. I'm almost done the socks for the October Sock Club and they are looking mighty fine. I just love the colorway, and I think you will too! So go on over - and pick up a kit! You can order them here. They are ONLY on sale until a week from Tuesday, so act now!

This week seems to be full already. There is something everyday, and Sean starts daycare on Tuesday, so I have to be "around" in case they need me to come early to get him in case he's homesick, but I am hoping to keep him there all week for nap time so that he gets used to their format of nap time. I'm definitely expecting there to be tears when he starts on Tuesday. I'm emotionally prepared for that. My schedule this week is so packed that it'll be Friday before I know it. Next weekend already is booking up - and Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday of next week is Rosh Hashanah, so we're busy with family dinners and lunches those three days. But for now, tomorrow, we're going apple picking with Sean's class at the Y (I'm very excited) and I've got Mack's playgroup as well!

What do you think of the new look? I'm still playing around with it - there are still things to add back to my sidebar - but I was sick of the old look.... There is also something VERY special about the yarn in my banner - but I'll talk about that later on this week.... so stay tuned.

september twenty :: NKOTB

I'm pooped. It was a super long day today. I was up at 4 am to feed Mack. He's been getting up at 4 am lately. Not fun. It's been about half a week of 4 am wake-ups. But he'll go to bed around 9-9:30pm and sleep til 4. If you wake him up around midnight to feed, he still wakes up at 4 am. So I might as well let him sleep. Not point in waking him up to prolong the sleep if it's not prolonging it. You know?

Then at 8 am we left the house and went to swimming lessons. Mack's swimming lesson was from 8:30 am until 9 am and then Sean's lesson was from 9 am until 9:30 am. Mack was a really good boy during class, didn't cry once, not even when he was emerged fully under water. It was a good start! Sean was a pro at kicking during class, and blew bubbles for the first time! It was a great two classes. As expected, class was really loud as there were about 5 classes going on at the same time (unfortunately) and even with the teacher screaming out what we were doing, it was at times hard to hear her. I was warned about the weekend class, but I didn't have a choice this time around, as I wanted to get Sean and Mack in back to back lessons so that Jamie could help me out with our child that was not in the water with me at the time.

After swimming lessons it was nap time for everyone. We all just pretty much came home, ate breakfast and crashed. It was much needed.

This afternoon was also a lazy day around our home. Much needed though. Because this evening I went with my sister & her boyfriend's sister Melanie to the New Kids on the Block concert! Natasha Bedingfield opened, and she was awesome. I took video footage which will take a while to upload, so come check back in a day or so for those. My dad recently got me the Natasha Bedingfield album, so I actually knew who she was! I really love her music/style. Here are some photos from this evening:

Amy & I at the concert.

Full house.

Jordan Knight has ALWAYS been my fave NKOTB (runner up is Joey McIntyre!)

My fave part of the evening was their HABS Jerseys!
These boys from Boston know how to dress - let me tell you!

Yes, there was knitting at the concert before it started, and during intermission. It was too dark during the concert to actually knit - but that's okay, I was concentrated on the boys! It was a great night out, took forever to get out of the parking lot to leave afterwards, and I'm glad I went. I went to their last concert in Montreal which was August 4, 1990. It was my first concert ever. Tonight, I felt like I was 9 years old again.

I gave in and bought the Swedish Fish Mitten pattern. I already picked out the colors I plan on making it - and I just need to wind cakes and get organized. They are just delicious mittens. However, I think before I cast on, I must finish my projects with a deadline.... but I'm drooling over those mittens. They are just awesome.

september nineteen :: 90 weeks old

Sean is 90 weeks old today.

Today he helped me do some dusting (since apparently my cleaning lady doesn't do it). There were some cobwebs that were bothering me, and I had to do the ceilings.

He's such a good helper! His fave thing is to clean. Maybe he gets that from me. I hate to actually clean, but I hate things out of order, and disorganized. (Though, if you saw my office right now, you'd laugh!)

This morning I hadn't heard from the daycare, and I called to find out about Sean's spot at 11 am - when she told me to call her by. By 11:25 am I was sitting in her office (Jamie ran home from work to watch the kids while I went) and by noon all the paperwork was filled out and Sean starts daycare on Tuesday. I am so super happy that he has a friend in the class (a girl 2 days younger than him) and that we know a teacher there (though she's with the 4 year olds). I also learned that they do not allow bottles for milk at naptime - sippy cups only - and I'm SUPER happy that he will hopefully get off the bottle at home, and get his milk only in a sippy cup. They told me not to worry, that they'll get him trained off the bottle. That he'll see his friends in class drinking it out of a sippy cup and want to do like they do. This is a good thing!

What I'm knitting with deadlines:
1. Test knitting the Moss Block Cardigan for Jenn (September 30th)
2. October's Sock Club Pattern for my shop

And what I need to be knitting because there is a deadline:
3. Skull Hat for Merlyn for his 6th Birthday (November 8th I believe is the party)
5. Katja for Bonnie's baby shower. (Oct 11th)
6. 1 Pattern from the 5 that will be in the November's Ultimate Sock Club Kit (I'm having a really fun time designing patterns these days! I just love it!) (In the process of having Ravelry set me up as a designer to show my patterns!)

Oh my...! Deadlines! I think I work very well with deadlines....!

And you know what I badly want to knit? Swedish Fish mittens. The PDF is now available, and I'm somehow hoping that the PDF will end up in my email inbox. A girl can dream, right? I want it bad!

Laila in NDG - can you email me at graphicdesignchick at hotmail dot com so I can email you the information you requested? Thanks!

I can't believe it's Friday already. I find that every week flies by. That when it's Monday, all of a sudden it's Friday already. And then the weekend flies by and it's Monday again. But then Monday turns into Friday and it's that all over again...! Where does time go? Seriously?

Off to go dream about Swedish Fish...! We have to get up super early tomorrow, the boys start swimming lessons!

september eighteen :: 3rd Wedding Anniversary

Today is my 3rd Wedding Anniversary. Happy Anniversary Jamie - I love you with all my heart.

This morning started off nicely with Sean doing better in his class at the Y. He was a little monster only during circle time. He just didn't want to sit on my lap. I hope it gets easier as time goes by. We did some art today, and sang some songs during circle time, and played in the gym. They also got a story during snack time. We were also given directions for apple picking - which is on Monday, and Chocolate Bars to sell - 2 for 5$. They're big Caramilk bars. Delicious! Sean's already gotten mommy to buy 2 bars, daddy bought 8 and grandma bought 2. We need to hit up Auntie Amy, his uncle, his other grandparents and my dad... too! Anyone else in the Montreal area want to buy chocolates to support Sean's class? They're kosher and nut-free. (The Y is a nut-free facility).

This afternoon I dropped both boys off at my parents house (after having just picked up Mack from there while I was in class with Sean), and went to see the daycare facilities where I plan on sending Sean if he gets the spot- or rather when he gets the spot. It's really nice there - and they have awesome activities: like science (!) and arts & crafts, and this month is safety month (so like visits from a fireman, police man, that kind of thing...!) They have an indoor and outdoor gym, and I'm really looking forward to sending him there. I really hope that he gets the spot. I have to call the woman in charge by tomorrow 11 am if I haven't heard from her by then, tomorrow morning. She's waiting to hear from the parent who is moving away if they are pulling their child out of the daycare. Apparently there is a problem with selling their house. Crossing my fingers.... I'm hoping for that spot!!! Sean needs daycare as the social interaction at the Y is not enough hours I feel, and I think it'll be great.

This evening I dropped Sean & Mack off (again!) at my parents house and Jamie took me out for dinner to our fave restaurant in Montreal called Cucina. It's downtown on St. Laurent Blvd. A must visit - we just love their food. We order the SAME thing each time we go there, it's just fabulous! We had a nice evening out without the boys, it was much needed!

Today I love Pascale Picard's album Me, Myself & Us.

september seventeen :: 3 months old

Mack is 3 months old today.

How cute is Sean watching his morning cartoons?

This morning I had my first Aqua Strollers Class with Mack. It was the same teacher as the previous 2 sessions that I took it (January - March and March - June). I love her. She's awesome. And she was super excited to see the little one outside in the world that she's seen grow in my belly! Mack was very good during swimming today. The class is from 11-11:45 am and he was all smiles until about 11:38 am. For the last 7 minutes during the last part, I held him in my arms and finished off the class by holding him. I wasn't the only mother holding their child in the class. Next week though, I have to bring a small towel to fold up in front of Mack as he sits up very well in the floating device, but he's a little too small for it, so I will need to put a towel to hold him from flopping forward. Usually the class is for 4 months + but I used my judgment as I am not a petrified mother. Plus he'll be 4 months old in a month!

We had lunch at my mother's. Sean gave Bosco some love.

I received another antique piece of furniture from my parents. This piece actually used to be in my room growing up. It ended up in the hallway in their house when I got custom built white furniture when I was a teenager. Now, it's in my office holding books & yarn. (Oh and some craft supplies in the door part on the bottom). I just love this piece.

Some garden updates (from this morning):

My bell peppers before they were picked.

My oranging pumpkin. Still the only pumpkin in my garden.
(Even though the pumpkin patch is taking over the ENTIRE garden now).

A cucumber that should be ready by the weekend.

Two more cucumbers that I hope will grow despite the fact that it keeps getting cold outside each night. Frost is now upon us....

A very large zucchini. Half I will make a soup with. The other half, will become puré for Mr. Mack which I will freeze until he's ready to start solids.

And some of my tomatoes.

And here is today's loot that got picked.

Zeus and Jazz wanted to say hello today on the blog. We had an issue with our garage door opener, so it's the front door that's getting used, so Zeus & Jazz came to see us off today for the day and take in the morning air. I don't think they'd ever run away. They're well fed here and they know where they get love and belly rubs.


I am IN LOVE with these mittens. I HAVE to knit myself a pair. The pattern apparently should be available by this weekend. Oh.my.goodness. I have to have it. I need to get my hands on it. I'm drooling over these mittens. Here fishy-fishy-fishy....!

Forgot to mention yesterday that the Baseball Sweater that Mack was wearing is the sweater that I knit for Sean, and that he only got to wear once. Well, guess what? Mack's only going to get to wear it once as well. He barely fits into it. And the weather JUST turned to sweater wearing weather... dang it! Oh well. At least I got pictures of each of them in it! And they both looked handsome in it! Maybe if we ever have a third child, we'll have to make sure it is born in colder months! Sean was, but I only knit it for him when he was around 3 months old. And I believe at 3 months old he was heavier than Mack is now.

This evening I went out with West Island Knits. We may try a new restaurant next time (in 2 weeks - October 2nd), as we weren't 100% happy with the service where we were. Just need to scout out a new location. Tonight it was Amy, Madeleine, Julie, Christine (whom I'd met last year at the Knitting Guild), Ottawa resident Melanie and her Montreal Mom (and myself & Mack too!) It was nice to get out of the house, and chat with everyone and get some knitting done. I realize that I have to only bring mindless projects to knit night, as there is way too much talking to concentrate!

I'm debating between this skull hat and this skull hat to cat on for my nephew for his November birthday. Which hat do you think I should do? I think I'm leaning more for the first one I linked. What do you think?

Tomorrow I've been married 3 years! Hubby is taking me out for dinner. Fuck, I have nothing to wear. Do I have to dress up? Tomorrow on tap is Sean's class, my appointment at the daycare to see the facilities and dinner with Jamie for our anniversary. My parents are watching the boys, and I cannot wait to have a meal with Jamie without the kids. It's been a while. Tomorrow, Jamie's uncle is having surgery, for the same thing that Jamie's mother (real mother, not step-mother) went under the knife in 2005 for. I'll get more into details tomorrow, but please keep your thoughts with us for good results. The jist of it is that he has to have inches of his intestines removed. I'm praying that Jamie will never have to have this surgery, as it runs in the family. (Which is why colonoscopies are done VERY young in the family). I am not sure what time his surgery is at tomorrow, but I'll know tomorrow.

september sixteen :: 13 weeks old

This morning I got up when Mack got up for the first time today and then fed Mack and put him back to sleep. I started doing stuff and got organized for the day. Sean woke up this morning and was talking up a storm! Usually he starts to cry in the morning, but he's been talking lately, mostly babbling. I'm hoping that the actual real talking starts soon!

Mack is 13 weeks old today. Tomorrow he's 3 months old. Time flies. It's going by fast!

Today Sean & I had a doctor's appointment. Sean's head is growing, and is still in the 25th percentile. I guess having a small head runs in the family, as Mack's head is still in the 3rd percentile. I guess I just produce small babies. I'm hoping they out grow that though!

Mack now weighs 12 lbs exactly. My big boy! And Sean's now at 26 and a half pounds! I can't believe it. Both are on their own growth curve - Mack in the 25th percentile and Sean still in the 50th percentile for weight.

I ran a few errands this afternoon with my mom and we tried Mack out in the little stroller. He seemed to like that he was able to look at everything! He really does truly hate the bucket. At lot of the time he lets you know that he does NOT want to be in there.

As I mentioned, some mail came yesterday bearing yarn:

Araucania Ranco Multy #307

Araucania Ranco Multy #304

Araucania Ranco Multy #305

Yum.

Lillian gave me an I Love Your Blog Award recently. I kept forgetting to blog about it - sorry for the delay. Thanks Lillian! So now it's my turn:

The rules are:
1- Post the award on your blog.

2- Add a link to the person who gave you the award. (Above - done!)

3- Nominate at least 4 other bloggers and add their links:

I love Lillian's crafty blog, but I'm not going to tag her back, so I nominate also:
Amy, Jenn, Rhoda, Bea, Tara, Cynthia.

In Robyn's Nest news, I've restocked and gotten some new colors in Cascade 220 Superwash. There are some great baby colors, and superwash is great for baby knits! Also, I wanted to remind everyone that the October Sock Club is up for sale, as well as the November Sock Club Ultimate kit. There is a regular November kit - in case you do not want the November Ultimate kit, but still want to partake in the fun! October's kit will be on sale until September 30th or until it sells out.

Tomorrow on tap I've got my first Aqua Strollers class with Mr. Mack! My mom will be watching Sean as I work out in the pool! It'll be his first time in the public pool. He'll be suited in a one piece bathing suit - I'm super excited to see how he reacts in the pool for 45 minutes! If I have to cut it short, I will - gotta start slow. In the afternoon we have plans, but I'm not sure where yet. That has yet to be decided!

Oh! I forgot - after playing telephone tag with the daycare for a week I've got an appointment on Thursday to go "see the facility". Apparently when they tell you this - that's your "in". Crossing my fingers it all works out and that I can start him by October 1st latest! It'll be such a help and some of his friends go there, so I'm aiming for more social interaction with other kids!

september fifteen

Babies? Babies! Who wants babies?

Mack had playgroup this afternoon. Here he is with one of his two BFF Jordan. (Jakey's his other best friend, but Jakey was sleeping today during playgroup). Jordan's dad has season tickets to the Habs two seats away from ours. Small world. I'm glad to have become really close with Jordan & Jakey's mommies.

Above left to right: Jordan, Mack, Aviva & Kennedy.

And all the babies that were there today (minus one who left early). We have:
On the couch: (Left to right): Jake, YY, Dylan, Ella, Jordan, Mack, Aviva & Kennedy. On the floor in the bucket is Marshall.

I love playgroup. I probably won't go next week as it's in the city, and I'm finding it really hard to go to playgroup when it's in the city, unfortunately. The week after next, playgroup is at my house (which also happens to fall on the day that Rosh Hashanah starts, but only at night, and since it's not at my house (dinner), we're still doing playgroup for those who can make it. But since Mackie will miss out on playgroup next week, at least he gets to see his best friends during the week, as I always end up going for lunch mid-week with Jordan & Jakey's mommies (amongst anyone else who joins us too).

This evening I had the privilege and the pleasure to meet author Rebecca Eckler. She sometimes blogs here. She's the author that sent me the copy of her book signed by her daughter and herself. It was Rowan's first autograph ever. Remember? She held an event tonight at the Jewish Public Library in the city. I headed down with my mother. The event was called The Me in Mommy. She talked a bit, read some excerpts from her books (I've read all three), held a questions & answer period, and signed books. She even had 25 copies of her latest book Toddlers Gone Wild that she gave away for free. I already had a copy, but my mother got a free book, which Rebecca signed for her. I'm really happy I went. It was great to get out of the house for an entire evening without the kids! It was my first time out alone since Mack's birth. It was also my first time out alone leaving Jamie at home with both kids.

On the way home from the event I told my mother that I hope the kids were well behaved for Jamie tonight, so that he lets me out again sometime without bringing at least 1 kid with me....

And when I got home, I asked Jamie how the kids were.... he told me his kids love him.

Mack hadn't woken up since I put him to (what I thought was a nap) before I left this evening. I left at 6:30pm, so he's been sleeping since. And Sean - he was asleep since after his bath. He went to bed at 8:30pm. I got home around 9:30 pm.

That's not fair! They were angels for him! Lucky!

I'm going to go catch some Zzz's before Mack does wake up - and who knows when that will be. Yarn was delivered to my door today, but I didn't get a chance to photograph it before the sun went down, so pictures will have to be done tomorrow. (There was a sale at Littleknits - how could I resist?) Oh, and thanks to Tara, I now want 2 skeins (they're 50g each) of Regia Design Line in Landscape Fire. I'm drooling over it now. Must one day make socks in that yarn. Must. Must. Must. Want. Want. Want. Thanks Tara!

Tomorrow on tap - Sean's going to the doctor to get his head measured. There apparently was no change between his 15 month and 18 month check-up and she wanted to see him again at 21 months (he's almost 21 months - where does time go?) to make sure that there is a change. I also have an appointment after Sean, I haven't had a check-up in forever. Plus I want to stay on with this doctor and not go back to Sean's doctor who went on maternity leave when Sean was 11 months old. This way, when that doc does come back in January, I can tell the new doctor (Dr. F):

1. You've seen Sean more than Dr. C has. (Dr. C only saw Sean from 0-11 months old. Dr. F will have seen Sean from 11 months old until 25 months old by the time Dr. C comes back to work).
2. You've seen the rest of my family - whereas Dr. C hasn't.
3. Mack will only have seen Dr. F, so another reason to stay with her.
4. We like you (Dr. F) better. And I want to be happy with my doc.

Anyhoot - I also plan on getting Mackie weighed tomorrow. I want to make sure he's still on track. Born in the 10th percentile and going to the 25th percentile by 2 months old. He'll be 3 months on Wednesday, I'm hoping for an improvement above 25th percentile. I got to remember to bring Mack's record book as well, she forgot to put his 2 month shots into his record book last appointment. Better go pull those out before I forget.

Today was a great day. I'm going to go to bed on that note!

september fourteen

Today was lazy day. We slept in, napped all afternoon - it was great. I am not complaining. I'm still trying to catch up on sleep from before Mack starting to sleep through the night. It's only been about a week now, even if it's in the swing.

This evening I did get my buttox in gear, and headed to my parents house for dinner with both boys. It was just a simple BBQ - but nice nonetheless. My siblings were there too. Nice & quiet.

Mackie enjoyed a new chair my parents got, while we ate dinner. Then after dinner (below) Sean enjoyed it. It turns into a toddler chair as well!

I have some knitting that apparently I can show you! I'm testing knitting Jennifer's pattern that she plans on releasing on October 1st. It's called the Moss Block Cardigan.

First I actually swatched (which is rare around here for baby knits!) and then cast on. There's something UBER special about this yarb - which I will reveal sometime this week. All I have to say - is get excited!!!


These are the two awesome handmade bibs I got at Roxham on Saturday morning. Sean wanted to model them for you:


And here is the yarn I got at Roxham. I have to get more information, as I don't have yardage - before I can upload it to Ravelry. I may have to run it through my yardage reader to get numbers, as there is no information except for weight.

Worsted.

Worsted.

Worsted.

Worsted.

Fingering Weight.

Lace Weight.
This lace weight is my fave purchase from yesterday.
All is from the same seller - Lady Godiva. I asked, she's not online.

Have you seen the Fall 2008 Knitty? I'm loving Kinetic, Hug is cute, Hourglass, L'illo because I have 2 boys, and OpArt.

That's all for today. It was really a lazy Sunday - but that was much needed. More to come! I'm going to go put Mackie to bed for the night, and hit the sack! All my other men are already asleep!