My Best Friend's a Dork

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Back to School

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

by erin vaughan

June found me very pregnant, very hot, and very busy with visitors. I attended a wedding on June 12th,then, after the ceremony, promptly left for the hospital. It was false labor, and I was discharged that night and thoroughly dejected. James finally decided to join us on the 21st. We have had a steady stream of visitors since.

In, July, Jess spent two weeks visiting my family up north. We discovered a dead squirrel in my engine. We also buried my Step-dad's ashes and helped my Ma move out of her house.

August brought us two family reunions, many visitors, Jess' 9th birthday, and on August 11th, and she started the 3rd grade.

A picture of James celebrating his sister's birthday.

Welcome James!

Erin, Nate, and Jessica welcomed a new member of the family yesterday. With Erin doing the heavy lifting, of course.

James Michael made his appearance at 11:07am and weighed in at 7lbs 6 oz 21 in.

Mom, Dad, Baby, & Big Sister are all doing fantastically. I'm sure Erin will post pictures soon (she did mention that she'll have WiFi at the hospital).

Congrats you guys!
And Welcome (& Happy Birthday) James!

Oh Boy!

Meet our Summer Solstice Baby! James Michael was born on Monday. 7lbs 6ozs. 21 in long.

 

I swear a have a picture of Jess much like this one.

Goodbye, Frank.

Frank died on the road this week. He's sorely missed.

36 weeks...

...And I feel like I'm about to pop. I look like it too, but then I'm short, so baby has nowhere to go but out.

The Kids' room is done, save for the curtains and wall art.

I finished a shawl I have made for a dear friend.

Calais shawl, pattern found on ravelry for free. Made with two and  a partial skeins of koigu pppm, that I bought at Sheep's Clothing in Valparaiso, last time I was there. I also bought this shawl pin to go with it. I hope she enjoys them.

I'm working on another sort of "thank you" gift for another friend. The start of the Haruni Shawl, made with Malabrigo Lace weight in Cypress. I'm still trying to decide how big to make this one.

A better picture of James' "Jungle Jim" blanket. Pattern will be in ravelry. I'll be coming up with a ravelry alternative for my patterns as well, just be patient with me, we have a lot going on.

Frank is healing and doing well. Jess is excited about summer vacation and the arrival of baby brother. We're all doing fine. I knew when I found out I was pregnant, that there was a good chance that my step-dad would never meet this baby, but the reality of that hit me the other morning. I imagine we still have a lot of those moments ahead of us.

 I've promised Kids' room pics, and I'm working on it. Right now the room is full of baby stuff I need to stow.

Frank.

you've all heard now about how we lost Princess. She was hit on the highway. What you haven't heard yet, was that our other cat, Frank, was missing for a few days. He returned the day after we found Princess' remains.He returned with a very large, very infected, and puss-filled neck wound. Frank and I spent the next morning at the Vet office, where he was sedated, shaved, and cleaned up. Turns out something much bigger than Frank had grabbed him by the neck and tore him up something awful. He's fine now and recovering, although somewhat embarrassed to be wearing a bandage on his neck. We are very glad he has pulled through. Losing Princess was hard for Jess, losing both cats would have really been tough.

Everything aside has been fine. Baby is doing well. The Kids' room is finished (pictures coming) The blanket pattern is coming soon as well. My Knitters gave me a wonderful baby shower, as did our church, so our baby arsenal is coming together. I've been knitting, but they are some secret gifts I cannot yet reveal. I hope everything is going well with you, dear readers, all three of you. :)

Goodbye, Princess.

Last Saturday, Jesse lost her cat, Princess. She was found on the highway. She was a sweet soul and will be missed.

*Ding*

The blanket for Baby James is done.

I have a new pattern to put up as soon as I get a better picture of said blanket. Now I need to get a move on and finish Jess' Curlique Coverlet, and some shawls I have started.

Managing

My Step-dad passed away, Tuesday, April 20th. For those who have been checking this blog for some time, you know he has not been well for a few years now.

Some of you had met him. A few of you have experienced his unique sense of humor, first hand. He joined our family when I was seven years old, and I will  miss him. I will miss the laughter.

On New Years Day, he went into the hospital, and came home April 17th. There was nothing more to be done, and he just wanted to come home.

The last thing he wanted was for people to cry over him, so my Ma, and a family friend, Dennis, cooked up a little send-off for Rick at the end of his memorial service. They had this picture made...

...And played "Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)" Definitely what Rick would have wanted. (Picture by Roger Hurtado.