Tag Archives: first

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April 12, 2013

First hat with first pompon! #knit #hat #pompom

Hat with pompom

Look! My first knit hat!

I had some left over yarn from one of the first baby blankets I crocheted, I figured why not try to make a matching hat?  Once I figured out how to make the tail long enough to cast on, (but not too long!), and once I got it joined properly, (a bit more tricky than it seemed), and once I got past the first two rows (more annoying to not twist and get the stitches to flow than I thought), it worked up quickly.

The hat was done in two nights?  Or was it three?  Anyway, fast.  Maybe just as fast as a crocheted hat, at least this style, anyway.  And using the  double pointed needles once starting the decreases took a bit to get used to.  Maybe I’ll splurge and get another circular needle and do the trick the ladies at the yarn store showed me.  I wasn’t ready to start that way, I may need to know how to use the double pointed needles at some point.

And I will admit, I enjoyed knitting around and around and around, only needing to think about moving up the stitch marker as I completed a circle.  Depending on the hat, I may like knitting them more than crocheting them.

Once complete, I felt quite accomplished, pleased with myself.

The pompom?  Well, it’s my first one as well too!  I probably could have made it a bit thicker, but I thought I had enough yarn wrapped around the cardboard.  Next time I’ll double it.

I feel like this hat gave me a bit of experience, enough to start the one for Ashlin, or maybe for Teagan for next winter.  With non-leftover yarn, as well.

I’ll write up the other projects I’ve been working on soon…  and the few remaining from Christmas too!

Does it look like a #hat? #knit #round

Knit in the round

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October 1, 2012

Treasures from the walkAnother post I’ve been sitting on, for some reason.  Sigh.  Getting there.

Anyway, we had a rough few days with Teagan.  After visiting the Aquarium, last Sunday, we had to leave a bit early, both girls were too tired.  They became little monsters, that we didn’t want to be around in public.  Teagan did fall asleep almost before we got out of the parking lot.

Unfortunately, after her power nap, she wasn’t much better.  So, Sunday was the first time she was sent to bed early.  As a punishment.  Before she had finished dinner.  She was still pushing everything, not listening, being willful and defiant.  By the time she was three quarters through her dinner we both were fed up and Stu took her up to her room for the night.  What seemed to upset her the most, not that we were unhappy with her behavior, but that she hadn’t finished her dinner and that her sister was downstairs watching “Signing Time” without her.  Eventually she calmed down.  Stu talked her down from the screeching, unhappy little girl that howled up the stairs.

She woke up promising to be better.  And asking for her leftover dinner, which Stu had actually put in the fridge for her.  She had maccaroni and cheese for breakfast!

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to keep her promise.  Again, she gave us a near repeat Monday night. More screeching, crying, promising to be good, telling us that she could be a good girl.  Insisting she was a good girl, and would listen now.  Right. We’ve totally heard that story before.  So, she had another early night.

Tuesday, she was better, and Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday, well, she called one of her teachers a name.  This teacher asked her to be quiet during nap time.  Teagan didn’t want to, she said “no” then called the teacher a pig.  Horrifying.  I have no idea where she even got the idea of calling someone a mean name like that.  Day care told her that we don’t call people names.  Day care made Stu sign a note.  He was mortified.  We told her that we don’t call people bad things.  She said she’d be good, and wouldn’t do it again.

As I was getting her ready for bed, she called me something – a fart, a burp – I don’t remember what any more and then laughed.  I told her that she had just lost her books for doing something mean like that.  She thought she was being funny.  Apologized, but she knew she wasn’t getting any books.  A few minutes later, she called me a poop.  I picked her up and carried her to bed, telling her that her behavior was unacceptable, and made me sad. Stu came up, hearing the commotion, and reinforced the message.

We were dreading the weekend, but she was quite good.  Fun. She got to play with her friend G for a bit.  And she learned how to pedal her tricycle! All by herself!

She was pretty good today too :D

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June 2, 2012

Look who got a hair cut today.

 

Well, a little trim.  Mr. Wayne just cut the long “funny” fringe she had.  All the curls in back are still intact!  She did a good job, was more curious than anything else.

She’s getting so big.

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April 15, 2012

We all scream for ice cream!

Teagan’s first ever ice cream cone. With rainbow sprinkles. She loved it.

Not sure how we made it almost three years without giving her an ice cream cone before, Maybe because we don’t eat out with the kids too often, and when we do, we don’t usually get dessert. When we have ice cream at home, it’s in a bowl.

I ordered the kid size, but was handed a full size cone. Teagan didn’t quite understand the reason to lick around the edges and why to not hold the cone at an angle. She was lucky that her ice cream didn’t fall off onto the ground, but it was a very tenacious cone.

We ended up turning it into a cup, letting her eat some of the cone. She put it all down to ride the carousel again, and Stu took the opportunity to throw the ice cream soup out. Teagan didn’t miss it.

A very good evening.

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October 10, 2011

Out and About

Today I was left with both girls.  Alone. All day.  Day care was closed!  Insert your standard Home Alone Culkin scream here.

So far, Stu and I haven’t left the other alone with both girls for more than a few hours.  We usually take one of them with us if we go out.  We have survived so far by always using a divide and conquer strategy.

It ended up not being anywhere near as bad as I thought.  Much better than the time I had to take both girls to the doctor and they both cried, although only one got shots.

We took it easy in the morning.  Breakfast for the girls, clandestine apple cider munchkins for me.  Books and kisses and fetched toys, with a side of Nick Jr. until nap time.  Ashlin always laughs when Teagan pulls faces.  Heck, she will laugh when Teagan simply looks at her.  She loves when her big sister brings her toys.  Teagan, so excited, is eager to oblige simple requests to bring her sister a new toy.

Before she went up for her nap, Teagan decided Ashlin needed to have her snuggle bear. Teagan, at first, was fine about the nap, but instead of actually napping, sang songs – Itsy Bitsy ‘pider, Twinkle twinkle, Rain Rain Go Away.  I love when she sings herself to sleep, or wakes up singing!

Anyway, Teagan wasn’t convinced she needed a nap, but a bit of convincing – and a little rocking – got her down.  Down she stayed for over an hour and a half!

I needed some paint for a craft project, so had to go out to get some.  I thought it would be a good good way to spend some of the time between naps, going out and then crafting a bit.  Shopping was successful.

After a quick afternoon nap, we got ready for the craft project.  Teagan got a kick out of helping me find paper, something to put the paint in.  She loved doing it too. And loved that I included Ashlin too.

The day was very good, up until around 5:00, when Teagan started breaking down.  And I started losing my patience.  Ashlin was over tired too, so she didn’t help much, unfortunately.  I would have liked to have a better ending to the day, but when I asked her, she said she would want to do it again.

I guess, that’s what really matters.

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September 12, 2011

On a Carousel

Yesterday, we had a much more pleasant toddler.  We took her to the fair.  It was fun!  She had fun!  She had her first ever carousel ride.  I put her on the horse – “the white one mama!” and she had fun sitting on it, but then something spooked her, and she wanted down.  It didn’t matter that I told her that I would be holding her the entire time. The horse was high.  This was her first time, she was a bit scared.  Down, mama.  Now, mama.

I was a bit sad that she was scared.  I want her to become a brave, strong woman.  One who’s not scared of a carousel ride.  Or of very little else.  How do you teach bravery?

Hiding my disappointment - hopefully enough! – I quickly suggested the nearby bench.  That was ok, Sort of. It wasn’t as high.  She was definitely not sure if she wanted to ride at all, even though her friend was giggling and bouncing up and down with excitement.  He’s done this before.  She hasn’t.

She had a momentary look of panic in her eyes as the ride started up.  The first few times around, she was very uneasy, unsure if she wanted to be there.  Each time around, I would point out dada, who was on the side with Ashlin, and prompt her to wave.  Eventually, she started looking for him, waving, all on her own.  Before she knew it, she was enjoying it, and having fun!

Baby you can drive my car!

After her eventual success on the carousel, she was a bit braver.  She wanted to go on everything!  Even the rides that were way too big and fast for her.  Her friend, G, wanted to go on this car ride, so she wanted to go too.  He may have been the source of some of her bravery.  That’s ok.  Maybe that’s how you learn how to be brave, you watch your friends.

We let them into the ride.  She wanted the “red one, dada.”  Help get her in, hooked the belt.  Told her to stay sitting until we came back for her.  And off she went.  All by herself.  My big girl.  I was so proud of her for being so big and brave, and then sad she was growing up.  So fast.  She cried when the ride was over, she was having so much fun.

Driving Miss T

She ended up going into the bouncy castle and then on a Caterpillar - Look! Buggy! – ride.  She did not enjoy the caterpillar one as much as the cars.  It was a bit more jerky and a bit faster too.

She wanted to do the car ride again, before her friend had to leave.  Since she had so much fun the first time, how could we say no?  Some kid had taken the red car, so they shared a blue jeep.  G drive.  She loved it.  She waved.

We have to try a carousel again.  Soon.  Maybe this time, she’ll be brave.  All on her own.

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June 30, 2011

Monkey see, monkey do.  Look who learned a new trick.

Stu started this with Teagan last night.  Today, when he dropped her off at day care, she showed the teachers her new trick.

I’m not sure if I’m proud or not.

It is kinda funny.

Maybe.

But it does show that we need to start being careful of what we say and do.  She’s such a sponge.

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February 2, 2011

So, last night, (or early this morning,) was a lovely moment of motherhood fail.  Teagan woke up around 4:40am crying.  Usually all she needs is to have her blanket put back on and a new security pacifier (to go with the three she already has, but can’t find).  So, I go settle her, give her a quick rub on the back, tell her I love her and to go back to sleep.  Then head back to bed.  With a quick stop in the bathroom. 

Ah…  Bed.  Empty bladder.  No heartburn.  Sleep.  Heaven.

Just before 5:00am, she starts crying again.  As I had been in there a few minutes earlier, I was just going to let her go.  Stu will often sleep through.  Not this morning.  He did hear her, got up and headed to her room.  I called out as he left our room that I had been in to her about 15 minutes earlier, and that she was just fine, probably lost the bubble (pacifier) I gave her and needed another one.  

Stu gets there and yells for help.  I jump out of bed, totally freaked, head towards her room.  She had been fine just a few minutes earlier.  I swear!  He had given her an extra check, as she was saying over and over “wet.”  At first he wasn’t sure if her diaper had leaked, but it turns out she had thrown up in her bed.  Great.  How did I miss that??  How horrible to I feel now?  <sigh>

He dealt with the piglet and I took care of the crib – took the top sheet and protector off her crib.  (Yes, we double sheet/protector the mattress.  It totally came in handy).

She asked for a book, but Stu put her to bed again.  I ended up not being able to fall back to sleep.  She coughed a few times in her sleep.  My ears twitched every time, but she never called out, never cried again.

She ended up sleeping until 9:25am.  Woke up starving.  After a breakfast of toast and a clementine, we bundled her up for day care.  Stu and the piglet headed out, but came back in about 20 minutes later.  Ice.  The car got stuck in the snow bank at the bottom of the driveway.  But that’s another story.

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November 19, 2009

She’s six months old today.  I can’t believe that it’s been that long already.  It seems like just last week she was born.  That just the other day we finally got nursing down pat.  Just yesterday that maybe I deciphered some of her personality and patterns.  That I sort of understand her.  That I feel like her mom.

It has been a fun (for the most part) six months.  First smiles, laughs, and trips to the aquarium.  First blowouts, ear aches, and crying jags.  First hugs and snuggles.  A smile when picking her up from day care, that takes the ache away of leaving her there in the first place. 

I thought I knew what this journey would be, but I was wrong.  It is so much more.  She is so much more.  I am so glad she’s here.

Happy Half Birthday, baby girl.