Weigh in for the Nosh and I

The Nosh is gaining and I'm losing... just the way it should be;) I've lost 13lbs now and the Nosh now weighs 13lbs 15ozs (Kaynahorah, spit, spit, spit). As for the return to the gym, that happened today. Did I enjoy it? *shrugging shoulders* Ach, its the gym but I'm back. Has anything changed in the year I've been absent? A few changed faces, a few new machines and the price of tea has gone up! But most importantly you now need your membership card to swip at the barrier to get out of the carpark. So oy vey voy you if you forget your card and are the cause of the queue at the gate!

This is my new knitting purchase. Rowan Cotton Glace in Orange and Navy, and with it I'm intending to knit up Jade from Rowan 25.

As for the Norweigan socks, they are coming along slowly, but lovely. I'll post a picture in a few days.

Sssshhhh... the boys are both asleep!

*whisper* There is something about a silent house, I love it. When Hubby is out and the boys are asleep I love to sit on the sofa with my needles and yarn and listen to the beep of silence.

The Bubela goes up to bed at 7pm with a book in tow and at lights out (8pm), thats it. What a good boy! My Bubela.

The Nosh goes down around 7pm (after his bath and bottle), listens to his music mobile, we hear him ucking and icking on the monitor for a while, we also hear some cries and shouts (sometimes cries which send me a running up and down the stairs all night), but generally his mobile sends him off. Sleeps and eats that Nosh, thats all he does... no wonder his cheeks flop to the floor. Love him!!

Tonight, Hubby is watching the football - be it Spanish, English, Scottish or outer Mongolian its always on. I don't complain, it keeps him happy and quiet. He also does that man thing with the control all night, you know, the flicking channels thing. 'Though, every night we get into bed and THATS his time to strike up conversation!! I want to Schluf and he wants to talk about the words of the day.

Tonight I'll tell him about my socks. Sometime ago I spotted these Norwegian socks on Eunny's website. I fell in love and have been eager to knit them ever since, but I just haven't had the time. Tonight, I was finally able to cast on for them... watch this space!

Wash, Block 'n' Nosh

The first FO of 2007 is definately a winner.
Wash;
Block; and
Nosh

Pattern: Alphabet Sweater - Simply Knits by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Cashmerino Aran
Modifications: None - kept it simple!!
I love this jumper and I think the Nosh looks gorgeous in it. I like the detail of the buttons on the shoulder.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year

Here we are, friends and kids last night at TGI's bringing in the new year... well, almost. Hubby (bottom right corner) and I were tucked up by 11.30pm, then awoken startled by the midnight fireworks. Even then it was an effort to move my lips to his and wish him a happy new year - but I did! *Aaaahhh*


The Nosh had a great time in his pram, kicking and cooing at his toy (even though he looks slightly startled). Thankfully, he was a dream the whole night.

Almost finished The Alphabet jumper for the Nosh. Just need to sew together.

I'm also thinking of my next project, so I picked up these Sublime books at Hobbycraft and had a touchy feel of the Sublime yarn whilst there. I have to say its gorgeous, well up there with the Debbie Bliss/Rowans of the yarns. Not sure what project is in store though as all the patterns are so nice.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy (not to forget, productive) 2007.

My 2006 - in photos

This has been a very special year for me and my family. Im very happy to share with you my photos of the year.

This time last year, Hubby and I were preparing ourselves for our third attempt at IVF. Fortunately, we were lucky and now have a beautiful baby boy, The Nosh. (Pictured, me in recovery after delivery)

The Bubela, Hubby and I went on holiday to Cyprus whilst me being 6 months pregnant. The Bubela had a great time on the beach every day (pictured). I, on the other hand was like an oversized, hormonal beach whale with an odd addiction to air conditioning units at all times.

The Bubela also started school in September 2006 (Pictured). An emotional day for me, the only mum in the playground crying - blamed it on the pregnancy hormones!

October, our joyous month. Just 2 days before The Nosh was born, The Bubela had his own celebration, He turned 5. Guess who loves Scooby Doo?

Pictured just a few days ago on Boxing Day is my whole family. We are a very special family, I love you all.

As for knitting, not much this year.

BIL's Christmas Scarf

Don't you just love shopping for Christmas? Why is it that I've finished all my shopping now, but I still insist on putting in "last orders" online. Or, with five days to go insist on tracking down the sell out toy of the year. Or, guarantee I'll be out there braving the crowds and hitting the shops Christmas Eve... as I do every year. Its just the buzz of Christmas shopping because let me tell you, I start shopping in October every year.

I'll also start a Clapotis just to challenge myself and see if its ready in time. Oy, who am I kidding... what with the Chanukah activities at the school tomorrow, then Thursday having the carpets cleaned, Friday - food shopping... Some chance. At least my first Christmas project is completed (well, almost... just need to sew in ends and block). This is the scarf for BIL, made up in Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick n Quick. Good news - we now have a British stockist Banyan Tree Yarns. Hip Hip - Hurray!

Happy Chanukah Sweetpea-ers

The first night of Chanukah, Happy Chanukah.

I've a problem with the BIL's scarf. I've decided to knit a striped scarf, but I've now run out of yarn. I'm going to check the internet shops and see if anyone stocks Lion Brand in the UK. Oy, this is all I need a week before Christmas.

Weight watchers - I joined a couple of weeks ago. Lost 4lb in my first week and I've about 10lb left to lose until I reach my pre-pregnancy weight. Still need some toning up though, and here is a treat for all your weight watchers.

p.s that's not my Dairy Milk in the background, Honest.

A house becomes a knitters home

Our new house is slowly becoming a knitters home again, with WIP's left in every room! Must say, Hubby isn't too impressed.

N.B These photos have not been set up, they are the real homes of these WIP's.

Unfortunately, no progress has been made with the Nosh's jumper this week, I've been pre-occupied with the grey scarf (pictured) for BIL. Although, I'm now thinking I don't have enough yarn for a thick cable scarf.


I've two balls of Lion Brand thick and quick, one black and one grey... any suggestions for man's scarf?

The Nosh is eating like there is no tomorrow!! If he could talk, he'd ask for steak 'n chips, I'm sure. 6oz every 2-3 hours!! Can't really moan though, 'cos its getting him through the night and I'm catching my zzzd's.

The Bubela's "grown up" tooth is surfacing, and the next one is wobbling. I've told him to eat on the other side so as not to disturb the wobble. Wouldn't you for £10 a tooth!!

The tooth fairy visits the Bubela

Look who's lost a tooth. And guess who lost £10.

Muzel tov Bubela on losing your first tooth.

The Alphabet jumper for the Nosh is coming along lovely. I did wonder whether the Nosh would outgrow it before I completed it. I'm knitting up a 3mth size, so I'd better get those needles dancing as he is 7 weeks today.

Bibs, Bottles, Baby and a ball of wool

Its so great to be back, and thank you all for your comments. You've given me the inspiration to pick up my needles and knit for my own baby (who, by the way is such a Nosh I just want to eat him!). I've added another photo of the Nosh, just 'cos I wanna.

This morning I went upstairs to our "new" loft room (we moved house the week before we had the Nosh, clever??!!) and took out a cone of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in pale blue, (and we're renovating too, clever??!!) I dusted off her Special Knits book and flicked through. I was looking for a simple knit. My head is mush at the moment so I can't start substituting yarns (picking colours of paint, tiles and fabric is challenging enough). The Alphabet Sweater, very cute, very appropriate, and using cashmerino aran. (tell me, who moves the week before you give birth, honestly).

I'm definitely going to start this sweater today.
First thing, nappy change. Give the Nosh a top and tail then feed him.
Put him in a snowsuit to take the Bubela to school.
P-ing down with rain, not a good start.
Actually the BIL did a good deed today and walked the Bubela into school for me.
Get back home, dry hair.
Steralise a few bottles, make up the next couple of feeds and add colic drops. Oy, the colic hour (don't get me started on the colic hour)
Ok, cast on for the Alphabet blanket, needles feel a bit foreign in my hands, but I'll get used to it.
The Nosh is crying, nappy change and settle him.
Right, back to the needles. Knit a few rows in garter stitch - great, nice and easy. (Meanwhilst, I haven't even read through the pattern, so its all going to be a surprise to me).
Feed the Nosh.
Wind the Nosh.

Back to the needles... whats that - TR2??? A nice simple knit I wanted and I'm learning a new stitch, oy vey. Its the twist stitch. Knit into the second stitch then the first, then knock them off the left needle. Looks very nice *take a look at the picture*, its like a cable.

Welcome to the world my precious

I know its been a long while, I hope you remember me!!

Here's the gorgeous reason why I've not been around for months. Welcome my beautiful boy, here he is just 2 days old.

My precious little baby boy was born the day before my birthday, 17th October. My precious miracle! Thank you God.

Just a short re-cap for those of you who didn't follow my story... He was the result of my third ivf attempt, my real life true miracle... and what a gorgeous one he turned out to be.

The Bubela just adores him. No signs of the jealousy, mostly the over-protectivness.

As for knitting... there hasn't been any. Throughout my whole pregnancy I just lost the bug, and gained another - eating! I now wanna lose the eating bug and get my needles working again, help!! Oh, and join a weight watchers class!!

Odette in use

Here's the Odette blanket I made for Fay. It doesn't look so special when all your attracted to is the gorgeous baby.

Hubby takes the Bubela, Bump and I to Cyprus

We spent most of the week at the beach, the Bubela just loved it. Jumping the waves, building sand-castles and eating ice-cream. Whilst the Bump and I (and the new member of our family, The Sun Hat) sat under a sun-umbrella reading and moaning about the heat. It was shvitzing!

I am knitting, not as often though... my fingers are like sausages and seem to fight with the needles. I did finish the pink Odette blanket for "Baby B" who was born two weeks ago - Fay Rena - and she's like a doll. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos, oops, if my sun hat didn't sit on my head I'd forget to screw my head in place! Pregnancy brain.

Im almost finished making up a cardigan for Fay made in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, I'll make sure I upload a photo of it finished.

I've got 3 and a half months left of pregnancy and I have to say, I thank god every day for blessing me with this child. The Bubela felt the baby kick yesterday, which added to his excitement of being a big brother. Hubby can't wait for the baby to come either, for different reasons though... since being pregnant I've been snoring like an animal, so bad that sometimes I even wake myself!!
Hubby - if I wake you, just turn over and stick the Sun Hat over your face. OH, Hubby has told me that I'm lucky my head hasn't gone through the blooming Sun Hat.
Help, we can't agree on any names either.

Hi everyone, here I am bump and all. Im now four and a half months and huge. Baby is kicking now and letting me know its around and well. As for the ugly bug it gave me, well it didn't go away after the three first months (like everyone told me!!), guess I'm gonna need alot of attention once baby arrives!

Many of you have been sending me wonderful wishes, thank you. Sorry I haven't been around much, I guess I've got really lazy since the bump... but I'm secretly enjoying it. How naughty is that!

As for the knitting... Im doing the finishing touches to the pink Odette blanket for Baby B which is due in a couple of weeks, lets just hope its a girl as I've nothing prepared in blue!

My dear friends... until the next time, au revoir!

Oy, have I been busy.

I didn't even have a chance to wish my Jewish frends and happy Passover. I hope you all had a nice sedar. The bubela did an excellent rendition of the Ma Nish Ta Na. Oy, I was so proud.

As for the baking this year, I made great almond macaroons and a great plava (light sponge cake made without flour and suitable for passover). I know the family are pleased I have taken over from Mama whom every year used to make our plava cake, and oy vey what a cake. We used to call it the "stick in the throat cake". You'd have to have it with a large glass of kosher wine (I'm not complaining) but it would take the rest of the service to digest.

She has since been sacked retired from baking the cakes, probably due to the greif she gets every year... giving me the job (the next balebuste of the family).

As for the knitting, I've finally sewn and made up the peach cardigan for Cydney. Its all wrapped up and ready to go.

I'm now 12 weeks pregnant. I had a scan last night and the Little Chooch is well and bright. Now, I am just so excited about this pregnancy and can't wait to meet it. *Cant stop smiling* Once I get photos of my bump and scan uploaded, I'll share them all with you... promise.

I'm afraid there isn't much knitting content today. I'm still having that "can't be bothered to pick up the needles" thing.

"Baby M" was born last week, her name is Cydney Leah, so now I'm under pressure to get the peach cardigan sewn up. I sat at the table last night sewing on a sleeve but I had such difficulty leaning over my large belly (and I'm only 10 weeks!) that I only managed to do the one. I'll do another tonight... I can see this being a slow one piece a day process.

As for my stash, its been tidied up and out of sight. Yep, in a cupboard on the top shelf. Its a real tease, like chocolate on out of reach.

I'm now 10 weeks pregnant and have been signed off from the fertility clinic now and just have to register with my local doctor. I've seen our baby so many times now in the scan so have now started to believe that I'm truly pregnant. I still have the ugly bug - the acne, swollen face and chin hair, but I've been assured that once I come off the steriods this will all go. *You'd better be right Dr Ah-Moy, not that I'd be mad with you, you put a made a baby for me*.

The Bubela asked me how the baby was going to come out. So I told him they are going to cut it out of my belly. "But how are they going to fix the hole?" "The Dr will sew it up". "Oh". He said. "Does he know how to knit aswell?" Love him!!

The start of Odette

There's not been much knitting I'm afraid, however, I did started the Odette Blanket from Rowan Little Treasures at the weekend. Honestly, Rowan couldn't have chosen a smaller font for the pattern. Talk about strain on the eyes.

I'm using Rowan Baby Soft. Its a mix of 50% wool, polymide and cotton. Its a bulky weight yarn and feels very soft in the ball. I thought I'd hate working with it though, but its actually a nice soft warm texture and I can really see a baby snuggling into this blanket being kept nice and warm.

This one's for "Baby B" so I guess money's on a girl then!!

Hopefully, I'll have a bit more progress to show you later on in the week, but I've got my head in a novel and I can't remove it. You know what its like when you pick up a page turner (its a Penny Vincenzi).

Whiskers, Moustache and Spots... oh my

"Please try the tank top on for me, I just need to check the neckband isn't too tight" Oh the effort as the Bubela tried it on. God forbid I interupt his normal morning routine. Check out the organisation on the Bubela's bed. He's a real daddy's boy, everything in spick and span order.

I thought initially that I had made the V neck rib too small, well, in actual fact I did as I when I was setting out the design I forgot to account for an inch of ribbing. Oy, why don't I just follow a pattern for an easy life. I do have two choices. 1. Keep it as it is; or 2. Frog the whole front and recalculate the V neck to accommodate the inch rib.

I'll try it on again and see what's best. A slight tug over the head isn't so bad, is it?

7 + 2 weeks. Whilst the Bubela was in the bath last night, I thought I'd take the opportunity to get the magnified mirror out and check out these spot I have under my chin. What with the lighting like a football pitch and the mirror magnified x5 I'd really see what's going on.

To my absolute horror and disbelief I spotted about 10 long black whiskers *gasp*. TWEEZERS!!! Why can't I have normal pregnancy symptoms? Give me sore boobs, or heartburn, or even sickness. Why d'ya have to throw the ugly bug at me?

*rubbing my tummy* I love being pregnant. Thank you god.

Look who's climbing the walls

I've been working on the Bubela's tank top over the weekend. It was a great opportunity to do so. All I did was sit on the sofa and relax (Dr's instrutions, so who am I to argue!!). Well, the back is almost finished. I showed the Bubela and asked him if he liked it and he told me he already had one like that (remember I recycled the yarn), "I want one in blue". Oy, no pleasing the boy.

Today is the Jewish festival of Purim and all the kids are dressing up to celebrate at school. The Bubela wanted to go as a robot, but he told me that at 6pm last night, so absolutely no time to prepare. So, we've delved into his deep dressing up box and found this.

I had another scan yesterday (no, not obsessed with seeing the little heartbeat... well, ok I am a bit). Arrrh, I saw it flickering away again. Still no pregnancy symptoms, unless you call the bad acne and moustache pregnancy symptoms. Hang on, I'm not sure, but maybe I feel a little sick (in my head??).

All washed and blocking

Its finished. Its taken me about 3 months and I can't believe I've finally finished it. I think this has got to be my best knit EVER. It was exciting and kept me on my toes following a chart. There were a few errors in the pattern, but those were listed on the Debbie Bliss website.

Once this is dried, I'll fold it and box it ready for Gemma's baby shower in April. Better to be ahead of schedule than tying in loose ends at the last minute.

Pattern: Debbie Bliss The Baby Knits Book
Materials: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Measured size: 90cm x 90cm

I've just ordered some yarn for the Rowan Odette blanket for the next baby on the way - "Baby B" due in June. I've ordered pink and cream, however, I have to stress that I do NOT know the sex of the baby its simply my gut feeling. I'll be really embarrassed if I'm proven wrong, so I've also ordered some blue just in case!

The following text is a bit schmultzy, so I apologize in advance.

Yesterday Hubby and I went along to the Fertility Clinic for our first scan. As the Dr inserted the probe, there on the monitor Hubby and I saw our baby. Our baby. A tear ran down my face. Our baby, just the size of a dot with a little flickering heartbeat.

After 4 years of tests, operations, drugs, ivf, heartache, pain and worry, seeing that little heartbeat and Hubby's proud face was the moment the worry lines on my face of all those years of trying for something I so desperately yearned for erased away in a flash.

I feel truly blessed. Thank you all for your prayers and words of strength. I've now just got to keep healthy, relaxed and look forward to enjoying this pregnancy. It goes without saying that I've got 8 month's of worry now. Not to mention the acne and the moustache(!!) I've acquired (I'm presuming its the steroids I'm on?)