Sunday, June 26, 2011

Baby Knitting for ME!

I am expecting a baby.
I am due in about 10 days, and am excited but mostly nervous. The first 5 months I was
sick, but otherwise, I have been lucky and healthy throughout the pregnancy. Since I dive for a living, I had to essentially stop working as soon as I found out. This has been financially difficult, but restful at home, at least. I have been very blessed to have my DBF home most of the time with me as well.

But I haven't done too much knitting. I made a hat and bootie set for my friend (last post) and then finally made one pair of booties for Cletus the Fetus. (Socks that Rock leftovers from the River Rocked pattern. These are yet more of the Stay-On Baby Booties).
Then, in early May, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, and my life became daily worries and medical details, with carb counting, blood sugar testing, and this horrid fear that I was hurting the baby with my every move. Knitting cute baby things just seemed like the most superstitious thing ever. What would happen if something went wrong? So I worked on my brother's Christmas socks, now vastly overdue. For months. Okay, I was going to run out of yarn, so I had to rip back and re-do his first sock, but still: MONTHS! (I just checked. It took me 7 months to finish his socks. Sad.)
And so it went: The months went on, the worry and paranoia continued, the knitting of non-baby socks occurred. Then, slowly, I started making the Star Trek Bibs. I did the yellow, then the blue, then I worried some more. Perhaps armed with knowledge of my worry and exhaustion, my friends threw me a surprise baby shower, and they brought beads for one of those strung-together labor-bracelets. I got excited about knitting them together instead, and added some more beads, buttons, and jewelry to represent people not at the shower. The simple icord bracelet broke the knitting spell, in a way. Maybe having all those thoughts and prayers behind me?

Then I was on a roll. I finished the Ensign Redshirt Star Trek Bib, then, continuing the Sci-fi theme, used the remains from a Jayne hat to make a baby Jayne hat!
The watermellon hat came next, then pieces for a sweater, and parts of a bunny hat (still in progress). I am still nervous. I am still scared. But he will come any day now, and at least he will have good hats.