I am really enjoying knitting. Ask Mark. He makes fun of me all the time. I should have known I would like it. My favorite part of making sugar cookies (or cakes) is the icing/decorating part. I like to work with my hands in a creative way. After making the doll blanket for Emma and scarf for Davis, I moved onto some little hats and booties for the baby. This was to give me some practice in knitting in the round as well as some other stitches. All those projects taught me a lot of the basics. They also taught me how to make my hands do what they needed to do to make the needles and yarn do what I wanted it to do. After that, I felt it was time. Time to pick up the longies pattern and go for it. The first round was a hot mess. For one, I tried to do too many things in one pair (learn not only short rows, gusset, and grafting the gusset together but how to make increases in the legs? Bad plan.). Second, I got turned around at the legs and was knitting inside out. Hard to exp...

I am way behind in posting current belly shots. I decided at 20 weeks to go for every 3-4 weeks between. As now, while I am getting bigger, the change is not as noticeable weekly. And it is hot. I am already getting, "SO, you are having the baby soon huh?" To which I say, bite me people. Not until September. I am "officially" at 26 weeks now. My OB will likely schedule me a week early. I think we are thirteen weeks out now. 17 weeks 18 weeks 19 weeks 20 weeks 23 weeks Looking.....big.

I was able to figure out how to knit little baby hats. My circular needles were too big so I had to do Magic Loop. Once I got that down, it was easy going. Here is hat number 1. I used cotton yarn, Lily Sugar 'n' Cream in gumdrop. I think. And here is hat number two. This is Lily Sugar 'n' Cream Naturals in browns. Next, I am going to try to make matching socks. I also want to knit a bigger hat for Davis. And Emma wants that little purse. Those are on my list to have done no later than the end of July. Then.....time to try my hand at longies.

I told Emma I would make her something as well in my learning to knit project. I picked some pink yarn for her and it was the first thing I cast on. I abandoned that and finished Davis' scarf first. Then came back to Emma's. I cast on far too many stitches for it to be a scarf. So we decided she could use a doll blanket. She picked out some ribbon (this was mostly to hide the not so good knitting at the top and the couple of holes that I managed to do.) to embellish the blanket. Last night I finished her blanket. It is kind of wonky. But it works for her dolly. It is also very soft (cotton yarn). Next up is knitting in the round. My next project is going to be newborn hats and matching socks. In these projects, I will not only learn knitting in the round but also increase and decrease stitches. I hope that by August I am ready to tackle some longies. Also, Emma has requested a purse. More like a pouch type purse. So I will add that to my learning projects. That ...

I have finished a small scarf for Davis. It is a bit wonky. You can tell it was a first project. But it was fun to knit and to learn. There is a sense of satisfaction in completing it, even if it is not perfect. And it was made with love. In that one you can see my oopsies. Where I lost focus..... Now onto my next learning project.

Once I found out I was pregnant again, I really thought about learning to knit. Why knit, you ask? Because I cloth diaper and love to use wool shorts and pants as a diaper cover/clothes for Xander. I knew I would want to do the same with this baby. Mom taught me some knitting techniques years ago. I vaguely remember the needles and yarn and her teaching me to cast on and knit. I seemed to have not really retained it though. Finally, a week ago, I bit the bullet. That is how I am. Jump in with both feet or not at all. Off I want to Wal-Mart to get some needles, a simple how-to book, and some yarn. I came home and started looking things over. It seemed overwhelming. I turned to the internet for some how-to videos. Still overwhelmed. I lack patience and get frustrated easily as a result. I am also a creature of comfort and do not take to learning new things easily or readily. The first night, I figured out how to cast on. Score one for me! The knit stitch was giving me a h...

Yep, that is what has been going on. Life is keeping us busy. Running around like chicken with our heads cut off. Awesome. I am not one for busy either. I do not like to be busy. It does not work for me. I am a cloud dweller, my personality type, and we cloud dwellers need time to just be man. It seems our calendar (another thing I am not fond of.....calendars. Goes along with the dislike of schedules. Gag. Ties you down dude....) has been jam packed for the last two months. I have found a moment to just be on this rainy Saturday. Though Emma is trying to rob me of that ("Mom, let's play Life. Come on." ) We spent the last week taking care of my two nieces and nephew so my sister and her husband could actually take a vacation ALONE. And not be running in 400 different directions every day. I always enjoy being "mom" to six. Even though the girls are now 16 and 14 and it seems I am not ready for that yet. Teens are from a different planet. And ...

Here are the thirteen week belly shots. Not much else going on. Other than the freakish weather we are having. Davis and I are thrilled to be experiencing pregnancy together.

To me it does not look like I am that much bigger than last week. Denial? Possibly. Or maybe things are slowing down some. We shall find out soon how many are hanging out in there. Then you all with your mean twin comments can be quiet.

Most people at this point are aware of my current condition. Since I am addicted to Facebook and all. About, well, I guess six or seven weeks ago, I took one of these... In case you are not sure, that is a pregnancy test with two lines indicating pregnancy. Baby #4 is scheduled to arrive around September 28, 2009. Yesterday we heard one heartbeat via doppler. I go next week for an ultrasound. I am even bigger this time than I was with Xander. Fairly certain there is just one this time again, but, well, I am just so big already. This baby was planned just as the others were. It just happened far easier than I expected. Unlike the first three who are all three years ten months apart, Xander and the newest one will be one year ten months apart. Davis is also pregnant. Here is our ten week belly shot. I leave you with the eleven week belly shot. Yes I realize this is awful already. I do not know what to tell you. Though I swear it does not look that big from my point of view.

If you are one.

I think I super stink. Only two posts this whole month? Yikes. What a slacker. I do not have anything profound to say today either. Just felt like something should be put on here. The weather is sucking my brain out of my head. Enough with winter already. Sometimes I think I am odd. Well, I am fairly certain I am odd in a lot of ways. But I was thinking about this today... It is a Saturday. And being the Facebook addict I am, I read a lot of status updates. One friend had said she was going out tonight. You know, with adults. For a second I was envious. A night out with adults?!?!?! How stimulating! How fun! How exciting! Then it passed. And I realized that if I actually con someone into keeping all of my kids, I would rather go out to dinner alone with Mark. I am otherwise fairly content to be at home. I wonder if this makes me super odd. Do not misread me. I will leave the house. I am not a hermit and am not afraid of the public. It was just that for that one mo...

I am fully aware that is has been eons since I last posted. And one would think since it had been so long I would have something profound to say. That someone would be wrong. Twelve years ago today, Mark proposed. (I know, cheesy.) We had already discussed marriage. I mean, at the old age of 19 and 20 and after dating for a whopping four months, who has not discussed it? So Valentine's Day was just the "official" popping of the question. Funny what you remember...... We went to see Fools Rush In (love me some Salma) and had a late dinner at Macaroni Grill. Mark proposed on the Plaza. It was freezing cold outside. Twelve years ago....we celebrate our twelve year wedding anniversary in May. Yes, I can do the math. We dated for five months before getting engaged and then were engaged for just over three months before getting married. Making that eight months from start to finish. Is that not normal? Ah, well. So it goes. I would do it the same way all over aga...

Today is the day my oldest son turns five years old. I am not sure where the years went..... My Boogie, You bless me each and every day with your love of life. Your enthusiasm and your imagination never cease to amaze me. Your love of music and your ability to be reached through music is inspiring. Your energy is endless. Your love knows no bounds. You were given to me for a short time by our Heavenly Father. I was entrusted to care for you, love you, and guide you. I was given this honor and an honor it is. You touch people by your very existence. For the last five years you have graced me with your humor and your love. I am watching you grow into a young man. One who told me the other day that when he can drive, he will borrow my car and take me out on a date. I am holding you to that. One who loves with no end in sight. My Boogie, thank you. For being you and allowing me to be your mommy. I will love you until the end of time. And for always, you will be my baby, my Boogie, my son.

Today is the day. Today is the day that America will swear in the first African American President. Today brings hope for many, many people. I do not think my kids get what today means. Not in the short term and by far not in the long term. My kids are living history in the making and I do not think they quite get what that means. Emmaline was about a year and a half when 9/11 happened. She has no idea what that was, but she was with me as I watched those towers fall. And it is documented in one of her baby books as well. She was living history in a way that I never did. All three of my kids are here today. As the inauguration plays on the t.v., they wonder why mama is making them watch the news. (we never watch the news in this house) Today marks a change not only for us, not only for America, but for people all over the world. Today I am thankful for the change on the horizon. I am thankful for a sovereign God who knows all. I am thankful for the One above who has His hand in ALL thi...

This says it all for me right now. Thanks David Crowder Band for making the music you do... When clouds veil sun And disaster comes Oh, my soul Oh, my soul When waters rise And hope takes flight Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Ever faithful Ever true You I know You never let go You never let go You never let go You never let go When clouds brought rain And disaster came Oh, my soul Oh, my soul When waters rose And hope had flown Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Overflows Oh, what love, oh, what love Oh, my soul Fills hope Perfect love that never lets go Oh, what love, oh, what love Oh, what love, oh, what love In joy and pain In sun and rain You’re the same Oh, You never let go Thank you Lord for never letting go.....

That I suck. Thanks Mimi for the reminder. (-; Um, too much to update? I guess I will give it the old college try. December was crazy. After about the 16th or so there was a lot of life to live. We made a trek for an out of town wedding. Emmaline played the role of flower girl so we had to be there for the rehearsal as well. Made for a long weekend vacation. The wedding was gorgeous (a cousin got married and now we have another chick in the family!) and Emma did her job well. The kids had fun staying in a hotel and it was nice to take a break from every day life. It was crazy, but fun! Emma also had to go get her hair done at the salon and she was not a fan. But she put on her big girl panties and did great. Emmaline's hair do The flower girl...isn't she gorgeous??? My monkey's Stay still... for one more. A family picture After that we ran right into Christmas and family celebrations. We had a lovely holiday with all the people that we love. Christmas Eve was ...

I have never really been a daddy's girl. I know there is a difference in the father's relationship with his daughter. Growing up I was mama's girl. My sister was older than me by five years and got married young. She moved far away, so by the age of 14 I was basically an only child. My mom and I spent a lot of time together. Our relationship was always closer than most, I imagine. But even though I was mama's girl, I knew there was something special and different about my daddy and me. Today, my kids and I called Papa, told him to get ready, we would be on our way soon. We were going to get him and take him with us to Bass Pro. Why? Why not. Daddy is an outdoor man. He knows his stuff. We had not been to the Bass Pro here yet and it seemed like a nice and fun thing to do. Little did I know.... As I watched my own father take each of my kids by the hand, or pick up my youngest child from his stroller, something came over me. This overwhelming feeling. That...