Chrismukah

Santa has come to visit, milk, cookies & carrots for the reindeer have been left out by the fireplace. The kids are going to be super surprised when they wake up tomorrow!

We celebrate both Chanukah & Christmas. I hung some dreidles on our tree. Next year, I plan to knit up some handmade ornaments (I thought about it this year, but ran out of time).

And we’ve been lighting the menorah each night. There are just a few nights left of Chanukah. Things have been busy around here, and while the holidays are fun, I can’t wait until after the holidays, so we can sit back & relax.

If you celebrate Chanukah – HAPPY CHANUKAH! If you celebrate Christmas – MERRY CHRISTMAS! Happy Holidays to all of my wonderful readers. Hope you get spoiled this Christmas! Some of you may have had a tough year in 2011, so let’s be grateful for what we have.

12.06.10 :: 205 weeks old

Sean is 205 weeks old today.


I finally got to celebrate Chanukah at home.

Last night we took some family photos with the menorah.
(Yes, we were all wearing Habs tshirts - except for Quentin who needs to grow into his)
Sean & Mack just got their Habs tshirts yesterday for Chanukah.

Last night Quentin also got his first bath at home. He was bathed once while we were in the hospital before he ended up in the incubator.

Some tid bits from last week:

Before my water broke, I had called my GP. She wasn't in & booked solid for the next day but spoke to Jamie's cousin who is the secretary there, and told me that if I get no where with my OB, to call her back, and she'll see if my GP could squeeze me in tomorrow (for the hacking cough I had before going into the hospital). In that phone call I learned that the clinic that my GP works out of - is closing it's doors in February. (Just my luck with doctors or what!?) My GP is still keeping her patients, just not sure where she will be working out of yet. I am guessing I'll know more come Sean's 4 year check up in December (which at the same time is Quentin's first check-up). I actually in the end ended up being able to book an appointment with my original OB on her last day (Nov 30) before she leaves on Maternity. I was glad I was able to book it with her, and honestly, I was going to discuss with her at the same time, that new OB she had me see on the Friday before my water broke. However, I never made it to that OB check-up as I was already admitted to the hospital (and actually, my appointment was for 10:30 am and Quentin was born at 10:27 am). Ironically the new OB was on call when my water broke. I kind of laughed in her face and said "See... I evict them early". (Though, I kind of wish Quentin had stayed in one more week, maybe we could have avoided the whole nursery/incubator/IV/Monitoring/Antibiotics, thing. Though, I know of a 38 and a half weeker that needed the same treatment as Quentin that was born a few days after him. So you never know). And now I have to pray that our GP doesnt end up in a clinic too far from here, and I have to switch GPs for us & the kids... yet again.

Sean said something funny a few days before I went into labor :: That food made the baby in my belly, and the ultrasound machine makes the baby grow when the doctor puts the blue stuff (gel for the ultrasound machine) on my belly and rubs it all around. Ahhh, the stuff kids come up with. He has questioned how Quentin got out of my belly - but now that I didn't end up with Vbac I can avoid the fact that some babies are born... naturally. The boys have been quite respectful of the fact that I have a "boo boo" on my tummy and they have to be careful to not touch my belly until it feels better.

The CLSC nurse came this morning and weighed Quentin. He's now 2.25 kg, which is 2250 grams, or 4 lbs 15.4 oz. Crap! That was Sean's discharge weight from the hospital (he was born 5 lbs 5 oz). I need him to gain weight, as he needs to somewhere between 5 and a half pounds to 6 lbs (depending on the mohel) for his Brit Milah. He lost more than 10% of his birth weight now (which was 5 lbs 10 oz) and I am scared that he's not going to gain weight fast enough. I fear that the nursing I was doing was not enough, and his mouth is so tiny that I don't even think he's latching properly (the nurse found bruises on my left side and it's all cracked - no fun & rather painful if you ask me). I am not sure how nursing is going to go - which is super hard for premature babies. I will let you know what I decide to do about that.

Link Love:

- Love this woman’s pantry. Can I have that in my kitchen too?
- Love this girl’s room.
- I have a 10 point Pampers Code for you: DEC2010FACEBOOK.
- Love love love this video. Oh Jason Mraz:

11.21.10

2nd bookmark for the teacher gift pile. It's purple.
Will have to make myself one.
Started the 3rd one today. In another color thread.

I really like this pattern. Very quick project, but the small hook & super thin thread are very fidgety at times. Though, I can pretty much crochet this now in my sleep. That's a plus.

Today we had a cousins brunch. I have 2 cousins, 1 first cousin, and one 3rd cousin, who both have boys. All our boys are within months of each other. It's so nice to have kids the same age. They all play so nicely together. As we stood there today around the "kid" table, we were like "Wow, we actually fill up a kids table now, and with all boys! Soon we'll have 7 boys between the 3 of us." You have Oliver (August 2006), Sean (December 2006), Jakob (May 2007), Mack (June 2008), Henri (January 2009) and Spencer (April 2009).

Our cousins brunch turned into a Chanukah party for the boys. We decided to do a little gift exchange - which was nice. The boys really enjoyed it.

Before everyone left to go home we took some pictures of the boys on our hallway stairs - just like our parents used to do for our generation. It was a little difficult trying to get 6 boys aged 4 and under to sit and all look at the camera a the same time. (Above & below are the 2 best photos we got - one from Jenn's camera and one from mine).

After everyone left, I entertained the kids pretty much the entire rest of the day. Jamie came down with some sort of flu/virus who knows what and is sick as a dog. Slight fever amongst other not so fun symptoms. I'm hoping he gets better soon (and I'm debating whether to sleep in the same room as him tonight). I managed to get ALL the laundry washed today, as the city is shutting off our water for the entire day tomorrow (not sure why, but the recording on our answering machine said it would be back on by 5pm - thankfully). It was a long day today, neither Sean or Mack napped, and Jamie was sick. Luckily the boys like to watch sports, so we watched the ALs game all afternoon so I didn't have to watch kid shows for 5+ hours. It was the Eastern finals, and the Montreal Alouettes kicked Toronto out of the running for the Grey Cup next weekend. Very excited to watch the Als play in the Grey Cup another year in a row. Repeat of last year?! I'll take another win, thank you.

So we took out the new Chanukah gifts. Sean & Mack each got a gift that is a "coloring" book with a special marker. When you color on the page with it - the color appears. I remember drawing with these as a kid! So cool! I had no idea they still existed!

Of course there were some sports related gifts as well.

Mack didn't want his cousins to leave. He decided to call them back on the phone.
His conversation to his cousin Henri I caught on video.
Not a real conversation - he was on a toy phone.

The first bit he's mumbling something, but then he talks clearly towards the end of the video. He's too cute.

december twenty-seven :: 156 weeks old

Sean is 156 weeks old today.

It takes forever to get a picture that a) doesn't have any heads cut off, and b) Sean is actually looking. There are a lot of out takes before we get 1 good picture. This is a funny one (above) from today.

While I was out today I picked up 2 Pokeballs. My friend had been over the other day with her 2 boys and Sean was fascinated with her older son's Pokeball. He almost wouldn't give it back when it was time for them to leave. So I saw these and got them for him, I will be giving them to him for his birthday tomorrow. I really hope that it doesn't unleash a whole new world of something else in our house. I was hoping to keep Pokeman out of our house...! He already collects hockey cards, I really don't want to start collecting Pokeman cards as well. Hopefully he'll stick to just one type of cards. Sean was fascinated with the fact that when the Pokeball is thrown against the floor, it pops open. Are your kids into Pokeman? If so, how bad is their obsession or maybe it's not an issue for your household? Please share your experience with Pokeman. My friend's son, who was over the other day, his entire room is decked out in Pokeman, his halloween costume was one of the Pokeman characters, and is just completely obsessed.

Today I found the missing phone underneath the den couch when looking for something else! I totally thought Mack had thrown it out in the garbage. It's been at least 2 months since I last saw the phone. Now, if only we could find the original Sling Catcher Remote... wouldn't that be nice. However that one, I really do think he threw out.

Tonight we went to my parents house for a very belated Chanukah party.
The kids got spoiled from their cousins & great-aunt & great-uncle.
Even my mom had a few more gifts for the kids.

Since we were all together we took a family portrait. I think it's been years since we've had a group photo of all of us taken. Though, we were missing Henri, Jenn's son, who was already asleep for the night, so Jenn's holding up a paper plate that reads "Insert Henri Here" - very cute. It's nice to have the entire family get together. It's always fun times. We ordered in pizza for dinner and did a 10$ gift exchange. We all had fun.

Here is the current progress of my Mara Shawl. It's growing VERY rapidly!

I hate taking photos with flash, but I wanted to take a picture after finishing the first ball of DIC Classy, since I wanted to continue working on it after the ball was finished tonight. So above, is exactly one ball of DIC Classy. The yardage is just amazing on these skeins. I believe there is 250 yards in one skein. It's just incredible!

december thirteen :: 154 weeks old

Sean is 154 weeks old today!

This morning I had booked a studio session to re-do Sean's school pictures after the school photographer had done a horrible job with the ones she took at the daycare. I really wanted to have them, so I had them re-done. So we started with that. I just love these! Isn't he a handsome kid? I'm just biased, but still!

Then I added Mack into the mix. Both of them wanted to hold a football. Thankfully the guy taking the pictures had 2, one for each kid. I'm in love with this picture. It's just perfect. I love it. I love my boys. They're too cute. Ok, I'll stop gloating!

Then came the "famous" Habs jersey shots. Had to do them. Though, Sean had to hold a huge (dirty) soccer ball and cover his jersey. Next time we do this I have to remember to bring the mini hockey sticks. That would have made the shot!

Then I snuck into some photos. Wasn't having a good hair day. But we were having way too much fun with the photographer. So we decided to snap some extra.

And then my mom, who didn't come "dressed" for a photoshoot came into some photos. I think she looks great regardless. I wasn't "dressed" either for a photo shoot.

The photographer said he usually only takes about 10 shots for one booked sitting. He took 147 shots! I got them on CD, since I took the large package which gave me the 7.99$ special that is going on right now (for 30 prints) free (which is 6 sheets) as well as 12 other sheets of my choice, and the entire session on CD. The 7.99$ package that I was getting for free I used it to take Sean's new school picture so I would get wallets to give to family, and an 8x10, etc... and the other 12 sheets I picked from the above photos and made wallets and 5x7's and some 8x10's. I can't wait to get those, but the guy doesn't know if it'll be before Christmas or not. I'll cross my fingers and call on the 23rd to see. If not, no biggy.

I am so happy the way the session turned out though!

On our way home we made some stops. I was looking for a copy of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2009 and cannot find a copy anywhere in this city. I've checked a few LYS', a few magazine shops and as well my local book store. Not a single copy to be found. Let me know if you have access to a copy, and don't mind sending it to me. I'll send money for it! I really want a copy. I did pick up a Foot in the Door door stop at one of the stops we made (pictured above). Isn't it cute? Sean brought it to me while I was in the kitchen earlier and said "mommy, I found your shoe in the door." I got a good laugh and put it back telling him it was meant to be there! I also picked up a thumb thing today. I can't wait to try it out. Looks neat. I am hoping it will help me hold my book while reading in bed. I'm still working on Julie & Julia. I really want to finish it soon so I can watch the movie. It's sitting here waiting for me to watch.

Tonight we went out for dinner with my parents and siblings and celebrated Chanukah.

Each kid got a really nifty Habs housecoat from both my siblings. Thank you - they love it! I also got a cute knitting notepad from my mom and a remote control to replace the one we lost (we think Mack accidentally put it in the garbage can and it got thrown out, because it's no where to be found in our house), from my sister who got it from a supplier from work. Thank you so much! Now we can finally use the sling catcher in our room again. Just need to load the remote with batteries.

Tonight I watched the movie Funny People since Jamie was still out. It wasn't even really that funny. It was also a little long (just over 2 hours). I won't be watching that one again. I didn't hate it, it just wasn't that great.

Jamie came home tonight from the poker tournament he played in today and now he can't find his scarf. He is so upset. If it doesn't turn up I told him I'd knit him a new one. I am going to see if I can found out if there is a lost & found from where he was today. Jamie thinks it's a waste of time, but I am hopeful. Jamie made it to the final table tonight out of 39 people. Since it was a work night, they all decided when it got down to the final 7 people to split the winnings fairly. Jamie came home with some winnings, which was a nice birthday gift. His dad and step-mom went with him today to play, (They are poker players as well) and gave Jamie money to enter the tournament. So by him winning, was a great birthday gift! He said it was really a lot of work to make to to the final table. I'm glad he still had fun though, that's what counts.

:: :: ::

I was nominated for Best Canadian Craft, Cook & Other Activities Blog for 2009! Please vote for me in 1st place here! You have until Saturday, December 19th, 2009 to vote. Thank you in advance! And thank you for reading my blog!

december twelve

I'm really bad. I skipped Sean's swim class again. He has one more week next Saturday. I will attend. After that, next session he goes into the pool by himself - what a big boy! I can't wait. I feel really bad, but I just couldn't get out the door to swim. Jamie took him out to get bagels and we had a nice brunch in instead.

This afternoon I met up with the lovely Tara and the lovely Caroline.
It had been forever since I'd seen Caroline, and it was nice to see Tara again, and actually sit down and knit with her this time. Always a blast hanging out with my knitting peeps.

The lovely Kadi joined us as well for a bit.

It was so nice to see them. I hope we get to do it again sometime soon. Especially since we all hail from total opposite ends of the city. Literally. From 4 different corners. I worked on an über secret knitting project while out today, that I ended up finishing tonight while watching tv. Quickest knit ever. The person receiving it will get it next week, so I will only be able to post pictures then. Stay tuned!

I keep hearing a sizzling sound coming from my laundry room. Yet when I'm in the laundry room I hear it coming from my office. It's driving me nuts. I want to know what it is so I can make it stop. I'm hoping one of the kids' chanukah/xmas/Sean's birthday toys isn't possessed and is making sounds. And today's not the first time I've heard it. Very weird. I am hoping it stops soon.

Since last night I lit the candles after Sean was in bed, tonight I made sure to do it while he was still awake so that he could see what was going on. Last year he was still too young, he wasn't even 2 yet.

Though, again like last year, after lighting the menorah, he wanted to blow out the candles as if it were a birthday cake. That gave me a chuckle. Silly boy!

Happy Chanukah to my friends who celebrate!

So, I had NO idea until today that I (Knit & Purl Mama) was nominated for the Canadian 2009 Best Crafts, Cook, & Other Activities Blog! Please go and vote for me! I was actually elected into the top 5! I can't believe it! Thank you to whomever nominated me! I also was nominated for "Best Overall" but didn't make it to Round 2. Wow! This is so much fun - thank you so much. Round 2 voting is open until December 19th. Please go rank me number 1! Thank you in advance! I hope to make the next round, 3 of us will move on! Yes, I know, I'm up against the Yarn Harlot, but she has won in the past, and she's also in Round 2 for best overall blog - so maybe she can win in another category, and maybe I can actually beat her? Wouldn't that be nice! No offence to her or anything, but maybe it's time for a new winner? :)

december eleven

I got great news this morning when I brought Sean to daycare. The coordinator at his daycare pulled me aside and told me that she finally has a spot for Mack starting January 4th. I don't want to scream and jump of joy yet, but I swear, I almost kissed her feet when she told me. I have to bring in Mack's birth certificate & his medical record book next week. I won't say anything to the daycare where Mack goes until I have officially signed the paperwork so that I don't jinx anything. But I am so happy! Finally. No more dropping off and picking up in two separate locations. It's been very tiring.

I worked today in the office, nothing exciting really. My printer is broken so I kept having to run to the service department to get anything I printed. I could have shouted through my little window at the guys to bring me my papers... but I can never remember any of their names (except for our manager & the assistant manager, and one other guy who wasn't even working at the time!) LOL. Anyhow, my manager assures me that he's ordered me in a specific printer that we don't actually carry in stock for my office and we should get it in soon. Sounds good to me. Hoepfully it'll be there the next time I am in my office.

Tonight my in-laws came for supper and we celebrated Jamie's birthday. My step-mother-in-law made lemon merangue pie and boy was it delicious!

We managed to squeeze a family shot in before Mack's bedtime, but as you can see he was already having his bottle as it was late and almost his bedtime, and wanted nothing to do with a picture!

I read The Eight Nights of Chanukah by Leslea Newman tonight with Sean before bed. Chanukah started tonight - Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate. I lit the candles tonight, but only after Sean went to bed, so I will take some pictures with him tomorrow. He's so excited about Chanukah, I hope he understands what it's all about. I need to find another book that explains it better, because the book I read him tonight, while cute, was a song to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas"... so no real story in the book, but it was cute. And Sean liked it.

I finally have some designs to show you! I've got one for you tonight and another to show you in the next couple of days!

Here is Grape Vines.

I'm in love with this design.

Look at the pattern in the sock. I'm in love.

december ten

Today is Jamie's Birthday.
Happy Birthday hun!

I worked at home all morning. I watched The Answer Man (USA working title) today. I like Kat Dennings who was in Nick & Norah's and I like Lauren Graham who was Lorelai in Gilmore Girls. The movie was a little slow and just okay. Not something I'd watch again.

Then headed to sewing class just after lunch. I had a nice time in class today and my sewing teacher really liked the holiday gift that I got her. She's so cute. I'm going to miss her once class is over (one week left). I don't think I will continue on in the next session, I lucked out having a private class and I don't think there is any thing more I want to learn how to do right now. I've mastered the zipper, and know how to sew a straight line right now, so I'm pretty happy. I definitely won't be taking up anything with sewing for a living, but it's fun to know how to do, and know how to work my own machine to actually make a few things.

Today in class I made this box bag. It's freakin' tiny. Totally thought it would be larger, but it's meant for notions, not a sock project in progress. I completely altered the pattern though, and lined the pouch properly, instead of just making the inside the way it is in the pattern. It looks a lot better completely lined. I'm much happier with it that way. It's a cute little bag, and there was a bit too much hand sewing for my liking, but that's okay.

I had a clumsy day in class today though, I broke 2 sewing machine needles, one just after my teacher told me to be careful going over the zipper. Oops. And then not too much longer after that, I busted another one. Not my day! I was also having threading issues today. It just wasn't my day.

Tonight we dropped off the kids at my parents house and we headed to the Habs game. What a nice way to celebrate Jamie's birthday. Too bad we lost 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I honestly think that we should have won this game. We had tied it up but the ref blew his whistle prematurely, and caused the entire Bell Center to boo the referee. It was nasty!! It should have counted as a goal. It was totally not fair. We could have tied up the game, sending us to overtime and possibly winning the game. Ugh! It was nice to come home tonight to no kids though! They're sleeping at my parents house tonight, and I will pick them up tomorrow morning before daycare.

With Chanukah starting tomorrow night, I saw this awesome link on my friend Rhoda's blog. Thank you for sharing. It's totally cute! I hope to find some time to make some with my boys this week! Let me know if you end up making some as well!

december twenty-eight :: 2 Years Old

Sean turned 2 years old today.

After 32 and a half hours of labor, he was born on December 28th, 2006 at 4:44 am.

The past two years have been fun and challenging. He keeps me on my toes. He's full of energy and just keeps going. He's beautiful inside & out. I'm amazed with what he learns each day, and how much smarter he sounds after learning new words. Every day he surprises us with a new word. His fave word right now is "raining". He'd rather eat melon & fruit than chocolate birthday cake, though he did give the cake a taste. He's all tools, cars, trains, sports (big time!) and Elmo. He's got a wicked hockey swing (future Habs player?) and his first word was Hockey. He calls me "MA" (which is what I call my mother) and I'm trying to get you back to calling me "Mom or Mommy or even Mama"). I love him more than anything in this world (as much as I love my husband, and his brother too though!) and wouldn't trade him for another kid (even when he's being rotten and destructing the house or sitting on his brother or drawing on the walls with crayon, nor when he locked his newborn brother in my car with the keys on the front seat - I didn't tell you about that one, did I? Nope. I laugh about it now, but it wans't funny at the time). Despite his "terrible two's" (it does start before the age of two by the way), I want to bottle up this age and keep it forever. I really don't want him growing up anymore. I love the he talks, I love that he understands and answers me back. I love that he's oppinionated.

Wow, two years old. How time flies. I cannot believe that he's 2. I seriously feel like (and I've said this before) that I feel like I just brought him home from the hospital yesterday.

This evening we went to my parents house for dinner. Mackie seemed interested in my knitting. I guess I can no longer knit with him on my lap. Those days are over.

We had a chocolate cake & sung Sean happy birthday!
2 candles for the 2 year old plus 1 for good luck.

Sean tried the chocolate cake, though, didn't eat much of it. He prefered the melon. Polished it off and asked for seconds and thirds and maybe even fourths. The kid loves his fruits & veggies.

Wow. I still cannot believe that I have a two year old. TWO! Deux. 2. Zwei. Twee. Två. Dos. Dois. Due. Doi. Dva. Dwa. Stayim. Tsvey.

Next I know it, he'll be asking for the car keys to go on a date. Oy, I'm not ready.

Specs:
Pattern: 86-10 Headband in Alaska (Rav Link, Non Rav Link).
For: Lana, my cleaning lady.
Yarn: 34 grams of Cascade 220 Superwash #871 (White)
Needle: 5.0mm / US 8 9" Novelty Bamboo Straights (they say I HEART KNITTING on them!)
Size: N/A
Timeline: Sunday, December 28th, 2008 (A couple of hours)
Modifications: Followed pattern as published.
Opinion: Love it! Definitely want to make one for myself.

Tonight was the last night of Chanukah.
I hope all that celebrated had a great 8 days of Chanukah!

Off to go finish watching a CSI: Miami marathon. (That's how desperate I am for something on TV - I cannot stand Horatio - but I really have nothing else to watch and CSI: Miami is on for like 8 hours straight on A&E!)

Just a reminder that my boxing week sale goes on until the end of the year, and as well, that's the final day to sign up for the Sock Club options for 2009. Don't miss out!