august twenty-six :: 10 weeks

Mack is 10 weeks old today.

In my print order that I just did, I made some old prints for Sean's 1st Year frame. I've been wanting to finish this frame for Sean's room for the longest time. Just never got around to it - but finally, I had selected the photos and printed them and cut them out and put them in order! I love it. I now need to get a frame like this for Mack. It's such a cute idea. Month per month of their first year, and then a giant 1st birthday party picture for the center. Genius!

Some garden updates:

Right now sitting on my window sill, is a slew of tomatoes of all kinds.
Beefsteak, pink girl and san marzano.

I picked the larger of the two zucchinis that were in the garden this morning. The other one should be ready to be picked shortly. I'll let it get a little bit bigger before taking it off the plant.

My first pumpkin is doing well. And the other two that I spotted the other day are still hanging in, but haven't gotten any bigger than what it was yesterday. I hope they get bigger soon!

Marga stopped by this afternoon, and brought Mack some sheep related goodies. Mack loves them, he thanks Marga very much for them! Aren't they cute? I love the serta sheep with the suss and the taggies sheep toy the best, but love all 3!

Dellybean also came over today, and helped me sew a bottle holder for Mack. It's a pattern I got off Etsy. I'm a beginner sewer so I wanted some help. I also eventually want to learn how to make a simple pouch with a zipper, anyone in the west island know how and want to help me? Maybe I can even find a class in the west island that I can learn how to sew simple stuff. That would be great. I finished sewing the last touches by hand this evening, so I'll test it out and photograph it tomorrow for you.



While out today with my mom, I picked up 2 Halloween costumes for Sean, as I couldn't decide which one to go with. I fell in love with the Dragon costume.


But I also fell in love with this monkey costume. And if Sean is a monkey, Mack can be a banana.


I don't own this exact banana costume, but one similar, that I got on sale after last Halloween. (Sean was already 11 months old when I bought the small banana costume, or I'd have photographed him in it. I'm not sure, it's either 0-3 month size or 3-6 month size. Either way, I'm sure it'll be fine for Mack, since he was born small and still is only in the 25th percentile at just over 2 months old. On top of the banana costume I got a Pea in the Pod costume and I believe that last one is a strawberry. They were on major liquidation, and I figured if I didn't use it for Halloween, that I would use it for photography purposes just to photograph Mack in them. Might as well use my photograph degree on my kids! So stay tuned for those photos, sometime around Halloween probably!

So... do I just photograph Sean in the Dragon, because it's too cute and for Halloween he can be a Monkey and his brother a Banana? Matching duo? What do you think? Let me know, leave me a comment!

On another note.... I'm having an issue weaning Sean off his bottle. He is refusing to take his milk (3.25%) in anything but his bottle. We tried these sippy cups today. Sean has NO issues with drinking juice out of them - we've been using them for a while. However, I want him off the bottle, so I tried. In the morning, he refused to drink his milk period in it. I refused to give him the sippy cup. In the afternoon, he drank a little bit (maybe about half) and then threw the sippy cup back at me. Refused to drink any more milk in it. This evening, before bed, also refused to drink any in it. He had a full dinner so I am not worried. I gave him extra cheese at dinner to make up for any milk he lacked today. I'm going to try again tomorrow.

Can anyone give me any advice on weaning Sean off the bottle? I just don't get it, since he does take the sippy cup with water and juice.

august twenty-five

Two new pumpkins were found this morning in my garden. I'm hoping and praying they don't get eaten or die. I hope they stay! That would bring the pumpkin count up to 3.

Aren't they adorable when they are teeny tiny?

Mack had playgroup today while my wonderful sister watched Sean and took him on her errands. Top Left to Right: Yosef Yitzak, Yael, Kennedy, Mack, Jake, Dylan, Noa, Marshall. And on the bottom row sleeping you've got on the left Jordan and on the right Sivan.

Someone that I've gotten close with in playgroup is Kelly & her son Jake. I'm glad that Mack has a new group of friends, it's great to have other mommies to talk to that are going through the same thing as you are. Jake's just 3 and a half weeks older than Mack. (May 22 to June 17 - 5 days shy of a month apart).

Mack & Jake - best friends forever.

Mack grinning. I just love it.

Mack meditating. I love it.

I put Mack in his Baby Surprise Jacket today. It's supposed to be 6 month size, but at 10 lbs, 11 oz. at 2 months old (25th percentile - so he's small) there is no way he'll be fitting into it next month. I may get a little bit more wear out of it. I will be putting him into it until he no longer fits into it... but the sleeves are getting short.

He was such a good boy today. I think Saturday was rock bottom and I'm crossing my fingers that it'll just get better from here. Saturday he gave us a 6 hour cry/scream fest. I'm not sure if it's gas pains, or colic or the heat in the house, but it was a bad bad bad day, and I'm hoping that's over. And honestly, I don't think he's colic. And it's possible that he's got cramps in his belly, but I don't think it's attributed to his formula. (Yes, I stopped breastfeeding when Mack was 5 weeks old, it just wasn't working out for our situation, even though he was latching, I'll get into that in another post, I just haven't felt like posting about it in the last month).

Sean had fun with my sister today, and was full of beans when he came home. I think it was the chocolate milk he had. He was a real class clown, being really silly. Jamie & I have never seen him like that before.... a real riot! Bottom line - no chocolate milk on a day he's had no nap because he slept in too late. Bad idea....

This evening Jamie & I hung out watching some TV after the boys were bathed and put to bed. Sean refused to take his milk in a sippy cup, but we're going to be firm on that, because he's got to learn to get off the bottle. I'm so done with the bottle for him. His doctor wants him weaned off of the bottle by the age of 2 latest, and when we go back in September for a check-up for him, I want to be able to tell her he's been weaned and get his milk solely in a sippy cup..... But tonight he rejected the sippy cup... so we were firm, and he didn't get his before bed milk. (Which he really doesn't need to begin with)...

After an hour of watching TV with Jamie, we went up to our bedroom and he helped me sort and fold almost 5 baskets of laundry. Some stuff that got sorted hasn't been folded yet (like Jamie's socks and some of the kids' clothing) but a lot of the stuff was put away and I feel a lot better that I got help with it. Those 5 baskets alone would have taken me about 2 hours to fold myself. But with Jamie's help, we got a lot done in the half hour before Jamie decided it was his bed time.

Tomorrow I have a ton of errands to run in the morning with my mother, she's coming along. And then I'm seeing Dellybean and Marga tomorrow, they're stopping by before dinner. Jamie's working late tomorrow night, so I'm going to chill with the boys and hopefully knit. Maybe watch a movie. I have some movies that I want to watch, but I've been so addicted to Monk, that I haven't really been watching anything else!

Must:
- find where I put my SIN card.
- upload pictures to Flickr (I'm still behind June 17 to now)
- decide what pictures to print (there's a .10¢ print sale going on at a lab near me).
- do laundry.
- knit.
- read.
- have Jamie hang dino in Sean's room.
- Make meat sauce.(Missing tomato juice which I'll buy tomorrow)
- Make lasagnas after meat sauce is done.(Pick up Whole Wheat lasagna noodles)
- Do a Robyn's Nest delivery.
- mail thank you cards.
- accomplish a few items on this list.
- Decide what photos to put in Mackenzie's Bris video (yes, my dad hired a videographer for the bris and he now needs photos for the video).
- Catch up on blog reading.
- Bang off a few more email responses. (Trying to clear inbox).
- upload new stitch markers that I made to Robyn's Nest.
- pull out side by side double stroller and see if it needs to be cleaned. Clean side by side double umbrella stroller.
- go to post office.
- do returns that need to get done.
- get the boys each their own passport for our trip in January.

See, things are getting done around here, and I've been trying to get more organized. My office has been getting cleaner too. Which is a good thing, because I'm the queen of making piles, and then letting the piles have piles of their own, and next thing you know it, my desk is no where to be seen.... lately, you can actually see my desk! Which is a good thing!

For those of you who live in the area, Photolab.ca is having a special on enlargements. 5x7's and 8x10's are only .49¢ until Wednesday. I sent off 14 enlargements on Friday, and can't wait to get them! I also picked up my other photo order today, I sent off pictures from the Jean Coutu .10¢ photo sale which ended on Friday. They still have a sale going on right now, for .12¢ a photo, which is still fantastic. I may send off a few more that I forgot to print. I'm going to have fun going through my new prints tomorrow (I had printed from May 9th - Friday of last week to go into an album and some for some new frames in the house, etc).

august twenty-four

Here is an updated photograph of my entire blanket so far. 61 squares. 122 hours of work. (2 hours per square). Here are the newest squares:

Number 1 is Colinette Jitterbug in Blue Parrot. Number 2 is unknown, leftovers from Shelley, hopefully she can tell me what it is? And number 3 is Dream in Color Smooshy in Gothic Rose.

I just love this shot. (Taken in our front foyer).

We got two new couches from Jenn and her husband.
They look great in our den. Thank you Jenn!

This afternoon I finished putting together my new shoe shelves. I started it the other day while both boys napped, and I finally finished it while they napped again today. I brought all my non-dressy shoes here, and they'll be staying in this closet. My heels (dressy shoes) are still in my bedroom closet. Finally my shoes are organized.

I finally wound The Boy Who Lived into a cake today. I am going to see how it knits up. I'm not sure if I'm going to like it. I'm going to try it with the Drop Stitch Scarf pattern. I'll give it two or three repeats and see. I'll get back to you!

One pumpkin so far in our garden is really doing well. I think it's going to be awesome. I just hope that I get more than 1 pumpkin. At least one for each kid. Here's to hoping! But look at the one above - it's awesome!

And there is something brewing on my sunflower. I hope it means it's going to actually be a sunflower. That would be nice. It won't be 6 feet tall like the package said (as it's confined to a pot). But I have high hopes for it!

Jamie's mom and her wife stopped by for a visit. While they were here, I worked on square number 3 in the 2nd picture of this post. This evening we went to my parents house for dinner. And now, Jamie and I just finished watching some Monk and Big Brother 10 on tv, and we're going to hit the sack for the night. I've got Mack's playgroup tomorrow and I need to speak to the A/C guy to find out when he's coming to replace our unit. (Hoping Tuesday).

September's Sock Club kit is sold out (and going in the mail tomorrow) and October's Sock Club is for sale. As well as November's Ultimate and Mini-Ultimate sock club kits.

august twenty-three

Today we picked some new stuff from my garden. Doesn't it look delicious? I can't wait to try for the first time our San Marzano Tomatoes. We've been eating the cherry tomatoes and the beefsteak tomatoes, but not yet the San Marzano (Roma).

We made a beautiful salad from the above (what was ripe anyhow!) The rest went on the window sill to finish ripening. They'll be good in a few days.

Our pumpkin is still hanging in there, and growing! It's very exciting let me tell you! I hope we get others, as I was mentioning yesterday was it.

And this is what is doing on one of our mini bell pepper plants. I'm not sure how long to wait before picking them or if they'll change color or what... I'm not too sure....!

Conversations with Mr. Knit & Purl Mama

Me: What is your favourite thing about my knitting?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: The fact that it keeps you busy and you have a hobby.

Me: What is your least favourite thing about my knitting?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: It’s all over the place.

Me: What is something I have knitted that you recall as good?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Sean’s sweater.

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: No.

Me: Do you have any hobbies?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Playing sports, collecting hockey cards.

Me: Do you have a stash of any kind?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Yes, hockey cards and star wars toys.

Me: Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: No, not even at hockey games.

Me: Do you know my favourite kind of yarn?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: No.

Me: Can you name another knit blog?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Yarn Harlot.

Me: Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: No.

Me: Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Well, I don’t know.

Me: Do you read my blog?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: No.

Me: Have you ever left a comment?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: No.

Me: Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Maybe.

Me: Anything you'd like to add?
Mr. Knit & Purl Mama: Nope.

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Today I have some yarnie goodness to show you:

Tropics Sock Yarn Sampler

Meadows Sock Yarn Sampler

Beaches Sock Yarn Sampler

My fave two balls from all the loot are these two in the Cooney Island colorway.

Yep, couldn't decided which one I wanted, so I ordered all three samplers.
I treated myself for designing my very first pattern (my August Sock Club!).
Pictures will come by the end of the week on my blog, as people start receiving the kit!
I'm so very super excited to show you!

Sock yarn doesn't count as stash, right?

Here is a better image of my The Boy Who Lived colorway from Faery Fiber. It was getting late the other night when I photographed it, so I wanted to take a new picture of it. I think it photographed better this time! I plan on casting the the Drop Stitch Scarf, and I'm hoping this colorway will work out.

I've been working away at my blankie project, and I'll have some new squares to show you shortly.

This evening was brutal. It was a scorcher of a day outside and with no working air conditioning I had one hot house and two kids who didn't like it. Mack was unbearable today, to the point where I started to google what to do for a colicky baby, but I don't think it was that. I think it was the heat. I have to call first thing Monday morning to see what day next week the guy will come by to install the new unit. But by Wednesday morning I should have a new unit installed. Jamie went out tonight to play hockey with my brother, and after 2 hours of Mack crying, I called my sister to see if she had any extra fans and she came to my rescue. She came on over with a friend of hers and brought me an A/C unit that goes into the window. So that's in Mack's room and we have a fan in Sean's room, and I found 1 fan that we put in the den that I'd forgotten was in storage. Phew. Mack's fast asleep now and Jamie and I are on the sofa watching some TV. (Monk... of course!)

One last spot still remaining in my September Sock Club (which is ready to be mailed as well!). Will it be yours?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA! Hope you have a great day girl!

august twenty-two :: 86 weeks old

Sean is 86 weeks old today.

And he wanted to show you his new speedo goggles that Madeleine got for him. Spiffy! Sean says thank you for them! (As you can see he's got a backpack on his back (you can see the strap on his shoulder).... he wore it almost all day! Silly kid).

I got him a tool set and it's his new fave toy. He walks around the house pretending to fix things. Too cute, let me tell you!

Some garden updates:

My San Marzano Tomatoes.

We picked one to give to my in-laws (who came over for dinner tonight) to put on their window sill. Once they are on the window sill, they ripen quite fast.

2 beefsteak tomatoes that were also given to my in-laws. We will shortly have an abundance of tomatoes. I'm planning on making sauce... Mmmm!

And a bucket load of cherry tomatoes went to my in-laws as well. And the plants are full with a lot more that will be ready to eat shortly. I love this gardening business!

Houston, we have a pumpkin. FOR REAL this time! It's about the size of a plum now give or take. It's the only one I've seen. There was some before, but they seem to have broken off (or got eaten by an animal?) I hope I get more than just this one pumpkin. I need at least one for each boy... was hoping for one for each kid in Sean's daycare at the Y, but I don't think that will happen, or maybe! We'll see what grows.

Some yarn goodness:

Madeleine gave me a ball of Sock It To Me for my blankie project. Thank you Madeleine!

And the top left hand square (above the light blue square), is my 59th square. It's leftover Colinette Jitterbug in Kingfisher from my sister's last pair of socks she knit. Next up is a square from Colinette Jitterbug in Blue Parrot, from the first pair of socks my sister ever made. This is definitely going to be a very long project as it takes me about 2 hours to knit 1 square. (Cast on 51 stitches on US0 needles. - Yep, I'm crazy, but that's how I like my squares!) And you know what? It'll get done when it gets done... that's all!

Up tonight, more knitting working on the blanket and watching more Season 4 of Monk. I'm addicted. Totally very much addicted.

There is ONE spot left in my September Sock Club. Will it be yours?

august twenty-first

This morning I went to pick up Dellybean on my way to Mack's doctor's appointment to give her a ride into the city. I knew where her brother lives, as he lives on a street that you can access from one entrance/exit to John Abbott College (where I went for my first year of College back in 1998). (Hadn't been on campus in years...!) Anyhow, I should have gone with my gut feeling, and gone the way I used to, but no... I listened to mapquest. I.will.never.listen.to.mapquest.again.

Here's what it said:

7 : Turn LEFT onto RUE DES PINS.
8 : RUE DES PINS becomes unnamed road.
9 : Turn LEFT.
10 : Turn RIGHT.
11 : Turn LEFT onto Dellybean's brother's street.

Uhm..... unnamed road? Turn left onto where? Turn right onto where? Uhm..... WTF!?

I'll just never trust mapquest again... Nope. Googlemaps it is.

I gave Dellybean a ride to the metro, she was goingto have lunch at a Jazz bar in the old port, and then meet back up with us later.

I was a few minutes late going to Mack's 2 month check-up, but I called and the doctor was going to take the next patient and then see Mack when we got there. There was some unexpected traffic due to construction (does it ever end?) but we got there!

Mack got his 2 month shots - his first vaccinations. He got weighed and measured. He's now in the 25th percentile for height at weight. He weighs now 10 lbs 11 oz. (That was a shocker to me!) and then she measured his head and he was in the 3rd percentile only for his head. Apparently he has a small head, but to me it looks proportionate. Weird. But he's healthy and all is good, and he goes back at 4 months old for his next check-up, so I booked that for November (he'll be almost 5 months old) , and then his 6 month appointment in January (he'll be 7 months old though) at the same time of Sean's 2 year check-up. They both go to that check-up the week we get back from Florida.

Yep! I'm taking the boys to Florida in January. I'm going down with my mother & sister. Sean will be 2 years old already and I had to pay a full fare for him! I couldn't believe it. Thank goodness there was a seat sale! Mack will be free, but gets no checked luggage. I am though, allowed 2 of 3 items (stroller, car seat or playpen) to go on board for Mack. So I'm going to take his bucket (since I need it for the rental car) and the double stroller, and the playpen will go as checked baggage. We're allowed 2 bags as checked luggage. I'm thinking though, that I will take 2 playpens, for each boy to sleep in. I'm allowed 4 checked bags between Sean & I, so two suitcases (Sean & Mack's clothing will go in one bag and my suitcase) and then check 2 playpens. Very excited for this trip (to visit my grandmother at her condo). I haven't been to Florida since 2002 and that was a very short visit before and after a cruise that we went on that left from Fort Lauderdale. The last time I actually spent time in Florida was in 1997. It's been too long! I want the beach!!! I think both Sean & Mack will love the beach.

This afternoon I got another quote from an air conditioning company, for 2000$ more than the quote I got yesterday. WTF!? I think we're going to go with the first company that we called in. Crazy expensive. Hopefully we'll be able to go after the previous owner for the costs, since we were sold a house that was listed as having working air conditioning. There is no working air conditioning, that is for sure. I'm going to draft a registered letter over the weekend and send it registered next week.

This evening Angela & I took Dellybean to a West Island Knits knit night. We had a great time. I didn't get much knitting done, but it felt great to sit down and do nothing. Especially since I feel like I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

Amy & I.

Mack smiling.

Mack snoozing at knit night.

Dellybean knitting. She's using Misti Alpaca Sock Yarn. Oh, do I want to get me some. Mmmmm! Next week she's going to help me with some sewing (if there's time) and I'm going to take her to THE LYS to go to while she's here, Ariadne. I told her it was the only yarn shop to visit while here, very worthwhile.

Monk Season 4. Somewhere in Season 3, Sharona stopped being his assistant, and now it's Natalie. I can't believe they got rid of Sharona, I liked her! Not sure yet how I feel about Natalie.

Those of you whom have been inquiring, the freaky pacifiers are from here. (Though, I think they were on sale when I got them).

TWO spots left in the September Sock Club. Once those two spots are gone, that's it! You will never be able to get your hands on Lovesticks exclusive colorway ever again! Act now! And the pattern is designed by Emily.

august twenty

Today I got a lot of work done. Very happy with my progress. I don't have a cleaning lady this week so I've been trying to keep the house tidy as well. We have Mack's 2 month check up tomorrow so we had to cancel the cleaning lady. (I wouldn't be home to let her out as she doesn't have a key or anything to my house and wouldn't be able to lock up).

This afternoon after Sean's nap (we've been very lucky yo get him down for a nap daily!) I make sure he goes down for a nap around the same time every day, give or take a window of half an hour. Routine is good let me tell you. I wish I had time to nap. I certainly could use it. However there is always four million things to do while the kids are napping, and there is peace & quiet in the house.

I got eaten alive at the park, the mosquitos are not quite gone yet and they drive me insane. I hate bugs/mosquitos. While at the park, Mack puked up all over himself (More than what he just had in a bottle while at the park) and so I called my mother who was around the corner from me to come over to the park to watch Sean (who I'd promised the park, and Mack's puking event took place 5 minutes after we got to the park. Go figure). So naturally, Sean didn't want to leave the park. So my mom played with Sean in the park, and I ran into the house and bathed Mack. The puke had gotten into his hair, ear, all over... it was gross. I had to change as well, I'd gotten it on me too.

The guy came to take a look at your Air Conditioning unit, and it looks like it's going to cost over 3000$. I'm going to call around for a quote, but we may not have to pay for it, if it's the previous owner's responsibility since they were selling us a house with WORKING A/C. We were not able to check it when we bought the house as the heat was on for winter already. My agent is looking into it.

I finished the square that I was working on for the Blankie project. I also cast on the next square and got to knit the first few rows.... it's coming along!

This evening Jamie & I chilled on the couch, which was nice. We watched a ton of Monk. I'm addicted to the show, it's sooo good. We're now on Season 4, though he's not watching all episodes with me.

Robyn's Nest got in some new sock yarn! It's King Cole Zigzag and we have 5 funky colors. I can't wait to try some out myself!

I leave you today with some funny pictures. I love it!

Sean doesn't take a pacifier anymore (not since about 8 months old), but he wanted a funny picture as well! Happy Wednesday!