mama's world

she's really not a baby anymore...

I know this.  I've known it for awhile; after all, she hit the 5.5 mark in June.  SO not a baby.  And I am okay with that.  But, sometimes it hits me and I am surprised still.

This little one who has always

- been petite (and still is) now has legs that are long and muscular.

- let me brush her hair (though under protest for the tangles) now prefers to brush it herself AND does a pretty good job.

- had tiny feet (and really kinda still does) now has long, slender feet.

- been so slim (and still is) suddenly no longer fits in those 3T (yes, 3T) shorts.

She's started asking to attend day camp even when her BFF isn't attending.  Says she "doesn't care" that she "still has fun".

She's working on getting that second loose tooth out.

She went on three "new" (to her) big kid rides this weekend.  Rides she never would have tried if Daddy-O or I suggested it.  But, let our friends' kids ask and she is all over it.  She's on her way.  She is almost a big kid.

And, if that weren't enough proof, she no longer needs to hold my hand.  It's true.  She wants to walk with the bigger kids--play with the bigger kids.  She'll still hold my hand when it's she and I.  We'll always have a connection, but she needs more now.  She's spreading those wings and all I can do is watch and be here to guide her.

all kinds of fibery goodness going on...

Last week was way cool on the knitting front.  First off, I finished two pair of socks.

The first pair I finished were made for a dear friend who was getting married.  She asked her knitting friends to please knit during the ceremony and I decided it should be something for her.  The yarn is Luxe (75% merino, 25% Tussah Silk) , special dyed from The Unique Sheep in a gorgeous Raspberry/Red combo.  Laura at The Unique Sheep was very nice and very helpful.  The pattern I am using is 'Vog On by Aleta Fera.  I am very pleased with how they turned out!
 
Aren't they lovely?

The second pair was from the February 2008 BMFA Socks that Rock Club Kit.  The yarn is Socks that Rock - Lightweight in the Dragon Dance colorway and the pattern is Serendipity.  These were a simple and fun knit.  My very first pair of hand knit socks for ME!  One is a touch tighter than the other, but hopefully it will stretch a little.  Not bad for a relatively new sock knitter though.
 

For quite awhile now, I have been avoiding anything spinning related.  I just can't support another craft/hobby/addiction.  I still have paper scrapping stuff I need to destash or make some cards for sale or something...  Anyhow, I had successfully avoiding anything spinning related.  That is until my friend's wedding.  A fellow knitter (and spinner) took the opportunity after the ceremony and as fellowship was winding down to play with her drop spindle....

I was in awe.

Totally.

Crud.  You know where this is going, right?

Since then, I have been like a woman obsessed.  Right up until tonight when I got to play with my new spindle.  I ended up with thick and thin yarn that's not spun very evenly, but from what I can see it isn't much different than many first tries.  I present to the blogging world...my first singles:

Well, enough for tonight.  I'd like to play with the spindle some more, but my needles are calling too...decisions, decisions.

I'll sign off with a final photo.  A double rainbow from Sunday evening.  P-nut found the rainbow and Daddy-o noticed the second, lighter one above:

We are still waiting for tooth #2 to pop out.  Should be any day now.

Credits:  Frame used on all photos in this post are from Nina Scraps.

before and after

So, another milestone came and went...I posted here about how P-nut was getting ready to loose her very first tooth.  She did...about 2 weeks later.  And here it is, yet another two weeks, and I am finally sharing...

Before

After

Doesn't she look SO adorable here?  Sadly, this look didn't last long as the new tooth was already behind the old waiting for its turn.  As of today (just under 3 weeks after the lost tooth), the new one is about 1/3 of the way in and can definitely be seen when she smiles.  (hmm...guess I need another photo)

And the tooth fairy (thanks to my good friend, Ruth) brought silver dollar.  P-nut is aware that a first tooth is special and that she won't "score" 3 every time.

I'm not sure what my problem was with the second two photos.  Both came out horribly blurry (these are "corrected"...lol).  I must have been rushing.  I think they look even worse since the first one came out so well.  lol  Photo frames by Micheline Martin.

So, the week before last we did a week at the shore.  It was warm and relaxing.  Couldn't ask for a more relaxing vacation.  *sigh*  Colleen was here for three weeks too and was able to spend the 4th of July weekend and our week vacation with us at the beach.  Here are a few...

Fourth of July fireworks on the beach:

Peanut playing in the sand:
 

P-nut and Colleen on the slide:

P-nut and mama on the slide (these photos were her idea...she is definitely a budding photographer):

Colleen, P-nut and the Chik-Fil-A cow:

Daddy-o and his big catch:

Lastly, here is the first of my Serendipity socks.  They were the February club shipment for the 2008 RSC:
 
 
Aren't they the coolest?!

I also finished up the shrug last night.  The plan is to weave the ends in (now) and block it tomorrow night.  Look for photos in a few days.  P-nut Loves it!

on (and off) the needles

I owe major updates on things like the status of P-nut's tooth, vacation and daily life.  But, the photos for those are at home (yes, I am blogging from the office--bad, bad, Mama) so that will have to wait for tonight.  For know it's all about the needles.

I finally finished my Clapotis about two weeks ago.  Well, technically it's not finished as I didn't weave in the two ends or block it, but that was because I hadn't decided if I would block or not (that and I'm lazy).  The decision is in.  I am blocking it.  These photos are all in it's unblocked state. (excuse the photos...P-nut is practicing her budding photographer skills)

As a scarf:

As a wrap:

And to keep the head warm:

I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I used hand-dyed yarn by LavenderSheep.  The yarn was great and she was so sweet.  I just posted the pictures on Ravelry last night and there was a message from her this morning commenting on how it turned out.  I've already cast on another in Malabrigo Worsted for MIL for Christmas.  It's a very easy and fun knit.

Another project finished is a test knit I have been working on.  It's a few firsts.  First cowl, first beaded knitting and first test knit.  It was for Nina Machlin Dayton (aka ninaknits).  She is a pleasure to work with and so was her pattern.  Fun, engaging and a quick knit.

Faberge cowl:

The pattern has not yet been released, but will be soon.  I'll link it up in a new post once it has been released.

I also have two socks done.  Be nice if they were a pair...lol  They aren't.  One is for the February RSC this year.  I love how it came out and am know addicted to yet another yarn...BMFA sock yarn.

The other sock is for a pair I am making for a friend.  She has asked her knitting buddies to knit during her upcoming wedding meeting and I decided that 1) I needed something portable and 2) it should be for her.  So sock #1 in the "wedding socks" is complete.  Two has the heel turned and I am on the decreases.  Need to have the decreases complete this coming week so I can knit away at the wedding.

No pics yet on either of these. 

This morning I cast on Knitting Pure & Simple's Little Girl's Shrug for P-nut.  I'm using Malabrigo Worsted in Tiger Lily.  I've been wanting to make her a shrug and I LOVE the color (but can't wear it myself). So...should be a fairly quick knit.  Hopefully.

Anxiously awaiting this month's RSC shipment.  It could still come today.  *fingers crossed*  I've seen spoilers and can't wait to get my hands on this yarn.

Back tonight with pictures of a blocking Clapotis, single socks and P-nut....both with and without all of her teeth.  Woohoo!

don't blink...

This is pretty much how I have felt since P-nut was just a wee one.  When she was an infant, I felt like one day I would wake up and she'd be in Kindergarten.  Now, as that day approaches, I feel like I'm going to turn around and she'll be in high school.

One of my favorite songs is Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney.  I love most of his music, but this really hits a nerve.

"Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink"

This morning a guy walked to the train station with his wife and 8 mo. old baby girl.  My first thought was how sweet that his wife and baby were walking him to the train.  His "train friends" were standing right next to me so I could overhear the conversation.  They must have asked the baby's age because he told them she was 8 mos. now and he couldn't believe how she had grown.

I wanted to tell him not to blink.  That he would wake up one day and she'd be in preschool.  Obviously, I didn't do so, but the song has been with me all day now.

approaching a milestone in mama's world

Yup.  We are.  As P-nut grows, the milestones are fewer and further between.  The first few years they are constant, but as they grow the milestones become more subtle and not as frequent.  So, without further ado...I present to you the following conversation last night:

P-nut:  Mom, can you look in my mouth?  I think there is a loose tooth.

***Now, here is where I should fill in that she has been wanting a loose tooth for months and there has not been ANY teeny, tiny hints of movement.  None.  Nada.  Earlier this month the dentist even told us that it would likely be about a year before she'd loose her first tooth.  She mentioned it this past weekend again and I sort of brushed it off---in my defense, my hands were pretty tied up at the time as I believe I was either cooking dinner or dealing with the aftermath***

Me:  Okay, Sweetie, but you know it's probably not loose.  Remember what the dentist said.  Where is it.

P-nut:  Check the bottom mom.  Here.  (as she points to the top).

Me:  That's the top.  Nope, nothing loose there.

P-nut:  Check here. (as she points to the bottom three front teeth now)

Me:  Which one?

P-nut:  I don't know.  Try this one.

So I dutifully check the first in line.  Nada.

Me:  Nope, sorry, honey but it's not loose.

P-nut:  Try the next one.

So I do.  I mean, what harm would it be to indulger her, right.  Imagine me when I nearly jump out of my skin because the dang tooth really did move.  It's not ready to come out yet, but it's nice and wiggly.

Me:  OMG!  You are right.  It's loose.  (insert big hug here).  C'mon.  Let's go tell Daddy.

Truth be told, I am just as excited as she is.  Tonight we will take pictures and make sure to get a few with big, toothy grins.  I want to record this look before it is gone.  Replaced first by the adorable gap-toothed smiles and later by more "grown-up" smiles.  This is truly the very last traces of my baby.  This time next year (heck, next month) she will have a completely different smile.  *sigh*

I'll post photos tomorrow.

On the knitting front, I have been having one heck of a time with socks.  I LOVE toe-up.  I dislike short-row heels immensely.  Unfortunately, the sock I have been trying to do toe-up has a heel that does not work for me.  ARGH!  So, the good news it that it was not the Flat Feet that was the problem (though I do still have gauge issues with that particular yarn).  The sock I cast on the other day was fitting just fine...a touch loose, but good until I turned the heel.  Can't get that baby on to save my life.  And I saw it coming.  Yup.  I definitely need to re-think the heels.

So, to prove to myself that I really can knit socks (since I have like, no completed pairs other than the one I made MIL and Daddy-o) I have cast on a cuff-down for my first SOS '08 sock.  It's for a friend.  The yarn is Luxe (75% merino, 25% Tussah Silk) , special dyed from The Unique Sheep in a gorgeous Raspberry/Red combo.  Laura at The Unique Sheep was very nice and very helpful.  I am getting ready to order from her again for socks for another friend.  The pattern I am using is 'Vog On by Aleta Fera.  It's a very simple, but lovely lace pattern.  I didn't care for the slouchy look of the cuff, so I did add a few rows of K1,P1 ribbing before I began the lace.  Photos to follow tomorrow.

all is quiet on the home front

Nothing much going on here.  Same old, same old.

P-nut has two more weeks at her pre-school and then she is done.  Beginning mid-July she will go to the summer camp held by her new school two days a week and spend the other 3 days with Daddy-o or Grandmom.  In September she will start the new school and officially be in kindergarten!  Last night we had a "girls night" with her friend and her friend's mom.  We went to the new school for their uniform exchange.  We were fortunate and were able to get a few of the school polo shirts and a sweatshirt each.  This will supplement what I already ordered and allow me to pare down the polos I had planned to order.  Afterward, we went to Chick-fil-A for dinner and to the playground.  The girls had a blast.

Other than that, things are quiet.  Not that I am complaining.  In less that two weeks, Col will come for her annual visit.  She's 15+ now so I have a feeling this might be her last visit.  I was actually a little surprised that she wanted to come this year.  We are all looking forward to seeing her though.

Now for the scrapping and knitting...

I'd like to give a big thank you to Gina Miller for the sweet RAK she gave me the other day.  She saw me mention that I liked a kit she was releasing this coming Sunday (I had seen a very, very tiny sneak peak) and she gifted me the whole kit.  What a gal!  I did about 3/4 of a two-page layout with it last night.  I'll post the layout and the kit previews early next week once the kit is in stores.

I finished two Amanda hats about a week ago.  Both were done in Malabrigo Merino Worsted.  The first is in their Emerald colorway (both are modeled by P-nut):

The second is in the Purple Mystery colorway:

I also have another project in the works.  I am fortunate to be a test knitter (new) for NinaKnits.  My first test knit for her is on her Faberge Cowl pattern (awaiting release)---my first beaded knitting.  I am really enjoying this knit.  Here is a sneak peak of where I am with it:
 

And a close-up:

Is that cool or what?  Oh, the colorway here is Dusty and it is not really bright as this picture seems to hint at.  Bad photography.

I am also working on the Monkey socks.  I had tried them in Flat Feet by Conjoined Creations, but I am having serious problems with that yarn.  I have tried two patterns and a total of 6---yes 6---cast-ons and they are either too tight to get over my heel or too baggy.  ARGH!  I have put the yarn aside for now.  But, I really wanted a pair of Monkeys so I cast on with some new ONline Supersocke that I bought on sale a few weeks ago.  Nothing like trying a new (to me) yarn that is on sale!  I like the feel of the yarn and it is knitting up quite nicely.  The sock (about 1/3 up the foot, toe-up) fits nicely.  Could be a touch tighter, but we'll see how it is at the ankle.  I think it will be fine.  Since the yarn is 45% bamboo, I am thinking about stopping at the ankle.  They'll be nice for summer.

Well, that's all for now.  Maybe I'll get some good beach shots this weekend to share.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Tomorrow is the kick-of for Summer of Socks!  Yeah!  I will be casting on a very special pair of socks tomorrow night and I am looking forward to it.

a little peak at the recital

I don't have all of the recital pics uploaded (I'm such a slacker), but here is a layout I did last night.  Forgive me, the pics aren't all that, but it's so hard to take good photos of them on stage.
 
Full credits can be found HERE.

Last night was day one of a three day dance camp for P-nut.  She had a ball.  It's called A Little Bit Of... and basically exposes them to ballet, jazz, cheer dance and acrobat/tumbling.  I snuck in about 1/2 an hour into it an watched.  It was pretty neat.  She is actually teaching them little numbers and they will show them to us the last night.  I kind of wish they had longer programs in the summer.  But, the studio is moving this summer to a larger facility (How's that for growth?  The owner outgrew her studio in the first year of business.  GO JANICE!)  Maybe next year she will have more summer offerings.

I am about chin deep in the teacher's gift.  I made a little album with pages from all the kidlets.  I also offered to make copies (spiral bound) for the kidlets for $5 (ink, paper, etc.).  The teacher album is more or less done, but I printing, printing, printing for the 6 kiddie copies.  Then I have to cut them down and put them together.  Why did I volunteer for this?  Will I ever learn to keep my trap shut?  Stay tuned...

on (and off) the needles...

If you are looking for a general "mama" update, please see the previous post for today.  This is the knitting post. 

I've been spending a good bit of time with my needles lately, but to my laptop's dismay.

Here is what is going on:

I am working on a Clapotis with a KAL (knit-a-long) group on Ravelry.  Here is the full view of my WIP.

And here is a close-up of the dropped (intentionally) stitches.
 

The KAL is suppose to be for Malabrigo Silky Merino, but I had purchased some superwash Merino from Lavender Sheep awhile back.  She died it for me based on some other colors I had seen on her site.  So, I am using that.  The KAL doesn't mind so I knit.  This is a close-up of one of the skeins of Mt. Sunset Blaze that I am using.

 

I also wanted to do a sweater.  I started out with plans and yarn for a Printed Silk Cardigan which I still plan to do, but it got warmer and I wanted something I could wear once I finished it.  So, I cast on for Juliet with Berroco Comfort.  It's a yummy yarn (even if is it acrylic) and a beautiful color.  However, the Clapotis sucked me in so I didn't get too far.

 

And, I am a sock-lover at heart so my daily commute/lunch break project is a pair of socks.  I wanted to do Monkeys, but I prefer toe-up so I am working on a pair of Los Monos Locos Jennifer O'Sullivan's toe-up, no purl interpretation of the Monkey socks.  I am using Conjoined Creation's Flat Feet.  LOVE these colors!

 

I did manage to finish a few things too!  For Mother's Day, I made MIL a pair of Grasshopper Twists with Sockotta.

I even managed to get her to model them for me.

 

And I also made P-nut a little dress.  It's short (on purpose) so it's worn with leggings.  This is the Bright and Cheery Sundress knit with  Plymouth Fantasy Natural Solid.  I absolutely hated knitting with this yarn.  It's soft and the finished product is lovely, but the lack of give in the yarn (100% cotton) literally makes my hands and fingers ache.  I doubt I will be knitting much with cotton again.
 
Isn't she cute?!

i'm back...

Kind of dropped off of the face of blog-land there, didn't I?!  Nothing wrong, just being lazy.  Plus I tend to blog more about my digi scrapping and I've been spending less time with that and more time knitting.

So, I suppose a bit of an update is in order.  Daddy-o spent a three weekends in a row in early-mid May at the beach getting the trailer ready to go and building the porch on it.  Last year we didn't have one (it was our first year down there as seasonal) and we missed not having the extra space and privacy.  Funny you can miss something you have never had.  The Monday after he finished we got hit with a whammy of a nor-easter (odd for this time of year) and the beach was hit hard.  Many people lost their roof (most expensive part of the porch) and some lost the entire porch.  We were fortunate and had minimal damage.

P-nut and I finally made it to the beach with Daddy-o for Memorial Day weekend.  We helped paint the porch and I cleaned the inside of the camper and now we are good to go.  P-nut really LOVES the beach this year and could not wait for the trailer to be opened up again.  She started asking for it in February/March.  This is a big change for her because she was not so into it last year.  She is turning into quite the little beach bum!

She also had her dance recital in mid-May.  Here is a photo I took at the dress rehearsal (no flash photography/video at the recital).  I have the professional photos scanned too and will try to get them up tonight.  Let me just say that, while they are nice, I feel Target did a much better job last year for the money and will likely go back to them again next year.

 
Full credits can be found HERE.

I'll post my knitting adventures in the next post.  Lots of photos.