More Than I Can Chew

Every year, the company I work for donates dolls to the local shelters. They purchase the dolls and then ask that employees dress them and give them back for donation. It's completely voluntary and since those 18" dolls give me the creeps, I usually avoid the whole shindig.

Well, this year...I've decided that I really should participate. I really like to create things and I can crochet dresses for people, so why not dolls...why not dolls, indeed...

I wanted something relevant to a little girl so I decided to do two dolls, Anna and Elsa from Frozen. I searched on Ravelry, but I couldn't find anything that would really work...so that means that I will have to make something up.

Now this is good news for Ravelry and other pattern sites because I will write it up and offer it for free, but I don't have a lot of time to do this so...we'll see how it all goes.

Wish me luck...

Excited

So this Saturday is Rhinebeck and I can't wait to go. My sister-in-law, a fellow fiber lover, will be coming along with me.

It's not so much all the buying options, but just seeing how many people are into what I'm into. It makes me feel like less of a weirdo. Some people think it's strange that I knit and crochet because I'm not a little, old granny hanging out in a rocking chair knitting up booties. Despite the recent "blow up" in popularity of the fiber world, it still remains quite a small blip on people's radar.

In other news, my Marshall sweater is chugging along quite rapidly. The pattern is easy and mindless so I 'm plowing through the body of it now. I haven't taken any photos of my progress because, even if I did, I probably wouldn't take them off my camera for days and days anyway.

I've stalled on the shawl. I think it's because I've pulled it out 3 different times, so now I have to kind of grin and bear it to get through the first bunch of rows before it will become fun again.

And since I have no content driven photos, here's a picture of something pretty.

Brush off the dust

I know in my last post I said that we had found our stride. I think that I might have been lying. 

Sometimes, that feeling of being in control is hovering just out of reach and it's covered in a slippery coating that is impossible for me to hold on to. Other times it's so far away that I don't see it at all. The worst part is that other people seem to have figured it all out, but I feel as though I'm not even close. Between guilt for working full time and being too tired to play with my kids at night and feeling rundown, it's as though I'm burning my candle at both ends and the middle is rapidly approaching. I almost have a feeling of impending disaster. Is this normal? If I could just put together some kind of strategy, maybe things would smooth out. At the moment, that is my priority; figuring this crazy life of mine, out.

I try to draw inspiration from people who have more challenges than me, because, truthfully, my life is good. I have a house, a family, a good job, and live in a safe area. Everyday, I work to remind myself that I have these things and even though everything is unbalanced, it's all good...

Step one, really, is to let go of the pressure. Let go of the self imposed, idealized versions of my life. I can't be super woman; I can't have a job, run a household, read all kinds of intelligent books, design patterns, write my own book, and care for my children, perfectly. That's the rub...perfection.

So, while I struggle to find my stride, maybe I will find time to log it all in here, and maybe I won't.

In my snippets of free time, I have been crocheting and knitting like mad. I've started a sweater as a Christmas gift and a shawl. The sweater is coming along ok, I had a few gauge issues, but I think I've worked it out. The shawl is still not working right. I used to knit/crochet very tightly and it was an annoying thing, but now it seems I'm the exact opposite and my gauge is way off. The sweater worked by going down a needle size, but the shawl...gosh...driving me nuts. You can see my tribulations on my Ravelry project pages.

And just because she's cute, here is a picture of my daughter.

Time

Hello.

I think we have found our stride.  It seems that things have finally smoothed out.  I can breathe again and little E can walk again.

Lily is GROWING.  I forget how fast it all goes, but in so many ways, I'm thankful for that.  Newborns are hard work.  She has been sleeping through the night for almost two weeks now and that's like a little miracle.  She holds her head up on her own now, miracle two.  Soon it will be baby cereal and sitting up.  Even though I'm in a small rush to see her a little more independent, it's an amazing thing to watch her personality emerge.  Everyday is something new.

I have had some time for crafting.  I've started this top.  UGH...it fits terribly so far.  In the pictures it looks so great on people, but not me.  I still have a few more inches to add and maybe it will carry the bulk away from my midsection.  If not, I may add a few more inches to try and get a better fit.  I would hate to pull it all out and it might not be me but maybe my choice in yarn.  We'll see.  It might look better in a drape-ier weight and material.

The pattern itself is sort of well written.  I feel like, it could have been edited better.  I think if you're a beginner, or even a not-so-confident intermediate crocheter, I would avoid this one for now.  Here's my project page.

One thing that I've been sort of chugging along on when I have any free time is a garter stitch blanket made in this yarn.  It makes such a cozy, easy to care for blanket and I had four skeins of it left over.  Whenever I have a free moment, I pick it up and add a few stitches.  So far, I've managed to get through two and a half skeins...

A few days ago I cut off about fifteen (FIFTEEN) inches of hair from my head.  I was so tired of it and now...it alllll gone.  Here's a sort of strange and forlorn picture of my ponytail.  And the second is a less forlorn but possibly just as strange Before and After picture of me.

3 Down And 3 To Go

Half way.....it feels like forever and it's going so fast.  Little man has adjusted rather well and I've been lucky to be on maternity leave so that I can stay home and care for him.  I also hired a nanny for three days a week and have had various family helping me every day.

I'm not sure when I will be able to resume my posting....my biggest obstacle to free time is my 6 week old little lady.  She is high maintenance and happy to be that way.  She's somewhat colic-y and seems to be a rather cranky infant.  That means, right now, my time is consumed with trying to ease her gassy tummy and help her get sleep.

Soon, 2 weeks in fact, I go back to work.  Little lady will go to daycare and little man will have our very wonderful nanny until his cast comes off.  Hopefully, at her 2 month mark her miniature system will grow out of the colic and we can actually leave the house.

Right now, she hates her car seat (even with the car moving or the stroller...strolling), hates when you sit and hold her when she's fussy, hates her crib, hates her boppy, and hates her play mat; also, occasionally hates the baby sling.  I literally have my hands full of baby most of the time.

Wish me luck because I really, really, REALLY miss having some time to knit or crochet.  But, in a crazy way, it's nice to have both kids at home with me and I know that I will miss them like mad when I go back to work.

And then it got complicated

Well, my little girl arrived 6 days late at 10:07a on May 25th.  She was a healthy 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20.5 inches long.  The pre labor was harder than actual hard labor...we named her Lily Hope.

Life was moving along...not much sleep, as expected...baby blues and a touch of post-partum, same as with my first...ok.  Then disaster struck.

We were all coming home from Ethan's 2 year well baby visit.  All was fine, and now his shots were all up to date.  We got home past bed time, so he was cranky and he hates the doctor and had a shot...so I anticipated a difficult night.  He ran into the playroom and proceeded to trip over Lily's playmat.  Usually I put the thing away so his dirty little sneakers can't get it all mucked up, but today I forgot.  My back was to him as I was putting Lily out of the playroom where he can't reach her.  

I heard him fall and turned as he started crying....I thought the amount of crying was odd, but he was so cranky already that I figured it was time for immediate removal to bed.  I did my usual injury check, squeezing various parts of him to see if he cried out...no particular response and I assumed he was fine.  I had Mr. LIH watch after Lily while I got my son to bed.  

He was acting strange...crying out seemingly (at first) randomly, and refusing to be put down.  I got him settled to bed but he was still acting weird and was sweating a lot and crying when we moved him.  My next thought was, he had a fever and was having pain when we touched him.  In went some ibuprofen and we brought him to our bed.  

It was now fairly late and he was still upset and not sleeping, so I called the doctor and spoke with a nurse.  She assured me that the shot and his teething were the culprits and wanted me to keep an eye on the fever.  Now, I'm thinking I'm a crazy, paranoid mom and tried to just comfort him through the night.

The next morning, he didn't seem better and now it was clear that he was screaming out in pain when we moved him and now he was shaking when he cried...then I noticed the swelling on his thigh and knee....

Ok, I'm thinking maybe he tore something or twisted something and I called the doc to make an appointment.  I also thought he still had a fever from the shot, so the doc wanted me to come in right away.

In the office, she checked him over and sent me directly for X-rays.  Until that moment I still felt like he wasn't injured too badly.  Then the X-Ray tech took the first picture and when she looked at me, I knew it was bad.  I went to move him for the second picture and she stopped me, saying that we needed to be very careful of his leg.

The doc got the "wet read" and called me immediately....his femur was fractured.  I was stunned...how could my healthy toddler, who fell all the time, in all kinds of crazy ways fracture the biggest and strongest bone in his tiny baby body?  She sent me to the ER and off I went.  I made it to the car before I started crying.  

We got to the hospital and the doc met us and looked over the X-rays.  It was a total break and a spiral fracture, my son would require a spica cast....just to add more...the doc was required to contact Child Protective Services.  She also dropped the little bomb that my son was in excruciating pain....they gave my little man, morphine for the pain.  I had been so stupid...my poor child had been suffering like that for so long and I thought it was nothing....

Don't let anyone EVER convince you that you're wrong about what might be going on with your child.  We were ready to go to the ER that night, but the on call nurse assured me it was the vaccine and teething...I should have been smarter about his behavior....instead he was left in pain by a mother who obviously sucks at her job.

So....to wrap it up...we were both interviewed by 6 people at 3am, they went to my house directly after that to take pictures and see my daughter, we are still being "investigated", my son is in a cast from his chest to ankle and down the other leg to his knee, and my daughter is 5 weeks old.  I go back to work in 4 weeks.  The doc feels bad for me because Lily is a rather difficult baby and doesn't really enjoy sleeping...ever.

Everything is so crazed that I don't even know what day of the week it is half the time.  Sorry for the long, picture-less post, but I wanted to offer an explanation for the blog silence.  I anticipate that it will continue as I struggle to find time to shower and eat, never mind posting.  Also crying...there is a plethora of crying....my son, my daughter, and me.

One last thing...to anyone who reads this that has been helping and/or offering to help me...THANK YOU....without my family I would be lost.

Waiting

Right now...we're just waiting...although I've been crafting, cleaning, cooking, and sleeping profusely my motivation to document and make coherent posts for this blog has been low.

I apologize for this, especially as I have a useful pattern modification for baby bloomers with a skirt attached to share.

I hope to get some inspiration and motivation soon, but hopefully my baby comes first.  I'm ready to be over with the diabetes, itchy, ITCHY skin, and frequent trips to urinate.  Wish me luck all and I'll be back, I promise.

WiP Wednesday - FO Edition & Home Update

Although I have a new WiP, I didn't get a chance to spread it out properly and get pictures, so instead I will show what I have totally finished....there was a few FOs that needed to be blocked and finally I got around to it this week.

My maternity leave has been a whirlwind of appointments, household chores, and cooking for after the baby comes.  I have to say I've done really well with that.  I've gotten lots of batches done and in the freezer.  All together I think I will have cooked about 22 lbs of chicken and 26 lbs of beef.  I did not keep track of the pounds of veggies that goes with all of this though.  Needless to say it was an expensive up front cost, but to keep us all fed and healthy for the first couple of weeks with a newborn at home, it was worth every penny and the hours on my feet, in the kitchen.

But I did squeeze in time to knit and crochet, and you will get to enjoy seeing the fruits of that labor....

Serriform Shawl :

Oaklet Shawl :

Simply Soft Blanket : 

WiP Wednesday - Back to the Vest

So, I've taken a break from the baby blanket to work on my vest again.  Just ready to knit for a little while.  I like this pattern, it's simple and I can watch TV while I knit.

I'm having such issues with this yarn, and although I already complained about the first faulty skein, I'm debating to complain about the second.  Likely, I will not, but it's really got me annoyed with the large number of extra ends I'll have to weave in.

Ravelry Project Page
Pattern Page

In the last picture you can see all the ends....

Photo Friday

(spring flower)

WiP - Baby Blanket

I went on to Little Knits the other day.....and I saw this yarn.  It's discontinued, but I knew it had to be a baby blanket and for the price, I couldn't pass it up.

Since it's such a busy yarn, I figured I wouldn't bother with any kind of fancy design; you wouldn't be able to see it anyway.  Instead I chained about 150 and did double crochet until I ran out of yarn...about 10 rows.  I grabbed my Bernat Baby Sport in Kiwi to make an "accent" row of tilted squares, using Mypicot's Openwork Lace # 2042.  I can't link directly to the pattern, but her site is awesome.

The first time, I used the same size hook as the rest of the blanket, but it pulled a little tighter than I would like, and that was with me actively trying to keep the stitches big and loose.  So the second accent row was done in a hook that was 0.5mm larger...so from 4.5mm (body of blanket) to 5.0mm (H hook).  I think it works out much better now.

Here is my Ravelry Project Page.  Don't worry, I'm still working on my vest, but my issue is that I keep finding breaks in the yarn.  Although Knit Picks has compensated me for the one skein, another one has had multiple breaks and weak spots...it's getting rather frustrating.  I'm on my third skein for the project and I have about 30 ends to tie in already.

Dress FO

This dress is adorable and I could probably make hundreds of them.  It's so easy to customize, if you choose and it can be worn as a little jumper or just as a dress with a onesie underneath for warmer weather.

This is the second pattern from her site that I've made and she really has quite a good collection going over there.

My modification for the pattern making itself, was to join in the round after Row 6.   What I will do with it for wearing, is flip it around so that the open part will be in the front and tied with a ribbon.  I might even trade out the ribbon for buttons and then do a ribbon woven around the "waist" and tied in the front.  We'll see, as I really dislike sewing on buttons.

This pattern is the Angel Wing Pinafore by Maxine Gonser.  My Ravelry project page.

Home Life

One more week and I'm on leave from work for 4 weeks (maybe) before Lily gets here.  We've decided on Lily Hope and I think it's nice and not too complicated.  My goal is to make it to 38 weeks, I'm not greedy, I don't need all 40 weeks, but I'd like to get a little further than I did with my son.

I'm both terrified and excited.  With Mr. LIH starting a new job and us having two kids, and the house to juggle, things have become somewhat more complicated.

You know that your weekend was busy, bordering on too much when you're ready to go back to work because it's easier.  The weekend was BEAUTIFUL, it's that time of year again for mulching, planting, weeding, cleaning, and Mr. LIH had so much of it to do...I could only participate so much.

Tomorrow he starts his new job and we're both nervous and excited.  It means more money, but with more money comes more sacrifice from your home life.  I'm a little nervous to handle dinner, bedtime, and cleaning up all by myself while being so largely pregnant, but it's only a few days then at least I'm off from work.  Once I'm not working, I know I can do it.

Also tomorrow is the first night for the Passover Seder.  We will go to my in laws and hope that Ethan stays content in his chair for the readings...fingers crossed.

Enjoy some spring leaves.

Photo Friday

(spring buds)

Product Review - PB2

I have to say...this stuff wasn't bad.  I mixed it with some water, slapped it on toast and ate it all up.

I will say that the water ratio suggested on the package is not all that successful, I had to use rather a bit more water, which I suspect, washes out the flavor somewhat.

The texture was fine, on toast, as toast is inherently rough, but I think that if you were to smear it on fruit, you might find the texture a bit off from regular peanut butter.

I felt it was lacking on salt, but I like salt, maybe more than lots of other people, so there's that.

My next goal is to bake with it.  My biggest challenge with weight loss has been the lack of peanut butter.  I love it and I love it in my baked goods.  I see endless posts of people who swear that it's perfect to bake with, so I will report on that when I get a chance to find a recipe and give it a go.

WiP Wednesday - Mashrabiya Vest & Shawl

I started this a few days ago and I really like it.  The pattern is easy to follow, except for the beginning where it doesn't exactly tell you what needle to use when and I think I guessed wrong, but I can deal with it.

It goes pretty fast once you get the hang of it and the lace pattern is quite pretty.  I do plan to add the armholes to make this more versatile and I'm pretty excited to wear this once the baby is here...no way am I squeezing that poor shawl around my waist...It's almost a moot point as I really don't have a waist.

So the pattern is Mashrabiya Vest & Shawl by Sarah Wilson, The Sexy Knitter.  I also read and follow her blog, go, check it out.

The plan is to use this KnitPicks yarn that I got a few months ago for a different project, but never got around to it.  It's shades of green and I plan to make it stripey...fingers crossed that it won't look cruddy or make me look fat with the horizontal striping.

Here is my Ravelry Project Page and a picture up to my switch to the second color.

Fingers update

So this past week Ethan had the pin removed from his thumb and the enormous cast was replaced with a much smaller cast, leaving his fingers open to the air.

The office visit was awful, he cried the whole time.  He wasn't even in pain, he just cried and cried.  The orderly began removing the cast (they unwind it) and he cried....then they removed the gauze, yet more crying....ugh.  Even when you know it doesn't hurt, and even when you know that the whole process is for their own good, it's tough.  You're never really prepared for parenthood until you're stuck in it.

So, the next steps are to clip his really long fingernails (ick) and then four weeks in this cast.  After the four weeks, he moves into a night time cast with a splint that will accompany weekly physical therapy for up to 8 weeks, depending on how well it all goes (I guess).

Not too shabby, as the doc thinks he will not need further procedures.  He says that the thumb seems fairly stable right now and it's nice and straight, so fingers (er...sorry) crossed that it stays that way.

Photo Friday

(hyacinth bloom)

Sweater FO

Now that I've finished the world's most boring blanket...I'm so sick of that stitch, I have started and finished a baby sweater.

I just love this pattern, the Wrap Diaper Shirt.  I had made one for Ethan and now I have made one for my little lady, Lily.  Here is my Rav Project Page.

This flies off the hook and it literally, only takes a few hours.

WiP Wednesday - Girlie Dress

I have yet to block the monster blanket, or finish the one I started for my little girl, but I need a break from blankets for the moment, so I've made and finished a sweater (I'll post that tomorrow) and I've started a dress.  Ironically, it's not any of the dresses that I have featured on some of my Monday posts about baby girl stuff, but it's quite lovely anyway...

The pattern is called, Angel Wing Newborn Pinafore and so far, it's chugging along at a good rate.  I would say that her patterns aren't very elegant, but they get the job done.

My gauge seems to be off, the pattern is coming out much larger than normal for me.  Usually I have to go up a hook size as I tend to crochet tighter than gauge, but not with this project.  I'm not sure this will fit a newborn...maybe more like 3 months.

This yarn, the Bernat Baby Sport is really nice.  Good stretch and it's very soft.  It also comes in these huge skeins, which is nice for churning out a bunch of baby stuff that all matches (if you're into that....which I totally am).

Here is my Rav Project Page.

New Development, the annoying kind

I have to say, this second pregnancy is much more difficult than the first one.  Ironically, this time around, getting pregnant was actually easy, unlike with my little boy, but I seem to be having all kinds of hormone induced health problems.

We can start with going to the doctor in  December for a cold and she making me wear a heart halter monitor for 24 hours and then sending me for an EKG because I had 9% extra and skipped beats.  The conclusion....no caffeine, but all the extra blood volume has my heart doing the jig...all right...

Abdominal muscle separation...no one seems to mention this much, but holy moly is it uncomfortable.  Apparently, all the "stuff" inside me is pushing against my ab muscles, forcing them to part in the middle.  This causes me to have almost a constant ripping/burning sensation across the top of my stomach area.  The only solution, literally, is lying down.

And finally, I failed my glucose tolerance test, and proceeded to fail the 3 hour fasting glucose tolerance test by a hair and now I'm watching all my carbs and checking my blood sugar 4 times a day.  I know things could be worse, etc etc, but seriously...annoying.  It's kind of hard to balance all this stuff while working all day and caring for a toddler at night.  It's only for 3 more weeks, then work is over for a while until the baby gets here.

Ok, griping over.  I am really happy to be having another baby but sometimes I want to complain about it

Here I am....all 32 weeks (this week is 33) of pregnancy glory.

Photo Friday

(first spring crocus)

WiP Wednesday - Home Stretch

Almost there, just a quarter of that final skein left and then this thing is ready for blocking and end-weaving.  Once it's blocked, I'll decide if I want to add the border that I chose.  It just depends on if the edges looks hinky or not.

Here she is in all her almost-finished glory:

Ten Fingers

Mr. LIH and I brought our son in for surgery to remove his poly dactyl thumb on his left hand.

Now it's almost three weeks later and he's been a champ.  He has a hard cast from mid-bicep that extends down to cover is tiny little hand.  *graphic warning*  The cast is large and must be very firm to protect the thumb itself, as the surgeon had to insert a steel pin in through the top of the thumb to help stabilize it while his tendons and ligaments are healing.

His surgery was a lot less complicated, once they were in and so his recovery time is shorter, as well as the hope that he will not need additional surgeries to bring his thumb into the correct alignment.

I really think that this might have been harder on my husband and I.  My son didn't seem to notice anything was happening and despite being groggy and maybe somewhat disoriented after the surgery, was in good spirits.  He was up and running around in the recovery room, ready to head home.

Although the recovery is looking to be quite lengthy, I'm glad that we went through with it.  It will save him on social pressures and ridicule, as well as give him better mobility with his thumb.  He could use it ok before, but now his thumb will be functioning properly.

In another week or so we will be bringing him in to remove the pin and the cast in exchange for a "soft" cast (whatever that is) that will be on him for an additional 4 weeks, I believe.  After that, he starts physical therapy to rebuild strength in his arm and hand, with which he will have a "cast" that goes on at night for another 6 weeks.

Despite the cast, he gets along better than I feared.  He uses that arm as sort a lever to get himself into all kinds of trouble.  The only time I feel guilty is when he can't do simple things that he was able to do before.  Flipping through books has become somewhat of a challenge, taking apart his Legos after he builds them, and eating.  It seems my son might be left-handed and so he has some major challenges to use a fork with his right hand and just gets frustrated.  Otherwise, he handles the whole one-handed thing well.

I will update as we go through this process, but wish us luck.  I have a new baby coming in about 8 weeks (hopefully) and my husband starts a new job soon, so life is very much in flux right now.

Photo Friday

(tiny green strawberry)

WiP Wednesday

I didn't take a picture this week because, even I am sick of seeing the slow progress of that thing.  I will say that I've managed to get the last stripe started, so I'm hoping to finish that by this weekend and start on the edging.

I've decided to do this edging.  I'll just do it in the yellow color before I block the whole thing and weave in my ends.  I really want this thing done.  I'm kind of tired of it.

I have this huge list of baby girl things I want to make AND the baby blanket for my own little lady to finish....

My Ravelry Pattern Page

Stuff I Bake

I have been a busy lady lately...with baking and cooking, that is.  I'm not sure what has come over me, but I just want to try new recipes, and I've been pretty lucky so far.  Only a few duds (which could be user error).  Unfortunately, now that I've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, my baking will reduce greatly as I severely cut carbs and sugar from my diet (at least the less healthy versions).

Donuts - I made these with a simple chocolate glaze instead of the red velvet version, but the basic recipe is great.  Super tasty.  I advise, if you bake them in the oven, bake them at the lower end of the time....they should stay nice and moist that way.  This lady's site has some great recipes and there are some other donut recipes that I really want to try.

Chocolate Cupcakes w. Diet Soda - There are a bunch of recipes floating around the internet for this type of thing.  I used Pillsbury Sugar Free Double Chocolate Chip Quick Bread & Muffin Mix and added one 12oz can of Caffeine-free Coke Zero.  Baked according to directions on the box for muffins.  Even though I have made these about 4 times in the past month or so, I have not taken a single picture.
I don't frost them, when I want to eat one, I take Cool Whip Free (sugar and fat free), cut the muffin in half, dollop of whip on each side and enjoy.  It's about 3 points per muffin.  So good.

Cheesecake Bars - These were awesome.  So easy to make and worth every second of the little time I spent.  I used smart balance instead of butter, no difference in taste.  I also had to use a bit more fat to hold the cracker crumbs together (I used coconut oil).  I also baked them just a little bit longer than the recipe called for, but that's easy enough to judge yourself...once they are set, they are done.  Mr. LIH said that they had a slight bitter aftertaste, but some guests we had over didn't complain and ate more than one bar.  Although the size of the bars looks small, they are fairly rich, and the size winds up being plenty for a serving.  Check out her site as well, Mmmmm....

WiP Wednesday - Baby Blanket

I'm almost half way through now.  I think I like it.  I also think that I will love it once I add a yellow border to tie in the colors better together.

It's so simple to crochet, that it's mindless, unfortunately, I have a really hard time keeping sticky, little toddler hands off of it and so I can only work on it when the little man goes to sleep.

Ravelry Project Page

Girlie baby stuff....

Although I have no time, I have lots of ambition...it's ironic and also a common predicament amongst us crafters.  I have two baby blankets to finish by May/June and another one to start and finish by July, but all I want to do is make baby girl stuff for my little lady or...shawls...yes...I feel like I never have enough.  I've also been baking like a mad woman, something my husband certainly appreciates.

I made these and holy moly they are delicious....and only 3 points per bar...not too shabby.

Now, more baby stuff that I want to make.

Mermaid Dress

This dress is really cute and since it's raglan it will be really easy to knit.  It's not free, but I might be willing to acquire such a pattern for the sake of cuteness everywhere.

Sweet Pea Sweater

This pattern seems great, my only issue is the price.  It seems a somewhat simple construction and they are charging quite a bit more than I would like to pay for a design like this.  It's so cute and appears easy to make, so it's definitely on my wish list for now.

Peachy Ensemble

I can't believe this pattern is free.  It's awesome.  It has matching booties, puffy sleeves, and bloomers.  This is a must make for me.

I will probably have to do another post of my baking escapades, a "round up" if you will, of yumm-e-ness.  If you can't wait for that, head over to my pinboard.  I try to comment on the recipes that I've made, including any modifications or things I didn't like.

If I can get some decent pictures of my blanket, I'll be back on Wednesday with a post of my progress...If not, maybe I can rehash the past few days of my little man and his hand surgery....such gripping blog fodder...I know.

Photo Friday

(bell)

WiP Wednesday - Simply Soft Blanket

I like working on this blanket, but I'm not sure yet how it will look.  Once I finish the yellow stripe and start with the ombre again, I think I will like it better...we'll see.  I haven't worked on the blanket for my little lady at all.  I've barely had time to crochet.  Too many social things going on and then working on the house to get it ready for the baby is keeping us busy.

Tomorrow my son goes in for surgery to remove his poly dactyl thumb...my heart is a little broken over it and the fact that he has to wear a cast on his entire, little baby arm for 4 weeks is awful.  Wish us luck.

Ravelry Page

Monthly Menagerie - February 2014

February 2014

Photo Friday

(snowy)

WiP Wednesday - Another Baby Blanket

I started on the other blanket and now have two on the hook.  I haven't worked much on the blanket for my girl since the last picture I posted, but it's coming along....

Here is the one I'm making for my SIL's little lady who is on the way.

This picture seems small, but if you click here, then you can see my Ravelry project page and maybe get a closer shot.

Hmm...well, maybe this picture you can see some of the stitch detail.

The pattern is from a baby blanket book that I just got, The Best of Terry Kimbrough and it's called Simply Soft.  The pattern stitch is fairly subtle, so with this wild yarn, you can't really see it, but it makes a fluffy and warm fabric, so I think it will be great.  I plan to stick a border on it, but I have no clue yet where that will go...maybe something simple or something really girly, like lacy ruffles; we'll see.

Nesting or hunger?

I've been baking....A LOT....not always successfully (as is my usual).  Please note that these photos are not mine, they are courtesy of other people much less lazy than myself.  I have all of these pinned, here.

I baked some of these:

Baked Oatmeal Muffins

These were ok, definitely lacking in sweetness, but that could be from the wintertime blueberries...frozen may have worked better (and more sugar...Mmmm...sugar)

And these:

Diet Soda Cupcakes

These had the potential to be good and there are some other versions of them out there that I want to try, but the Strawberry Cake mix is far too strong in artificial strawberry flavor, so I was not really a fan.


Also these:

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies

These were good, but as usual, I made a mistake.  I baked them with regular rolled oats and not quick cooking, so they were toothsome.  Fine for me and my little family, but  probably not something that would appeal overall.  Also I left out the raisins...ick...raisins.


Some of these:

Low Fat Cranberry Scones

These were really good...and that is all....also they were easy to make...not really a traditional scone.


These:

87 Calorie Cheesecake

So easy to make, and I didn't mess them up...yay...really tasty, especially with some fresh fruit.  They would be just as good plain too.


A bunch of these:

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Delicious, but I added too many strawberries, so they didn't set up perfectly.  But they were so good.  The only thing is that they don't keep long because they are such a "wet" cookie.

I have to say, this is excessive baking, especially for me, but I just can't help it.  So far I've been fairly successful with baking stuff that is pretty healthy so that I don't need to worry too much about getting chubby, pregnant or not.

Photo Friday

(st. kitts)

Life

What's been going on...?  Well, I'm just over 6.5 months pregnant...to those who remember the "lingo", I'm 27 weeks of 40....on the way and growing bulkier and more awkward by the day.  On the plus side, it does give me an excuse to try and relax more, which in some ways is nice.

I started a baby blanket for my SIL; she's having a daughter too.  I actually started a few different ones and this yarn has been a thorn in my side for years.  I've been trying to figure out how to use it.  I'll go into it more on Wednesday...provided I don't frog this one too.

Valentine's Day has come and gone and as is our life now that we have a 20 month old....no more dinners out, alone.  I haven't figured out how to balance his bed time with having someone watch him and get him down at night.  I can't even have Mr. LIH get him to bed at night...something we seriously need to work on before Baby 2 gets here.  My son seems quite sensitive to schedule changes and reacts vehemently for days afterward in which we all suffer, together...as a family unit.

We've started preparing the Baby's room; Mr. LIH is pulling up the staples from the old carpet and cleaning and shining up the wood floors....then added shoe molding.  Next up, painting and blinds, then ceiling fan and furniture...maybe even some curtains....Soon we will have to move E to a bed (more like a mattress on the floor) and get the crib and bassinet ready for our new arrival.  No name decided yet....

Other than the mounds of snow falling from the sky, regularly, nothing much else is happening, which I suppose is a good thing and so I shall conclude my.....synopsis.

Photo Friday

(more snowy stuff)

WiP Wednesday - Abstract Cats

Well, I had some hopes of finishing up this blanket in the past week.  In fact, I've barely had time to work on it at all.  A few rows here and there, but my son was needy and we had some company over, so no rest and no crocheting.

I want to make all of this baby girl stuff, but I have requests for two baby blankets....yes...two...so those will probably come first; cute little, frilly girl dresses come second, and third is that new pattern from Ysolda for her mystery shawl KAL.  I want to make that in the worst way, but I know if I start it before the other "must do" projects, I won't get the baby blankets done.  I've been browsing patterns and will likely start another one this week.

I don't have a picture today, because, really, it looks fairly similar to last week, so you'll have to stay on the edge of your seats to see how it will look next week...ahem

Stuff I love

Yeah, so...that little heart button on Ravelry...it's dangerous.  I think I will blow up their website with the tag for "baby".

Here are some of the highlights of that scary jungle:

Ravelry Link

That is a little piggy romper....holy crap....I can't get over it, in fact I don't even have words.  I only know that I have to make this and stick my baby in it.

Ravelry Link

Little birdie....and I love the little bows...

Ravelry Link

Remember how I told you of my torrid affair with the bloomers...this pair is great because it's perfectly plain and ready for customization.  They also appear to be quite functional.  The best part...it's a free pattern from our friends at The Purl Bee.

Since the baby will be here in May (hopefully not any sooner), it will already be getting quite warm, so most sweaters and heavy stuff is out, which, when you're talking about knit/crochet is a large chunk of the pie.  Mmmm...pie.