Cozy Joy

My latest completed knitting project: The Mermaid's hat. This is the third hat I've knit from the pattern, one for each of my angels. It's so fun and easy to knit!!



More about this project can be found on my Ravelry page.

Cozy Joy

Hugs For A Book

My latest completed knitting project: A traveling book cover.

A Christmas gift for my SIL.
I find my SIL was fun to knit for, because for one I know she will appreciate it, and for another we have the same interest, so I knew that she would like this.
I'm participating in a handmade gift exchange for 2011. I have to send 5 people something handmade by the end of the year. I can't wait to make my gifts! <3

More about this pattern can be found on my Ravelry page.

Hugs For A Book

Winter Hat, Part II

I was so happy to finish this hat for The Guppy. It has been a while since I've knitted something for her, and she was thrilled to get her very own hat.

It was easy and fun to knit.

More information about this project can be found on my Ravelry page.

Wordless Wednesday

Winter Hat, Part II

This Old, Familiar Dance.

Every other night, I sit down with my knitting.

The yarn spins through my fingers, the needles gently click together, and the dance begins.

The knitting dance. Fingers and needles moving in harmony, dancing with the yarn to create something special.
And when it's done, I put it on him proudly...
and it's almost like his entire head is protected by my love.

Wordless Wednesday.

More information about this pattern can be found on my Ravelry page.

This Old, Familiar Dance.

The Most Amazing Organ

I finished my latest knitting project this week. A uterus.

It was fun to knit. And I know have a great visual aid for my future CBE classes.

Next on my list is a placenta.

More info can be found on my ravelry page.

The Most Amazing Organ

Let The Sunshine In...

Looking in stores for a sun hat for The Tadpole, I couldn't seem to find one cute or original enough for my little man.

So, for the first time since he was born, I picked up my knitting needles and knit one up for him.

He needs it. Because right now, our whole lives are filled with joy and sunshine.

We are so happy you are here, little one. We love you so much!

More information can be found on my ravelry page.

Let The Sunshine In...

40+ Weeks

I'm not really surprised that the baby is content to sit for a while. The Mermaid was seven days "overdue" and the Guppy was ten days. I'm not uncomfortable and I really am fine with sitting and waiting until baby is ready....but I just really hate being in that "limbo" state of waiting. Not really wanting to make plans, dealing with being the watched tea pot.

I am convinced of three things, though: 1. Baby is a girl. 2. She has a hat fetish. 3. She just wants to see how many hats she can get me to crank out before her arrival.

Hats are quick and easy to knit up, and are really helping me fill in the time during this waiting period. After the apple hat that I posted about, I made a cute little devil hat:



and then a cute little Bunny hat:

More information can by found on my ravelry page.

The difference with this waiting period versus my other pregnancies is that I've been very distracted. While with the Mermaid and Guppy I was able to go about my regular schedule up until I went into labor, with this pregnancy for some reason I've let a LOT of things slide. Waiting for baby has been my excuse for being a tad bit lazy. No more. Starting today, I'm going to work on catching up on those things that I fell behind in, including watching some session of the Gold 2010 Online Lactation Conference that I registered for a while back.

Thanks for checking it, dear friends. Hopefully my next post will contain adorable baby pictures!

40+ Weeks

Still Waiting...

I'm still here. Still waiting for baby to make his or her appearance.

Surprisingly, I don't feel rushed or impatient. I'm rather comfortable most of the time, and I've been getting so much help from my fabulous and supportive family. The only we have left to do is inflate the birth pool and do a practice run. I don't "feel" like I'm ready to burst or drop or anything.

I've tried to keep my calendar clear as much as possible, so I can spend the rest of this pregnancy relaxing. Of course, for me the word "relaxing" is synonymous with "knitting". Here is my latest knitting project: an apple hat, for the newest Apple of My Eye.


More information can be found on my ravelry page. Last night I cast on and started a little devil hat. I wonder if I will have another time to finish it before baby comes...

Oh sweet baby, we are so in love with you already and can't wait to meet you!

Still Waiting...

Goddess of Mine

My newest knitting project: Goddess

She is my first completed project on DPN's. The embroidery leaves much to be desired, but somehow for me the imperfections add to her beauty.

She was a joy to knit. I covered her with symbols of birth and the feminine; a spiral for the spiral movement of birth; a moon, for fertility; and the Egyptian Ankh, symbol for life. She is also stuffed with herbs, and smells divine.

She is a gift for a friend, but I think soon I will make another one for myself.

More details can be found on my Ravelry page.

Goddess of Mine

My Sweets...

I had a most wondrous Valentine's Day this year...

We decided to spend the day relaxing at home, spending time with each other. We did get in a trip to the grocery store to stock up on groceries, but other than that it was filled with lots of card making, cuddling, hugs, and kisses.

The Knight bought me beautiful flowers and a nice basket to store my yarn in. I love the basket, although I think it was his way of politely telling me that he is tired of having to step over my yarn and needles whenever he walks into the living room...
Today we are getting snowed in, the perfect opportunity and excuse to stay home, drink hot tea, and knit.

I have lots of projects that I am looking forward to knitting, but I know that the sweetest creations of all are my two beautiful girls and the life I hold inside me.

We can't wait to be a family of four....

My Sweets...

Working On It...

We had such a fabulous weekend.

Great time just hanging out, enjoying each other's company. We went to Boston to see Disney On Ice, and my husband treated me like a queen on Valentine's Day.

I have a bunch of posts I want to write, but since The Knight has the day off, I'm going to turn off the computer and work on them later.

In the meantime, here is a picture of the boob dishcloth I whipped up last night while watching the race:

More info can be found on my Ravelry page.

Happy President's Day, my friends!!!!

Working On It...

Knitting Update: Finished The Cats

I've now knit four of these, and hope to never knit another one again.

But when The Guppy got hers, her reaction made it all worth it: I love it, Mommy! You're my BEST friend!

Made with love in every stitch.....my hands create joy.

Knitting Update: Finished The Cats

Meow!

I finished the matching set for my belly bean :) (Excuse the horrible pictures, I was tired and in a rush!)

Matching cat, hat, and booties.

SIL's baby shower was this past weekend, and she seemed to enjoy the set I made for her little one. I like how our babies will have matching sets to wear :)

Of course, now that the girls have watched me knit two of these cats, they each want their own. I am happy to oblige, but I think that after knitting four of these cats, I shall never want to knit another cat for the rest of my life!

Can't wait to meet you, little one, and see the yarn nestled against your soft skin!

Meow!

My Needles Are On Fire....

....from all the knitting I've been doing.

I finished up the gift set that I was working on for a dear friend who is pregnant. I knit up some cute baby booties to match the beanie hat I knitted, then knit up a matching kitty cat, too.

I then got to work on knitting the same set for my belly bean. So far I have the beanie hat finished:

Since we won't know until after the birth whether this baby is a boy or a girl, I'm trying to make the hat and booties look gender neutral without using the pastel green and yellow colors, which I don't particularly like. Although this sage green yarn is more "boyish", I think making the bulk of the hat a soft ecru makes it more gender neutral.

More information can be found on my ravelry page..

Knitting has become part of my daily rhythm that I enjoy and look forward to. After the girls are in bed, I make myself a cup of tea, sit down on the couch with my knitting bag and catch up on my favorite shows.

Usually the baby moves a lot at night, so as I am knitting baby things I get to enjoy feeling the baby kick, kick, kick inside me. It is so relaxing and blissful.

I hold the soft yarn in my hands, and imagine it against the baby's skin....16 more weeks to go.

My Needles Are On Fire....

Knitting Mishaps and Accomplishments

I've been going crazy with my knitting lately and I love it. I find that if I can get even just half an hour a day to knit, it really helps me keep my stress level down.

My latest knitting project is a beanie hat for a newborn. Of course, I'm not too patient of a person and always thought that checking the gauge was a waste of time. Until I tried to knit the beanie hat. Because when you knit a hat for a newborn without checking your gauge, you end up with a hat for a 5 year old!

Luckily The Mermaid LOVES her new hat, so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I tried again, and after checking my gauge and going down two needle sizes, I ended up with a beanie hat that will actually fit a baby:

More details about this project can be found on my ravelry page.

Next on my list is matching baby booties and a stuffed rabbit.

Knitters, what have you been working on?

Knitting Mishaps and Accomplishments

Handmade Christmas: The Guppy's Sweater

Another project that I was working on towards our handmade Christmas was a sweater for The Guppy. I finally finished it this week.

You can find more details on my ravelry page.

If you are a knitter, I'd love to hear what you've been working on!

Handmade Christmas: The Guppy's Sweater

Knitting Away High Expectations

Yesterday I took my knitting bag out from under the end table and took a peek inside.

How long has it been since I worked on my knitting? I found out quickly by examining the project on my needles; a sweater that I had started working on for The Mermaid last year.

It was in March of this year that I last picked up my needles. The sweater will no longer fit The Mermaid, but if I finish it, it will fit The Guppy...

So last night, I sat and knitted. Knitting is such good therapy for me; I usually pick easy projects that don't require much thinking, brainless ones that I can work on while talking or watching TV. It relaxes me and lets me think about things while I work; it gives me a visible accomplishment and proof of progress to look at by the end of the day.

I think that is what I need the most right now; proof of progress and accomplishment. My life has been extremely crazy and unsettled lately, and on top of that, while I am feeling much better, this pregnancy is leaving me exhausted and with little ambition. The house is an absolute mess and I find myself unable to work on other things in my life as well. In fact, last night while knitting I even felt guilty, thinking there is soo much work you need to get done and instead you are sitting here knitting. But for some reasons, the needles kept calling to me with their reassuring and calming click click click and I kept knitting.

As I finally sighed and set my work aside to go to bed, I took one last look at it and paused. Where before I started was nothing, there was now the beginning of the front of the sweater. And there it was, right in front of me, and I thought, So this is what accomplishment looks like. I had forgotten. And suddenly I knew why I had craved to hold the needles in my hand again; so I can remind myself that I can accomplish things, and be proud of them, no matter how small.

So, today I am going to tackle my own expectations of myself. I am going to admire and praise whatever small accomplishments I make around the house, instead of getting overwhelmed by all that I have to do. Baby steps is my new plan of action. I'm going to start with putting away some laundry. And I will make sure I end my day with knitting.

For more Tackle It Tuesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

Knitting Away High Expectations

Tackle It Tuesday: Knitting Project

When it comes to knitting projects, I find I have a hard time actually finishing the products I start.

I love knitting, but I get bored with what I'm making real quickly and so it will sit on my needles for months.

Not so this time.

For Tackle It Tuesday this week, I am going to resolve to work a little bit on my knitting project every day, even if it is only ten minutes of knitting. The project I am currently working on is a sweater for the Mermaid. I've almost finished knitting the front piece, and thanks to this week's Tackle It Tuesday, I will finish and start the back piece!

I'll post pictures of the finished product when I'm done.

For more Tackle It Tuesday posts, click here.

Tackle It Tuesday: Knitting Project

Sewing Heaven

It's been crazy over here in sewing heaven. At least that is where I am right now. Let me explain. This is what I came home with Tuesday from my LLL meeting:
That's eight, count 'em, eight bags of fabric, including TONS of fabric for making diaper supplies. I'm on cloud nine. This was all given to me by a wonderful fellow LLL member. How cool is that?This is all the fabric arranged in piles in my living room. Can you find the baby? There's a wool pile, fleece, velour, sherpa, flannel, PUL solid, PUL print, and other misc. non-diapering fabrics. So far I've made a wool soaker for the Mermaid out of one of the wools sweaters and I also finished the wool soaker I was knitting for the Guppy.

The Mermaid in her new wool soaker.

The Guppy in her new knit wool soaker.

I also sewed another soaker for the Guppy out of one of the other wools sweaters I got. I'll post a picture when I can.

Sewing Heaven