Kicking confession

I have a confession to make.
I should begin by saying that I don't often feel the twins moving about, although I know they do.  I don't feel it much because they're small yet (15/17w) and their (fused) placenta is anterior (in the front) and 'pads' most of it.  Sure, I feel discomfort when they are pressing on organs, etc, but I don't feel it often along my belly.  I'm most likely to feel movement while lying on my side - so, at bed time.  They're movement is mostly internal.  Robin had his forearm across my belly the other morning and I felt a series of four kicks, but he felt nothing.
I'm sure all that will change in the nearish future.
Which leads to my confession.
In the past couple of weeks I can probably count on one hand the number of times I really felt the babies kick.  I mean, leg-must-certainly-have-protruded-out-of-my-belly kicking.  I've never been looking at my belly at the time. I'm sure nothing actually protrudes. The point is, it feels like they kick a hole through me. Yes, it hurts.
And so no, I don't think to myself "aww, how sweet, I can feel my babies kicking! I can't wait to share this with others who will put their hands all over me."
Okay, even without the last half of that statement, I'm still not feeling the kickin'-love like I did when Abi (not her name when in the womb, but we'll call her that for the sake of simplicity) would kick.  I seem to recall those being lovely experiences.  The "aww, my baby is moving" experience.
Instead, I think "OW! Stop that!" and then I think "Crap, this is only going to get worse." (Except I don't say "crap". I'm trying to be polite.)

There's my confession.
I don't love my babies kicking me and attempting to punch holes through my body and making me hurt.

UPDATE: Of course they decided to kick me quite a few times last night. And this morning one was pressing a foot against my belly.  With some probing I was even able to feel the foot (no, it was not protruding).  Abi was with me and says she could feel it too when I guided her fingers to the place. Unfortunately, each time Robin tried to feel the foot, it was removed.

Didn't make the 11 shawls in 2011 cut

A few of my projects didn't make the 11 shawls in 2011 cut for various reasons.
There were those I had started in 2010, like my Sapphire Evenstar, finished in time for summer weddings this year.  I blogged about it a few times this summer.

And the Tiger Eyes stole (that's a wide scarf that can wrap about your shoulders or be worn like a scarf - for those who requested an FAQ) I knit for my mom.

Then there's the wee little infant-sized shawlette (ie, shawlette on an infant, not shawlette for an adult that nicely fits a kid) I whipped up for fun out of my head.

This was a failed design attempt that I finished and promptly frogged (took apart).

As was this:

This Baktus I simply didn't like and frogged at the end.

And this Milo I will start again with enough yarn to finish it. Until then, it's waiting to be frogged.

Others I simply started and never finished. Such as this Green Geoui

And this Takenoko stole.

And this giant Freya shawl that will eventually be a gift.

Then there is the second attempt to knit up this handspun (see failure above). I'm not sure if it will be a circular shawl or blanket, but it needs more yarn.  It's my own make-up-as-I-go wheel of the year design.

Last, but certainly not least, are the large lace shawls I started this year and already mentioned because they have taken a lot of my knitting time.  Neither will be finished by the end of the week, but they should be done in early 2012.
Around the World - which was a mystery KAL so I couldn't finish before all the clues were released anyhow - has another 50+ rounds to go, at the edges. That's a lot. Plus those rounds contain a lot of nupps and beads.  This is a really old picture and I'm well past that point, but you get the idea.

And there's my baby. My own design that was also released as a mystery KAL. Tread Softly.

I've been admiring some beautiful finished versions by my KAL members.  I really need to get back to working on mine.

Plus, of course, there are the blankets and hat and scarves and socks and mitts and doll and what not that are not shawls...

11 Shawls in 2011

Once again, I participated in the Ravelry group challenge to knit 11 shawls in 2011. Easy-peasy. I was done back in April, but that didn't keep me from knitting more. And yes, I'll be working on 12 in 2012.

Here's a recap of the shawls I knit:
(note, links are to Ravelry project pages)
First was my Delight, using some purchased handspun yarn I bought myself for Yule (I bought myself a lot of yarn last Yule....)

Second was a crocheted gift I called Dusk.

Third I apparently still had a crochet bug and made something for myself using the small talk pattern.

Fourth was another gift - Ethereal Jade.

Fifth was yet another gift -a  Traveling Woman using yarn that Abi dyed.

Sixth used up a variety of yarns that Abi had dyed, so she'd have her own shawl.

Seventh was me testing my own design before the designated tester could even start. This one also became a gift - my Verdant Hatchling.

Eighth was another green project, this one a seemingly endless stole. My Green Embrace.

Ninth was my Battle-Weary Dragon shawl.

Tenth was a Blue Geoui I gifted.  Another crochet project.

Eleventh was this Rainbow Delight.

Twelfth was an Indigenous shawl still in need of an edging.

Thirteenth was a summer mystery KAL shawlette that I gifted to Abi's midwife.

Fourteenth (this is my first time systematically counting them since I finished 11) was a bridesmaid shawl knit on behalf of my friend. A lovely Echo.

My fifteenth shawl was knit for myself using my own handspun for another Dragon Hatchling.

Sixteen was yet another Hatchling shawl, but this time for a gift.

Seventeen I whipped up for a fundraiser using some lovely handspun to make a 198yds of Heaven.

 Eighteen was a second bridesmaid shawl before leaving on vacation.

Nineteen was a purple boneyard shawl that I knit on the road and literally finished in the dark. I donated it to a fundraiser also and didn't get a photo. But my aunt won it, so eventually I imagine I will.

Twenty was a test knit of Carménère for the designer who is always one of my favourite yarn providers. This was knit on vacation.

After that I got caught up in two mystery knit-a-longs for huge shawls. The first is Around the World the other is my own design of Tread Softly.  Neither are finished - in part because they are huge but mainly because I experienced knit-aversion during my first trimester.

However, in the last few days (Dec 22-28) I squeezed in two final shawls for the year when I found my shawl mojo again. The patterns were gifted to me, so I was inspired.
Twenty-one is my Briar Berry.

Twenty-two is Cassandra (crochet).

That's my year in shawls.  I have a few.

Calico Critters

We've reached the point, I think, where I need to keep a record of Abi's Calico Critters collection so that she doesn't get doubles in the future.
So, what does she have?
The hedgehog family plus twins
The caramel tabby cat twins
The beaver dentist and his beaver girl patient(and dentistry room)
The grey tabby cat family (no babies - except if one counts the caramel twins)
The camping set - with white cat
Baby swing and baby see-saw with caramel tabby and brown squirrel babies
Baby pool and sandbox
Outdoor country patio set
Living room set (with single couch and rocking chair)
Master bedroom set (with dbl bed and wardrobe and vanity)
Baby room (with single cot and toybox and dresser)
Master bathroom (with bathtub, toilet, sink, etc)
Kitchen
Bunk bed kids room

Could use:
dining room

more beds /bedrooms
chairs / couches
living room set with fireplace and piano?
Baby stuff - so much to amuse them... playgrounds and nurseries and amusement parks...
horse set?

convertible coupe! - awesome! And you can get a camper trailer to attach to it too!
More critters :)

I've sketched out a dollhouse plan

Yule Greetings

Here we were last weekend at a Christmas party. Alas, the loving hands on my belly obscure your view of it. But you already know how big it's grown from the last post.

This morning we exchanged Yule gifts.  They're always hand-made, but not necessarily by us.  My hope was to have Robin's fingerless mitts finished, but that knit-aversion earlier in the pregnancy put a damper on my holiday knits.  Fortunately I had a back up gift in place - a lovely clay bear ornament from the local Stitch N Kitsch show.  I received a gorgeous pottery mug - part of my SFA* gifts from Robin and I have to say, I'm pretty excited to see the rest in a couple days.

Abi received her hand knit doll, who she named Priscilla.

I was in the middle of knitting her (the doll) a hat from handspun yarn when Abi awoke. It was to be the surprise in her countdown calendar.

It's a warm day here. No snow for us this holiday season.  In fact, it's so warm I'm thinking I might even get out and plant those bulbs, finally... Imagine, planting bulbs at Yule!
And by 'plant' I mean toss them in the garden where I dug out the bush and cover them with more soil. Nothing fancy. Just a pile of daffodil and tulip bulbs that were scattered around the other garden spaces and finally dug up this fall.

*SFA = "super-f'n-awesome.  That was my Christmas request this year.

Growing

I didn't think my belly had grown much...

Apparently I was wrong.  On the right is my growth in one week. The first line is from last week (13/15w) and the second line from today (14/16w).
On the left is my belly growth with Abigail.  I only measured every 2 weeks.  The first line marks 12/14w. The first shaded in area (red; not to be confused with the orange next to it) marks my growth over the next 2 weeks (to 14/16w).
(Click on picture for larger view)
Wee bit of a difference between these pregnancies.

Tomorrow is my next midwife appointment.
And I've decided that, as part of our family Yule celebration, we're going to try some birth art. Don't expect pictures - unless Abi wants to share hers.

Taking Stock of Baby Stuff

Hauled out all the old bins to take stock of baby stuff.
Carriers - check.
Baby leggings - quite a few and now have some 'boy' styles too - just in case ;)  Abi still wears hers.
Diapers - where'd they go?  I'm missing most of my covers and quite a few other diapers.  Like all my AIO pocket diapers (but I know who has those smaller ones. Just have to find where the larger ones are hiding). Regardless, I'll need more.  A friend just tipped me off to a giveaway going on by her favourite diaper supplier AMP diapers.  Good timing for a reminder as I start looking to my supplies.
Change pads - got them.  But where's my favourite purple change pad? And the stars one? Where's my stuff???
Baby monitor - still got it
receiving blankets - I've got a few. Maybe half a dozen...
Clothes - handed down what I had kept (my favs) to sis and can get those back.  But even so, that was just a small selection. And mostly very girly.  Also will need a lot more in the NB size.

Annoyed with myself that I can't find stuff... grrr.

Also annoyed with myself for not yet having started tracing the belly growth.  There's plenty enough of it to trace.

Nausea? What nausea?

It dawned on me today that I must be free and clear of the first trimester - because I don't feel nauseous!
It's a wonderful, wonderful feeling.
Also makes me have to be more diligent about eating because there isn't a constant reminder that food and I have a close relationship right now.
And not eating is a bad idea.
I still need to keep up my energy -- baby-growing energy.  Got to put on the weight - for two wee ones.
Fortunately, last time I weighed myself at my weekday workplace I was still on track gaining good weight.  I'm counting my weight gain now from my pre-Abi weight because that's my 'normal' weight.  The BFing weight was lower (by just over 10lbs) and once I quit BFing I think it was rather inevitable that I'd gain back those few pounds to what had always been my 'normal' weight (and which, incidentally, is supposedly an 'ideal' weight for my size - which is why I've never fretted about my weight and never had to 'workout' or pay particular attention to my diet, besides nutrition for nutrition's sake. I digress.).
Anyhow, last time I checked I was up to 152lbs and that was over a week ago.
And the belly keeps growing.
But I've yet to start tracing it! Bad, bad me!

As for my first trimester aversion to knitting, I know that I can knit stockinette or garter because I'm just finishing up a Yule doll for Abi, complete with dress, undies, shoes... You'll see later. It's in hiding and I don't want her to accidentally see it on the computer.

I haven't tried my hand at lace yet.  Finishing up some simpler projects first that are overdue.  For example, Robin just reminded me that I was knitting fingerless gloves for him.  I'd put them aside in the late fall once it became obvious that he wouldn't e needing them for biking for another 6 months or so. Weather got too cold for fingerless hand coverings.  But I said I'd finish them for Yule... yikes. Time to finish those doll shoes and then find the gloves... in the black hole of knitting stuff that is my former office.  That black hole is coming in handy right now to hide gifts.

Oh, and I'm starting to feel guilty about not having prepared any sort of holiday cards this year... as cards start arriving here.  Every year I tell myself we'll do it, and only occasionally do I get around to writing cards.  (Note the usage of "we" and "I".)

Speaking of preparations, I'm quite proud of Robin this year. He's out shopping for my Super-F'n-Awesome gift right now (that's what I asked for).  Yes, and it's not even Christmas eve! There's weeks left until Yule and Christmas.  Clearly I need to ask for a SFA gift every year to get his butt in gear. As for the rest of his family... sorry folks, but I've made it clear to Robin that I am not taking on responsibility of doing ALL the gift work.  At this time of year I've got enough to worry about gifts for my family, nieces and nephews, BFFs, and my local crew of friends (since I've accrued quite a few awesome folks in my life).  I've got cookies to make for potlucks and cookie exchanges. Ornaments to make for ornament exchanges... and far too much knitting to do.  Which, by the way Robin's family, if you ever want something knit you just have to ask and I'll consider it. At the very least it will make gift-planning easier even if it (a large item) takes a few years. We have time, right?  (My family knows this.)
I haven't even mailed out my gifts yet... la dee da...

Back to laundry.

Santa santa santa

We attended a second Santa Claus parade this past weekend.  Alas, it was a rainy, rainy evening. Only a fraction of the scheduled floats made an appearance and a few townsfolk.  But Abi and her friend had fun. We parents enjoyed it too, but not nearly as much as the kids who didn't seem phased by the downpour of rain.  A benefit of the shortened parade is that we didn't have to be out for too long.
Luckily, Robin had also prepared a couple thermoses of hot chocolate and a fresh mini batch of cookies.
We've taken to baking mini batches of cookies lately in the toaster oven.  It's great - fresh cookies whenever we want.  It started with some store-bought dough, on a whim.  Now we make our own cookie dough.  AH, the joys of having a toaster oven again.  We hadn't planned on getting a new one (the old one died not long after moving to this house), but there was a great sale and our region recently switched to time of use rates for power.  In the Winter, that means peak costs are during the dinner-making hours and breakfast. (7-1100h and 1700-1900h.)  A toaster oven saves a lot of energy!  It's great for the basics like toast, or baking up some perogies, a small batch of fresh-from-the-oven cookies, little quiches...

Oh, but I was typing about Santa.
So today Abi and I ventured out to the mall at the far end of town.  She was excited to see Santa.  She dressed herself up in a nice dress.  We trimmed her bangs.  We popped into Zellers on the way to see Santa so she could have nice white tights (rather than the argyle pattern - since all of her current hand-me-down tights have bright designs) for the photo.  She spotted Santa as we made our way to the ladies room to change and she was eager to see him.  She loved the fairy garden surrounding Santa.
And then I was entering our information so Santa's elves could email our (thankfully) free photo to us and she decides she doesn't want her picture taken with Santa.  I sat with her (unprepared for a photo myself!), but still she refused to even look up or smile.  The kind elves did their best.  And luckily there was no lineup before or after us at that hour.
This was the best of the bunch.

Happy Holidays.

Pete Bear

This is Pete Bear - aka Baby Pete.
This is Abi's favourite toy.  And I have no idea why.  I bought "Pete" (then Ian...) when I was a teen, at a garage sale, for 25c.
I thought he was cute and classic looking.
I made him this bonnet. It was one of my first crochet projects. I made it up as I went.

It's shaped perfectly to fit Pete.
Pete is old. He was old when I got him. He's older yet.
Now, when Abi was born I made her this sweet little bear with dreams that it would be her favourite teddy.

This is Miss Kaylee Koigu. (Kaylee from Firefly; Koigu from the expensive yarn used.) It was also one of my early knitting projects - when I first learned about LYSs.
Later I knit this doll. Her name is now Sophie (after a friend made at the airport).

For a while this was her favourite. But Sophie does need her arms fixed. And somehow Pete interceded.

Why the name "Pete"? Good question.
The first Pete toy was this Groovy Girl.  It was the first of her toys to receive a name.  Most of her toys don't have one. Dolls are "girls" - and NOT "baby".  If someone asks about her "baby" she'll look at them like they must be crazy because clearly the doll isn't a baby. She'll then correct them that it's a girl. And doesn't have a name.

One day as we were driving to daycare, with this doll which was a temporary favourite, I asked (cheekily...) if the doll had a name yet.  Much to my amazement, she came back with a name. Pete.  I laughed.  She didn't understand why I thought it funny.  I figured she'd forget. But no, the name stuck. Pete was the name of her daycare provider's husband.  I knew they would find it hilarious.

Her daycare provider had also given her this baby doll, which was another temporary favourite.

It doesn't have a name.
But none of these toys were ever long-term. She was always fickle with her favourites. Until Pete Bear.
I laughed when she named the bear Pete. Once again, she was not impressed that I should find his name funny.  It's his name after all!  Of course, what I found funny was that she would name a second toy Pete.  She's tried naming even more toys Pete, but I've explained how confusing that will become.

That's the story of Pete Bear.