Let the final countdown begin....Week 6

I taught my last class yesterday. And since I only teach labs I don't have to worry about finals and can now fully get organized and prepare for the big B-Day on the horizon. I am on a big rollercoaster right now. Some days are very good, I am motivated and upbeat. Other days everything I see and hear irritates me to no end. I have alot to do in the next month and a half so in order to keep the down days to a minimum I am going to use this blog to lay out 10 weekly goals for myself. So this place will be very laundry list like for a bit. Here we go

Week 6: 4/20 - 4/27
1. Grade all the last papers for classes, put grades in, and clean up office.
2. Finish redoing the figures for manuscript and pull research papers.
3. Package up Round robin and send out.
4. Get the Passport application process started (I am heading to Canada in August).
5. Clean/organize master bedroom and hall closets top to bottom.
6. Return/Exchange baby shower gifts (just a few).
7. Write 10 thank you cards.
8. Clean out and plant herb bed...this is the only garden I am planning on keeping up this summer.
9. Start baby book
10. Get dog groomed

Baby shower....Check.

Guest of Honor (me)
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Hello all,
I know you are just dying to know how the shower went. Well, better than I anticipated. It was short and fun for both me and the guests...I think. There are more photos on my flickr accout if yu want to check it out. My sister (to my right in the next photo) planned the games which kept everyone involved while I was opening gifts. I got a lot of things off my registry and quite a few things that were not. ( I didn't use the code phrase Anna, but it did pop in to my head a couple of times, of course those were the things that did not have a receipt.)

Opening gifts
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I did discover that I registered for WAY to many towels/washcloths and blankets (I am having a baby in JUNE , I must of lost my mind registering.) and then got more blankets/bath stuff that i did not ask for! They say not to register for toys or clothes because those things are always a popular gifts. That came true for the toys I won't need to buy any more, but not so for the clothes. I got a couple of cute dresses, but only a few packs of onesies and that was it.

I know more gifts will be coming, Ihave another shower or wo, an Ians buddies are throwing him a pamper party (perfect for guys they bring a package if diapers and beer and hangout to razz the future father about how much his life is going to go down the drain)

Did anyone catch Notes from the Underbelly on ABC last week? A complete riot, and the absolute truth. I actually made me feel abit better about the lack of reason behind wanting to have a baby...I think it will be on wed at 8:30...If you have ever been pregnant or are even considering it, I think you will enjoy it.

Week 32

Week 32
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

May I rant for a moment ? Thanks, and no flames please, I just need to vent this out.
So my least favorite (and most oft asked) question now is "Are you getting excited? " Depending on my mood, I may lie and say yes but usually I am honest and say no, I am scared out of my mind. Why is this so shocking to people? Both those who have had and haven't had kids?

I was talking with Ian this morning and he feels as scared and helpless as I do. Excitement? no. I mean this is not like a countdown to vacation, or buying a house, or even to a big event like our wedding. I feel like I have entered a dark tunnel and on the other side I am told there is light, but I also know it is a giant rollercoaster that, now that I have paid for the ticket, I will never be allowed off.
Would I change my mind? No, I know in my heart that I would make this decision again, for I would ever regret not going through this most basic of human experiences. But for the love, stop asking if I am excited about my world turning upside down.

My shower is saturday and while it is exciting (who doesn't love gifts) I am also very fearful of it. I don't fake emotions well, and am scared I will seem cold if I can't manage a big Ohh and Ahh over every little cute thing. ugh.

Here is another pic so Bellastitch doesn't feel so bad about being big. Looks like a beer gut, eh? oh and those stretch marks, those are from puberty, nothing new yet.

Belly shot- week 32
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Round and Round and round

May and June minikats
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it, and belated Passover greetings from last week.

But on to the important things, cross stitch. I joined a round robin a couple of months ago, my first ever,...not thinking as a transformed parent yet...and instead of bailing on the group, I am going to use it as the perfect excuse to keep cross stitch in my life during this time of transition, Sleep or no sleep. It consists of 6 folks and will go until next Feb. I chose to do a design I have been meaning to do for a while...the 12 monthly mini-kats by Calico Crossroads. It is on 28 count Laguna instead of the 14 ct aida called for. Each person only has to do one, but I did 2 to get us rolling...May and June. May took a couple of days, June only 1 day to do. I will be sending this off as soon as I can (although the robin does not officially start till May).

after this picture, my cat Sam asked if he could be a mini-kat, I told him he did not fit.....not happy.

Sam -trying to be a mini kat
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Housewarming gift

Housewarming redo
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I bought this pattern 2 years ago at CATS. It is by JBW designs. and I think it is OOP since it is no longer on their website. But anyway, I bought it for a friend who at the time, was talking about selling her house and buying a bigger one. I finially got to start it when she bought one this past month. Originally I had decided to make it into a wall hanging (my first attempt at such). and when it was all done (see picture below) I decided I would never hang such a piece of crap on my wall, so I couldn't possibly give it to somone else to hang on theirs. The perfectionist in me decided to tear it apart and I finished it instead No -sew cube style. I can't sew in a straight line on a machine to save my life. No wonder I have such trouble trying to quilt (maintaining a 1/4 inch straight seam is the toughest part) Maybe if I could figure out how to drop the feed dogs on my sewing machine, but I think it is too old to do that.

Tis ahome
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Shhh. Baby is Sleeping

Baby is sleeping
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Yeah I found my camera! It was hanging up right by the door. In a place I never put it. Well I was really tired on Sat after I got home, so that might explain it.

First up Is the Kreinik freebie "Baby is sleeping". I decided not to use the kreinik it calls for cause well...I didn't have any it called for and had trouble finding them and it would of cost me about $40 to $50 to buy them all. So this is a DMC conversion. I matched it to the great fabric I found to finish it off. I also used fusible web for the first time to give the finished product a bit of structure. After a bit of swearing, may use it in the future for ornaments. Both of these were given as gifts for friends having babies at the end of April.

I apologize for the cruddy photo, I took one more close up,but it came out fuzzy, cause my digital camera can't focus if I I turn the flash off. If the flash is on and the light isn't bright enough then it washes it out. Sigh. I do NOT recommend the NIkon Coolpix P2 for cross stitch photos. I wish I had a scanner, those pictures always come out so well on blogs.

Lots to show...but missing main ingredient

No Camera. I seem to have misplaced it. I know it is around somewhere, Just been busy lately.

This past Saturday was a doozy. I had a Tarheel stitch-in in the morning, a baby shower and a bridal shower in the afternoon, and a housewarming that same evening. And since I never turn down an invite to a party...I was eating all day. It really wasn't that bad, I paced myself and was ready with everything, gifts, directions, etc. I was just a bit sore the next day. But I have stitchy things that I made for the baby shower and housewarming that I want to show you. so as soon as I find the damn camera, I'll be hitting this blog with lots of posts.

In babyland (is that a section of the Magic Kingdom?) I went to the doctor yesterday, met doctor #4 of 7, he was cool, I haven't met a bad one yet at this practice. He pulled out the portable ultrasound to check baby position. She is already head down and facing my right side. Now we just need to make sure she stays this way. Then we had our first childbirth class. there were about 12 couples there, due anywhere from May 3 to July 23, And I was one of the 2 smallest (belly wise) in the class. After a Saturday of people looking surprised when I said I was 6 and 1/2 months pregnant, I made the doctor look at my chart to have him confirm everything is Ok in that dept. But my weight gain is normal, and he said it should actually slow down to a pound a week from here on.
Countdown is as follows:
2 weeks till next Dr. appt
2 1/2 weeks till baby shower
4 weeks till the end of teaching
5 weeks till trip to beach
10 weeks till due date

Almost 30 weeks

WARNING: Pregnancy and Breast related topics to follow:


26 weeks
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Let me ask you, do you see a big difference between this and

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29 weeks
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

this???? There is 4 weeks between the 2 photos (and almost 8 pounds), and even though the perspective is off Iwould think I would look a bit different. I even still have a belly button...It is not even flat yet. I do feel different. Its a bit tougher to get up from sitting and she is moving ALOT more now. Part of it I think is that she is (I think) transverse. there is no kicking on my ribs or my bladder. just to the sides...so I don't protrude very far. Second is my breasts are expanding faster, I have gone up one whole cup size in 4 weeks. (a total of 3 cup sizes from normal) THIS is not something to be happy about. It means I have to part with another $80-90 for special order bras yeah. They don't have my size in stores. I joked at the beginning I would be halfway thru the alphabet before the baby came. Now I am beginning to wonder if that isn't premonatory. I mean really how much milk can one baby need...it does refill right?? One of my pregnant friends commented on how I shouldn't invest in a breast pump yet because I don't know if I will be able to produce enough milk to breastfeed. I almost laughed in her face, If my freakishly large breasts can't produce enough milk then there is no hope for anyone else!!

"Always make new mistakes" Esther Dyson

In order to tell this story, I need to give you a little bit of background. As a child of about 6 or so I distinctly recall seeing the damage inflicted by a accidentially stapled thumbnail of another child. And being the sardonic child that I was, I had no sympathy for him, I just remember thinking what kind of idiot staples his thumb? I ranked it right up there with other stupid things, like putting a finger in the pencil sharpener, or sticking your tongue in a light socket. Things that, since you can IMAGINE the result and the consequences you don't need to do them. (side bar: is it me or is it usually boys who do this kind of stuff? but that is whole other topic).

So the other day Ian had brought home a bunch of stuff from work, junk that was just rattling around in his tool box, to sort through. I looked over the stuff and innocently picked up a tiny stapler. I commented that it was cute but broken, the top half (cover and staple holder) no longer locked together. and as I tried to force to two parts together, a sharp pain issued from my hand. in that split second I thought, oh I did NOT just staple my thumb! I looked down and sure enough a staple was half buried in the pad of my thumb. I pulled it out and instead of the usual curse or ouch, I immediately started to laugh. Needless to say Ian was very confused till I caught my breath and explained, that a perfect record of not stapling my body had come to a screeching halt. Now we know what kind of idiot staples her thumb....one who just got a 26 year old payback

2 days later the darn thing is still a bit sore.

Roly Poly Snowman

Roly Poly Snowman
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

What?? Well it is not to far outside the realm for those of you still dealing with winter, But here in good old NC I am now able to walk the dog without a coat on. we might have a cold patch still to come, but by the end of the month it is pretty much a garanteed spring. The early daffodils are all blooming now. So for me it is a bit late (or early) for christmas ornaments, but he was halfway done, So when I finally got my hands on some more GAST I was able to finish him up. He was in one of the JCS mags (05?) by Bent Creek.

Currently I am working on a couple of baby shower gifts for friends, one in NJ, one here, both in 2 weeks so I'll post those when I am all done.

To answer your question Anna, the floor was in excellent shape, it just had som black marks from the carpet glue? All we had to do was sand the whole floor (using a hand sander 220 grit) and Polyurethaned (Minwax) with 4 coats. (sanding between each coat with 400 grit) I highly recommend using a lambswool applicator (it screws on to any broom handle) . The process was very easy with the room being empty.

Home stretch

As of today I am officially in my last trimester. thats 12 weeks, or 3 months, or 84 days, if you are counting. Which we are. As my stepfather put it so succinctly the other day, this baby is coming like a freight train, and I am starting to feel like a deer in the headlights. Anxious, excited, and scared out of my mind. I am slowly coming to realize that my world will come to a screeching halt in 3 months and while everyone who is a mother will tell you that it is worth it, that doesn't help me sleep at night. Anticipation of the labor and delivery is having me read a different book every night, only to reassure me with the knowledge that my experience will be completely unpredictable and nothing like what I have read. In the past few weeks I have registered for a ton of stuff that I may or may not need depending on who you speak to. We have painted the ceiling and installed a newer, smaller ceiling fan. My mother and stepfather came this week during spring break to help rip up the fabulous tangerine shag carpet and redo the hardwood floor underneath and it is much more fabulous, Don'tchathink?



Floor of the babys room
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Ceiling of babys room
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

OkOk it is not all that bad. I am just a bit freaked out. But Ian and I have found our pediatrician, are close to finalizing a day care for the fall, and are in the process of interviewing Doulas. So at least our network of support is becoming more solidified. My mom and I went out and bought some cute clothes at a couple of consignment stores so the layette (strange word) is finally starting to build.


closet and baby clothes
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Overdyed turtle

Turtle freebie
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Ain't he CUTE!
I used some of the new? varigated floss from DMC. I can't recall the # right now. But it felt the same as regular DMC, good coverage and it consistantly changed every inch or two. What I think I might like about this stuff is that it is colorfast (or so they claim, I haven't checked) but it would be nice to use overdyed on things I plan on washing.

the pattern can be found here

Can't see the forest for the paint

A forest on the wall
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Ian painted the ceiling yesterday, but I haven't taken a photo of that yet. I thought I would entertain you with his version of a forest that was done last week. It is a bit dark, but he promises it will get lighter as he moves forward and down. To answer some of your comments, no Ian is not a painter, just a self taught sketcher. Normally he does pencil sketches, and accents them with color or a bit of paint. He has never to my knowledge painted anything larger than a sheet of 8x11 paper. His "real" job is an aircraft mechanic, but like me has NUMEROUS hobbies (currently I can count 7 for him and 7 for me, see below) and this doesn't include the dozens we have both tried and stopped over the years. We have so many hobbies that our 3rd bedroom is technically called the Craft Room and is where we throw guests to stay overnight (there is a futon, so no, they don't have to sleep on the big piles of fabric). In fact both of us go far out of our way to avoid aquiring new hobbies because what we have takes up so much time/ money already...It is one of those things that made us wait so long to have a child, we really don't want to give these things up but know that time/money spend on a child will force us do ditch at least most of them for about 18 years.

Hobby List for Me:
Cross stitch
Jewelry making
Candle making
Quilting
Knitting
Reading
Scrapbooking

Hobby List for Ian:
Drawing
RC helicopter
Legos
Auto Mechanics
Woodworking
Reading
Flying (real airplanes)
Is Xbox a hobby?

Let's just say if we won the lottery neither of us would ever get bored.

Little stitches

Portrait of a Cat
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Portrait of a dog
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

While Ian paints, I stitch. Here are a couple of little guys I finished the past weekend. Both of these are Brittercup Freebies (I have plans for them but won't tell you what they are yet). Portrait of a Dog and Portrait of a cat. For both I substituted an overdyed floss that matched my current pets.

Landscaping....Inside

The background trees
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

So in preparation of the mural painting, Ian recalled that he had seen a muralist ( is that what you call them?) once working using a photograph as a guide. He thought at the time that was kind of "cheating". But now faced with a blank wall and the wish to make a mural look "real" he had decided that using the colors from photographs may be the best way to go. The result is this, a very real looking background of trees reflected in the water. Is it a lake? a river? I am not sure yet. It will be interesting to see how the animals fit in to this. We still have a ways to go

Stitching!

work on Nine Patch village by Bright Needle
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

Yeah....Here is my work on Brightneedle's Nine Patch Village that I worked on over at the Tarheel get together on Sat. This is over one on 28 evenweave. I had to break down and buy a magnifier for this one just so I can stitch as fast as I do over two.
I have to say I am a bit dissapointed with the colors..they are just too light. I picked a fabric which I thought matched the model photo pretty closely (and I still think it does.) However as I started stitching I noticed that a couple of my fibers, ones that are called for, not substituted, blend in too well with the fabric. Like in the top block with the house, there is a fence. Can you see it? I can't. and even squinting at the model photo, you can barely tell there is a fence, so I know my fabric isn't that far off. I think I might leave the fence out of some of the other squares since I don't think it really enhanced the piece. The colors are so muted overall that if I darken up one fiber, I would have to bump up the whole lot of them. If I could start all over...which I am NOT I would pick a darker fabric.

I have also been working on another piece but I can't show it to you for a bit as it is a gift I am working on.

15 minutes of fame

Ok not for me, but the next best thing ...a relation! My crafty cousin Betsy was on Martha Stewart. You can check out her blog here. and a link to the video clip from this past Friday's Martha here it is the teacup pincushion clip. It will be up for 2 weeks. Is it just me or is Martha looking a bit fluffy? She also has a book coming out this year (Betz, not Martha), they all involve projects using felted wool. Someday I'll have to try out a couple of her crafts.

We have a sky

Sky in Baby room
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

as I edge into my 6th month I am noticing more and more that the blogs I read (majority of them about cross stitching) are almost all authored by folks with no children. I am guessing this is because stitchers with children probably barely have time to stitch much less blog. So in deference to my childless readers, so as not to bore you out of your mind with isn't she cute posts, I will try to only post about my baby once every 3 stitching posts Deal?

On the upside of that is that all our baby room prep is about crafting/painting. As you can see from the picture the main part of the sky is done. Ian took 3 original shades of paint and about 4 hours to do the whole room. He used a big brush in a technique I guess is best described as stippling. I think it came out much better than I had hoped for, there is shading and depth and it already looks like a real sky, and clouds are still to come. The ceiling will be done as well in the darker blue tones. Ian is already shopping about for the shades of green we need for the grass.

Valentines Exchange

Valentines Exchange
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

I recieved my valentines exchange on Mon from a fellow Tarheel, Linda. This was nice because I had someone in mind when I was stitching and shopping.. but I did not realize that she would be sending me stuff too! I thought it was one of those exchanges like we had on the bloggers exchange board where you sent off something but what you recieved was from someone different. Anyway, I got a lovely little scissor fob, a tuck in wall hanging frame, 2 patterns, floss, a candle, a homemade card, and chocolate. Above and beyond what was expected. I did not take a picure of what I sent her but it also had a fob and a candle involved ;) great minds think alike.

October Sampler

October Sampler
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

A freebie by Passion Broderie. I know it is February, But technically this has been "done" for over a year. Here is the full story: I first saw this as a finished picture on the now defunct Xstitch freebie website , it's still up just no longer added to or maintained. I loved this website to see how you could finish freebies (which is usually just a photocopy without a color picture). and cruised it often. Well since I could no longer find this freebie online, I contacted the original stitcher who kindly sent me the pattern. I decided it would look great on some green fabric with this hand dyed fiber that Aniza sent me long ago. Unfortunately I ran out of the thread on the bottom row. I tried to contact Aniza (who is in Malaysia) with no luck, then just put it away while I tried to figure out what to do. At the Pidgen Forge retreat, I took it with me to see if Brenda (our local dyer) could recreate the thread. But before that happened, my brilliant tarheels said "why don't you just do your initials and/or date in a solid color that matches" DUH. why didn't I think of that? See this is why we need stitching groups. So others help solve problems what you are too close to a project to see.
Well yesterday I pulled out some graph paper, thread, and an hour later....DONE.