Daisy Sweater - Finished!

What to do on a rainy, nasty Saturday? Finish my Baby Daisy Sweater of course! It's about time too! I have been working on this since summer and I feel like it has taken me forever! Mostly because I started back to school then of course there is the all-the-time tiredness so that hasn't been helpful. I finished knitting it at the beginning of the week and finished sewing the sleeves up and sewing in all of the loose ends and putting it's buttons on this afternoon. I still need to wash and block it to make the border lay down but I am very pleased with my work!

If you are a knitter and interested in the pattern, you can find it here.

I knitted it on size 6 needles with Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed in Earthy Brown. I loved the colors for either a boy or a girl so it was perfect! The yarn is so thick and soft and will be a great winter sweater. I plan on making a hat to match it but that might wait for a couple of Christmas presents to be finished (oh yeah, and my Brea Bag that STILL needs to be sewn - will do before casting on anything else!).

So, here are pics of my days hard work. I am not 100% happy with the quality of the pictures, I think it makes the yarn look too shiny - which it's not - and you can't see as much detail but you get the idea :)

Can You See It Now?

I promise I am not going to be one of those crazy ladies that forces her ultra sound pictures in your face and swears that it's smiling at you or there's it's little hand/foot/privates. I just thought you might want to see my first pics of 'baby Morrison'.

I went yesterday after school for my first sonogram and was surprised of how quick it was. After sitting in the doctor's office for around 45 minutes (30 minutes past my appt. time!) I went in, was gelled up, and as quick as that the technician found little baby in there! It was a very unreal experience I think. I mean, I saw the little baby (sea monkey?) and even saw it's little beating heart but I still don't "feel" like something is growing inside of me or has a heart beat! Yikes!! BUT it was very cool to see. So, here are baby's first pics -

Picture number 1 - the line running through the baby (sea monkey) is actually it's length. The number 1 is at the top of it's 'head' and the line extends down to it's bottom. The bump opposite of it is the 'egg sack'. Weird.

I added a green (gender neutral) arrow to show where little Morrison is in this one - it's unzoomed so it's not as grainy but it's also a little harder to point out.

So, first of many baby pictures to come. At this point, I really don't think I will be interested in the 4-D ultrasounds. They kind of creep me out and I have heard of more people being disappointed with them then I have of people really loving them. Plus I already have to wait 9 (10!) months to see the baby - why rush it? Plus it's expensive and insurance definitely won't be covering that!

To complete my Journey to Doctors, tomorrow I get to spend my wonderful after school hours at the dentist for a check up. Hopefully the baby hasn't ruined my perfect cavity-free teeth!

Bump Watch

I have discovered something I find really strange lately - I guess it's not that strange, just more uncomfortable. Most people at school at this point know I am pregnant and are very happy to give me all sorts of advice and hints and ask how I am doing. I love that part - I am so glad I work with so many nice, wonderful people. The weird thing is now when most people pass me in the hallway, they smile and say hi then look at my stomach. Not just glance but stare my tummy down.

At first I thought it was just me being psycho but I am noticing it more and more. I guess they are on 'bump watch' (some swear I am already getting a little baby belly, I think it's more of a junk food belly but who am I to argue?). I feel like I am way too early to start to get a little bump but I think a lot of it is I feel really bloated and retaining water so maybe that's it. I have already had to resort to the Bella Band on several pair of pants so I don't have the sensation of being cut in two! Anything tight around my stomach right now is NOT a pleasant feeling.

Oh - and the morning sickness has kicked in. yea. That's not even justified to be capitalized! I thought it was all in my head at first and I was just 'making' myself sick by expecting it. This morning at school I almost yakked though :( I walked around the halls slowly before school started and that seemed to help and slow deep breathing helped it pass. I am not really a thrower-upper so maybe all I will get is the nausea? Please? I can't be leaving my class to go ralph every morning. I am trying a lot of remedies but let me tell you - it is awfully hard to put something in your mouth when you feel like everything is going to be coming out!

So that's the latest news in the big exciting new drama. My weekend (which can't get here soon enough!) is going to be filled with more tomato canning (tomato sauce this time!) and then a trip to Roanoke on Sunday for a soccer game. Logan is coaching traveling soccer and well, we'll be traveling. I won't always be able to 'travel' with him so I am going when I can and it will be a fun little trip up the road!

Cold Weather Wishing

I am so ready for fall that I can barely stand myself. Around the middle of September I feel like it should be fall now - not blazing hot summer still. Over the weekend it got near the 90's here. Um, so that would be all well and good if I lived AT THE BEACH but I live in the mountains where it's not supposed to get that hot even in August in summer! By the time school starts back I am longing for long sleeve shirts, sweaters, and pants - I am so sick of it being unbearably hot outside.

Today was a slight relief with 77 degrees but I am ready for the crisp, cool 'football' weather and ready to bundle up...Not to mention I have some nice knitted stuff that is aching to be worn :) Luckily I didn't knit any sweaters or anything 'form fitting' because with fall and winter will come a bigger waistline - not because of all of the yummy 'comfort' foods though!

Sea Monkey

I know the added widget to the right is slightly creepy right now but won't it be cool to see how much the baby changes from week to week? Right now Logan and I are jokingly calling it the 'sea monkey' because - come on, it really doesn't look like a human baby yet huh? I have a hard time visualizing this growing into a baby but maybe all new overly obsessive overly researching mothers feel this way? I have already read so many books and articles and websites that I feel qualified to deliver a baby by myself!

I am kind of looking forward to feeling 'more pregnant' - right now there isn't much changes other than what I mentioned before of the extreme exhaustion - I went to bed at a scary 9:30 last night and didn't MOVE until the alarm went off! Logan said Cleo the cat crawled under the covers with us last night but I had no clue - that's about the only major thing is that I used to be such a light sleeper and now not much (other than my bladder) wakes me up at night! Oh - an increased bra size is another change but I am not sure you wanted to know that!

So, enjoy watching Baby Sea Monkey grow for now - MAYBE I will get to bring home an exciting picture after my first ultra-sound on the 22nd? Will I become one of those crazy moms that frames the picture? Will it hang on the fridge? Only time will tell! For now, I need to go finish the LAST FLIPPIN' SLEEVE of the baby Daisy sweater - it's taking for-ev-er!

Surprise!

So my mom kind of spilled the beans first if you read her blog too.

If you haven't, let me be the first to share with you my new and exciting news - there will be a brand new Morrison come May! Yep, I am pregnant!

Now don't think I lied to you with me swearing that knitting the baby stuff was just for fun and for a while in the future. Honestly, I didn't think it would happen as quick as it did :)

Logan and I are both very excited though - I had my first doctors appointment today and I am 6 weeks along. Yes - VERY early (some people shudder at telling people so early, but I really can't keep it to my self much longer :))

I don't plan on my blog becoming SOLELY a pregnancy blog but it will keep everybody updated on what's going on and how I am doing and what's new and hopefully all of you 'already mothers' will give me lots and lots of advice.

So far, I am feeling really good except for being insanely tired in the evenings! I do the sleep of the dead at night and now even that is interrupted with a trip to the bathroom once (or twice like last night). Some of my jeans are getting snug with bloat - not baby yet but I am sure I won't be in them for much longer!

So........I will keep a constant update - I go the 22nd for my first ultra sound which I already can't wait! Yea!

Cow Horse Challenge

At this time of year, Logan and I tend to go to a lot of horse events - a lot of fairs, rodeo-type events and others. Last night we went to something we had never been to before - cattle sorting at the Abingdon Cow Horse Challenge.

Let me try my best to explain cattle sorting. My favorite way to explain it is it's like playing pool with horses and cows. There are two pens set up and they are attached by a small passage-way (they kind of look like an '8'). There are 10 young cows with numbers 0-9 and one 'spare cow' without a number. There are two riders on horseback and the object is to get the cows into the other pen in numerical order without letting the spare cow go through. It's different every time because the announcer gives the riders a number to start with - they might have to start with number 4, then go 5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2 and 3. It is WAY harder than it sounds because those cows want to bust through to the other side or not go through at all. The riders have 90 seconds to get the cattle through and if one goes in out of order or the spare cow goes through, they are disqualified.

Now, I can hear my mother now saying 'that's cruel for the cows'. Other than the numerical thing which just makes it more challenging, there is a lot of history in ranch work in competitions like this. Say there is a sick or injured cow or one that just needs to be checked on, riders would have to separate the herd to get to that particular cow or maybe they are selling some of the cows and not the others, they would have to separate them into two herds. If you are familiar with any of these events, team roping and cutting are other 'practical' competitions. I am very sure you can find all of these events if you did a search on youtube!

I couldn't believe the amount of people there last night - it started around 6:30-7:00 (it was supposed to start at 6!) and we left at 9:30 and it was still in full swing going on! I think they said they had around 350 teams there competing (teams could consist of some of the same people - just switched up) - at the rate they were going, they might still be out there this morning! Logan and I both said they should have started it WAY earlier in the day but I don't think they were expecting the turn out that showed up. All in all, it was a lot of fun to watch and while we were there, only 1 team (an all girl team!) got all of the cattle through! Oh - another highlight of my night? Deep-fried Oreos. A funnel-cake-like batter on the outside and on the inside they were warm and soft. YUM! You GOTTA love fair food :)

The horses and riders warm up before the competition.

Trying to pick out the first cow

The first one gets through!

Blocking the entrance so the others don't go through.

Spectators

Homemade

Recipe for Ashley's Famous Homemade Tomato Soup (not that famous - it's from a recipe book and tweaked by my mother-in-law):

Ingredients:
15 gallons of tomatoes (I use just a mixture of tomatoes - no one type particularly - this batch had Big Boys, Romas, and heirlooms)
10 onions
1 stalk celery (I like celery so I add more - for 15 gallons I would add 6 stalks)
fresh basil and parsley to taste
1/2 c. butter
6 tbs. salt
16 tbs. sugar
4 tsp. pepper (less if you don't like it spicy)

Wash and cut up tomatoes - no need to peel. Chop onion, celery, parsley, and basil and add to tomatoes. Cook until celery is tender. Put through sieve and put back on the stove. Add butter to soup and stir. Add sugar, salt, and pepper. Run through sieve again if desired (I never do this a second time - I like it thick).

Fill jars within 1 inch of top and process in boiling bath for 45 minutes.

*I usually just do 5 gallons of tomatoes at a time since I really don't have pots big enough to fill with 15 gallons of chopped tomatoes! Everything measures down very easily and this is really hard to mess up if you have a little more or a little less of something! I am sure you could even cut it way down so you are just making a batch or two for eating as long as you have a food mill or strainer. Enjoy (or just come visit us on soup and grilled cheese night!

Conspiracy

I am pretty sure the tomatoes are plotting against me in their hopes they will live their whole lives in the garden without being consumed. All summer they didn't do anything - we were afraid we were hardly going to get any tomatoes off of them despite it being a nice semi-cool semi-wet summer. All of a sudden, I start back to work and the tomatoes are cranking out at a dizzying speed! Just what I want to do on my precious weekend is can a million tomatoes.

Last weekend we got a whole 5 gallon bucket full. Tonight I went out and picked and got another bucket full!!


These might be destine for soup also - I only had 7 quarts and I know we will use much more than that over the winter through next summer. It's not like we won't get more! The NEXT batch will probably be just Romas for tomato sauce.

I thought I would add some pics of our pretty chickens now that they are mostly grown up. The still have some filling out to do but it's neat to see how they turned out - especially the mixed batch we got at first. Most of those were roosters (of course). The black and white striped one is still to be determined whether it is a he or a she (right now we are calling it Pat - hahaha). The roosters have started crowing with their awkward teenage-rooster voices. Pretty amusing if you ask me!

Labor Day Weekend

What is it about a long weekend that makes me not want to sit still and burn it up as fast as it can go? This weekend, Logan and I traveled to Banner Elk for the Holston Camp staff reunion which is held every 3 years on Labor Day weekend.

We didn't leave until Saturday morning and stayed until around lunch on Sunday - not long but a lot of activity packed into 2 days! We saw a lot of good friends and did some shopping in Valle Crucis and Boone! If you remember, camp is where Logan and I met so it holds a very near and dear place in our hearts as well as being a very spiritual place for the both of us.

We saw the brand new Lake Lyons, stayed and slept out in Rustic (cabins without electricity!) and ate a lot of GOOD camp food! Yum! Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Logan and I with Lake Lyons in the background - there's a super cool zip line that goes across the lake that made me wish I brought my bathing suit!

Logan takes a rest in our cabin at Hill Top in rustic.

Becca and Blake make their beds in the cabin.

Can you believe that all behind Logan used to be a lake? There were problems with the dam and about 3 years ago they drained the whole thing and have yet to refill it. Supposedly in a few months it will be refilled! Poor Wildcat Lake!

Wonderful Camp girl friends! From left to right - Garrett, Jessica and her super cute baby Finley, me, Becca, and Valerie.

So that basically was my weekend. Today I tried to rest but ended up canning tomato soup (the tomatoes are finally pouring in from the garden) and then going to the river to swim and cook out and rest. Now it's time to start thinking about this week and school and get everything planned and caught up on laundry. No wonder I have been so tired at night!