Good news and bad news.

Today we had another ultrasound. It looks like we're only having 1 baby! Not sure how I feel about this yet, a little sad yet relieved. But the one baby measured 7 weeks and 1 day and had a very strong heartbeat, and the other measured 6 weeks 2 days, with no heartbeat. Looks like the second one won't make it. It should just reabsorb, and the other baby will be fine. Thank goodness! I'm just glad that it looks for now, like everything will be just fine. ;)

Dyeing

To my Sockapalooza 4 pal- I got your comment. I can easily re-create the Ronald Weasley colorway. I take notes on most of my Hogwarts colorways (with the exception of the first few since I didn't know how well they'd sell at all). I have 2 different superwash merino bases, and a BFL base in either fingering or sport weight. And someone asked me to do something in the merino/silk blend, so I'm going to be ordering more of that. Let me know which you'd like, and I'll try to get it done next weekend. My pregnancy will not interfere with my dyeing, until I'm too big to bed over. ;) And even then, I have a butcher block table that will be brought down to assist me.

I just spent a few hours dyeing again. I have a few new colorways coming. Plus I dyed the yarn for my Gryffindor pal's socks for the Hogwarts Sock Swap. I LOVE how it turned out, and I can't wait to see how they knit up. I decided on 2 different skeins, one in various golds, and one in burgandys. Soo pretty!
PLUS, my Knitters Treat Exchange swap pal Katie, and my Hogwarts Sock Swap pal Lacey sent me some undyed yarn, so I finally did 2 skeins for myself. I did 1 in Night Bus, since I love the colorway so much. I decided to let go of the one in my base that I've been hanging on to, so I could make one specifically for myself. Then I used some pinks, blues and silver to create a new colorway for myself. To do something special for my daughter, and I LOVE IT. Not sure if I'll repeat it again, or if it's just for her yet.

Contest time!!

There's a great contest going on over at 5 Minutes for Mom for a fabulous TV, sponsored by Best Buy! Go enter!!

cleaning house.

With the news of the twins (it's still really wierd to say/write that!), I've decided that we really need to organize our house and make it super kid friendly. Thankfully, we just moved last year, into a much bigger house than we had before, so some of the rooms are really in good shape. Then there's the office, which is a disaster zone. We use it as an office for both of our businesses. My hubby is a consultant (writes software), and I do my jewelry/stitch markers/cards/yarn dyeing. Since we moved in, the office has been the "catch all" for random things. No one sleeps there, so out of sight, out of mind. I started going through things last night, and got rid of a bunch of random boxes that have been sitting in there collecting dust. I have to organzie my yarn stash. And beads/cardmaking/scrapbooking supplies. I do have a wonderful neighbor who is an avid scrapbooker. And she had this fantastic travel paper carrier (it's HUGE). She hardly used it, and it was sitting collecting dust, so she offered it to me for $45. So I gladly accepted, and brought it home Wednesday. This weekend I plan on organizing all of my paper stash, and putting away the stuff I don't use all the time. Which really is most of it. And figure out what to do with my fabric stash. I have loads for quilting, but haven't in a while. I think the twins will help get me out of that rut. I made a quilt for Celia (or quilt TOP I should say), but never actually put it together. The top, batting and backing have been sitting in a box for over 3 years now! Sad!!

Anyway, I seem to be in the mood to clean and organize. We'll see how much I get done this weekend. Hopefully loads! And some dyeing too- some of my Harry Potter yarns have really flown off the "shelves!". I'm so psyched!

Oh my.

I think I'm still in shock. I had my first ultrasound appointment yesterday, and everything looked good for 6 weeks. No heartbeats yet, but that should come next week. Wait- did I say heartbeatS? Yes, I did. Apparently, there are 2 sacs there, so it looks like we're going to be having twins! I'm excited, and terrified at the same time. A LOT is going to change. But I'm excited. And this will be good! It's just going to take some getting used to the idea.

At least this explains why I've been so incredibly exhausted, and why my jeans are already tight.

Double Thank You!!

SP10 has been awesome! I love these exchanges, because I love buying gifts for others, and trying to figure out what they'd like based on their blog. I had the pleasure of spoiling Fairy GodKnitter, Joan. She was great to spoil, she's a wonderful lady, and has gone through a lot the last few years! She also lives in my hometown, so hopefully I'll even get to meet her when I'm home next!

Later last week, I came home to yet another package from my pal! I opened it up to find two incredible skeins of Scout's swag. Beautiful, beautiful colors- I love them! I'll post a pic later- the theme this time was "S is for Shelby...S is for Scout!". I can't wait to cast on another pair of socks for myself!!

Then yesterday when I opened up the mailbox, it was STUFFED! completely stuffed with a huge package. I pulled it out and ran inside to open it. Inside, was the final, reveal package.
It contained a pattern for an adorable sweater for Celia, called the bow wow sweater, and the yarn to make it- Cascade 220 in a fabulous light purple. She squeeled when she saw the color, it was so cute! Then there was the soap- from one of my favorite soap companies- Alchemic Dragon in a yummy red clover tea scent. Then there was the reveal card. I open it, slowly, because I"m dyeing to find out who it is, yet am trying to figure it out at the same time. I had no good guesses, so I opened it. My SP10 was Kerry!!. I had absolutely NO idea it was her! I was a little suspicious that it had to be someone who "knew" me, either from a different exchange, or my hostessing her, but boy was I shocked! I spoiled Kerry in SP9, and had so much fun with it!! I guess she wanted to have a turn with me, and I'm so honored that she did! She's such an amazing lady, and I've had such a fun time getting to know her over the last few years of SP hostessing. Thank you Kerry, you really went above and beyond, and spoiled me completely rotten! I can't thank you enough!

I'll post pics of the last 2 sp10 packages Kerry sent tonight. I'm still blown away!!

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire- Second Years

1.What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Ravenclaw

2.Shoe size? Foot length? Foot circumference?
US 10 wide. 10.5 inches long, 9.5 inches circumference

3.List your three favorite sock yarns.
a. Fleece Artist
b. Socks that Rock
c. Koigu

4. Would you like to try a new brand of sock yarn? If so, which brand?
Anything you love! I really love great colors, so I'm happy with everything!

5.Do you prefer variegated or solid sock yarn?
I love both varigated and solids equally

6.What colors would you like to add to your sock yarn stash?
any colors. Except orange and yellow- not really a fan of those colors.

7.What kind of sock patterns do you gravitate toward? Lace? Ribbed? Fair Isle?
lace

8.Do you have any allergies? (smoke, animals, etc.)
Really dislike smoke- it gives me migranes, and makes me nauseaus (I'm pregnant).

9. Will your socks be exposed to cigarette smoke or animals as you knit them?
I have 2 cats, so stray hairs are a given. I'll wash in woolwash before sending though.

10.Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Sure, why not.

Big News!

I have some big news. I've been sitting on it for 2 weeks now, and probably should for 1 more, but I just can't wait!

It's been a crazy couple of months, and we finally got to give IVF a shot last month. After what seemed like forever, we finally got to try. And...it worked!!! I had my beta last wednesday (and a repeat on friday and this morning), and everything so far looks completely normal! A little high, but that just may be that this kiddo is robust. Or it may be that the 2 embryos they put in took. We'll find out how many babies there are next week!! It's so early, so I was a little hesitant to stay anything, but I just couldn't help myself! I'm excited!!

But, I'm just over 5 weeks pregnant now, and I feel fantastic. Sore, tired, queasy, and it feels great! I had my embryo transfer on "day 3" on June 26th, and I took my first home test 8 days later. I've been trying to believe it ever since then! If all goes well, we'll be giving Celia a brother or a sister at the end of February/beginning of March!!

Another Thank You!

Yesterday when I got home, I found another package from my SP10! I figured it was my final package, so I opened it and expected to find out who she was. But she's so sneaky! She sent me yet another "S is for..." package, and here it is! The theme this time was "S is for Stole", and it has the most beautiful shades of Schaefer Anne, and a beautiful pattern. I'm in love!!


Thank you so much pal! She told me she had 2 more packages coming- one earlier this week, and one later. She's just spoiled me so rotten!! You're amazing!!

Thank you Lacey!!

My owl arrived over my vacation, and kindly waited for me to arrive before leaving for his next task. This is what he brought me!

We have the Charmed Knits book, some great yarn in Gryffindor colors, some Knitpicks bare yarn, a great bookmark, a personalized journal, some Bertie Bots every flavor beans AND...

The best Ravenclaw socks ever!! I love them! And they fit perfectly!! Here are a few angles. My pal was Lacey, and she did an amazing job spoiling me. I'm such a lucky Ravenclaw!! I can't thank you enough!!

Vacation!!

Last week, we were on VACATION! We headed up to the Finger Lakes in NY after my friend's wedding. My uncle has a house on Canandaigua lake, so we stayed there, relaxed, and had loads of fun! I was in another wedding first, which was awesome! I was matron of honor, so I was busy, but I really enjoyed it! The only problem was that we were outside for pictures, and I got scorched on my shoulders/arms/neck. I coudn't enjoy being in the sun for the rest of the week! ;(

When we got back, I was surprsed by my package from my Hogwarts sock pal! I'll do a proper post tonight, and a proper post for my SP10, who sent me yet another amazing package! You guys just ROCK!