Old and New

Abi is 4 years old today. Where do the years go? She was disappointed to learn the part (with cake, friends, etc) is not today - despite having been warned of this for weeks.  In her mind birthday = party. And cake. We've got a party planned on Sunday instead at Steckle Heritage Farm with her friends. And cake.

This morning found me digging through old cards and letters as part of moving preparations.  I've decided it's time to get rid of those shoe-boxes full of cards and letters. I had quite a few pen pals from moving as a kid. Plus I kept a few of my school notes and such. That's one box. The other boxes are, literally, every birthday and holiday and valentine and graduation and wedding and farewell... well you get the idea. A lot of cards.  There's a few other items like old awards, etc.

It's a strange juxtaposition to be celebrating my 4 year-old's birthday (so young, and a whole new chapter of my life - as mommy) and looking back at my younger years and relationships.  It's time to declutter... I really don't need those old letters and cards any more.  Another project, for another day, will be to go through the album upon album upon albums of photos (I was diligent in placing my pictures in albums) and slim my collection down to 'memories' in a few books.  I really don't need every party picture, every concert pic, every zoo and animal picture, every flower arrangement...

This is why I like digital pictures and scrapbooks now.  I can take the bazillion pics, and just preserve a few in a book. My scrapbooks are more pictures than fancy-add-ins, but they tell a story of our life. Well, mostly of Abi's life right now.  But there is the scrapbook of our wedding stuff, the one I made of Robin's mom's life, my trip to Germany, etc.  One day I'll probably make an "anniversary" book for Robin and I.  Abi's books already include a lot of family pictures because I want her to be able to remember family and friends when we are not close to see them.

OBS update

I was quite pleased with today's OB appointment.  I already knew the ultrasound results were "good" - in the sense that there's nothing worrisome, babies growing well, active, etc.  As I expected, I'll have another U/S next week (on the 15th). Robin will join me at this one since he's likely to miss the next few and of course, if I have to get these ultrasounds, we want to see the girls. He couldn't make the last one.
More importantly, I was pleased with the results of my blood and glucose tests.  OB was impressed with my results.  I don't recall numbers and so forth, which are meaningless to me, but her comments were glowing and indicate that I'm eating well, etc. In particular, plenty of iron in my diet.  I'll give Robin his due credit as family cook.  I also attribute it to the high quality (not over-the-counter crap) pre-natals I get from my naturopath (NFH brand if you're curious).  They're a great blend of vitamins. (It takes more than just iron to sustain good iron levels, etc.)
I'm pleased, furthermore, that there's no indication of gestational diabetes.  My regular urine tests are always negative for anything with this pregnancy. I recall a few low indicators with Abi (plus the couple times I ate too much banana/potassium before tests, which really through off the levels; fortunately I figured that out and refrained from eating a banana AND a banana muffin on my way to midwife appointments in the future).

I've one more meeting with my OB here the week of my move, and then another appointment scheduled in Winnipeg mid April.

I'm also feeling relatively good this week. Last week I was feeling very "big" and more tired. I feared it was a sign of things to come. This week, so far, I'm feeling a little more spry. I even move a little easier.  I'll be interested to see what Wednesday's belly tracing arc looks like. Last week there was barely any growth noticeable - but of course the growth isn't always forwards. Sideways growth won't show up on the arc.  There's only so far outwards they can grow.
 That's the part that makes me lament about how big I am... because I can't imagine getting any bigger, and yet there are still many weeks remaining.

The babies seem to think this is quite funny... they're dancing right now.  They do that a lot.  Lately they refrain from kicking organs, so I can say that the movement remains "delightful". As you can tell, I'm actually feeling a little "glowy" today.  Most days I feel less than glowing.

Startitis and Fibre

ETA: apparently "startitis" is the wrong word because I actually finish my started projects. Apparently "prolific knitter" is the more accurate title. But I wasn't going to call myself that.

Oooh, look what arrived yesterday. My order of BFL spinning fibre from To-Ply Fiber Arts. I'm going to spin it up the finish my Earth Day / Wheel of the Year project.  It's long overdue to be completed.
I love how fibre (and spindle) orders from independent dyers typically come with mini samples of other fibres - to tempt me. This order come with a silk hankie in a gorgeous fire colourway. I've yet to spin silk, let alone from a hankie. This should be fun!

The mini braid of merino-silk called to spun up immediately. I whipped out my mini turkish spindle from Threads Thru Time and finished up this single. Now I'm quickly plying it together (from both ends of the ball - one of the joys of working on turkish spindles) on my medium spindle (also from TTT).

The fibre I actually ordered is two braids of this BFL in Snowy Pines. I think it will nicely compliment the Earth Day colourway I previously spun up from this same dyer.

As you can see, I'm experiencing a wee bit of startitis... If the recent projects weren't evidence enough, I just started two shawls designed by Canadian Judy Marples. The blue is a Calais Shawl (using my leftovers from the Evenstar shawl). You can guess why I wanted to knit up this pattern soon. The golden is her new Harmony Shawl design, which I could not resist. Hey, they are both stash-busting projects! The golden is Painted Fleece merino/seasilk in Goldie Locks colourway. I picked this up a few years ago at the KW Knitters Fair. One of my fabulous finds in her 50% bin! (Along with the Evenstar yarn actually.)

Recent Knits

In case you think I've been totally obsessing over my hugeness / the pregnancy lately. Or spending too much energy packing, let me assure that I am also resting. And knitting.  Knitting keeps me distracted from obsessing. It also helps me relax and rest.
(That's my story and I'm sticking to it. And Robin can't complain - because then I'd have all sorts of things to respond with...)

Most notably I finished this February mystery KAL. Abi and I dyed the yarn together.

I whipped up this hat as a test knit for someone. It will need a home.

And I finished spinning and plying the last of my citrus-colourway mohair-wool fiber from Wellington Fibers. Abi and I may have to sneak out to the farm one last time before I move...
you know, to see the goats.

I also have a pair of deliberately non-identical twin shawls that I designed. Simple designs using similar motifs and different math bases.

The pink is worked in a DK cotton-wool yarn from my stash.  The blue is organic worsted-weight cotton.  I swear I was just pulling from my old stash to use up yarn. I was not intentionally knitting pink and blue.

Now and Then

Decided to compare a new photo with an old photo...

 Here I am in 2008 with 1 month to go.

And... here I am today with almost 3 more months to go (and that's to 36.5 weeks, not 40 weeks).

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I just have to laugh at my size...
because I think it's crazy.

Oh, and not quite comparable, but here's the belly from the 2008 labouring...

kickety

Tag-teaming kicking babies are actually not so bad.  So far.  They've reached the point of "aww - that's so sweet" kicking rather than "wtf are you doing to me?" kicks. (See my previous confession).  Since one is head up and one head down, it's easy to know who is kicking me.  However, they also seem to like to do it simultaneously, so it doesn't really mater who.
They also wake at about 6:30am.  As Robin pointed out, that's better than 4am.  Except at 4am (if they do kick then) I'd probably sleep through it.  At 6:30 Robin's first alarm starts ringing, so I'm half awake.  The babies are not the ones waking me up. Not that Robin ever wakes at that hour either... he's a "snooze-button" addict. I hate snooze buttons.

Today, being Wednesday, was belly-tracing day.  The belly has definitely grown in the last week. I think it's averaged out the last two weeks - since last week's growth was barely discernible (the wee orange line).

Click on the picture to embiggen and see the lines more clearly.

Kitchen Reno continues

We first renovated the kitchen years ago and have finally gotten around to putting in a (gorgeous) tiled backsplash.
And by "we" I mean Robin.
Today's activity included clearing the space to work, washing up, turning off the correct breakers (that was fun testing), me running around last minute to pick up things Robin needed and Robin attaching the tiles to the wall. And cutting them, etc.  Tomorrow evening they will be grouted.
Abi's job included being patient and staying out of the way.

Tools

Prep work

Getting started

Above the oven

 

Over the sink

Thursdays

Thursdays are good. I like Thursdays.
Thursdays are Knit-Night with the Uptownknitmob.
I'm really going to miss the Mob when I move.
This month Thursdays also mean a new clue for the mystery knit-a-long I am currently working on. (Not my design, just so we're clear.)
However, I think that the next time I lead a mystery KAL I'm going to have a clue-a-day - because I sure do hate waiting a week.
You see, I'm already finished with today's clue.

Last week's progress was actually pinned a little so you can see the design better. And the colour.

Abi dyed the yarn with me. The KAL pattern is called Fuchsia. Hence our colour choice.

Speaking of Abi :)

Today I also got back the results from Tuesday's ultrasound. Nothing particularly interesting to report. All is well. No surprises this time. Thankfully.  These are the kind of reports we want to get.

More Babies - Ultrasound Pictures

What a lovely Valentine's Day gift - more ultrasound pictures.  Robin's gift from the babies was that they kicked him for the first time.  Well, in hindsight it was probably just Earb who kicked him.

Yesterday I had another ultrasound. at 24 weeks.  It was a relatively quick procedure at only an hour. These will be pretty regular occurrences to make sure the babies are growing well, not showing signs of TTTS, etc.  I'll get results tomorrow when I see my midwife. They passed the movement tests with flying colours - as they bounced around.

Here is Baby A / Earb. I've rotated the picture to make the skull picture more easily visible. It took me a while to realize this was a straight on picture. After the last round of pictures, I had low expectations, but this time the pictures are much better. As you can see.

This is her spine - lying face-down obviously. She is head down in the womb and still the one who would descend first.

Here is Baby B / Iongantas.  You can see her skull face-on, and her torso.  That open spot under her chin would be her heart.  Oh, and you can see that Earb is kneeing her in the head. Such love.
But wait, you say, were they not both head-down? Yes, they were. Previously. Apparently she's flipped. She may well do it yet again, since there seems to be plenty of room yet for them to bounce around... and by "plenty" I mean "at least enough".  Even if she does not, she can easily move after her sister departs the womb.

Here she is looking serene with a profile picture.  Must have been a quick capture since both babies spent most of the ultrasound dancing about.

Yes, I'm definitely more pleased with these pictures. They are also much larger in print than the previous pictures.

Abi-licious

Just some recent (yesterday) Abi stuff. Because.

Abi and her BFF George - wearing his new "bling" made by Abi. Poor George... he was a pretty good sport about it.

She was full of dancing-energy - as she often is.  Video follows.

That is all for today. Back to packing while Robin bakes a Sugar Pie for tonight's potluck.