Sunday, November 25, 2007

Slotzky The HuhMan and Other Tales

(DSL is back up and has been for some time...we apologize for the delay and now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. WARNING: You'll understand why there are no photos in a minute, but be warned that this is a text-heavy post.)

Jackson loves Frosty. With Thanksgiving behind us and the Christmas music in full swing at Chez y&g, we've heard a lot of "Frosty the Snowman" lately. Or, as Jackson calls him, "Slotzky The HuhMan." He digs Rudolph too, but I think he's really onto the "magic in that old silk hat they found" when it comes to Slotzky's...er, Frosty's story. I wonder if we'll get sick of singing it? I mean, seeing Christmas through the eyes of our almost-2-year-old is newfound fun for all, I swear. It's amazing.

Anyway, yeah, so I've been out. Er, offline. And even when I was online, I was offline. It seems that I'm pregnant again* - which is terribly exciting, albeit a bit more nerve-wracking this time - and I can't stay awake. I'm comforted by this debilitating symptom because it makes me feel like "we're on" with this one, but MY GOD...it's really, really, really hard to never be awake AND take care of your toddler. (Let alone blog, communicate with anyone or prepare for the holidays...)

So without going on and on and on about my new life on my couch, somewhere in between always hungry and always feeling sick, I'll just tell you that I'm back. Today felt a lot better (thanks to gathering at Turtle Bread with Ginny, Christina and Kristen!) and I'm hoping to be out of these woods soon...

When I was pregnant with Jackson, I felt extreme food aversions for a few things, namely: hummus (!) and salad (!). That did not bode well for this hummus-pita-salad-lovin' vegetarian. I've been on the lookout for aversions and cravings but I may be safe so far. I mean I HAVE to have orange-strawberry-banana juice about 10 times a day and can't live without fresh strawberries and strawberry poptarts (the kind from the Co-op), but that's normal in late November, right?

The one aversion I have noted though, is...I can't even believe I'm about to type this...KNITTING. I HATE KNITTING RIGHT NOW. There, at least "right now" at the end made me feel better. Like there's hope that my extensive stash and needle collection are not going to end up on Craig's List anytime soon. But seriously, a little help here? I mean, knitting is not supposed to make you feel sick, make you feel queasy, make you have to go lie down on the couch or...gasp!...off to the craft room to reclaim another old craft!

Yes, it's true. I have 7 projects on the knitting needles that I've sufficiently covered up in the basket on the buffet, so I don't actually have to see the yarn. I can't stand the sight of it. But in the meantime, I've gone back to cross-stitch and am madly stitching away (when I'm awake) on an adorable Christmas ornament with a train on it for Jackson. (He actually identified it as a "choo-choo" in its early stages, so that's a good thing...) Don't get me wrong, I love cross-stitch and have loved it since I was in 2nd grade or so. It's always been my back-up craft. I just hope this passes quickly** because I thought that I loved knitting too...

I knew I was in trouble when a few weeks ago I devised a list of all of my family members and something small and easy that I could knit for each of them for Christmas, on-time AND allowing for mailing delays. I completed this list and then I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up at 11pm that night (on the couch) and went to bed. The next morning I said to myself,

"well...there goes that plan..."
_________________________
*Baby is due in July '08...it's still very early...other than losing my crafting identity and all sense of control in my life, I feel okay...first midwife appointment is next week...once again, good juju, positive energy and prayers are readily and graciously accepted.

**I have a feeling that cross-stitch is here to stay for awhile though...since I took out my 20-year project (that I've been working on for 6 years, I just knew it was a 20-year project when I bought it) and thought I might like to knock off few chart sections on it. It's only a Frank Lloyd Wright saguaro cactus, on 28-ct. fabric measuring 5.5" x 17" (in cross-stitch talk, that's a million teeny freaking stitches...).

***There was no 3rd asterisk, but I have to also tell you that Dan is my hero. He was off work for the last five days and changed every single diaper that Jackson soiled during that time. He took the kid out for adventures, shopping, romped around the house, played every game imaginable, read every book in our house 50 times and was an all-around great Dad. Thank you, Dan!!! (Oh yeah, the Big Boy Bed Report: HE LIKES IT! No more crib sleeping around here...)

15 comments:

Aunt Jenny said...

Congratulations Catherine..I will sure be keeping you and the little stranger in my prayers for sure!!..wow..you not knitting?? hard to imagine. I love to cross stitch too though..and seems like once a year or so I do a project...at least you are creating, right??? The choo choo sounds fun!!
take care!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, I'll be keeping you and your little traveller in my thoughts.

Sorry to hear about your aversion to knitting! Hope that returns soon!

Cloudberry said...

Congratulations!
I'm so happy for you!!!

I do like cross stitch too, but it's been ages since I've made one...
Hope your knitting mood comes along soon ;)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I know several people who just simply could not knit during the first few months of their pregnancies - they are back to it now! Just sleep - obviously your body is working doubletime.

Sherrie said...

Yay, more babies! Congratulations. :)

Becca said...

Well, pregnancy may have lost you your love for knitting, but it sure has made you funny as hell! Slotzky the Huhman is awesome!!
I think your aversion to knitting will just prove to be a nice little vacation - absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Oh, I remember that feeling of being MORE than tired and really wondering if it was humanly possible to drag myself off the couch. You ARE blessed with a fabulous husband who recognizes that you're working your butt off growing a baby, even if it appears that you're simply lying on the couch all day. :D Good to see you back online, Catherine!!

LaVerna said...

Healthy baby thoughts and prayers headed your way!Congrats!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!!!!!

Gretchen said...

Warm wishes from Wisconsin!

Chris said...

Congrats!! I am sending good vibes your way. I think they totally helped with my surgery.

TinkingBell said...

Blessing thoughts and good vibes for you - I'm sure the knitting thing will wear off at about the same time you stop feeling sick!! In the meantime I recommned DVDs/Videos of favourite toddler TV shows or movies for the times when you can't stay awake another moment - I would have died in my second preganacy without my toddler wathcing Playschool and the 20 minute nap on the couch that allowed!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the pregnancy! It sounds as if this one may be a keeper - that pregnancy narcolepsy is a good sign, if a not-really-fun one.

Hope your midwife appointment goes well! Are you seeing a CNM or planning a homebirth?

Bonnie said...

Congrats darling :-)

Knittymama said...

Hee hee, my first trimester was when I let you know who start to watch TV. It was the only thing I could do to keep him out of trouble because as soon as I sat down I was OUT.

I still consider cross stitch my gateway drug into the word of crafting. Please don't show me any of your cute cross stitch stuff because then I will be tempted to dig out my DMC, and I don't have time! :-)

Rob and Maria said...

Hey there, just sent an email, but congrats again. July...YAY! My birthday month!