Hi Alli

Alli left me a comment earlier, so she now has a link in my sidebar. So, hello and welcome to Alli.

How can you resist this smile?

...And the Oscar goes to...

I had a weird dream early this morning. I dreamt I was a presenter at the Oscars with Ben. But, the theater wasn't nearly as big and we presented from the middle of the auditorium. I had on a plain dress, not like the glitz and glamour associated with the event. I opened the card, read all the teleprompter stuff and then couldn't even read the winner. Someone else had to come over and read it for me. It was like I couldn't see the words around all the background on the card. So then right after I tried to read the winner, a full length play started up on stage. I went to find my seat and someone else thought I was a waiter and asked for a drink. Very strange.

Dreams are interesting. I don't try to interpret the meanings, but sometimes I find that they can predict the future. At least mine do at times. I knew Ben was the one I was going to marry because of a dream. I kept having a recurring dream throughout college that I was walking down the aisle with my dad and the church was done up all nice and pretty. I could see my groom standing at the end, but never saw his face. All I knew was he had dark hair. The guy I was dating at the time of these dreams had dark hair, so I just assumed it was him. Well, we broke up and I still was having the dream. So, Ben and I started dating and not more than a week into our relationship, I had the dream again. This time the groom turned around and it was Ben. I never had the dream again. I think it was a weird coincidence. My dream didn't tell me to marry him, my heart did.

When I was pregnant with Katie, I just knew she as a girl from the beginning. I had two dreams about a baby that I was holding. I assumed it was the baby I had yet to give birth to. Both dreams showed a little girl with dark hair and blue eyes. I knew that was my baby in my dreams. Sure enough, that is what she came out looking like! Looking back, it was kind of cool to get a "preview" of my daughter.

Along with the dreams, I experience striking dejavu. At times it is very spooky and I have to just let the moment pass. Some times it really freaks me out. I have had whole conversations and scenes in real life when I know what exactly will happen next. Now I just need to figure out how to harness that!

March Madness, Take 2

My bracket is over. Everyone at work is in the same boat. I came in SECOND. Not too shabby! If I would have had one more right, I would have won. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. The only glory I can have from this is that I did manage to beat two of the biggest sports buffs in the office!

Miss Katie

Here is a photo of Katie when she was about 30 hours old. If you look closely, you can see the IV apparatus attached to her head. When I was in labor, I developed an infection in the placenta that made my temperature rise to something like 103. Of course, Katie's temp also rose to about 104. This is definately not good for a baby that hasn't even been born yet. So as soon as she was born (with help from the vaccuum) she was evaluated and taken to the NICU where they started her on a high power course of antibiotics. Her fever came down very quickly after that. This photo was taken Friday evening when John and Pam came to visit. We asked John to administer to Katie and me at that point and I could feel a peace come over our hospital room. I knew that Katie would stay in the hospital longer than me, but I knew that she would be ok because God was watching over her and us.

Seeing this picture again reminds me of how Katie used to "sing" in her sleep. While she was in the NICU, the nurses noticed that she would make little humming noises with every breath. They decided to do a chest x-ray but found nothing wrong. Again, God was at work. When we got to bring her home, Katie and I would take naps together with her singing and me just listening and smiling the whole time. I love this little girl.

March Madness

Now I know why they call is March Madness. It's completely maddening! I do not profess to be a sports buff. Normally, I could care less who wins or looses most games. I kind of follow the Cheifs, not so much the Royals (I do like going to the game though), rarely KU hoops. But, when it comes around to March, I definately want my teams to win. The bracket is a total coin flip for me. I pick based on girlie stuff: colors and mascot and if I like the name of the school. What is a seed anyway? Last year, I won the pot at work. Entry is $5 and winner takes all. I got $40. Doesn't sound like much, I know. It's the bragging rights that are so important to me. I get to tell all of the men I work with that I pick better than them and they follow college hoops religiously. As of Friday, I was looking good to take the pot again this year. But, Texas lost. It was basically between me and one other person. I think his team lost too. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Home show and Katie, of course!

We went to the Home Show today. As always, lots of walking. But, we ran into Ben's mom and sister, so we talked to them for a couple minutes.

Katie was really charming today. She is so good when we go out. She is almost (98 times out of 100) very calm and easy going when we are at a restaraunt or shopping. It's so easy to take her. She always flirts with whoever is watching and has recently started waving at everyone. She was starting to get figity while in her stroller, so I took her out and while we were stopped, she kept giving me her wet sloppy kisses. Basically, she leans into you and puts her open mouth onto your cheek. It's slobbery, but I love it. She is such a pleasure to have.

She is getting much better at walking, but still hasn't done it much at home. I think she gets too excited about walking to me, she just can't get there fast enough so she starts to crawl. Whatever gets you there, right?

Katie has a game where she puts everything she is playing with over her head like she is putting on a scarf. Socks are a favorite article of clothing to turn into a scarf. We were at Hobby Lobby recently and were walking down the yarn aisle (I know, hard to believe) and I paused for half a second and she pulled a skein of yarn off the shelf. It was fuzzy with black, brown, orange, and red. So, since it was so cool and she picked it out, I bought it and am making her a scarf to playwith. This morning she found the work in progress and was trying to wear it, needles and all.

Shane is the winner

Shane wins cause he made the very first comment on this site! But, to be fair, my mom said she tried to make a comment but it didn't go through correctly.

Welcome!

Hello to everyone that might be stopping by now. Come on in, have a seat. There's some hot chocolate on the stove, help yourself. Feel free to stay awhile, or just stop in every once in awhile to say hi!

Sold!

I sold one of my creations for the very first time today. It was kind of bittersweet. I have never sold anything I've made. I make lots of stuff for other people. I always have given them as gifts.

But, a friend wanted me to design a "grandmother's" bracelet for her mom for an upcoming birthday. So, I got some ideas and picked out all the beads, designed it, and sold it! I was excited about how it turned out. I really liked the finished look.

It was sort of sad for me though. I always get such joy in seeing someone react to something I made just for them or their new baby and this time I don't get to see that. I almost feel guilty about selling stuff. Since I have only ever given, it feels almost wrong to take money from friends. But, making bracelets is an easy way to get a little bit extra so I can go buy more beads or yarn to make stuff to give away!

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I really want to felt something again. I've been knitting for almost two years now. My very first knitting project was a bright ORANGE bag with red, orange, and yellow fuzzy stuff on the top. I lined it with a really cool fabric that had red, orange, pink, and yellow mums on it. It looks perfect together. Felting is fun because you can make all sorts of mistakes like twisting stitches, holes that aren't supposed to be there, etc. and then when you felt it, you never see the mistakes again. I think I want to make the same bag again, just with better blocking while it's still wet. I know so much more about finishing now, so I think it will look better the second time around. I'm thinking something dark, most likely black, with a splash of color with a scarf or something along the top edge. Not sure yet.

I also really want to make a sweater. I've knit scarves, bags, 2 pairs of socks, and a hat for Katie. I think I know enough now that I can work my way through a pattern without too much difficulty. I need to use up some of the yarn I have sitting around home because it's starting to take over!

I think I'm starting to become somewhat of a yarn snob. Red Heart isn't cutting it anymore. I love the feel of the natural fibers. The problem is that they are just a little pricy at times for a large project. Maybe that's why I haven't tackled a sweater yet!

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I told my parents about this blog today. Hi mom and dad!

What next?

Well, I started my blog and was super excited about it and then only told Ben so far.

So, I guess I'm kind of nervous about sharing my thoughts and stuff with my friends and family. See, there are lots of people I know with blogs now and they are so witty and insightful. I think I'm intimidated. I have never been one to want to be at the center of attention. I always seem to get flustered and forget what I'm going to say or get emotional about what I'm saying or generally feel like everyone is staring at me and I'll say something dumb. I know that it's mainly just my own insecurities, but I just need to relax and get over it. After all, this blog is about me right?

So, here's the scoop. My baby girl is amazing! She has the bluest eyes and is just a complete charmer. I love her with all my heart. I will go on and on, but not tonight.

The other night she had her second injury. There was blood and everything. She is such a tough little cookie though cause she stopped crying way before the blood stopped. Somehow, she fell into the railing on our bed that supports the mattress and cut the very top of her gum. I think her bottom teeth (they've only been out since Christmas so a still very sharp) somehow connected with the part of her mouth where the upper lip and gum meets. It's amazing how much mouth injuries bleed. But, I held myself together and we all made it through just fine.

When I figure out the mechanics of posting photos and stuff, beware. You will be inundated with photos of Katie and my craftiness. Maybe an occasional Charlie (my dog) thrown in for good measure.

Hello, I'm here now

Wow. My first blog entry. EVER! I decided that it was finally time to stop thinking about creating a blog and just do it.

About the title:

I am many things in life. It seems like I am always looking for "my other hat." You know, the wife/mother/employee/crafter hats. Every once in awhile, I get to take off all the hats and just be. I do have to say though, I like my hats.