Our Sophia is now 9 months old. Actually, 9 months, 2 weeks. 17.5 lbs and 27 inches, shorty mc shortpants.

At this point I can honestly say that all of the advice, support and hugs you all gave me during those early days paid off. I made it. It was not an awful trip, but it was hard and difficult. It most certainly is not over but I can unequivocally say to those behind us that it DOES get better. Not only better – but AWESOME. (BTW – if you’re just finding me and a new mom check out the comments in some of the old posts – they are incredible.)

She is a blast. Funny, goofy, smiley, innocent, endearing, snuggly and incredible. She giggles, tells us “stories”, rolls and pushes herself around. She is always “giving” us stuff, although she doesn’t always like it when we take it from her. Ah, the nuances of being 9 months. She claps, waves bye-bye and pinches until her heart is content.

Yummy, Beans and Rice

She loves to eat – anything we give her she gobbles up. We have discovered that she loves watermelon in particular. Peas and Bananas aren’t far behind on the favorite list. She’s working on expanding her world. Pulling up, standing on our laps, pushing her voice to new octaves. She thinks the animals are hilarious and loves their kisses.

We bought a $6 car for her at a garage sale – her dad pimped it out for her with flame stickers and everything. She loves this car. She sits in it with her hands at 10 and 2 rocking back and forth until we make it go. It’s hilarious to see her cruising around the neighborhood with my mom behind. This is, by far, her favorite toy. She also loves her johnny jump up – she has taken to spinning herself silly in that thing.

The Little Banana (halloween costume) takes to the road

She still isn’t the greatest sleeper but she has improved. This has actually been the most difficult thing for me – the lack of sleep. We had quite a journey getting to the point we are at and I hope we made good decisions and continue to do the best we can do in this arena. Ahhh, sweet sleep.

Sleep? Who needs stinking sleep?!

We had her 9 month check up yesterday. The pediatrician (who was my pediatrician!) was asking the usual developmental questions. I mentioned that Sophia had started to throw temper tantrums. The Dr. looked at my with a grim face and said, “Already?!” Ha! Here we come world – stubborn, intelligent, curious, active, and passionate all words that will likely describe the adult Sophia. Incredible attributes in an adult woman – in a baby and toddler? Not so much.

She is an incredible traveller. Flexible, good humored and up for the adventure.

We must hike now Mama.

It has been an incredible joy to see the world through her eyes, to love her and hold her. We feel very lucky.

If you see a picture of the cutest baby EVAH here…then I have finally restored picture posting.  The template and web design is next.  Phew.

A few weeks ago Rob and I had the distinct pleasure of spending a weekend with Kellee, Rick and Baby B. It was Baby B’s official first road trip and his first time in New York State. To say that he kicked ass would be an understatement. To say that Kellee and Rick kicked 70 kinds of ass would be even more of a drastic understatement. They drove in to ROC on a Friday evening and left Sunday afternoon. They stayed at my parent’s house. “Hey guys wanna come over my parent’s house? It’ll be super cool nerdy fun.” All to see little ol’ us and to head to the first fiber festival of the season – The Fingerlakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock, New York.

Kellee celebrated a birthday the day before they arrived. So, we got to eat cake. And really, can it ever be a bad weekend if you get to eat cake? I didn’t think so.

Here is Baby B contemplating his trip to our home.

The festival, it was great, the weather was shit.ty.it.ty.bang bang. We’re not talking New Hampshire Sheep and Wool 2006 here…but it was a close second. Mostly because it’s just not the kind of weather you want your 7 month old in and a newborn in. However, rest assured. We discovered the cause of the whole weather problem and the solution is easy. Rob. Rob is the cause.

His first festival was New Hampshire Sheep and Wool 2006. Weather: Shitty (Officially dubbed it the Wet Wool Festival)

He stayed home for New Hampshire Sheep and Wool 2007. Weather: Perfection

His second festival was the Fingerlakes Fiber Festival (Saturday only). Weather: Shitty

He stayed home for the second day of the festival (Sunday). Weather: Perfection

Don’t worry, Kellee grounded him. He will be in town for Rhinebeck…but he’s not allowed to step foot on the fairgrounds. The weather should be fine.

I walked out of the festival with some roving to play with and a stomach filled with the absolute best fried dough I have ever had. Luckily this dough was of such quality that it virtually erased my experience with the “Taco and Dessert-o” trailer on the festival grounds. Note to self – “dessert-o” translates into “pick up the clue phone and don’t buy food from these people”.

I missed the class I had registered for on Saturday. We tried really really hard to get out of the door with both infants and two slow hubbers…but it took hours. Sophia was hungry then Baby B was hungry. Then Sophia was hungry then Baby B was hungry. Sophia pooped her pants. Baby B pooped his pants. Oh lord help us all.

However, missing the class ended up being a blessing. I was able to make it up on Sunday (Kellee and I went sans husbands and babies) and had a PRIVATE SPINNING LESSON. It was so. fun. And no, the bug really hasn’t bitten but I must say it was a blast….I learned all kinds of cool things…and the teacher put the Spinnerati to shame with her hard sell on the Genesee Valley Handspinners Guild. “You don’t even need to spin! We would love to have you at the meetings.” (Those of you familiar with the Spinnerati’s tactics will know that this really means, “You don’t even have to DRINK the Kool-Aid. You can just watch it being poured into your mouth.”)

Hmmm, I think that’s all I have to report on that front.

Pictures!
World’s Largest Sock? Or A Sock on the Way to Becoming the World’s Largest Sock?

Baby B sleeps with his eyes open. It. is. so. cool.

Rob = Not Thrilled to Be There

Mom, I am so happy to be leaving this really cold and rainy place. (S wearing her Kai Sweater that I knit for her!)

Kellee at the Bosworth Booth. She didn’t buy a spindle. Well, she didn’t buy a spindle…..there.

Regular season football started about 2 weeks ago. This year will be a bit different than year’s past. We will not have NFL Sunday Ticket and Rob will be without his Football buddy (and secret boyfriend) Alan. For those who understand the implications of such a statement, a moment of silence.

****

This is not such a big deal for me. I like football, it’s fun to watch but I am not CRAZY about it like my husband. A character trait of his that I do not mind so much, mostly because it is so out of character. Those that know him are always surprised to hear how crazy he is about the season. As far as being without our friend Alan (he lives in Boston), well, that makes me very very sad.

This past Christmas I knit up some Browns socks for Robby.

And for Sophia.

Thing is, I guessed at the team colors and ordered via an online vendor. They aren’t a perfect match. For future project, I figured I would try to call a LYS in Cleveland to see if they knew the appropriate colors. Marne to the rescue. She actually figured out the Pantone Colors for the Browns Team Colors and then called Cascade to see what corresponding colorways in Cascade 220 Superwash matched. According to her they were incredibly helpful and nice. The results? 819 – brown, 875 – champagne, 822 – orange, 871 – white.

Now we know.

We took Sophia to her first Browns Game viewing a few weeks ago. They lost miserably (unlike this past week where they kicked butt). She was all about the team pride though.

Here she is cheering on with her Dad.

So I have been trying to knit. It’s getting increasingly harder as S gets more and more aware of her surroundings. I used to be able to get some knitting time in while she nursed. Not so much anymore as she likes to “help”.

Big help huh?

I started this sock when I returned to work in early May. This is the first of the pair. See where I am? I hadn’t yet even turned the heel in that picture, at least I had not yet turned the heel for the 5th time! You can see my working yarn is all bendy from all of the ripping I had to do.

I have an issue with turning heels. It’s not a difficult thing. It’s not complicated, I’ve done it many times. But every time I get to the heel of my current sock I need to settle in for the long sit. I know if I do not sit and do the ENTIRE heel in one sitting that I will have to go back and rip and do it again. This holds true for short row and heel flap, the only two heels I know at this point in time. (I am on a mission to try a new one for every pair of sock I knit. ) You would think, armed with this knowledge, that I would just leave the sock until I had a few minutes to do it all – nah, I try and try to get it done in multiple sittings and it never works.

In fact, I did not find time to actually finish this heel until the second week in July, a full two-months after the sock was started. Kate Gilbert was in town visiting her family and I had the distinct pleasure of joining her for coffee, half-moon cookies (she called them something different, what did you call them Kate?), and knitting at a local coffee joint. We both sneaked away from our babes (for me this was the first time I had been away from S in 3 weeks! A much needed break) and had a lovely awesome afternoon.

Kate renewed my faith in knitters. This was our first time meeting after learning that we were both originally from Rochester, that we graduated from neighboring high schools the same year (’94), and that her college roommate was a high school classmate of mine. Small. World. Anyway, Kate was just one of those people that I felt comfortable and at home with and I look forward to her next visit.

I am about 2 inches into the second of the pair. We have been spending Sunday’s in the car house hunting. This gives me some MUCH needed knitting time! At this rate I’ll have a new pair of socks just in time for fall.

Socks for Me

Pattern: Made Up

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi (a gift from Elisa)

Colors: 92 River, Dyelot 1489

Needles: Addi Turbo US1 32″

Gauge: 8.5 sts / in, 12 rows / in (pre-block)

Size: Top to Start of Heel = ~6.25″; Heel to Start of Toe = ~5.75″; Total Length = 7/5 Circumference = 6.5″

Pattern Notes: CO 56 Stitches, Magic Loop. Top Down. Roll Top. Short-Row Heel and toe a la Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’s (Fall 2000 Interweave Knits, page 76). (Description on how to do this can be found in the Better Than Baby Booties by Ann Budd (free .pdf via Interweave Knits).)

Wow. I never intended to take a month break!  I suppose life has been a bit hectic and generally getting in the way of all things blog worthy.  A numbered list to explain what I’ve been up to:

Reason Number 1 reason why I haven’t blogged:   Bloggy existential crisis.

We all have them.  Why do I write?  Do I still want to write?  Ya-da-Ya-da.  Mine was spurred by some comments left on an old post of mine (I will not link in an effort to let sleeping dogs lie).  I do not really want to go in to it, I only mention it to highlight how much it took me by surprise.  I have had very little negative feedback here and have always waved the flags of honesty and candor.  I always appreciate the same in my commenters.   It, frankly, kicked my ass to think that people would target me in a personal way for an opinion that I posted.   This has all been summarized by others better than me so I’ll just refer you to my girls Cara and Stephanie, and add, “Yah, what she said you big meanies.”

After this they’re in no particular order:

Reason Number 2 why I haven’t been blogging – I have moved to a new city.

My sister, Sophia, and I exploring a part of our fair city

If this isn’t a big duh, than I don’t know what is.  I am working here full time (telecommuting for the old job, major suckers) and still trying to get out and see stuff! and do things! and not be stuck in the freaking house all the time!  I tried a new knit group and may have found a new book club.  We’ll see how it all pans out.  Meeting people sucks and I am a big woosey about it all.  I miss my Boston Girls who are having a baby (Kellee), getting cool jobs (Jackie), moving across country (Elisa), buying houses (Melanie), sewing cute things for my kid (Debbie “given new meaning to the name Stitchy” McYarnpants), taking kick ass vacation (Maryse).  I miss our Boston Friends and babies and I miss our house and I miss the city.  All of this makes me sad and who wants to read a downer blog post?
Blogging time decrease – about 75%

Reason Number 3 why I haven’t touched ye old blog:

Ravelry.

I know it’s the same old sad story, that you are all likely tired of.  Mine is a bit different in that I haven’t actually entered any stash (well hardly any) or any projects (just a few).   I was one of the first beta-testers and have signed up to be a Sooper Editor.  What little time I have to spend on Ravelry I like to spend cleaning up the pattern database.  Call me an obsessive organizing freak.  It’s what I am and I like it.

Reason Number 4 why I can’t write:

H. P.

Sigh, I just finished last night.

Double-sigh.

So. Good.

Reason Number 5 why the blog has gathered dust:

I am in love.

She’ll be 6 months next week.

Enough said.
In Summary

All of these reason are still going to be here.  But, I think I need to make some time for this.  I read and read all of you everyday (No time to comment!) and I write in my head.  It is my goal to sit and write more frequently.

Yo.

Just like me to post and run huh?

We’ve been busy with Aunt/Godmomma Juli and Uncle Chad…

Sophia says: “Moooommm, Chad is going to kill you for posting a picture of him without his shirt on.”

So yes, we’re moving.  We made the decision to put our house on the market at the end of April.  We expected a long time on the market, as we had that experience last year when we tried to sell (and never did).  However, this time around the fates had their hand.  We listed and sold within two weeks leaving us with some big decisions.  In the end family won out and we are headed to Rochester, NY.  I grew up in the suburbs of Rochester but have not lived there for about hmmm, 14 years (wow! time flies).  And have not lived there as a real adult (18 graduated from highschool does not count as a real adult).  So, this is going to be an interesting experience.  Going back, facing my youth, measuring myself against expectations set then.  Fortunatley I am extraoridinarily lucky and happy with my place in life.  However, there are ghosts in them there hills…albeit friendly ones.

“Ghosts, did someone say ghosts?”

When do we move?  The movers come June 16th, the closing is the 18th.  Yeah, this was the other kicker – a relatively short closing period.  The buyers are relocating and starting a new job so they were inflexible on those date.  Can’t say I blame them but kind of puts us in a weird place.  Not one box has been packed and none will before my parents get here next Monday.  I just don’t have the time or energy.  Work is kicking my butt and Sophia isn’t sleeping great.  My mom (who left a very sweet comment on my last post *hi mom*) and dad have been great – booking all of the necessary trucks, movers, storage, etc.  We couldn’t have done this without them.

Where will we live?  With my parents.  Let that sink in.

US = two adults, one baby, two dogs, two cats.

Them = two adults, two dogs, one house.

They are crazy to allow us to do this and we are crazy for taking advantage of it.  It will be one crazy fun mess and Sophia (the only one that really matters) is going to have a great time!  And, honestly, so am I – I am desperate for some more hands around the house.  This is a temporary measure to give us time to find jobs, find a house, and get back on our feet financially.  I’m sure I’ll have some good stories….(*hi mom* *hi dad* love you. thanks).

Thanks to all of the ROCS that came out in the comments…. I need friends, apply within.  No, I’m kidding.  It is a freakin small ass world.  Kate Gilbert left a comment that she was originally from the ROC.  Further conversation ensued and she graduated the same year I did from a neighboring high school.  Her roommate in college was a classmate of mine.  So weird.  So, I think I found a new friend for Sophia and a friend for me…although Kate and her little one only visit and actually live across the border.  Kate, I swear I’m only a little crazy….and Sophia, she’s nice as can be!

The great thing about blogging is that I can keep all of my girls here at my fingertips.  I was lamenting to them the other day that I actually am going to have the POST my exploits because I can’t just tell them about it all in person.  Bah-humbug.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…Sophia turned 4 months old!  I’m not sure what her weight is right now – her Drs appointment isn’t for another week and a half.  She’s likely close around 11 lbs.  She is awesome – starting to laugh, has rolled over a few times (front to back), and is a little cutie patootie We lub her.

Happy 4 month birthday my sweet love…time to start sleeping at night…lub you…

Sophia is with our sitter Monday – Thursday and I work from home on Fridays. Except for this week. Rob is home with her. This will mark the first time he has watched her alone for more than a few hours. The first time my aunt left my uncle with their first child for an extended period of time he forgot to feed the kid dinner. Upon discovering this flagrant lack of common sense my uncle told her that she forgot to tell him he would have to do that so he didn’t even think of it. My uncle is a great father, clearly this is an occupation that takes practice.

Rob is a fabulous father. However, I half expect to come home this evening to find both of them sprawled out on the couch having gorged themselves in chips, beer, and porn.

I just received this email message – with the picture attached.

hi mommy…

hope you’re having a good day. sorry you had to go to
work in the cold rain. if that don’t suck ass… i
don’t know what.

i’m having a really good day. i slept and slept in
bed all morning without making a single peep. i saved
it all up and then blew my top right when daddy was
trying to make a poop. i never laughed so hard in my
life. you should have seen his face. what a loser.

then daddy changed my clothes and diaper. as soon as
he got a clean diaper on me, i made the biggest,
nastiest, stinkiest, runniest poop that went all over
the house. you should have seen the look on his face.
what a loser.

right now i’m listening to neko case* and getting
really sleepy.

anyway… i miss you very much. hurry home as soon as
you can… as daddy was eye-balling the budweisers
when he got my bottle out of the fridge (and it’s not
even LUNCH!)

i love you,
sophia

* I want to marry Neko Case.  Her lastest album in incredible and it soothes Sophia in a way that little else can.   Steph, can Joe introduce us?  He has connections, right?! I mean how big can the Canadian music scene be? 

So I didn’t write toward the end of last week because my pumping breaks were in a haze of exhaustion. I did not cry a drop last week, I did get very close. This is not a badge of honor. Just a point of note. I felt like crying. There are a lot of things flying around here lately and going back to work is just one of them. Sophia did really well with my sister and I am so thankful she was able to use her VACATION time to come babysit. It was her idea…to ease my transition. I am lucky to have a sister like her.

Our babysitter started yesterday. She will be here for the summer. I stayed home to ease her transition and I am so glad I did. The wee babe had spent the last two days SCREAMING her little lungs out. We were thinking that she had an ear infection, no wait it was the gas, no wait she’s hungry, no wait she’s tired. The doctor says she’s fine – no sign of infection, etc, etc.

She gave a hint of this behavior during our trip to NHS&W. Picture a sad and sorry little baby crying and crying and crying while I tried to keep her away from people for fear of burning their ears. It was so sad and very sucky until she fell asleep in the sling. I felt horrible for her and I wasn’t able to enjoy too much of the festival up until that point. I realized that while she is pretty flexible and, in most cases, game for anything that I get really tired and it’s hard to keep the pace that I used to keep and do all the things that I used to like to do. Sigh. So. Many. Changes.

Thankfully there were many hands to help. Mama Cate took her at one point and worked some kind of baby whispering magic. Her magic gave Sophia about an hour of peace. Unfortunately during the worst of it I was woefully alone, until Cynthia walked by (*with Wanda who was in town, hi Wanda!*) and I just about attacked her and handed off the babe in order to get a bit of a break. My girls were in abundance and pushed the stroller (aka sherpa aka yarn carrier) around for me.
Other than that it was a great time. I got to shower love on Kellee and hung with my Teamies from Boston (uh, Jackie was supposed to join us but she was, get this, Hung Over…she swore she was going to rally and make it anyway. The reality of the situation bit her in the ass, we missed you!). I love these girls. There are no words for the level of comfort I feel with them. I am lucky indeed to have such great friends here in Boston and in Blog land. The festivals, especially NHS&W, is such a great opportunity to catch up with those in New England that I miss and love to hang out with. And all of this due to this here blog.

I picked up some more merino from Nick’s Meadow Farm (I’ll try to get a pic of it tonight). It is the yarn that I used in Sophia’s Kai Sweater…I absolutely love this yarn. I purchased enough to make another sweater for Sophia, this time a size larger for next winter. I also picked up some Wool (with a capital W to emphasize the how woolly it is) to make Soakers for baby. That’s it…I didn’t get a thing more. Unless you count all the fair food – there was a LOT of that.

There are some funny returning to work after baby stories in the comments from yesterday’s post. I am sorry my day wasn’t a bit more eventful, it was calm and not too stressful (aside from a last minute deadline that kept me here later than I wanted to be) and Sophia seemed to have done beautifully in the arms of my little sister. Apparently she slept most of the day! Me? There were no tears, however, I was exhausted and ready for bed at 8pm. Here begins the slow process of changing Sophia’s schedule. She has always been ready for night time sleep at 10:30 pm, not a minute earlier. I suspect it will take her a few weeks to adjust to an earlier bedtime.

I suspect that next week (when Sophia spends the day with a stranger, The Nanny) will be harder. Deep cleaning breath.
As for the pumping at work thing. There are some great hints that I have gotten.

• Chux Rock
• Hands Free Tandem pumping is really the way to go. I had read that cutting holes in an old bra was a good way to accomplish this. While I think this is a cheap solution it is certainly not the most convenient because you will have to undress to put the bra on. A better solution is a Hands Free Bustier. I have the Easy Expression brand (although not purchased from the linked to site) and it is worth every penny. Mostly just for the funny promotional picture on the product description and packaging.
• Feeling yourself up goes a long way for production.
• God Bless the private office.
• Keep a sock-in-progress in the pumping bag.
• You don’t need to clean your horn set up every time. Just stick in a plastic bag in the fridge for the next time. I am cleaning mine every evening.

That is all – go and be proud with your pumping self and if you see a lactating working mom give her a hug today. Now that I know what the carrying cases look like I have noticed a bunch of lactators on the train and bus. As Pumpkin Mama says, “I’m raising my pump horns in salute.”