Merry Christmas

Tiny Hat

Whipped this up just in time for Christmas. The plan it to make a man sized one for my sister-in-laws finance.

Child's Purse

I do not crochet, but I made these from crochet items. I found some bits and pieces in the stash of yarn I received from my Grammie and thought perhaps I could make a little something out of it.

I found two matching squares and some plastic rings that had been crochet over and thought, hey, these could be a child's purse. I sewed the two sides together, leaving the top open. I sewed the rings as handles to the inside of the purse (so not to hide the design of the square) but you could attach them to the outside if you'd like.

Enjoy and get creative!

Materials:
yarn
hook needed for yarn you choose
instructions on how to make a square (try a new one or an old favorite)

Instructions:
Make two squares
Sew squares together leaving an opening
Attach handles

Here is a link to a bunch of free squares. I'm sure you could also check out Raverly for more patterns.
Squares Link

Socks and Mitts

I am pausing on the mittens (I'm about 75% done) because I need a break from the chart. I have started a pair of sock for Stomper. They are going to be big, but I want to use them more like booties anyway so maybe it will be all right!

Having Fun

We are having so much fun being parents. Stomper is getting bigger and more interactive every day! He is starting to settle into a sort of schedule which is nice, my day is a bit predictable now. Christmas quickly approaches and we are looking forward to the festivities and busyness of the year. We have had several Christmas parties already (one each Saturday of December) and Stomper has done great with them. He is usually very sleepy the next day since he misses his two hour nap in the afternoon while we are gone.

Stomper loves to play with his toys. He reaches and bats at them with his little fist. He has excellent head control and loves using his Bumbo (pictured on the left) with a toy "rainbow" (as I call it). I hope to upload a video soon of him using his toys.

He surprised me at his two month check up and rolled over! His doctor put him on his belly to check out his head control and said "Look, he is going to roll over!" sure enough he rolled right over! He prefers to nap on his belly (where I anxiously check him every five mins to ensure that he is breathing)  and I relent because he naps better on his belly than on his back. I think, perhaps, all his belly napping time is why he is a head with his head control?

Stomper loves faces. He will study and stare at a new face for the longest time as if to say "Hey, I don't know you. Let me take 5 minutes and memorize your every feature so I will remember you next time." He loves to talk and smile and is becoming ticklish.

Bullet using the Bumbo

The dogs have done fine with Stomper. Izzy (the lab) gives him kisses whenever she can. Vinnie (the pom) doesn't seem to have any opinion about him at all. The cats like his crib (he doesn't use it yet) and his Bumbo and will cuddle with Stomper as long as Stomper is in my arms.

I guess that's it for now.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Last Check-Up

Stomper had a check-up at the end of November. His stats:

Stomper 2months Old

Weight: 12lbs 13oz
Height: 23 1/2 inches

Development:
Controls Head Well
Rolls Over
Smiles
Coos
Laughs
Follows Object
Reaches for Faces/Toys

We couldn't be any prouder of our little boy!

Christmas Pictures

Winnie Dolls

"Mae"
Wow, talk about cutting it close. I just put the dolls, their clothes, and something a little extra into a box and shipped it today! I am really hoping that it makes it to the girls in time. I'm not overly thrilled with the way the second dolls eyes turned out, but everyone I've shown her to says they look all right. I hope the little girl she goes to feels the same way.

cute clothes

she could almost double as a boy
"Fred"

Siblings

Child's Beanie Purse

original hat

I goofed up awfully bad on a beanie. First I knit it too long so I ripped it out to try again. That was a mistake. I started ripping it out from the bottom and the stitches would not come apart easy enough so I was force to cut the offending pieces off. The tension of the yarn changed but I didn't change my needle size so the circumference of the rim changed to too big.

All is not lost. I changed it into a purse!

With size 7 or 8 needles CO 96 stitches and

join in round (place marker to note beginning of round) and knit in 2x2 (k2, p2) rib for 1.5 inches

knit one row in MC

change to B and knit one row

change to MC and knit one row

then start fairisle pattern:

1) *k1 with B, k1 with MC*

2) k with MC

3) *k1 with MC, k1 with B*

4) k with MC

continue with pattern until piece measures 5 1/2 inches from cast on edge. End with an even round (2 or 4)

knit one round with B

knit one round with MC

follow pattern and knit for total of 5 1/2 to 5 3/4 inches 

Decrease: 
k10, k2tog 
k 
k9, k2tog 
k 
k8, k2tog 
k 
k7, k2tog 
k 
k6, k2tog 
k5, k2tog, 
k 
k4, k2tog 
k 
k3, k2tog 
k2, k2tog 
k 
k1, k2tog 

k2tog

Cut a 6 inch tail. Thread through remaining stitches and cinch tightly.

Weave in loose ends.

Then knit an i-cord at least 20-24inches long. To knit an i-cord  view this video (it's near the end).

Thread i-cord through rib to form handles.

Beanie Pause

I am pausing in my Christmas Beanie knitting because my poor son does not have a hat! How is this possible to live with a knitter and not have a hat?!?!

I am not going to give away it all but it includes these as the basis of my pattern. I will end up writing a free pattern. First comes the prototype!

Still Here, Still Knitting

Made some booties for my baby boy and finished one hat (of 4). I started another Winnie Doll and I have the body made and that's it.

I had some issues with some hats I made so now I need to rip out, re-knit, and return. *Sigh* not fun, but necessary to keep my customers happy!

On a positive note I have had three happy customers. I sold two bunny hats and one Butterfly Beanie!

Getting Bigger Every Day

Amazing

I didn't think it was possible, but Stomper slept through the night two nights in a row! I'm hoping for a third night!

We are doing good as we enter our second month as a family.
I am finding it very difficult to be a "single mom" on the week-ends that Jason work 3days. I usually cry sometime Saturday Night. Babies are oh so very demanding (no kidding, right!) and sometimes it is more than a little rough. Thankfully I have a wonderful Mom and Mom-in-Law who don't mind me crashing at their house just so I won't be alone. Of course the fact that I have their grandson as incentive has nothing to do with their willingness!

Jason and I have gone on two dates! Yes two! It helps a lot to get away with out the boy.

I'm hoping to start blogging a little more.

More to come!

Stomper

"Stomper"
Born September 29th @ 2:19pm
Weight: 7lbs 14.7oz
Length: 19.5inches

edited: Dec 2013
His nickname comes from when he was still and infant maybe 4 months. He didn't want to be snuggled, he wanted to stand so he could jump and stomp in our lap!

Christmas Plans

I have restarted my Christmas knitting. I am working on a pair of mittens for my MIL. I also finished two of the hats I sold and bought yarn for two more. I still have an order for two more that I will need to complete, but the client hasn't given me her color choices yet, she's waiting until she has some coats I think.

Up Next: I am going to make a ball for my boy for Christmas and a pair of socks for my FIL. I'm also going to make some Christmas Ornaments to go along with the donation we are going to make to World Vision. Last year we bought ducks to go to people in starving countries (for meat and for eggs) in lieu of presents. For a gift we gave baked goods and a little rubber duck for on the tree with a note saying that in honor of our families we gave ducks. We are going to do the same thing this year with World Vision, but I think we'll give something else.

Adoption Story Begins

My husband and I had a God bomb dropped on us on Friday, September 3, 2010. An aunt called and said she just met a woman who didn't want her baby. Did we want to meet her and possibly adopt the baby?

To which we answered: Yes!

Long story short we met the woman and spent several hours with her (part of it in the hospital while she went through some false labor) and she agreed to let us adopt her son.

Her due date is September 25th. Sometime between now and then we will be parents.

WOW!

Jason and I are just in utter and total shock. We didn't go looking for this, weren't expecting this, and never dreamed of adopting an infant right from the hospital. Sometimes we just look at each other and say: "We're going to be parents." with this voice of shock and awe.

We cannot wait.

The baby is a boy (his name is a secret) and from what we can tell looks healthy.

We've hired a lawyer and he's drawing up paperwork for the mother to sign when our son is born. We will take him home from the hospital. 

It is just amazing, and it's all God.

I have been taking the mother to her doctor appointments, because she has no family and no way to get to them. I wouldn't call us friends, but friendly. It's very weird for me to be this woman's friend. I feel sad for her and happy for me. At our Foster Training they had an exercise for us to do involving loss and grief and part of it was what sort of loss or grief does an adoptive parent go through. I couldn't imagine any, adopting had to be the most wonderful thing, what was there to be sad about? Now I understand. I grieve for my son, because he will never get a chance to know his birth mother and I grieve for this woman because she will never be his Mom.

Though I am a little sad, I am mostly beside myself with excitement. I am going to be a MOM!!!

Baby Knits

I'm having a boy!
Well, sort of.
My husband and I are adopting a baby boy in the next few weeks. For the whole story visit my other blog.

Baby Hamlin

Well, it looks like Jason and I will be adopting a newborn baby boy in the next month! As soon as he's ours I'll let you know his birth store. Stay tuned for more details!

Beanie Sales

Very excited! I am up to 5 beanie sales for the winter! Granted they are all friends and family, but that's ok! My Etsy shop is up and running. *See bar on the left* and I hope to generate some more sales that way.

Here's hoping!

Rocket Powered

Rocket Ship

Filled the ship with some fuel of beans and rice!

It has a nice sound when shook.

Found this pattern at Running Jack Knits.