jennanddave.com

I told you Henry and I were going to be in a commercial for Mad About Ewes? It's all done and it's been posted on Libby's website (scroll down to bottom of page), so go check it out! It's really good and really funny...

Posted by Jenn at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Five or six years ago I bought the perfect sweater. Hit me in all the right places, great color, etc. etc. I should have bought one in every color, but I didn't. Three years ago it started to unravel and I couldn't wear it anymore. I also couldn't bear to throw it out, so I shoved it in the bottom of my closet next to my bright orange sneakers and ten-hole Docs, all of which I pull out every once in a while and wistfully sigh over.

The October after we moved to Lewisburg we came up to Boston to do the whole Fall/pumpkin/caramel apple thing, and while we were staying with my parents, I asked my mom to show me how to knit. One successfully knitted scarf later, I pulled out my sweater and started to think about how to knit up a replica. Dream big, I always say.

This past Spring I took a knitter's math class at Mad About Ewe's. It was all about how to take your own measurements to create a custom sweater. It was interesting and it was fun, but it was also math, which means everything I learned leaked out my ears within fifteen minutes of having figured it out. Math is like that for me. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that one of my mom's biggest frustrations was helping me with math. Her way of learning is to understand why you get the answer you do, whereas my way has more to do with knowing how, and not caring so much about why. I think she forgave me the day I gave her a grandkid.

The other night I was looking for something to do, so I pulled out some yarn, knitted up a swatch, pulled out my worksheets from the Knitter's Math class, and went to work getting a pattern together.

I'm trying for something similar to "The Sweater", but since the yarn is thicker and softer, it won't be an exact copy. It will be a good practice run though. I'm having some guage issues, in that I'm getting the same guage with two different needle sizes (I don't know why this keeps happening to me, but it's really annoying). The guage weirdness means I'm not entirely sure how it's all going to come out width-wise.

So far I've frogged and started over three times:

1. I started out on size 7's but decided a few inches in to switch to size 8 circulars because of aforementioned guage discrepencies.
2. Discovered I'd twisted the stitches when I joined the round.
3. So far so good.

The yarn's not looking bedraggled at all. Really. I knit up another sweater a couple of years ago using the same yarn, but I was so annoyed with how it came out I stuffed it all in a bag and threw it back into my stash. In this picture you can see I'm knitting the body straight from the sleeve of the other sweater.

I repeat: the yarns not looking bedraggled at all. Really.

Finally, here's a closeup of the yarn. It's a light sage color with shiny bits running through. It's Schoeller Stahl Sunshine.

Posted by Jenn at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

SO BIG!!!

Posted by Jenn at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Maybe from the title of this everybody thought it would be Jenn but it's me, Dave, interloping again. So in preparation for a mid-life crisis, which is still some time off but which will involve copious machine tools like my very own Bridgeport , I started to get a very serious case of nostalgia. I huddled over the google screen and madly started typing in names of long lost friends/acquaintances from high school and college. Somehow the internet revolution has passed over pretty much everybody I knew in school, which is a bizaare mystery to me. Or I was such a huge nerd I didn't really know as many people as I thought I did... Well let's try not to think about that. Sure, I could probably go to one of those pay sites to look up class-mates, but that lacks the adrenaline rush of actually pulling off a successful google search.

I didn't strike out entirely. There's Catherine Marie Charlton , who is a cool and talented musician who I went to high school with and stayed in touch with and that's been great, and one or two others who may want to stay anonymous so I'll grant them that. But here's the thing - get with it people. There are these things called web pages that you can create online! Just imagine. Seriously get in touch. Oh, how to find me? Try google.

Posted by Dave at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

was crazy. We had a leisurely drive to Middlebury on Thursday, stopping along the way to see some sights (waterfalls, country stores). After checking into the hotel Henry protested his afternoon nap for approximately an hour before Dave and I gave up. After scoping out the pool, we headed over to TJ Maxx to see if we could find an inexpensive swimsuit for yours truly, who had managed to pack a suit for Henry, but not for anyone else (no luck). We went out to dinner at a great restaurant that overlooks Otter Creek. Since it wasn't overly cold out we sat out on the deck and alternately stared out at the water and tried to keep the kid entertained. Afterwards we headed back to the hotel where Henry went to bed, I soaked in the whirlpool, and Dave worked on his talk.

Then it was Friday. Henry and I were on our own all day while Dave was busy at Middlebury. It would have been an exceptionally fine day if we hadn't had to check out of our hotel room at noon. This left us stranded with no home base to return to for naps, which means I was running around all day trying to think of things to do, but unable to take much of a break. During the course of the day we: played and had lunch at a local park, ogled some cows, befriended an alpaca, visited Middlebury College's art museum, scoped out downtown, stared at the waterfall on Otter Creek, munched on goldfish in the town square which is home to the most mesmerizing fountain Henry's ever seen, had dinner at McDonald's, picked up Dave, drove like mad for the next three and a half hours until we got home at 10:15PM. All the driving I did on winding country roads developed into quite the case of motion-sickness by the time we got home. Henry and I went straight to bed.

The next time we go on a quick trip like that, we're definitely going to have to stay for two nights. Oh, and remember how I promised lots of pictures? I brought the camera but forgot to put the battery in. Stop laughing.

Posted by Jenn at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Jenn at 08:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Dave is giving a talk at Middlebury College on Friday. We decided that it's a great chance to get out of dodge for a couple of days so we're all going. Except for Flash. She'll be living the good life in Cambridge, getting lots of ear rubs and treats from the doting grandparents. My guess is she won't be happy to see us when we get back. I wouldn't blame her either.

We'll be leaving tomorrow which means today I'm madly cleaning. Whenever we go on a trip I always have to clean everything because who wants to come home to a dirty, gross house. Also, there's the fact that I haven't cleaned in two weeks.

Henry and I will be on our own on Friday, which will be interesting. We have to check out of the hotel around noon (at least he'll get a morning nap) so after that we'll be looking for stuff to do. I'm looking forward to it. I've found a pick your own place nearby that also has a petting zoo, so that's a possibility, not to mention all of the hiking trails that are around if we're feeling sporty. It looks like the college has a nice art gallery as well, and lets face it, what one-year old wouldn't love a nice stroll through a place where they're not allowed to make a lot of noise and they can't touch anything?

When we come back, hopefully we'll have lots of pictures to share.

Posted by Jenn at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's Monday and I can't think of anything even half-way clever to write, as if I write something clever everytime I'm faced with Moveable Type's "Create New Entry" page. Since there will be no cleverness or wittiness here today, I'm going to make up for it by sacrificing my pride and telling you about something that happened last week, something my dad happened to find very amusing, and something which I couldn't talk about without turning bright red and giggling. Are you intrigued?

When we came up to Salem, we couldn't be bothered to bring Henry's changing table. This means whenever we change him, we do it on the floor. Last week I brought him to his little changing pad, plopped him down, squatted, and proceeded to take off his diaper. Squatting is a position that happens to be very conducive to tooting, which is exactly what I did. Loudly. In response, Henry stopped squirming, looked at me, stuck out his tongue, and blew an equally resonant raspberry.

Posted by Jenn at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We went to the Stone Zoo today. We were supposed to go tomorrow but today was such a decent-looking day that we decided we just couldn't wait an extra 24 hours before heading out into the wilds of Stoneham to see us some animals.

Henry and Dave checking out the Black-necked Crane.

One of those big rodents they have in South America. It was cute, especially since it was two fences and a moat away.

Checking out the flamingoes.

Henry naturally gravitated towards all of the puddles on the grounds of the zoo. Here he is wet and about to be unceremoniously handed over to his dad.

Henry's favorite exhibit was the "Spinning Wheel of Metamorphosis". To get the full effect, say "Spinning Wheel of Metamorphosis" out loud in a deep voice and be sure to echo the last syllable.

Posted by Jenn at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There has been an interesting wrinkle in the nap-time continuum that has been the norm for the past eight or so months. Every day it was the same thing: Henry wakes up, eats and plays, naps for a couple of hours, eats and plays, naps for a couple of hours, eats and plays, then goes to bed for the night. Speaking as an entirely worn out mom, I really like the two naps a day. Generally I do something productive during the first nap, and then during the second I either also take a nap or I just sit and think about what my life used to be like before Henry came along, the good ole days of drinking and recreational drug use, clubbing night after night, sleeping around. You know. The fun stuff. But I digress.

For the past week Henry has taken his pre-morning-nap bottle, has been laid down ever so gently and lovingly into his crib, given his binky/sleepytime hat/blanket/frog, smooched on the nose, then left alone to drift away into the land of nod where he could dream about whatever it is babies dream about. Giant cheerios? Orchards filled with trees that grow milk-filled bottles, ripe and ready for plucking? Doggies? I have often closed the door to his room thinking how nice it would be if somebody gave me a snack and then made me go to bed. My kid apparently has been thinking otherwise. All will be quiet for a few minutes, then come the first peeps of discontent. It's a loop that goes on in no certain order. Sometimes he talks to himself. Sometimes he cries in protest. Other times he just fusses. Could this possibly be the end of the two naps a day stage?

Two months ago I pulled out my old friend "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby" and read up on what we could expect with a one-year old. That's when I read something that chilled me to the very core of my being. I can't recall the exact numbers but it basically went like this: 90% of 12 month old kids take two naps a day, that percentage dropping to 50% a few months later. Since then it has been my mission to make sure that Henry keeps his two naps for as long as possible. So! I'm coming up with excuses reasons as to why Henry would be fussing during his morning nap. I can only come up with four:

1. He's been sick for the last week. Maybe his stuffed up nose is making it uncomfortable for him to snooze.

2. We've been leading semi-hectic schedules the last two weekends and maybe the disruptions to his schedule wreaked temporary but semi-long-lasting havoc.

3. Both 1 and 2.

4. He's ready to move to one nap a day.

*sob*

Posted by Jenn at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The cell phone is one of those things that makes Henry either squeal with delight or howl with displeasure. Which of the two you get to experience depends entirely on whether the phone happens to be moving towards or heading away from him once it has entered into his field of vision. Woe be the day you find yourself sitting on the floor trying to make a call because no matter where he is, he'll be on top of you in under three seconds, climbing up on your knees, hands grabbing all over the place, extra-drooly mouth breathing heavily mere millimeters away from your face. Sounds vaguely like a really bad first date, doesn't it? Usually he's so sad and pathetic and still ever-hopeful that I tend to hand the phone over to him once I'm done using it.

Yesterday was no exception. I called Dave at work to talk with him about something spectacularly interesting, like how Henry had just tooted and sneezed at the same time, or how I had burnt my grilled cheese sandwich but decided to eat it anyway. Henry got all excited when he saw the cell and came over to stand near where I was. When Dave and I hung up, I handed the phone over to him and he walked back over to the bench where he could play and eat Goldfish at the same time. Toddler heaven! Playing and eating at the same time! This is also extraordinary because as everyone knows, men can't multi-task and yet here's my boy, playing and eating! At the same time! And he's doing it while standing. So that's three things he's doing all at once. Man, he's way ahead of the curve. So there he was, standing, eating, and playing with the phone. After a few minutes I looked over at him and saw that he had the phone open. I tend to be very careful about making sure he's not calling 911 or Italy, but I have to confess that on this particular occassion I happened to be exceedingly engrossed in Rock Star Mommy's blog so I wasn't paying as much attention as I would have normally. Just as I was getting up to check the call log, Henry looked at me and flipped the phone shut. That took care of that. I sat back down and continued reading.

Ten seconds later our land line starts ringing. I get up to answer it and Dave's on the other end.

Dave: Guess who I just got a call from?
me: Who?
Dave: Henry.
me: !!!!!
Dave: Seriously!
me: How did you know it was him?
Dave: Oh I don't know: "pant, pant, snort, crunch, crunch, snuffle, pant, pant..."

Posted by Jenn at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

While we were at my parents' house last Saturday, I was talking with my dad about how I was currently between books right now. I mentioned I didn't know what I was going to read next and he suggested "Out of Africa".

Last night Dave and I were reading in bed (okay, I was reading, Dave was obsessing over Sudoku) when the following conversation took place:

me: What's "pedantry" mean?
Dave: Probably a foot doctor.
me: That's a podiatrist.
Dave: Well, it's an old book.

So in case this comes up in Trivial Pursuit, at least up to the year 1937 pedantry was a foot doctor. Hope it wins you a pie piece.

Posted by Jenn at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

It seems like almost everyone in blog-land is going to write something re: September 11, but I don't really know what to say about it so I'm not going to try. Instead, I'll tell you all about our weekend.

On Friday Dave was kind enough to stay home and take care of his two sickies. He showered me with fresh boxes of Kleenex, procured cough drops, made me take naps, and generally took care of the kid. If I hadn't been consumed by an ever-present and overwhelming desire to smash a hammer into my nose, it would have been the perfect day.

On Saturday Dave felt sick again, but the three of us piled into the car and headed for my parents house anyway. (Lest you think I'm a bad wife, I had suggested that he stay home, but he wasn't having it.) There was a block party on their street that day. We enjoyed lots of good food coupled with lots of great company. While Henry was napping, Dave took the opportunity to crash out on the couch with the tv remote, so he did manage to get a little quiet time in. Henry had been skipping afternoon naps altogether since he caught his cold and I believe it finally caught up with him Saturday afternoon. He cried for a while but when he finally got to sleep, he slept long and hard. We woke him up around 6:30 and he was groggy and fussy the rest of the evening.

Yesterday my parents came up to babysit Henry. The five of us went to the Apple store to look at computers, then we went to lunch at Johnny Rockets. I ordered Henry a grilled cheese and cup of milk off the menu, which was quite the coup as far as I was concerned. His very first restaurant meal. Afterwards, we dropped off the troops, and Dave and I headed to Russell Orchards. We went on a hayride, picked a peck of apples, ate cider donuts, fed the farm animals, and drank apple cider. And you know what? It was fantastic. Can't wait to do it again.

Next weekend we have tentative plans to go to the Stone Zoo. I'd like to take Henry before the weather gets too cold.

Posted by Jenn at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Be forewarned, what follows is a whole plateload of whining.

I have a cold. Henry woke up yesterday (Wednesday) morning with two rivers coming out of his nose and I guess tonight it's my turn. Earlier today I started to fall asleep on the floor so Dave suggested I take a nap. I went to our room and laid down, had some weird dreams, and woke up feeling a little dizzy. We went grocery shopping, fed Henry, gave him a bath, put him to bed, ate dinner, and by the time I sat down and relaxed again, I really started feeling gross.

The first night of a cold is always the worst. I never get any sleep. There's the ever-present fear that the box of Kleenex I bought especially for the occassion will run out and I'll have to resort to using toilet paper, something that guarantees a big, red Rudolph nose that will linger for days. Or I worry that the glass of water that I sip to death during the night will run out making it necessary for me to get up and refill it, thus forcing me into a state of complete wakefulness, again (I've already refilled twice). I can't be in the same bed with anyone because of the need to snuffle and toss and turn to my hearts content so I always end up on the living room couch. Usually I'm able to turn on the television and allow the sounds of the latest infomercial du jour lull me into a state of blissful unawareness, but since we have no TV, here I am.

Tomorrow is going to be a rough day.

Posted by Jenn at 02:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In preparation for the upcoming fall season, I went ahead and did what millions of other knitters have done for (to?) their kids: knit Henry a pumpkin hat. I used Debbie Bliss Merino DK for the orange and Plymouth Encore DK for the dark green border. The woman at the yarn shop suggested I make the medium size because the guage on the pattern was 5 sts/inch, whereas the yarn I purchased was 5.5 sts/inch. After I swatched, it turned out that I met the guage of the pattern without having to adjust the needle size so I was able to knit the small size after all without having to make any changes. It was a lot of fun to knit and worked up really quickly. The only problem I ran into was when I had to pick up stitches from the green border with the orange yarn. I way overthought what I was supposed to do and thus did the wrong thing. Easy problem to fix after the obligatory five minutes of head-smacking and "duh"-ing.

You know how every time you pick up a book of children's knits the models always have a blissed out "I can't believe I'm wearing this gorgeous knitted garment" look on their face, even when the kids are only a few months old? Well, there has to be some balance in the universe, so I give you this:

Posted by Jenn at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm hijacking the blog for a bit. Jenn's had her time in the limelight and now that I'm on leave for the semester, maybe I can opine for a bit and keep up the family honor. Let's see...

...went back to Bucknell for a few days to tie up loose ends. That was cool. Stopped in at the Blanchard annual reunion in Springfield and that was a lot of fun too. Now we're sipping coffee in new england and remain incredibly addicted to the world's hardest game of solitaire. Jenn noticed that Bucknell's women's crew will be rowing in the Head of the Charles this fall and we are already making plans to be there to hoot and holler for the Bison. For example, Henry has a nice bright orange shirt that should really make us look like over-obsessed parents.

So I'm actually a little depressed about Steve Irwin's death. He represented science and nature terrifically to anybody who can stand a few "crikey's" and was an effective role model in the natural sciences. I'm guessing he was (and still is) to the current generation what Mr. Wizard was to mine. Yes, I'm a massive nerd.

Posted by Dave at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)