It's a Revolution!

I'm going to try to be a better blogger this year and post once a week. We'll see how long I can keep it up.

Jamie has taken his crib back. We'd been putting Renna in it to have naps and one night we started her there for the night, and Jamie said he wanted to sleep there. So Michael put it back as a toddler bed and he's been sleeping there ever since. I think the only reason he wanted to sleep on the floor before was because that's where the dogs were. But since they moved into Mama's room he was the only one on the floor while we bedshare with Renna. He's such a big boy. So now we have to get a crib for Renna.

Jamie has learned how to open doors. We're in trouble now. This happened the same day he wanted his bed back. Now we're working on getting him to stay in the bedroom even though he physically can escape. Two nights in a row I simply put him back time after time after leaving the door open. The first night it only took a half hour until he fell asleep. The second night it was over an hour. So last night we started with it open, I explained that if he left, then I'd close the door. He left immediately and the door was closed. I had to hold the knob for 15-20 seconds but he got the idea and didn't try it again. He raged about that for a while, finally falling asleep in front of the door. Tonight we explained that if he left, the door would be closed. We have a two strike policy. After the first escape, I repeated that if he left the room, I'd close the door. He stayed in there for a very long time, babbling and looking out the window. Finally he came out again, hoping to play the chase-me-back-to-bed-a-million-times-Mama game. But I explained again what was happening, then I closed the door and he didn't even try to open it. I want him to be able to stay in bed and have the door open because I think it will help him to feel connected the household even while he's in bed. He wants us to go to bed when he does and he doesn't want to be alone. This would be a perfect solution. If we can just get him to stay in bed.

Another big change he's going through is that we've gotten rid of bottles. He resisted at first, but decided that having warm milk in a sippy cup was just as good. We'd been using the bottles for soothing him back to sleep at night and for nap and bed time. But it just wasn't working anymore. He'd drink 2-3 8oz bottles in the middle of the night and keep getting up wanting to play and it wasn't working to help put him to sleep during the day either. He really just wanted to walk around with one all day long and drink only milk and not eat food because he wouldn't have to stop to eat. He could just keep playing and exploring and not be hungry. No. He needs more nutrition than just milk and the occasional food. He's been bottle free for 2 days and seems just fine. No traumas. :) Of course, part of the transition is that I told him, "Baba no. Tea yes." I've made him tea (it has antioxidants!) and it's pretty diluted and decaf. But he loves it. There were tears a few times, but we calmed him in other ways and he's been fine.

After some discussion with Mama and Michael, I've discovered what makes the Terrible Twos so terrible. I mean, I knew there were tantrums and things, but I never knew why. I mean, what makes the age of 2 so special that it makes most children begin screaming and raging? Until recently, Jamie has been able to have or get whatever he wanted because the only limitations on him were physical ones. So if he could get it, he could have it. Now, he really has no physical limitations anymore. He can open doors. He can go up and down steps. He can close doors. He can flush the toilet. He can open drawers and cabinets. He can turn on the water. He can climb. He can run. He can pull out the outlet protectors. He can open the fridge. But now his boundaries are intellectual ones. He has to limit himself. He has to limit himself either because he wants to or because we want him to. Obedience is now possible. And he does understand when we tell him things. He can remember long enough to comprehend consequences. This is new. This is where the frustration comes in. We need to be as clear as possible with him and explain things as much as possible and being ironclad consistent is imperative. We put that to use today, and while we had some of the normal tantrums, I think it was successful as well. He's not used to the "if this, then this" from us, but I think he likes it.

Renna is growing by leaps and bounds. Just tonight she said, "Mamamamama, dadadadada" just like that. She's been babbling a ton today. She got her first front tooth on Jamie's second birthday, and her second front tooth 5 days later. At her latest peds appt she measured over the 97th percentile in height and around the 25th percentile in weight. So her height and weight stayed in the same percentile and her weight didn't drop percentiles like it's been doing all along. She's still only getting tastes of solid foods, but she's enjoying it a lot and asking more often. But after only a few tastes she's done and looking for nummies.

Can I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the baby Ergo? It's awesome. Renna loves riding in it when we're out, and she has even slept in it. It's great. Most of the weight is on my hips, not my back! The moby wrap was never that comfortable and I can wear her the entire time we're out shopping and not get tired. Now I just want to try Jamie in it. He got a bit impatient the only time I put him in it, but that was at home and it was nap time. I really wish I'd had it when Jamie was a baby. He still loves the SideRider, though, and so do I.

Bad Blogger. Spank. Spank.

Okay, I know. Bad blogger. spank spank

I've done a lot of knitting and a lot of parenting. Jamie has been such a wonderful son and big brother. We are very proud of him. He still constantly kisses her. He gives her his toys all the time, too.

Just yesterday, Jamie gave Renna some of his blocks while she was sitting on the couch. She found one of his foam letters and was gnawing on it where she has teeth tormenting her and refusing to break through the surface. Jamie decided he wanted it, but I wanted her to have it since there are very few things that make her gums feel better. But I didn't want him to feel like he was giving her everything and not allowed to keep anything for himself. So I talked to him and told him why I wanted her to have it and asked him if it was okay if she borrowed it for a little while. He said it was okay. I then told him how proud of him I am and what a wonderful sweet smart loving boy he is and how much I love him. He was very happy. He hid his shy smile and gave me a hug. He really is an incredible child. He is so generous and giving and loving. I don't know where he got it, but I couldn't be prouder of him. Here he is hamming it up for the camera.
Tonight, Mama drew him a bath, and as I went in to get Renna undressed so she and I could join him, we noticed he had spelled out "hot" with his foam letters. Mama had asked him several times if the water was too hot, but he said no. He's been saying his ABC's for almost a month now, and he's been able to count to 10 for about month also. He could count to 5 for a month or so before that. Brilliant. Just brilliant. Here we are reading before bed with his new blanket I made him.

Renna learned to roll over, but doesn't do it much anymore. She really loves to stand and just beams when we stand her up. She babbles a ton and has said Mama and Dada a few time. She doesn't seem to like solid foods much if they're pureed. She's a long girl, too! She's stayed well above the 95th percentile for height, but is only around the 24th percentile for weight. Her teeth are constantly tormenting her, and a canine popped up, but nothing since then. The bottom teeth have been particularly horrible to her and I expect one of them to break through any day now. She likes her high chair and the two toys that are on it. She prefers to nap on me, where her nummies are, and we're still bedsharing. She's started flailing about some, so transitioning to her crib maybe in the near future. Poor Renna just had roseola. I was thinking teething, but with a very persistant 101 degree fever Mama thought roseola. Nantuition was right! The rash is almost gone now. Here she is all healthy again.

Renna's baptism was wonderful. She wore the same gown Jamie was baptized in, and this time Father Doyle was able to officiate. Mary and Chris were her godparents. Chris loved seeing her after the home games this fall, too. He's really taking his role as "The Godfatha" seriously. In choosing Mary as Godmother may have been more fitting than anticipated. She's very tall, and so far Renna seems to be taking after her. She may end up being a tall Nordic goddess like her godmother.

On the knitting front I've been pretty productive. I finished Renna's Diamonds for Rhiannon Blanket but not in time for her baptism. It turned out better than I had hoped and I'm very proud to be able to give her something so beautiful. I also finished my socks and a pair for Mama for Christmas. I've also finished a sweater for me. I made the Wreena sweater from French Girl Knits. I'm halfway through a cardigan for me in Georgia Peach from Three Irish Girls.

I Knew It!

You Are the Warrior

You feel that it's your role to defend and protect society. You'll fight for what's right, and you especially like fighting for the underdog. You love getting things done, especially if it means working with your hands. You also have a great mind for strategy... whether it's military strategy, legal strategy, or chess. You love being challenged, and you love challenging others. You are eager to prove how powerful you are. You are ready for a (literal or figurative) fight at any time. Maybe a little too ready.

What Role Do You Play?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, Jamie was diagnosed with a CDH. And so began my worst nightmare. Now, a year later, you would never know he was sick. He's such a good boy. He's brilliant and challenging. He loves his family and we love him. Here was last year:

And here he is now:

Classic Cardigan is Finally Done! Break out the Champagne!

And here is my latest accomplishment in the finished object:

It's Debbie Bliss's Classic Cardigan from Essential Baby. Jamie picked out the yarn from Erica's, and later when we were at Joann's he picked out two different kinds of buttons and I realized at least one of them would be perfect with the yarn. So after finishing the sweater in month, it took me three more months to sew up the two seams, sew on the buttons and weave in the ends. Which is what I did at our knitting brunch today. I hate HATE HATE seaming! Anyway, it's finally done. I tried it on Jamie and it was huge on him. I thought it would end up a size 3T, but it's more of a 4T. It's basically a sweater jacket. I'll try to get a photo of him wearing it. It's a perfect blue for him.

Next, here are some dish cloths, bath cloths, and trivets I made recently. A couple are missing, but you get the idea. All of them are 100% cotton Lily's Sugar and Cream in various colors and patterns. First is the pastel trivet in Colorwave pattern.


Next is the Open Star dish cloth in a variegated yellow and white.


Now we have a dish cloth square pattern from Lion Brand.


And here is Chinese Waves, which is my personal favorite for dish cloths. I've made several.


And here is Bee Stitch, which is great for bath cloths. I gave this one to Mama since her bath puff died and needed a new one anyway. She loves it, and I must say that while I didn't care for how the pattern feels to make it, it looks great and makes a great fabric. Mama liked the blues of it especially.



And here are some gratuitous photos of my girl. Here is her "I love Mama" smile reserved only for me.


And here is her flirtatious laugh. It's usually followed by a huge grin which some how I always miss photographing. But isn't she just beautiful?

Heirloom Knitting

I've been knitting a ton. Okay, not really. I've knitted 6 dishcloths in 3 weeks. I've worked on my sock occasionally, and I've worked on Renna's blanket occasionally. Then I realized that Renna's baptism is only a month away and I wanted to have her blanket done in time. The color of the blanket totally won't match her gown, but I'm going to have her in a different outfit before and after the gown that will go. So here's what I have so far:


Pretty, huh? I know, the green looks a bit blinding, but it's really very pretty and bold. I think the lime green just lifts the forest green while the forest green tempers the lime. It's a delicate balance of extremes. Isn't that the essence of a woman? Maybe just me... ;)


My girl is growing strong and healthy everyday. She is now 11 lbs 8 oz and 24.75 inches long! She talks a lot and even laughs now. We can pretty much hold a conversation with her. I have no clue what she's saying, but it sounds pretty. And she laughs now! It's not a giggle, it's more of a grunted haha. It's much more of a belly laugh. Charming. That's what she is. Charming.


I'm sad that she's outgrown her sleepers, but she looks so cute in her pant sets that it's okay. Jamie was the same way. We just have long babies! Jamie is so good with her. He loves his little sister. He goes over to her and pets her head or holds her hand. Sometimes he wants her out of the new vibrachair (old one wasn't working well anymore) so he can sit in it. I got the vibrating rocker, and it's made for children newborn to 45 lbs. He's no where near that, so he can share it with her. His speaking abilities are growing quite a bit. He's bolder about saying words now. We've worked with him and he just soaks it up. His new words are HOT and BANANA. He has apple as well, but he still only says it quietly. And he signs "I love you" now! He's a wonderful boy. Here he is saying "Cheese!"

Life Keeps Going and Going and I'm Loving It!

Life has been really good. I feel just fabulous. And it amazes me that I feel so good so soon. After having Jamie, it took 4 months before I really felt good, but here I am after 2 months, and I not only feel good, I feel great! Think Tony the Tiger doing his commercial. I'm feeling good about work and I know I can do what I need to to graduate. My confidence is high and I'm actually being productive. Jamie and Renna are both growing well and constantly showing us what wonderful human beings they are and how lucky we are to have them, even when they're grouchy. Mama gave notice at her job today and will be staying home to help us with the kids, the dogs, the house. She'll finally have time to write without instantly losing her train of thought by all the craziness of trying to have a life while having to go to work at a job that has nothing to do with her actual career. I'm knitting and crocheting dishcloths, wash cloths, divots, place mats, hand towels. And I have a bazillion socks in the works, as well as a bizillion sweaters and one lacy baby blanket. Crafting is great, even if I don't have as much time for it as I'd like. It's good to just have it when I can get to it. Oh, and I'm starting to like my hair. Finally!