The new man in our lives.

Little William was born on Wednesday, June 24th, around 11:45am. Just as I'd hoped, he was early.



He nurses like a champ, and is an excellent cuddlebug. We're doing well and back at home now, adjusting to life as a family of four. Thanks to our network of family and friends--we couldn't do it without you. From the big things to the little things, you all had our backs and we are forever grateful.

OMG, I would love to be a part of this!

Hey, how have you been?

As you can see, not a lot of blogging going on here lately. Admittedly, I've been spending much more of my time on Twitter and Facebook these days. Twitter's been feeding my bite-sized need to tell the world what I'm up to without seeming like a looming cloud over my head, waiting for me to whip up a giant word-umbrella of a blog post.

Lots of things have remained the same for me; I'm still pregnant (at least until the end of the month), Mr. Boy is still smart and funny, as is Hubby. I'm still not working much. I'm still knitting.

Some other things have been a little different:

I went to see Nine Inch Nails in Chicago on 5/29, and Jenny Lewis on 6/4. Both excellent shows. Two completely different bands and venues, but both very good.

Hubby ran his first marathon!!! I can't tell you how proud I am that he met his goal and did so well at it--just under the 4 hour mark. My friend Amanda just did her first, too, and let me tell you, I have all kinds of respect for people who make these kinds of goals for themselves and achieve them.

I'm in the middle of revamping my professional website, which is also leading me to clean up this blog a bit. I feel the need to simplify these days.

I'll leave you with a cute photo of the boy, just to show you how big he's gotten.

Just in time for sandal weather...

...which are slowly becoming the only shoes I can wear with my ever-swelling feet...

I finished the Jaywalkers.

I'm wearing them right now, but I'm also having trouble being motivated enough to find a camera and document them. Frankly, I'm a bit disappointed. Yes, they are a riot of colors, but it's a bit of a cacophony, even for me. And I tried doing a toe-up gusset and heel-flap combo, that since I've never done one before, ended up slightly miscalculated and resulted in a very baggy heel. (Miscalculated meaning I started for the gusset too early, thereby making the foot too long.) In better news, the top part of the sock fits great. And Koigu is soft. I fully expect the color to fade out quickly, though, as did my last pair.

For those of you who know me on Facebook, this isn't news. Speaking of Koigu, the underside of one of my pair of Monkey socks, made with Koigu, BLEW OUT the other day, completely unexpectedly. Big hole there. Not sure what to do about it. I don't know if it's possible to darn it. (That would mean I'd need to learn how to darn the damn thing.) The yarn doesn't match anymore, but not like it really matters; it's on the underside of the ball of my foot. I just put them on the dresser to await further intervention.

All this means that I'm down to one last knitting project, and that's my black sweater. I just finished the second sleeve today, and plan on working the bottom of the body some more, to add some length. I still have plenty of yarn yet, and I'm not really worried about running out. When I finish the length, then I get to pick up for the button band. That should be fun.

And now, I shall put a pizza in the oven, because, as my son likes to say, "Baby's hungry."

Ahem. Long time, no see, eh?

Well then. I could make up some bogus story about how things have been crazy-busy around Chez Nerd in the last month, but really, all there has been to keep truly "busy" has been cold after cold, followed by periods of laziness and lack of anything interesting to say.

So I'd rather keep to myself instead of blathering on about nothing.

Not Much in the knitting department has been happening lately. Well, some things have happened. I've almost finished that second sleeve on Mr. Greenjeans. I'm doing the pattern at the bottom. However, it's been sitting there, languishing on its needles, since my sister reminded me of some knitting I had intended to do for her, um, "cousin" (in-laws' family friend, not blood-related) who is having a baby soon.

"Oh, hello there. Don't mind me."

I knit her new baby-to-be a February Baby Sweater. This time, all stockinette, considering they don't know the baby's gender. The new mom's a knitter, so she'd appreciate the EZ reference and the superwash wool.

Meanwhile, my second Jaywalker had also been suffering from a bit of Second Sock Syndrome, until it got a shot in the arm (as it were) from a woman I met on Ravelry. She doesn't know it, but the pretty stitch markers she sent along with a skein of yarn I traded her really helped get the mojo going back on this thing. However, with the weather warming in the upper Midwest, I think this might be the last sock I knit for a while... I don't really want to think about wool on my feet much anymore. I just busted out the Birkenstocks today because it's gorgeous outside, and my feet are getting so swelly that it's about the only pair of shoes I own that will allow for such foot-growth.

Now, I'm off to scavenge for sweet snacks and knit some more, hopefully while the big, grown-up two year old I have has a nap. The unborn one's bouncing around, looking for a treat.

Updates.

Things have been going well in the Nerd household. Hubby's been writing for Scrotorr.com, and I highly recommend you peruse his weekly music column. Especially the one about Foreigner. Yes, I said Foreigner.

We had our 20-week ultrasound last week (halfway through, yes!), which was highly educational and fascinating. Baby's gender was not revealed to us, as we wanted it. The tech didn't even try to go there--she was so busy telling us all about what she was looking for and looking at, and man, it was really cool! I love medical imaging!

Last week I finished the new baby's blanket. This was completely surprising, as Mr. Boy's blanket wasn't finished until he was about 3 months old. Since I had that experience, I chose a worsted-weight yarn and size US7 needles. It went much quicker! I will post more details and photos as I get the chance.

As of right now, while Mr. Boy naps, I only have 2 projects on the needles, and they're both for me! My Mr. Greenjeans sweater is nearing completion: I am just starting the second sleeve, and from then on, it's collar, then done! No mind that I still have the bottom of the sweater on a holder--I just want to make sure I make it long enough, and I don't think I can judge that until I get both sleeves done. I'd rather err on the side of caution. The second project is my pair of toe-up Jaywalkers in Koigu. Let me tell you, the colors looked much nicer in the hank. It's a little loud (even for me), and this pattern was my first time knitting a reverse heel-flap and gussets. It's not as elegant as I'd like, but they'll keep my feet warm. I'll try Wendy's toe-up flap sometime and hope it's much nicer.

Speaking of knitting, I better get to it while I've got the chance!

The time to procrastinate is... now?

This is currently serving a purpose to let off a little steam while I whip up a business plan. Why do I need to do that, you ask? Don't you already have a successful business, you ask? The answer is that I'm getting in on some studio space, and in order to gain my own set of keys, I need to provide the management of the building with proof that I'm legit, and not going to sell drugs out of said space. It's both exciting and intimidating as a prospect. Exciting, mostly because I've always wanted some studio space, and intimidating because I have to put my money where my mouth is. I really need to push myself this time.

The business plan needs to be in by the end of the month, as does the first month's rent. I've known about the business plan thing since just before Christmas, and I've put it off this long already. I've got the first third written as of this afternoon, and I figure if I work on it a little at a time over the next week, I can have it done by the weekend, and in to the management soon thereafter.

Now, though, I need a little break. I think I'm going to pick up my needles and put in some time on my sweater.

Well, gee, I'm posting already!

I realize that things in life get busy for lots of people, and inessential things start falling by the wayside. For me, sometimes even essential things start falling by the wayside when I get up to my ears in things to do, as well as STUFF. Ach, the stuff. A lot of times, stuff keeps me from the things I want to do, and right now, since there's no work to speak of on the horizon (which I hope to change, with some help), I'm feeling compelled to clear out the stuff in my life.

In running my own business, the first of the year marks quite a few things. A new fiscal year, new goals, and sometimes, a reinvention of sorts. I've been clearing out the old files, organizing new ones on the computer, and getting my financial ducks in a row for tax time. Ideally, this is the time of year to do all this, since there's not a lot of outside playtime, and not a lot of work-time, either. However, as I've said before, having a child eats up a lot of one's time. Not that it isn't fun, mind you; Mr. Boy is quite the talker, and likes to say funny stuff, and likes to play games. Even still, there's a lot of detritus that has built up in our house over the last 4-ish years we've lived here, specifically in the office. It's been the out-of-the-way hiding spot for us. It's gotten to the point where I really don't like spending time in here. I'm feeling the urge to purge it and start over again. It's been going on alongside another urge to branch out my business and do more kid/family portraiture, since commercial work has been hard to come by lately. But this, of course, means more work to do to get more work: website redesign, marketing, studio space, yadda-yadda-yadda. And it means more money going out than what's coming in right now, which I am desperately trying to avoid, if I can.

I keep feeling this push, though: Am I doing enough? Am I creatively fulfilled? Where is my business going? I miss seeing my work friends. I miss the idea that I can pull in some money to help pay bills. I miss scratching that creative itch.

But enough about business. Boring, boring, boring, right?

In other creative news, a lovely package from elann.com arrived today:

Worsted-weight superwash wool in Pewter. For what, you may ask? Well, my friends, I shall knit another baby blanket out of this, for our new baby. This new baby will arrive mid-June, and Mr. Boy will have a new brother or sister. (We're not going to find out the gender this time, either.) We are very excited at this prospect here at Casa de Nerd.

In other knitting news, I've taken up some toe-up Jaywalker socks:


and have made quite a bit of progress on my Mr. Greenjeans sweater as well:


I've come to grips with the fact that I just need to keep plugging along with it--it's not going to finish itself. Plus, with this sudden surge of baby item knitting (for me and for others), I still feel that I should make it a priority. You know, so I actually have a sweater, made from my own hands, that I actually want to wear. Unlike that other time I knit a sweater for myself. Ahem.

But for now, it's mostly clearing out the old, and getting in with the new. Forget resolutions. I've got work to do.

Merry Christmas.

It always seems to happen this time of year: more than at Thanksgiving time, I feel reflective on the life I have, and feel grateful for those I have around me. I have a fantastic husband, a delightful son, and another little one on the way. (June-ish.) We have a nice roof over our heads, food to eat, and we're not hurting for clothes or things to play with. We may not have very much money at this point in our lives, but who cares? We have each other--we're healthy. Unlike a lot of others out there, we have health insurance, and Hubby has a wonderful job with a wonderful company full of amazing people. We're really quite lucky, in the face of what's happening in the world economy, and what kinds of things that can go wrong in people's lives.

I am grateful.

I have several amazing people I feel proud to call friends around me. They, their kids, and even their pets, are good people.

We don't live very close to our families, but when we get together, it's usually a good time. Everyone is, in their way, doing okay. Jobs may have been lost in the last year, and health problems may have bloomed from time to time, but all in all, we're all still here.

I splurged a little with the gifts for Mr. Boy this year, but it's really hard to deny the fun he's having. In the few years prior to having him in my life, Christmas seemed like a pointless exercise in excess commercialism. I can see a little why a new toy (or a toy that's new to him) can be such a joy to a good little boy. It's contagious.

However, my family agreed to pare down on the gift-giving this year, in light of everyone's economic circumstance, and it really didn't impact how much fun we had with each other. I think it was a lesson to all of us that it's not about stuff--it's about us. Family. Those we love. (I was especially happy with this arrangement, as "stuff" and having too much of it has been making me crazy lately.)

I hope for all of you who read to enjoy your holiday season as much as you can, with as much or as little stress as you wish, but with health, happiness, and peace. And to my friends and family: I love you guys. Truly. I feel very blessed by your presence.

More sick days and quick knits.

Last weekend, in the midst of celebrating holidays with loved ones in another state, I came down with a lovely, ooey-gooey head cold. I realize that this thing has been going around, so I'll spare you all the moaning and groaning about it. The good thing that happened was that since I was feeling so knocked down, Hubby stayed home to watch Mr. Boy so I could recover. I got to remain in bed, blow my nose 100+ times, catch up on the Office, and knit.

Knit, I did.



Toddler-Sized Thrummed Mittens
Started: November 30, 2008
Finished: December 3, 2008
Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Carrot
Fiber: Mountain Colors roving in Northern Lights
Pattern: Improvised

More good news: it was QUICK. Even better news: HE WEARS THEM WITHOUT TOO MUCH COMPLAINING. Whew! I was worried it would just be another thing he'd rip off his hands, but the squish factor is really what keeps him from doing so.

I think I might make myself a pair. Right after I finish my socks and sweater in progress. You know, the ones I'm making for myself.

It seems like I'm going through this malaise with the knitting I've already begun, and am longing to cast on for another project. Or two. The siren's song is getting louder in my own head. I know I can stick this out, and just need to keep on with what I've got going, considering the pair of socks is nearly completed, and the sweater, in all its glory, will just need persistence. With regard to the sweater, it just feels like I want it DONE! NOW!, so I can wear it. Maybe instead of blogging, I should be knitting? Eh?