Month: February 2013

There are . . . 4 big things happening in our lives right now, as I alluded to earlier.  I can’t go into detail on some of them, but at least a couple are getting answers.  A lot of my readers already know what I’m talking about, so you will please forgive lack of details.  You never know who is reading on the internet. 

Thing 1:: Pertaining to Ben
We finally got an answer.  We have been waiting over a month for something to pan out.  Today we learned that it would not happen.  At least not in the near future.  At this point, we are just happy to have a definite answer.  They say that in a few/many months things will change and things will move forward again.  But for now it’s a no.

Thing 2:: Pertaining to Rachel in the same manner
We have a plan and although it’s not exactly what I had in mind, I’m excited about it.  I should be able to talk more by the weekend.

Thing 3:: More Space
No reason to keep this a secret really, even in light of the above things.  We are passively looking for a new house.  We have outgrown our little townhouse and are dreaming of a real house, with a real yard.  We chatted with a loan officer and I have spent a lot of time looking on Zillow with a lot of cute, promising houses.  Probably after Thing 2 is resolved I will starting visiting houses with a real estate agent.

Thing 4:: Other Reason for More Space
Let’s end on on a happy note.

Yes, we are having another baby!  I am 12 weeks along, next week marks the beginning of the second trimester.  No, we won’t know the gender until mid-April.  Yes, I would like a girl.  But brothers could be fun too.  So far the pregnancy has been easier than the first one.  No one at work knows yet (unless they are reading this now).  I haven’t been too sick, at least compared to last time.  Everything baby-wise is looking healthy and normal.  I’m due in the first half of September. 

Did you know I make phenomenal deviled eggs?  Well, I do.

So happy to be off work when we have weather like this!

I neglected to buy a sled, so Ben improvised.

Today I turned 31.  As a treat to myself I requested off today and the next two days from work.  How I love being home with my boy! 

I woke up before him and took a long hot shower.  I used ALL my lotions and scrubs.  Then I knit while Jack ate breakfast.

After he helped me put the curlers away, and declared my hair “silly,” we bought cupcakes.

He easily convinced me to eat at least one right away.

The nanny came over and I excused myself to a relaxing, unhurried lunch. 

Followed by a soothing massage at the student clinic ($23 an hour is hard to beat!)

When I got home Jack was just going down for a “nap.”  Naps have morphed into “quiet time.”  He doesn’t sleep every day anymore. But he will stay in his bed for a couple hours, playing and reading quietly to himself.  I’m fine with that.  More knitting, this time with Ron Swanson.

Ben came home early and we did presents and cupcakes!

Then we talked to my folks on facetime.  Mom read a book to Jack.   Then he went outside to shovel snow and throw snowballs.

Our sitter came back (eventually, Brian covered for a little while because the snow backed up traffic) and we went on a real, true date.  Dinner at Le Central.  DELICIOUS!  My lamb shank isn’t pictured because I forgot.  I was in a mini food coma by then. 

We picked up a few small treats at Target and came home to a sleeping boy.   Not pictured: Watching New Girl in my jammies with my hubby.

What a wonderful day!

Ugh.  I was back-up-back-up today (call #3) and I got called into work at 05:40 this morning.  Did two patients at a time in our main room.  Transfused two units of blood.  Got blood pressures down from 190s to 140s.  Took out 10.3 liters gross of fluid (8 net).  Called in a faulty alarm to biomed. The usual.  But not usual for a Sunday morning.

Laid low this afternoon knitting and watching Two Towers.

Jack got to attend his friend’s birthday party.  I was sad to miss out – Trish throws amazing parties. Ben took this video of them playing live action Angry Birds. 

Then after nap Jack asked to play Kinect. He loves this game where he builds a castle and then destroys it as a dragon.  When the game puts a crown on his head he calls himself a queen- not a king, mind you. 

Ha ha! Having a child is finally paying off in labor. If only he would learn not to dump the snow where the path should be.

I made this top out of the most luxurious yarn.  I LOVE Anzula Squishy.

The color is most like this first photo. 

I added the sleeves to the pattern – they turned out great!  I’m worried about the neckline.  It felt really well when I tried it on mid-knit.  But now that it’s blocked and the ruffles weigh it down, the neck is stretching too much.  I might track down some trim at you-know-where to sew along the inside for stability. 

I also finished the first gauntlet from the Downton Abbey knit-a-long. But that means I’m still two episodes behind, so don’t talk to me about anything recent!

We are having a rough winter.  There’s a lot of changes on the horizon for us, though I don’t want to talk about anything until it’s really final.  But there’s a lot of stress and hope involved. 

On top of that we’ve had a lot of stressful events.  Difficulties with work for both of us.  Ben had to go to urgent care for a profusely bleeding nose.   Jack had a big fall today, with a goose egg bump and vomiting afterward.  Our nanny hasn’t worked a full week since Christmas break due to multiple sick days. 

So yeah, I haven’t been posting much.

In between all of this I try to knit a little, play with my kid, keep the household functioning, and watch Parks and Rec reruns to quiet my mind. 

I think back to a song Ben put on a mix tape for me the first year we were dating, when I was 18 and he was 19. 

Here’s wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the doubt and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.

This haircut is courtesy of Tow Maters Tall Tales and a bowl of M&Ms.