ONE

Wee One just had his first birthday a bit ago and I am just getting around to sharing some fun now. We didn't have a big shindig like some folks do; we had a fun BBQ with both sets of grandparents.

I made a Big Cake for the adults and a Little Cake for the Wee. Here is a shot of the Wee Cake (both vegan of course) before-


And after!

He pulled the top layer off the bottom layer and onto his chest and took giant bites from it.



I also made him a little pennant out of newspapers and hemp twine to hang out back. The comics were used for the letters. I don't like to share his name online so the section with his name is not shown.

I didn't get all Martha-Stewart-y on it. No theme, no elaborate invites, just kept it pretty simple. I was kind of sad as the cakes didn't look as pretty as I wanted them to; I messed up on the icing the day before as I was talking to Nature Boy's folks while making it and forgot to add the soymilk. I then added it to the icing which was already whipped, whipped it up some more and it never recovered. I had planned to pipe some simple decorations on but there was no way that icing could be piped! So it was spread and was quite gooey but somehow it did not run off the cakes completely. It tasted fine, thank goodness! The adult cake did not reach it's 4 layer potential so I have another layer in the freezer for another day. With the runny icing, the 4th layer was just sliding off the top, oh my!

How did this year go so very fast? Such a great ride already and this journey is only beginning; I only hope I am able to truly live in each moment and appreciate all the sweet things there are.

Happy Birthday to my big boy!

Easy Wee One Baby Bib Tutorial

I thought bibs were hard to make and had to be edged in dreadful bias tape. Well, turns out they do not have to be either of those things. Made from two pieces of flannel, these bibs are reversible as well as super cute. Here's the specs:

INGREDIENTS and SUPPLIES:
Fabric (I used some flannel, but you could use cotton with some terry towels as the back piece -- or I'm even thinking old soft t-shirts for the back piece).
Dinner plate and drinking glass (to make a pattern).
Pen or pencil
Paper
Sewing machine
Thread
Scissors
Pressers (or Velcro but seriously, my Wee One yanks those Velcro-close bibbies off in two seconds flat...)

HOW-TO:
1. MAKE PATTERN--take a dinner plate and trace around it on paper. Take a glass and position it closer to top of circle than bottom. See picture. Cut out around larger circle and inside the smaller circle. I used an 8.5" plate at first but went up to a 9" plate for my next two bibs. If you are making the bib for a smaller baby, the 8.5" would be fine but for a baby over 6 months I would go with the 9" plate or larger.



2. TRACE AND CUT OUT FABRIC--take your pattern, trace it onto the back of two pieces of fabric and cut them out. I used two different fabrics (both flannel leftover from another project) but again, feel free to use whatever you might have lying around.



3. POSITION AND PIN--take your two bib pieces and place them right sides together; pin around both outer and inner circle edges.



4. CUT FOR NECK OPENING--cut one side through both fabric pieces to make the neck opening. Pin these edges as well.


5. SEW UP--Leaving room to turn the bib right side out, sew along the outer, then around the inner circle in one continuous sew-fest. Remember to back stitch at the beginning and end. You can see where I left my opening to turn along the right side of the bib.


6. TRIM, CLIP CURVES AND TURN--Trim the edges, clip into the curves and turn the bib right side out. I used my pencil (eraser side, please) to help get the part that goes around the back of the neck turned.

7. TOP STITCH--fold the opening left for turning into the bib (if you are super fancy you can press this as well as the entire bib, but obviously I am not as you can see mad wrinkles abound); top stitch along the edge of the entire bib (start around outer circle, then keep stitching along inner circle until you get back to your starting stitches). I tried to place my start and stop position where the presser might hide it.

8. INSTALL PRESSER--Follow the instructions on your presser package to add a presser to the opening of the bib. Or your Velcro if you have a well-behaved baby.

9. BIB YOUR BABY--put on your baby and admire the extreme cuteness. Of both, of course! Or put it on someone else's baby you happen to love.

front

back

*ADDED TO TEA ROSE LINK PARTY--GO SEE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS MADE RECENTLY!!!

An Anniversary of Sorts...

One year ago today was Wee One's due date. Of course, he was late so it is not his birthday but it's still special to me. Such an exciting day it was! And such an exciting 11 1/2 months!

Preoccupation

Things occupying my head and time of late....
-Trying to reduce our food budget by using lots of coupons and stockpiling sale items and visiting Farmer's Markets.
-Letterboxing! Where crafting meets hiking meets sleuthing.
-Violet; of course we are stuck on some sleeves right now....

-The garden. Veggie and flower seedlings are sprouting, peas and green beans are in the ground already, beds have been cleared of leaves from the fall.




-Sewing continues to be explored. Weekend Sewing now lives here. Twinkle Sews came on leave from the library. I have to say Twinkle Sews does not make me happy when you have to print out the printable pattern and find you have to print out 18 pages just for one shirt; you really don't want to know how many pieces of paper a dress pattern takes. Such a waste. We are in the preliminary stages of the Flapper Blouse. Of course, no silkworms are being harmed for this product, I'm using fabric with no animal content.

-Thrift store follies; I visited one last week and scored some vintage Singer tracing paper for 49 cents, a copper-colored aluminum food mold in a shamrock shape, a pair of shorts for $2 and a summer shirt for $2.
-Walking outside, strolling the neighborhood, visiting parks with the Wee, he loves it so.

What are you up to?

Lost and Found

I remember in elementary school, there was a cardboard box outside the Principal's office. It held all the wayward hats, mittens, scarves, lunch boxes and toys that were found around the school hallways. You would go there after your mother told you three days in a row you must bring home the jacket you left on the playground. She might even threaten to call your teacher about it and this surely would get you to look. It was somehow painful, having to look in that box for things.

Now I wish I had that box here.

I have been thinking for about two years about some green fabric I bought and never saw again. Sure, there are many other things too that I have not seen in some time. I remembered buying it to make a green dress and then losing it.

Guess what turned up?

It was in the hall closet on the way back of the top shelf. In cleaning for spring and for the arrival of Nature Boy's folks and Wee One's Big Cousin, the closet shelf was cleared off and all hats, mittens, scarves and shawls were washed. At the bottom of it all was the fabric, plus some bonus notions. It was like I went to the store last week, but didn't have to even leave the house.

Since I have already made a green sundress, I must find another use for this plain green cotton. Maybe the Summer Shirt from Weekend Sewing? Or a skirt? Or some PJ bottoms?

The Wee One seemed to like his very first aquatics class, by the way...

A Wee Leprachaun says...

A tip of my hat
On this St. Pat's-
Wishing you luck, love and cheer
To last throughout the year!
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

PS. I made the hat our Wee One is modeling...hee hee!

The view from here...

A long long time ago in a Knitsburgh far away, you were promised some product reviews. I'm going to give one to you now.

The Gro Baby Diaper
We chose this for the Wee One before the Wee One was here for several reasons. We wanted a cloth diaper that might not leak a lot; we wanted one with organic cotton; we wanted them to last beyond a few months as our Wee grew. We also wanted cuteness.

We really liked how adjustable they are for fit and growth. There are three rows of snaps on the front which enable you to make it bigger or smaller. The Wee is on the 2nd row of snaps and has been for some time; it feels like they might actually work out until he is two as the product stated! Bear in mind our Wee is indeed small for his age.

The inserts are organic cotton and the outer shells are made of leak proof PUL. They are indeed cute and look good on their own with a t-shirt on a hot day if you are in a relaxed, informal mode. Especially if your Wee has on some striped socks.

Leaks have occasionally happened but normally this is an error made by myself or Nature Boy. If you are diapering a fidgety Wee and don't get the shell velcroed closed while paying attention to the leg openings, you sometimes get leaks around a gap in a leg opening but by now, we are pros at this. The other type of leak happens when you lay a Wee down for the night or an extended afternoon nap and don't add one of the organic cotton booster thingies, which is just an extra layer of organic cotton you can add or leave out at your whimsy. Oh, and then the last type of leak is just boy-related and happens if certain parts are not positioned in a downwards state before the diaper is closed...again user error, not diapers fault.

After three months, one of the shells did have a problem. The elastic around the back came detached within the diaper on one side, leaving it loose and leaky. I contacted Kelly of Kelly's Closet where we bought them; she referred me to Gro Baby who sent me a new shell that very day (received it in like two days' time). Kelly also followed up with us and sent us a coupon for $5 off our next purchase; how nice of her! We just bought a swim diaper for Wee One through her as well and once it has been swim-tested, I will review that here too. Here's a peak at it and can I just say, it is too cute and I don't want to cover it up with any of the five (that's right, five) pairs of swim trunks he has to date.

We also bought our diaper pail wet bag and travel wet bag through Kelly's Closet and love them too. The washing of the diapers is not that bad; you need to buy detergent that will not leave a residue and this is for me the toughest part. Rinsing them out is easy and the washing is not a problem. I wash them every two days and when I can I hang them outside. I use a drying rack for the shells inside which dry very quickly, about 3 hours or so. The inserts are really thick and take F-O-R-E-V-E-R to dry inside on the drying rack so I usually pop them in the dryer if the weather is not conducive for outdoor drying. The sun also helps fade out any stains too and of course, imparts a freshness beyond compare. I try and hang the shells in the shade to prevent fading; the purple shells have faded the most so far, much more than the green or yellow.

I would say the cost to purchase the Gro Baby diapers is worth it in the long run as they appear to hold up well. Since they come in gender-neutral colors, if they hold up really really well you could potentially use them for additional siblings. I really like these diapers and for anyone who wants to cloth diaper and use organic cotton and not have their Wee One outgrown them quickly, these are definitely the way to go.

Here is a pic of the setting for our little Oscar celebration...I have to confess, the champagne flutes are holding beer...

Lots of Firsts

Can't even say how many First This and First That we are experiencing but thought I'd quickly touch on one; First Trip to the Yarn Shoppe for Wee One!


We went last week. Sadly, the yarn I was after is no longer being sold there...except some lonely pink and purple-y skeins in the sale bin. One day maybe I will learn my lesson! Instead, we got some of this:
Some 2nd Time Cotton (my fave fibre) in a bright, fiery red color. I'm thinking baby hoodie...


Wee One slept most of the time, including the car ride to and fro, but did wake to poop whilst there. Hopefully that's not a sign of what he feels about the place!


I did knit a small bit last week and hope to do some more tonight. The Kimono Sweater is coming along, I am just going to knit until the yarn runs out and see where we are; I did find some of the yarn online and can order some up, hoping to have just enough somehow...


We worked on birth announcements this week and managed to finisht them, take a walk to the post office and mail them out today. I feel somehow very accomplished of late to be able to cross one or two things off my list. And be able to eat and shower. Those are really good things too!!!

Wee One is HERE!!!!

Knitsburgh welcomes the Wee One!



He is so tiny and sweet and wonderful, I can't even say. I think he looks an awful lot like Nature Boy, his daddy. Especially his dimples and hands and feet.


I had an appointment to be induced chemically with pitocin at the hospital in the evening, however, my labor started naturally at 1AM that morning (you were right Affectioknit)! We got to the birth center at 9AM and I had him at 4:17 PM! We were home at 11:30PM that night, almost a full 24 hours from the time labor started. The birth was so wonderful, it was everything I had hoped for and more and I would recommend to anyone out there that they consider having a baby with midwives and at a birth center, for so many reasons. I am so thankful that women have many options and choices now and encourage women out there to consider them all and do what's best for them.


No knitting has transpired since the Wee One has arrived, but today we are making our first trip out to the LYS for you guessed it...yarn! I am typing this as I nurse him (don't ask) and may try to figure out a way to knit too. I nurse him about every 2 hours for 45 minutes, then there is a diaper change, then there is trying to eat some lunch or wash his nappies and hang them out to dry or tidying the house for the next grandparent visit so there is not a lot of time in there. I did manage to excercise about 1/2 an hour today too!


Things are so different now and so much better. Life is bliss, it really is!

I just need to get to the tree!!!

I remember as a child the longest night of the year. Christmas Eve. The day itself was long but the night was pure torture. I would go to bed and lie there, my thoughts going crazy in a tumble of places. I wasn't asleep so if Santa got here, would he really leave because I was awake? If not, would he be scary and would everyone hear me scream? If he came and I was asleep, what would he leave behind? Was it the blue two-wheel girl's bicycle I had asked for? Would it be coal like my Uncle Darryl got when he was a kid because of all the bad things I had done over the past 12 months? I would lie there, hearing my sisters, who shared one room across the hall, whispering and would long to cross the hall and join them but didn't dare chance it. After finally falling asleep, I would wake up several times during the night. Sometimes I would cross the hall, wake up the sisters and we would slowly creep downstairs, past Bill and Kay's room, and peer into the kitchen....yep, cookies were eaten!!! Then we'd creep further, into the living room and see, yep, stuff is under the tree!!!

Every day and night are Christmas Eve for me right now. I just never get to the tree. Just waiting and waiting with so much excitement and anxiety. Everything is ready and done. Nothing to do but think about it. It's now 8 days past my due date. Will the Wee One ever really get here? Is this all a dream? Did I just gain a lot of weight, mostly in my tummy region and maybe there is no Wee One after all? Nature Boy and I joke and sigh and I break down at times. There is not much else to do. I have tried all the natural induction methods (except for castor oil and evening primrose oil) known to man by now and all I can say is they are hogwash! Someone is somewhere laughing at all the women who are trying these things knowing full well they don't work. I have meditated on being "open;" I have read a Native American birthing story to the Wee One aloud whilst lying in the bath. I have had many talks with the Wee One, from encouraging to pleading to threatening the Wee One they are grounded already for being so late. So far there has been no response.

The midwife just called to confirm tomorrow's appointment. HA! Oh how I long to call them and be all, hi I'm in labor now...

Here are some shots of the Garter Stitch Kimono for Wee One:

It's flying along but I fear I will be soon running out of yarn. Always happens to me with garter stitch, I forget how it just sucks up the yarn as opposed to stockinette. I am going to knit the entire sweater in this neutral color and once Wee One gets here, will select another color to crochet around the neckline, sleeve edges and bottom edge with. Most of Wee One's wardrobe is very neutral, it will be exciting to pick out something a bit more bright and personal to them once they get here. Wee One can't live in my uterus forever, right?

Sanity

This is the only thing helping me keep it together. I make a list every day of things I need/want/feel compelled to do. Otherwise I think I would end up sitting and staring at the wall and dreaming all day long, unable to calm or make order of the jumbled-up thoughts in my head. This was yesterday's list. I have yet to make one for today. It's 5AM, I've been awake since 3 and up out of bed since 4. I guess this is part of the Nesting Phase stuff they talk about, right? Hopefully that means Wee One will soon be here...

The Good Life!

Where do I even start? How do I speak of all the wonderful things that have happened lately? I'll do it chronologically from last week...

Last Monday (Memorial Day) I made this vegan cake:

It was yummy and I was smart enough to freeze half of it, for the "Wee One Afterparty" --meaning for when we come home from the birth center and have Bill and Kay here and need to eat something good and fast!!

Wednesday, my lovely, sweet, kind, thoughtful, giving and just awesome co-workers suprised me with a bag of Wee One fun! There were clothes, in organic cotton. There was organic vegan baby shampoo and diaper cream. And there were two books for the Wee One's library. Let me say I only worked with them about 6 months and was blown away that they got me anything, much less hit the nail on the head as to what Nature Boy and I love. I can't say thank you enough!

Then Thursday, oh my! More co-worker suprises! A homeade chocolate vegan cake, balloons and a homemade card for my last day. I left work that day very excited to start this new journey into "Stay at Home Mom-ville" but sad about leaving such good people behind. I got home and Nature Boy and I ate, then rushed off to our last birthing class, where we graduated. Now if labor would just start....

Friday!!! Friday was my first official not-going-to-work day. I made a list of things to do because I felt so overwhelmed when I woke. I did some cleaning and organizing. When I came down after my shower, there was a package at my doorstep--here's what was in it:

A beautiful hand-knit sweater and the cutest darn hand-knit bunny hat you ever saw!!! How fitting that there should also be books in this package; it came from my dear friend Reilly, the librarian! I can't wait til we can dress the Wee One in all the Wee One finery and ooh and ahh over the absolute sweetness. Reilly, thank you so much, all the gifts will be treasured indeed!

The weekend came and went in a blur. I finished a needlework project, then hung it on the wall in the nursery:

I made another pair of pants, this time from a Pittsburgh Pirate's t-shirt:

I made a bag for the ENORMOUS pile of blocks Nature Boy has made for the Wee One. I think I need a rope for the tie, only had very thin hemp or ribbon around the estate, will need to replace it:

We watched some Penguins hockey and hoped the next game would be better....we took a nap, we weeded, we grilled some yummy food and ate. We got to the store for some last-minute things. We packed the Wee One's diaper bag and clothes. I made some vegan cookies. That was the weekend with Nature Boy.

So yesterday, another Monday. Another list, with errands checked off. Managed to get a package out to a friend overseas. Sterlized bottles and breast pump equipment (oh my....). Stocked up on my favorite incense to take with me to the birthing center. Another midwife appointment.

And today? Cleaned the first floor of the estate (I'm too tired to do the full house like I normally do). Baked a vegan poundcake for strawberry shortcakes tonight. Laundry. Selected some music to take with us to the birthing center. I think I am ready. I think these will be the longest days of my life!!! I guess I can get back to knitting on the Nursing Wrap soon...until I think of something else that needs to be done before the big arrival...

Diversions from Knitting

LOOK WHAT I MADE!!!

Pants for Wee One! The directions can be found HERE; truth be told, I didn't print, enlarge and copy the pattern, I just grabbed a pair of 3 mos. size Wee One pants from the closet, folded them lengthwise, traced around them (allowing for seaming), then I made a mirror image of the pattern (to get the full unsewn leg), taped them together and cut out two, one for each leg. I put trim on the inside of the legs so they can be worn rolled up when the Wee One is super-wee, then rolled down to fit a while longer as the pattern suggests. The print is leftover fabric from some nursery projects; the striped trim is the remnants of an old button-down shirt. I think I see some more pants in the Wee One's future....

Speaking of nursery, we are getting things ready here, washed up all the bedding, clothes, towels and such this past weekend and have set them up--here's a peek:

You can see the two blankets crocheted by each of Wee One's granmothers hanging over the end of the crib (green and white):

Blocks, handmade of natural wood by Nature Boy:

Return to Joy

Wanted to post about some of the wonderful good things that are also happening around Knitsburgh.

Look what I found for $4 at my favorite store that I can never afford anything at?

For the S and the P. Salt and Peppa. Spicy!

Look what Nature Boy gifted me on Mother's Day even though I'm not even a mommy yet for reals:

An MP3 player. For the stroller. That's right, we got ourselves a 4-wheeling kind of stroller that has a pedometer AND a speaker to play an MP3 player from (click here if you really need to see it). Dang, I think my butt just rolled over into the current century! Now if only I could figure out how to use it...

Here are the azaleas, in full bloom at dusk:

Finally, here is the Nursing Wrap, chugging along:

We also got our final delivery for the cloth all-in-one organic diapers we are going to be using! We ordered a wet bag and a diaper pail liner for them from the same company and are really pleased so far...after we test them out I will give a review of everything but I just want to say they are all really really cute!!! Hope you find your joy today too!