One Month

Wow...A month has passed already! I can't believe how quickly time is going with the little man. Xavier is such a great gift. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Life this past month has been very different than prior life. For example, whenever I think that I might have a minute to accomplish something (like posting this blog), X has his own opinion. I don't even remember what 8 straight hours of sleep feels like. I am no longer disgusted by poop (even when this morning X actually pooped right on my hand while changing his diaper). To get out the door to go anywhere takes at least an hour and a half. But even with all of these maybe not so pleasant changes, I wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world. :-)

Christmas with a Baby

This Christmas season has been very different for me because of X.

Usually I am antsy with anticipation and counting down the days until Christmas. This year I didn't even realize how close we were getting until I saw a story on the news about the busiest shipping day of the year. I would have completely forgotten to ship out the gifts I have for my family (luckily I made them long before X came along, otherwise I probably would have forgotten to even get/make them anything!). I haven't finished my shopping yet - ok, actually I haven't started my shopping yet!

I have always loved Christmas music and have listened to it nonstop from the day after Thanksgiving untill New Year's Eve (my own personal rule for appropriate length). This year as I listen to the songs about the Baby, I can't help but look at my own baby. It is so hard to imagine the King of the Universe so tiny and fragile; so dependent on his mother and father; having a dirty diaper and a fussy time. I am so thankful that Christ willingly gave up Heaven for a period of time to be on Earth and live like us.

Xavier is fascinated by lights. Any lights will do really. He has a toy that lights up that he loves watching, but even just the room lamps are enough for him. One of his favorites, though, is the Christmas tree. I look forward to decorating for Christmas each year. This year, my mom helped me since I was still too sore to do the stairs up and down from the basement to bring all the decorations out of storage. I debated a little about putting up the tree. I love having a Christmas tree and looking through all the ornaments and the memories that go along with them, but wasn't sure if it was worth the hassle this year. I am so glad that I decided to put it up because X stares at the lights and it is so precious.

I know Christmas day will be drastically different with him here too. And this year he doesn't even know what's going on! I can't wait for the coming Christmases where he will wake us up super early (well, he already does this!) and run down stairs to see what Santa put in his stocking.

I have already received the best gift ever this year in my healthy, happy baby boy!

A day in the Life...

I haven't written in a little while because I am adjusting to my new life. It's true...'a baby changes everything'...

Here's what my days have started to look like. Note that X is not on any sort of a schedule yet, so this is just what yesterday looked like, not necessarily at all what today will look like!

4 am - feed
4:30 am - change diaper
7:45 - feed
8:00 - change diaper
9:30 - mom's time to get ready
11:30 - feed
12:00 noon - play time for about 30 minutes
12:30 pm - mom's lunch time
1:00 - decorate house for Christmas!
4:30 - change very dirty and wet diaper :-(
4:30 - feed
5:45 - company begins arriving (in-laws, neighbors, and work friends)
6:15 - feed
6:30 - change diaper
7:00 - mom eats dinner
8:30 - feed
9:00 - change diaper
9:45 - feed
10:00 - change diaper
10:30 - say prayers with X and give him a "wake-up time goal". Believe it or not, he actually seems to respond pretty well to the goals. This morning he had bypassed the goal we had set of 2:45. Tonight we set a goal of 2:45 again (he made it to 2).

He is really a very good, content baby. I just never imagined how much time they take!!! I love every minute that I get to spend caring for him though :-)

Experimentation

The scientific method states that to do experimentation, one should: (1) use their own experience, (2) form a conjecture, (3) deduce a prediction, and (4) test. Then repeat as necessary (like shampooing). No where in there does it say to seek out the help or advice of other scientists. Maybe one of them has done something like this experiment before and can give you some advice.

I tend to be a very independent person. I have trouble asking others for help and hold my emotions and struggles in, so as to not bother others with my problems. I am quickly learning that that aspect of my personality is going to need some adjusting to deal with motherhood.

First, with handling pain. While pregnant, I candy-coated a lot of the pain that I was feeling. I just tried to suck it up. Although that made people say that I was 'quite a trooper' during labor, maybe if I let the doctors and nurses know just how bad things were all along I wouldn't have had to deal with so much pain. Now, while healing from delivery, I know that I need to take it easy and ask for help from my husband and family, so as to not overdo it and make my recovery longer and more painful than necessary. However, knowing and doing are two very different sides of the coin. I am working on this though. Again, I will also need to be willing to make my pain known to my doctors and not just assume that it is all normal and something that I need to cope with.

Second, with getting help wtih the issues of motherhood. Nursing, for example, is turning out to be much more difficult than I ever expected. This afternoon, I found myself breaking down in tears and having to hand off my son to be bottle fed by my husband. What kind of mom am I? Mothers have fed their children for thousands of years. Why can't I get this? Breastfeeding is very natural, so it seemed to me that help would be unnecessary. This evening, I called on my neighbor (who is a bit of a breastfeeding guru) to come and give me advice. Within about 10 minutes of coming over, Xavier had latched on and we were successfully nursing. I understand that this doesn't mean that we will have no more problems, but I also understand now the importance of seeking out help before I allow my problems to become overwhelming.

By the Numbers

Being a math person, numbers have always been important to me and stick in my mind. Here are some numbers that have taken on new meaning in the past few days:

• 31, 4: At 31 weeks 4 days, I was put on bed rest to try to stop little Xavier from coming too early.
• 40, 4: At 40 weeks 4 days, I delivered a healthy (post-date) baby boy!
• 2: It took two hours of pushing to meet Xavier.
• 18: I experienced 18 hours of labor from waking up in pain to meeting my little boy.
• 8, 13: Xavier weighed in at a whopping 8 lb 13 oz!
• 11/24/09: A new birthday to remember :-)

Timeline of a birth:

• 2:30: At 2:30 a.m. my contractions woke me up and felt significantly more painful than they ever had before - I thought this was probably the beginning of labor.
• 5:30: At 5:30 a.m. I woke Mason up because I wanted to go to the hospital.
• 7:30: At 7:30 a.m. they sent us home because I wasn't progressing far enough to be admitted yet.
• 1:30: At 1:30 p.m. the pain of the contractions in my back was so severe I could hardly breathe. We decided it was time to go back in and not leave without a baby.
• 3:00: At 3 p.m. I was admitted at a 3 and told that Xavier was facing forward instead of down and that is why my back labor was so bad. I was told to lay on my side for a while and then get in the whirlpool tub.
• 3:45: At 3:45 I got out of the tub and was told that I was now at a 7 and he was almost all the way turned around!
• 6:10: At 6:10 it was time to start pushing
• 8:11: At 8:11 Xavier William Straayer breathed for the first time!

12:01

Two very exciting things happened for me at 12:01 AM today (Friday, November 20): I got to go to a midnight showing of Twilight Saga: New Moon and my official due date arrived. Despite what everybody said when I told them I was going to go to the movie, my water didn't break half-way through! The movie was great and I was actually, for the first time in a long time, happy that Xavier held off his arrival to allow me to see it.

This morning (after sleeping in later than usual to make up for not getting home until about 2:30), I read a blog by a lady that calls herself SouleMama, as I do every morning. Today's post couldn't have been more perfect - it's like she was writing it just for me! She writes about the birth of her youngest son, which a year ago this weekend. She describes how she had horrible contractions, always at night, for weeks leading up to his delivery. I totally understand! It is great to know that there are others out there with the same feelings (emotional and physical) that I am suffering. She says that it was maybe all worth it, though, because then his delivery took less than an hour from waking up in labor to laying back in bed with her little Harper. That would totally make all this worth it! Anyway, if interested, check out her blog at http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2009/11/friday-from-the-archives-this-week-in-2008.html.

Emphasized Stripe Hat (inspired by Gap)

I was out shopping this past weekend and saw a really cute hat at Gap Kids (http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=25781&pid=688433&scid=688433002&vid=1). Of course, I realized how easy it would be to make, so I decided to make it :-) A new hat is really the last thing on Earth that I need right now, but I just couldn't resist...

This hat would also be a very cute accessory to FawnPea's sweater and my matching pants if made in a baby size (http://fpea.blogspot.com/2007/07/free-pattern-fridays-super-natural.html and http://straayersscribbles.blogspot.com/2009/07/pants-to-match-super-natrual-stripes-by.html).

This pattern is written for a small adult female. It could be easily modified to accomodate any yarn type (the inspiration was actually a super bulky weight) or size though. Just check your guage and adjust your cast on!

Approximate finished circumference:
20 inches

Gauge:
16 sts to 4 inches, 20 rows to 4 inches in stockinette

Materials:

• Nashua Handknits Snowbird (Aran) in Blue, Sky Blue, and Spring Green: less than one skein of each (probably about 1/2 a skein of the Blue, and much less of the other two. less than 50 g/73 yards total)
• US 10 (6.0mm) circular (16 inch) and double pointed needles
• Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Techniques:
Knit, purl, decrease, knitting in the round, bind off

Terms:
K2tog: knit two stitches together as one

Pattern:

With circular needles, cast on 70 stitches of Main Color (MC - blue in model).
Join in the round, being careful that stitches are not twisted.
(1-8) Work 8 rows garter stitch (since we are working in the round this means K one row P one row...last row should be a P row)
Change to Contrast Color A (CCA - sky blue in model).

(9-13) Knit 5 rows in stockinette.

Change to MC.

(14) Purl one row.

(15-18) Knit 4 rows in stockinette.

Change to Contrast Color B (CCB - spring green in model).

(19) Purl one row.

(20-23) Knit 4 rows in stockinette.
Change to MC.
(24) Purl one row.

(25-28) Knit 4 rows in stockinette.
Change to CCA.

(29) Purl one row.

Begin decreases:

(30) *K5, K2tog. Repeat from * to end.

(31) Knit.

(32) *K4, K2tog. Repeat from * to end.

(33) Knit.

(34) *K3, K2tog. Repeat from * to end.

Change to MC.

(35) Purl.

(36) *K2, K2tog. Repeat from * to end.

(37) Knit.

(38) *K1, K2tog. Repeat from * to end.

(39) Knit.

(40) K2tog to end.

(41) K2tog to end.

Cut yarn, thread tail through the remaining loops and secure.

Weave in all ends. Make a pom using CCA and CCB and attach to top. (optional)

enjoy!

"Unfinished Business"

You know how in almost every movie or tv show that has a ghost they say that they are still there because they have "unfinished business"? Well, I am starting to wonder if that is why Xavier hasn't made his appearance yet. I'm wondering if maybe we have some "unfinished business" that he is waiting for us to wrap up. Just in case this is his delay, yesterday I put some serious work into what might have needed to be done before his arrival. In the morning, I put together the new 'rocking' chair we bought for the nursery from Ikea. I say 'rocking' because it is clearly supposed to be a rocking chair, but the rocking action is not so great. It is a comfortable and nice looking chair though. Then in the evening, Mason and I went to Babies R Us and finished up the items on the registry that we thought we would need shortly after his arrival. We also went to the mall and bought him a coming home outfit that Mason is happy with. He says he doesn't care what he wears any other day, but that this outfit is perfect. So, maybe with all of that accomplished, we will no longer have any "unfinished business" and Xavier can feel free to arrive :-)

Devotions the 17:18 way

Hello. I wanted to share with you all a great devotional method/book that I was given recently. I have really struggled recently to be consistent in my devotional time. I looked for a book that would get me into the Bible and not just tell me about the Bible or someone's interpretation of it. I was at a loss. I really just wanted to be able to study the Word. I have tried reading through the Bible several times, but I always get stuck and give up about half way through the Old Testament. So, a few weeks ago a board member at my school gave all of the staff members a book that he wrote/created to handwrite the Bible. He was inspired by Deut 17:18 where the king was instructed to write his own copy of the law. The first release of the 17:18 series is Proverbs. This book has you write out the actual text of Proverbs on the right hand side of a journal and gives room for notes and a few leading questions on the left hand side pages. This has been an awesome way for me to read through Proverbs, taking time to really focus on what I am reading because I have to pay enough attention to write it, and gives me room to think, reflect, and make connections at the same time. If you are looking for a new way to get into the Bible try this series. Right now it is only available from the author or by special order through Baker Book House in Grand Rapids (I'm sure it can be shipped to those of you out of area).
http://www.bakerbookretail.com/contact.asp
http://www.the1718series.com/

Welcome!

Hello all. I have decided to start blogging. I realize that this will probably be more of an outlet for me to write out my random thoughts than other people actually caring enough to read them all! Oh well - it's ok to be a little selfish now and then. A little about what may be included in here: thoughts on my life or that of my family (husband Mason and baby-to-be Xavier); thoughts on my work (high school math teacher at a Christian school); thoughts on my pets (Golden Retriever Ike and Daisy Dog Merlin); thoughts on devotions or sermons; random knitting projects and personal patterns.

As I write this first entry, I am 38 weeks pregnant with our first son, Xavier. I have been out of work for 6 weeks because I was threatening early labor. Of course God is enjoying this little bit of irony in that nothing has progressed since then, so it is likely that now I could make it to my due date of Novemeber 20 or beyond. I'm still holding out hope that something will happen before then! The hardest part of the sitting and waiting is being away from work. I really love what I do and miss my students. By nature I am a planner and like having my life scheduled and orderly, so God is definitely using this time to teach me some lessons before I become a mother. The two verses that He keeps drawing me to are: Matt 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" and James 4:14 "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." I have always been drawn to these verses because of my tendency to schedule and plan, but throughout this pregnancy they have taken on a new and stronger meaning as I have really had to rely on God's promise of perfect timing.

I have a lot more that I could say, but I think I will save it for a later date and just start with this. Thanks for taking the time to read :-)

Double-Breasted Baby Sweater

(still need to find the perfect buttons!)

Double-Breasted Baby Sweater
(pattern edited on 1/24/11 for a correct c/o number - thanks to Desiree!)
(pattern edited on 2/22/11 to get correct placement of button holes - thanks to several Ravelry members!)

Materials:
Approximately 200 yards Aran Weight Wool yarn
Size 9 circular needle
Size 9 double pointed needles
Tapestry needle
6 stitch markers
Spare yarn to hold sleeve stitches
6 buttons (approximately 1” diameter)

Finished size: 0-3 months (chest 16” circumference; length 9”)

Gauge: 4 stitches per inch and 5 rows per inch

Necessary skills / Required stitches/abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
Seed stitch
pm: place marker
Kfb: Knit front and back of stitch (increase 1 stitch)
K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease 1 stitch)
YO: Yarn Over (increase 1 stitch)
Knit in round

Pattern:
Cast on 56 stitches.
R1-4: Work four rows in seed stitch (odd rows begin K; even rows begin P)
R5: Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pm; Kfb; K3; Kfb; pm; Kfb; K8; Kfb, pm; Kfb; K14; Kfb; pm; Kfb; K8; Kfb; pm; Kfb; K3; Kfb; pm; Work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP) – increased 10 stitches
R6 (and all even/wrong side rows): Work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP); P to last marker; Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK)
R7 (and odd/right side rows): Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; *Kfb; K to marker; Kfb; pass marker; repeat from * to last marker; Work last 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP)
i.e. you increase before and after each marker except the first and last that separate the button bands – there only increase on the body side.
Continue with rows 6 and 7 until there are 22 stitches between the back markers.
R13: Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; Kfb 4 times; K to marker Kfb; pass marker; Kfb; continue to last four stitches before last marker; Kfb 4 times; pass marker; Work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP)
R14: Work as R6
R15: Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; K to marker; *Kfb; pass marker; Kfb; K to marker; repeat from * to last marker; pass marker; work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP)
Continue with rows 14 and 15 until there are 34 stitches between the back markers.
R21: (this will occur when you have 30 stitches between back markers)(button hole row): Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; K to marker; *Kfb; pass marker; Kfb; K to marker; repeat from * to 12 stitches before last marker; K2tog YO; K10; pass marker; P, K2tog, YO, K, P
R25: Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; K to marker; remove marker; place sleeve stitches on spare yarn; remove marker; K to marker; remove marker; place sleeve stitches on spare yarn; remove marker; K to marker; pass marker; work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP)
R26 (and all even/wrong side rows): Work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP); P to marker; Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK)
R27 (and all odd/right side rows): Work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); K to last marker; Work 5 in seed stitch (PKPKP)
Continue with rows 26 and 27 until the body measures 8.5 inches from the neck.
R31 (button hole row): work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; K to 12 stitches before last marker; K2tog YO; K10; pass marker; P, K2tog, YO, K, P
R41 (button hole row): work 5 in seed stitch (KPKPK); pass marker; K to 12 stitches before last marker; K2tog YO; K10; pass marker; P, K2tog, YO, K, P

Work 4 rows in seed stitch.
Bind off in pattern (loosely).

Sleeves:
Place the held stitches on 3 dpns. Also pick up 2 stitches from the armpit (30 stitches total).
Join in the round.
K 3 rows.
On 4th row, K to last two stitches K2tog.
Repeat this pattern until 24 stitches remain. (Should be about 5 inches from armpit)
Work 4 rows in seed stitch.
Bind off in pattern (loosely).

Finishing:
Sew in loose ends and attach 6 buttons.

Pants to match "Super-Natrual Stripes" by Fawn Pea

I made the adorable sweater by Fawn Pea and had some extra yarn, so designed some pants to match.

For the sweater see: http://fpea.blogspot.com/2007/07/free-pattern-fridays-super-natural.html

Materials:

Three colors of Aran weight yarn. Nashua Handknits Snowbird 37 yards in spring green; Nashua Handknits Snowbird 37 yards in natural; Nashua Handknits Snowbird 73 yards in sky blue.

size 7 circluar 16 inch (optional) needle; size 7 double-pointed needles

tapestry needle

Size:

Newborn (13.5'' waist unstretched)

Gague:

18 stiches and 24 rows to 4''

Pattern:

cast on 60 stitches in tan. join in round being careful not to twist.

work in 2X2 rib for 2 inches.

purl one row green

change to blue

work in stk for 5 inches

separate for legswork (hold 30 stitches on spare yarn)

work in stockinette in blue for 3 inches

begin decreasing 1 stitch every 3 rows

continue working in blue in stockinette with decreases for 2 inches

work stockinette in tan for 1 inch (continue decreases)

work stockinette in green for 1 inch (do not decrease)

work garter in tan for 4 rows

bind off loosely

for pockets: (create two)

cast on 10 stitches in green

R1:K

R2:K2, P6, K2

R3: same as R1

R4: same as R2

R5: same as R1

R6: same as R2

R7: same as R1

R8-R10: K

bind off loosely

sew on with tan yarn

Personalized Patchwork Baby Blanket

Materials:
Two colors of Worsted weight yarn. About 600 yards of main color (MC) and 300 of contrast color (CC). I used Caron Simply Soft in Bone and Sage. The Caron Simply Soft yarn is a great yarn for baby projects because it is (as it says) VERY soft, has a slight sheen which really makes this pattern pop, and is acrylic so it is machine washable and dryable.
Size 9 32’’ circular needle
Cable needle
Tapestry needle
Graph paper http://www.printfreegraphpaper.com/

Finished size approximately 30’’ X 30’’

Gauge: not terribly important but I was 16 stitches and 7 rows per 4’’ square

Necessary skills / Required stitches:
K: Knit
P: Purl
K2tog: Knit two stitches together
M1: pick up bar between stitches and knit into it (creates a new stitch)
YO: yarn over. Wrap yarn around the needle (creates new stitch)
C4B: Cable stitch. Pass two stitches to cable needle and hold behind work. K2. K2 from cable needle.
Knit in two colors. Both Intarsia and Stranding methods are used in this pattern. For great tutorials, see http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques.

Pattern:
Cast on 122 stitches in CC.

Bottom Border: (all in CC)
R1: K
R2: P
R3: K2tog across
R4: *K1, M1. Repeat from * until one stitch remains. YO. K.
R5: K
R6: P
R7: K2tog across
R8: *K1, M1. Repeat from * until one stitch remains. YO. K.
R9: K
R10: P

Body:
R1: K2tog three times. Tie in MC of yarn, but do not cut CC string. Every time you make a color switch, be sure that the old color string lies on top of the new color string. In MC: *K10. P2, K2 five times. Repeat from * until six stitches remain. Tie in CC of yarn (approximately 50 yards), but do not cut MC string. In CC: K2tog three times. You will now have three balls of yarn hanging from your work. These will get very tangled as you work, so you should try to straighten your strings often.

R2: In CC: *K1, M1. Repeat from * 3 times. In MC: P10. P2, K2 five times. P10. K2, P2 five times. P10. P2, K2 five times. P10. K2, P2 five times. P10. P2, K2 five times. P10. In CC: *M1 (be sure to pick up a bar that is in CC), K1. Repeat from * 3 times.

R3: In CC: K6. In MC: K3, C4B, K3. P2, K2 five times. K10. K2, P2 five times. K3, C4B, K3. P2, K2 five times. K10. K2, P2 five times. K3, C4B, K3. P2, K2 five times. K10. In CC: K6.

R4: In CC: P6. In MC: *P10. P2, K2 five times. Repeat from * until 6 stitches remain. In CC: P6.

R5: (Same as R1)

R6: (Same as R2)

R7: (Same as R3)

R8: (Same as R4)

R9: (Same as R1)

R10: (Same as R2)

R11: (Same as R3)

R12: (Same as R4)

R13: (Same as R1)

R14: (Same as R2)

R15: (Same as R3)

R16: (Same as R4)

R17: In CC: K2tog three times. In MC: *P2, K2 five times. K10. Repeat from * until 6 stitches remain. In CC: K2tog three times.

R18: In CC: *K1, M1. Repeat from * three times. In MC: K2, P2 five times. P10. P2, K2 five times. P10. K2, P2 five times. P10. P2, K2 five times. P10. K2, P2 five times. P10. P2, K2 five times. In CC: *M1 (be sure to pick up bar that is in CC), K1. Repeat from * 3 times.

R19: In CC: K6. In MC: P2, K2 five times. K10. K2, P2 five times. K3, C4B, K3. P2, K2 five times. K10. K2, P2 five times. K3, C4B, K3. P2, K2 five times. K10. K2, P2 five times. In CC: K6.

R20: In CC: P6. In MC: *P2, K2 five times. P10. Repeat from * until 6 stitches remain. In CC: P6.

R21: (Same as R17)

R22: (Same as R18)

R23: (Same as R19)

R24: (Same as R20)

R25: (Same as R17)

R26: (Same as R18)

R27: (Same as R19)

R28: (Same as R20)

R29: (Same as R17)

R30: (Same as R18)

R31: (Same as R19)

R32: (Same as R20)

You now have the first two sections of the body completed. Notice that the four textures of squares are moving upward and to the right on a diagonal. (See table below). Continue in this manner until you have 8 sections completed.

For the 9th section, you can either continue the pattern, or insert a name or design. If you are going to insert a name or design, do the entire section in stockinette stitch. Do 4 rows plain stockinette. 8 rows of your design. 4 rows of plain stockinette. To create your design, print out a sheet of graph paper and plot out your design (8 rows tall). To be sure that your design is centered count how many stitches across your design is. Subtract this from 110. Then divide by 2. This is the number of stitches you should count into the MC before beginning your design. Remember that your first row of your design (and every right side row) you will be knitting across your design backwards!
For the 10th section, whether you did a special 9th or not, continue the original section pattern so that the diagonals remain in tact.

Top Border: (all in CC)
R1: K2tog across
R2: *K1, M1. Repeat from * until one stitch remains. YO. K.
R3: K
R4: P
R5: K2tog across
R6: *K1, M1. Repeat from * until one stitch remains. YO. K.
R7: K
R8: P

Bind Off loosely.