August Update!

Wow, it’s been a long time since I last updated... So sorry for that. It’s been a trying time with Peanut, since it’s been a fairly busy month for her (as well as for Rob and I). I’m not sure where to start, so here’s goes on bringing y’all up to speed on the past month!

7/22, Peanut got a double ear infection. That sucked, but it cleared up within a week with antibiotics and after she was happy-go-lucky Peanut again.
7/25-8/1, Peanut started to roll from her back to her belly. She doesn’t do it often, and most of the time she gets stuck in a contortionist like move, where her head will be looking up, and her legs will be twisted to be knees down. It looks uncomfortable, but apparently she’s enjoying it! She’s also really enjoying her exersauser now that she can play with things. She realized that if she hits the different toys, they make different noises. Rob also worked the Boy Scout 100th Jamboree and got to meet Mike Rowe. How cool is that?!?!?
8/11, Peanut had her 4 mo check up. She weighed in at 14 lbs 2 oz and was 23.5 in long. The doctor gave us the go-ahead for solids. She’s also been batting at objects like crazy now. She finds it hilarious to hit the toys that make noise!
8/12, Rob got the new job!!!! We’d been praying for him to get the position, so when he got the call, we were ecstatic. We assumed he’d start the day after Labor Day, but his former employer let him go within the first week, so he starts today! Thank goodness that the new job decided to let him start earlier than anticipated because that would have sucked otherwise!!!!
8/13, Peanut cut both her bottom two teeth!!!! Man, are those little suckers sharp as anything!
8/14, we tried solids for her, but her tummy didn’t appreciate it! She did enjoy avocados and the bananas though. She keeps trying to eat our food any time she sees us eating.
8/17, Peanut began the 4 mo regression stage. FML. It’s still going strong, well, not AS strong, but she started waking up again every 2-3 hours, where before she was finally sleeping and only waking once a night then up for the day around 6-7. The past 2 days she’s been up 2 times (bed at 7, up at 11, 2-3ish, then up around 5 for the day), which is much better but still sucks.
8/ 18, Rob got a new car. We purchased a 2009 slightly used Volkswagen Jetta. It gets much better gas mileage than his 2004 Dodge Dakota, so at least that’s a bonus. Especially since he’s going to be driving from our place to practically NYC (not going INTO the city at least). We’re keeping the truck for now since we’ll still need to haul stuff and it’ll be nice to have an extra vehicle on hand in case one of our other cars needs work or an oil change, etc.
8/21, Peanut got ANOTHER cold. Boo!!! At least the doctor said it’s not her ears this time. She’s just got a stuffy nose and most likely a headache and sore throat (I know this because she gave the darn thing to me too). Other than that, she was quite the happy baby this weekend. Which made me very sad to take her into daycare this morning. She's starting to discover she's got feet. It's too funny. She grabs at them, then squeals and they move because she kicks her legs then she gets frustrated because she can't get them. Oh man, the HOURS of entertainment I'm getting from this little child!!!!

After all this is said and done, I’m still trying to find time to knit. I’m ALMOST done Jess’ wedding gloves. Now whether she’ll wear them or even need them, is up to her. I won’t be offended if she doesn’t. I’m still working slowly on my Tiger Eye Lace Scarf. I only have 3 more episodes of True Blood to finish it. I WILL FINISH A KAL!!!!! And I’ve also started on Becky’s belated birthday present which is a blue and white Mohawk hat in Penn State colors for football season. I’m hoping to have that done this week. I’ve ripped out the sides so many times because I ALWAYS forget that the sides pick up stitches every TWO rows not EVERY row. UGH! But that’s really it. I’m hoping to get some craft projects up and on my etsy site by mid September to sell. How awesome would that be? Maybe I can convince Rob for me to be a stay at home mom?!?! Ahh, that’s be nice!

Mid July Update!

I’ve been working on my stories. Right now, Black Tulip has been in my head. I’ve got the entire story laid out in an outline form, but now I’ve gotta actually write it. It’s like Emily and Jer are BEGGING me to write their stories. I keep trying to work on it, but if I’m not listening to the right music, I can’t get into it. My inspirations are bands like Shinedown, Halestorm, Ramstien, Lacuna Coil, Tantric, Fair to Midland, Breaking Ben, Seether, and more. It’s quite amusing to know that I cannot write the story well if I’m not listening to these.

I swear I’m still knitting, though just not as much as before. Peanut keeps most of my attention when I’m home. I love that, but there are times I cannot wait for her to be able to do things like color, play with toys, etc so I can get things done around the house. But it’s okay. I’m sure once she’s doing all of that, I’ll be wishing she was little and only wanted to be held all the time. She is so cute and adorable though!

Back to knitting, I’m still working on my Tiger Eye Lace Scarf. I’ve got 12 full repeats done on both sides and am still going strong. I thought I’d only be able to get 11 done before I ran out of yarn. Boy was I wrong! I’ll probably be able to get 17 or 18 repeats done before I run out. But that’s only 450 yards of yarn, and I need to use up 900 before the end of August. I don’t think I’ll be able to get Jess’ wedding shawl done for her wedding over labor day. Maybe I can convince Rob for a few hours each week to take care of the baby while I knit this thing! Who knows. It’s hard though, because I’m breastfeeding so I’d need to stop every 3 hours anyway (or sooner!). Ahh, the things we do for our little kids! But they’re so worth it!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom

Man, there are times that I really miss her. I know she would’ve made an awesome Grandma, probably spoiling Peanut rotten. I know she would have definitely been the first one to give my little girl candy. She had such a sweet tooth! I just wish that I could have her around to ask her questions about what it was like when I was little. My dad, bless his heart, doesn’t remember (it’s honestly okay!!) but it would be nice to know if my little girl does things that I did as a baby or not. Mom would have been 53 this year. My parents would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this year as well, back on May 24. That’s ten years of birthdays and anniversaries that won’t happen, which makes me sad. But I know my mom is still with us. I feel her presence almost every day. I know she is Peanut’s guardian angel. Not many babies have two grandparents for guardian angels, but this little one does.

In other news, I’ve been able to knit a bit again. Mostly on weekends and during my lunch break at work. I’m generally too exhausted when I get home and need to nurse, bathe, and get the Peanut to bed. That’s okay though. I enjoy every minute I have with her, even if I’m exhausted beyond belief! But with Season 3 of True Blood starting this past weekend, my rav group has decided to do a KAL with the Tiger Eyed Lace Scarf; more in honor of Quinn (not part of the show yet). I decided to use this colorway because it reminded me of Louisiana with its kinda merky, muddy greens, blues, and pinks. I’m working on the scarf from both ends because I’m doing the grafting version. I’m thinking I should be able to get 10-11 pattern repeats on both sides, but that’s why I’m working them together; to make sure I have enough yarn to do it all! So far, so good. Hooray! I’m also using this as half my Phoenix mission for my BSG FPB group. Maybe I’ll be able to get some more knitting done this week while Rob’s out working. Who knows with the Peanut. If she’s too fussy, then alas, I won’t.

Baseball & Peanuts

Here's Peanut at her first Iron Pigs baseball game!!!! She was really good for it! We had a double header so it started early (6 pm). We only stayed through the first game (we lost)... We didn't want to push our luck!!!!

Two Months!!!!

I went back to work on last Tuesday, for those who didn't know already! I dropped the Peanut off at daycare in the morning then sped off to work, trying not to think about it. I was pretty okay the first day, since I was busy with getting a bunch of things done at work. Wednesday was easier to drop her off, but harder throughout the day. It is getting better and easier, but still sucks. At least I know she's doing great for them there.

We had our 2 month check up today. When did TWO months go by?!?!? She got 5 shots and by the last 2, she was just looking at me wondering WHY she was still getting stuck when she was screaming her little mouth off. She's now weighing 11 lbs even and is 22 inches. Apparently, she was only 19 inches at birth according to the pedi and how they measured her in the hospital. St. Luke's measured her at 21.5 inches. Doctor said she's doing great and was wondering what I was feeding her, miracle grow?!?! LOL, so I guess she's doing great!

Here's Peanut!!!

Born 4/8/2010 at 9:46 PM, weighing in at 6 lbs 5 oz and 21 inches long with an APGAR score of 9/9. Below is her birth story!

I woke up with contractions pretty different and painful. I decided to stay out of work and at least call the doctor's office. I knew they weren't open until 8:30 so I waited. I assumed it was another false alarm. Well, after going to the doctor's around 10 (not getting in until 10:30) I came back home to meet Rob since I was 80% and 2-3 cm. Got into my room in L&D around noon. Contractions weren't increasing or anything and I wasn't progressing so the dr broke my water at 1:40. Contractions actually slowed down a bit after that and didn't get any more intense. By 4, I was only at 3-4 and the dr ordered me to start on Pitocon. I was on Stadol twice between 5 and 7ish. I definitely wanted the epidural by then, but I never ended up getting it. I was told later that the anesthesiologist was busy with a woman who was attempting to deliver twins vaginally then c-section, then ended up with vaginally and he never made it to me. I went from 5 cm to 8 in 20 minutes... So I pushed about 9 or 10 times in about a half hour, and Peanut was born!!!! She was crying, well, more waaahhhing than crying.

I did feel myself tear, but it was in the front. I was not expecting to feel it tear. So after, I needed to be stitched, but they said they weren't deep. However, they ran out of the numbing solution so I felt the stitches. After about an hour, I started feeling pretty lightheaded all of a sudden so I had Rob go out and get the nurse. Apparently I was having a clotting problem and too swollen. I had to have the doctor go in and remove the clots that weren't allowing my uterus to contract. Again, no meds.... that hurt worse than anything else, and then they realized that I hadn't emptied my bladder so I got catheterized too. Finally after all that was done it was about 3 or so in the morning.

Good news is, I'm doing great now. Peanut is breastfeeding like a champ too!!!! She's been really quiet and sleeping a lot. Rob's been awesome with taking care of both her and I! Oh, and our nurse was AMAZING. She made it so much better for me and kept the air light and funny. She even prayed with us before Peanut came!

The first night home was a bit rough, but I think we're figuring it out. She's currently sleeping in her little bouncer right next to me and I might even get a few minutes of shut eye tonight! I can only hope!!!!!