proof of knitting.

really, it does happen on occasion. and sometimes i even finish a project. like this little number.

the baby shrug knit up in sock weight midnight from shibui knits. this was my first time knitting with shibui. the name alone would make me buy it. i love saying that word! i enjoyed working with it and if i were a sock knitter that actually finished a PAIR of socks, i would definitely use this yarn for a pair. i also chose this yarn for the color. i knew i would love how it looks on bea with her blonde locks (even though at the time of purchase it was barely more than blonde fluff). i was not disappointed.



the pattern was well written, easy to follow. the main pattern is a four row repeat, which after a few rounds was easy to memorize.
it also hides errors pretty well. i'm sure i made a few. i opted not to do the buttonholes, because i didn't foresee using them.
still looks great without them i think. they seemed unnecessary, unless you just want some extra embellishment. the pattern says that each size (0 to 3 yrs) will fit a wide range of ages. i didn't do gauge (because i'm lazy) and i'd say this is true. i knit the medium (1 to 2 yrs) and it fits both bea and henry (though it's a little snug on him). and yes, he was a willing model.




the day i shot these photos, bea was not so willing to put it on. i had to wait hours for her to agree. i thought it was yet another knit to be denied by her. but, i feel redeemed. when we were on vacation last week she was cold so i put it on her. later in the day when it had warmed up again i thought she might be getting hot and asked if she wanted to take it off and she said NO!
i was so relieved. my knitting queue for her is long. it would be no fun to have a girl who doesn't want to wear knits!



so now i am drifting in project limbo. i have some sewing projects on the table, but no knitting ones as of now. randomly working on dishcloths to keep my hands busy during movies. i am on the search for a sweater pattern for henry. so far i haven't found anything i loved. any suggestions out there?

heart melted.

tonight i put bea down for bed. as i was leaving her room i said, "i love you.", as i normally do .

and oh my goodness, tonight she replied, "love you."!

i just wanted to run right back in and scoop her up.

the owl {complete}

as promised there are more gifts to share. this is one i am so proud of. it turned out so closely to how i had pictured it in my head before i began making it. basically, i made my own version of these.

i drew the pattern free hand and attempted several versions of legs and feet. i still don't feel i got that part quite right, but i'm still happy with the outcome. the best part was putting the fabrics together in different combinations, which is not my strong suit. the legs were originally going to be a dark red fabric with a black pattern, but those did not turn out so well. it was a good mistake because i love the stripey legs on the owl just as i like it when bea has stripey legs!

the fabrics are a mix of new, hand me down, and repurposed. years and years ago matt's grandma gave me bunches of fabric. two of those are what make up the wings. the corduroy is an old jacket of mine that i wasn't wearing anymore. the back is a fabric i've had for some time and have used little bits here and there. and the yellow and green striped fabric are relatively new and were meant for other projects but they just worked so well i had to use them. (i love that yellow!)

bea snuggled onto the owl right after she (with henry's help of course) opened it on christmas morning. it's a laugh to see her carrying this big bird around! it's great for breaking her falls. i think in the next few weeks a wee version of this owl may make its way to the sewing machine. something a little easier to tote around.

one more handmade coming tomorrow - if i can get some decent pictures.

i yam what i yam

he stands on her chair while she is strapped in. places a cracker on her belly.

tells her, "eat yer spinach, ya infink".

how to make a year fly by

i have figured out the secret for any who may want time to move at warp speed. just have another baby. that's what we did.
around this time last year we had a baby girl. next thing i know this little tow-headed babe (who really in my mind should only be 7 or 8 months old) has already had her first birthday!
how did this happen? where has the time gone? next thing i know she'll be shaving and painting her nails (don't even mention boys).
this. is. not. fair.
i protest.



what? too bad you say? well, foooey then.


miss beatrice harper enjoyed her day and celebrated with family in the evening. she requested (via henry) buckwheat pancakes and scrambled eggs for dinner. (good call my boy). in lieu of cake, mimi made pumpkin bars. delicious and difficult to eat just one, ahem, i mean two.

this girl is a character quite like her sidekick big brother. she loves hats and masks. she can't stay still when she hears music. i predict she will be into heavy metal. i truly hope that because matt and i are completely lacking in the musical department (well, matt has a good voice) she doesn't get the raw end of that deal. she loves music. she loves trees, too. she likes to look up and smile at them. kind of like me. she's a climber with no fear. i have enough for her. yet she is very cautious when it comes to walking. still haven't figured that one out. she enjoys the sound of her own voice, especially in the evenings. she is shy and takes a while to warm up to new people. she doesn't like to go to sleep. she fights it every. single. time.
she likes to play in the dishwasher and she hands me the silverware one by one whether its time to unload or not. she is an excellent mimic. she tries to put on socks and shoes. she can take her shirt off by herself as evidenced the morning we went into her room to get her and she was topless. she gives great surprise kisses - that's about the only way you will get them, but they are so worth it. she likes hikes and long baths. she's so proud that she can stick her face in the water. her favorite word in 'nooooooo', though it is most often out of context (for now). she is sweet and squishy and small ( a wee 17 lbs ). and holy moly, somehow she is one!

if you give a bea a bean

savor the wonder

savoring the crease in her forearm. i know it will be gone soon.

those little fingers curled in her sleep next to those long lashes.


wondering if i'm ready for the next steps. and if i can give her the space she needs to learn.

and wondering if she will always do everything faster than her brother did.

guess who

probably has the pink eye?

beazy

today.
you are three months old today.


it is the strangest feeling.
feeling time whizzing by. speeding up, no matter how much i fight it.
and yet feeling like you have been here with us for so long.
as if you have always been here.