Conspiracy theories

I don't know how they have managed it (both being either completely or mostly non-verbal), but I know that the kids have started conspiring against me. They plan it that way. One goes down for a nap, and the other is awake. I finally get the second down for his nap, enjoy 9 minutes of peaceful silence (enough to knit one lonely row on Grandma's socks), and. . . . you get the picture.



Speaking of pictures, I considered taking some of the sock and shawl, except that they would pretty much look like the last pictures. Just scroll back a little to the previous pictures, and imagine an extra inch at the end. Then look at these two adorable boys. They are also conspiring to make sure that pictures don't show both of them smiling at the same time. Feindishly clever, and at such a young age.

I found out today that an old friend is one of the seven people a week that read my blog. (Hi Sheryl!) Knowing my former secretary is reading makes me want to proofread for typos better. Or at all.

Today, it is all about the conspiracies.

The Perfect Storm, the Perfect Calm

Element #1: My in-laws are moving. That means that for the past several weeks, they have been busy packing boxes, looking at houses, and fretting over appraisals, inspections and repairs. Therefore, very stressed and not very available to watch my boys. So my mom has been picking up the slack.

Element #2: It is tax time, spring, and finally time to sell my grandmother's house all at the same time. So my mom is sorting through records, sweating in her yard, and planing trips to Illinois to meet with relators and such. When she isn't watching my kids four days a week or more.

Element #3: My husband is not as proactive in taking primary care of our children as I would wish. Yesterday, he told me that he was taking a half day off for a dentist appointment, so after that and a hair cut, he would pick up our toddler so Mom would just have to worry about the newborn. He didn't, for reasons I am still not clear.

Element #4: Doodlebug had a little tummyache, and spent most of the day crying. Bugaboo was practicing the fine art of jealousy, disrespect, and doing whatever he had been told not to do. All while crying and whining whenever his little brother cried. By the time I picked (both of them) up after work, everyone was in tears, including my mother.

So last night, I arranged for me to stay home this morning, and for my mother in law to watch the kids in the afternoon. Mom gets a day "off", can de-stress, and get some things done.

Then last night, my father-in-law asked Bugaboo if he wanted to spend the night with them in the hotel, but he had to ask me. It was so cute, he walked right up to me and starting giving me kisses. So I packed off my tempermental toddler for the evening, my husband fell asleep on the couch by 8:30, and tucked my newborn into his crib. I was alone, all alone, and had the morning to get things done. I put a DVD in, and knit. That was the longest continuous time I have knit for . . . I can remember how long.

This morning, I slept in (which was not part of the original plan, but was changed during the 90 minutes of waking time between 4 and 5:30 am), have laundry going, fixed a filling breakfast, and will clean the kitchen. And I think I will still have time to do some knitting.

Today, it is all about the combined elements.

In my spare time. . .

I have a lot less spare time than I used to. In my single days, I knit in the evenings. Every Thursday night I did kickboxing and painted my nails. I worked out an additional one to two times per week. On the weekends, I worked on my house, and worked in the yard, and rode my motorcycle.



Nowadays, when I get home from work, I am caring for children while I cook dinner, start laundry, and do the dishes. When Bugaboo goes to bed, I pick up toys, fold laundry, etc. On the weekends, I catch up on everything that was undone during the week. Unless we have plans, then I just start the week behind.



Does anyone know how long it will take to knit a pair of socks when you average 32 minutes of knitting time per week?



Like the new knitting model? He makes everything I give up worth it.


Today it is all about the losses. . . and the gains.

Special guest

I received an email from my lys reminding me about Sock Club. Thank you. I had forgotten all about it! I had a goal too: my pomatomus sock only needed a toe. A toe is totally doable during two hours, right?

Doodlebug behaved himself. He slept the entire time, to the disappointment of all the ladies there, who didn't get to hold him. Bugaboo was with his Daddy. Mommy had uninterrupted knitting time. Except that I arrived a half hour late and got distracted by new yarn.

Ok, so the toe isn't done yet, but I am determined to do it today. My mother has my oldest son. The cleaning lady is (allegedly) coming today, so I am home all day with just the new baby. Laundry, and maybe a little work is on the agenda for the day, but all of that is behind the sock. The next post, I intend to be wearing my newest socks. (Ok, considering how often I post, that isn't saying much, but I still.)

Today, it is all about the resolution.

Guest post

Mommy asked if I could handle her blog post this week. It has been quite a week. I knew something was up when Grandma picked me up really early one morning. Mommy seemed a little distracted, and was playing with her phone a lot. Grandma came and picked me up, but I didn't know why. Grandma watches me sometimes when Mommy goes to that work place, but Mommy usually drops me off at Grandma's house. Just before Grandma and I left, Daddy came home from work.

I played at Grandma's house as usual. Grandma has toys that I don't have at home, and I like playing with Grandma's dog too. After dinner, Grandma brought me to this strange place. It was really big, and had a lot of people around. I held onto Grandma's hand tight. We went in an elevator, and down a long hallway. When we went into a smaller room, all the people I love were there. Daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa. And Mommy was lying in bed, with a blankie in her arms. I was a little afraid, but I looked at the blankie, and there was a little person there. Daddy says that is my baby brother. I looked closer, and he looked a little like me, but much smaller. Daddy called him Doodlebug.

I spent the next day with my other Grandma, and we went back to the big place with the long hallways again after dinner. This time I wasn't as afraid, and got a good look at my brother. Mommy and Daddy even let me touch his hair, as long as I promised to be gentle. He sure is tiny.

Mommy and Daddy brought Doodlebug home, and I have been learning about him. I can still only touch his head. He isn't much for playing yet, but Daddy says that we will play together when he gets older. Right now, he mostly sleeps. I kiss him on his head, so he knows that I am his big brother and want to play with him soon.

~Mommy's Bugaboo