Just some cuteness, and some knitting.

Aww! She's so cute!

Her toes are cute as anything!!

And look at those big blue eyes! Mr. W and I are hoping they stay blue - like his eyes - and don't turn muddy and colourless like my eyes. I have mood eyes, they change with my moods . . . but as cool as that sounds, well, it's really not. Imagine being at the DMV and being asked your eye colour for your licence. Errrr . . . am I upset that I got pulled over? Or happy because I'm out with friends and getting carded? Because brown, or blue respectively. They also go green. The only colour I've never seen them go is violet.

And since this is, or at least once was a knitting blog: KNITTING CONTENT!!


I'm roughly 75% of the way through Sweet Pea's Pea Pod. Sadly, the pattern and whatnot is no longer available on the web, otherwise I would link it for you.
I have the body of the sweater done and blocked, and one sleeve knit up completely. That leaves just the increasing section of the second sleeve, blocking the sleeves, making up, and working the neck. Last time I knit up this pattern, it took just under (and I mean just under) 1 skein of mercerized cotton. This time, I'm hoping to replicate those results, because I only have one skein. I think the colour will be captivating on Sweet Pea.

Hee, etc.

Hee.
She hates hats . . . I just can't figure out why!

And the etc:Red eyed Sweet Pea in her Tura Maeve dress. So pretty! It almost doesn't fit anymore.

And the yarn I bought to make her a Cowboy Butterfly Astronaut vest. Up top is the colour for the body, down below is the ruffle and the sleeves.

La Vie en Rose

Sure sometimes sleep is scarce, and yes sometimes the crying can really get to you . . . but I have to say - I'm very happy.

Sprout has traded in 'newborn gorgeous' for 'infant adorable'

I don't mind one bit. She's getting bigger and bigger every day.

And that makes me a little sad, because I know there are certain moments that are gone forever . . . already.
And just when I think she doesn't need to cuddle for comfort anymore, this happens:

And this one's just to make your ovaries squish!

Prizes!

Who doesn't love prizes?

Yesterday, a certain sleepy young lady and I loaded up the stroller and took a walk to local post office.

We were on the way to pick up a parcel, and for once, I had the presence of mind to have the
camera close by for the opening of the parcel!

There was certainly some excitement as we walked back home, package in tow. Right away, I sat down and opened it. Here is what I saw: Right away, I knew I was in for a happy package! Inside there was an awesome beach/pool bag.

There were 2 really cute beachy frames.

There was a really cool little bag made from neoprene. Check out the print - how cheery is that?? There was some absolutely divine yarn. Socks That Rock Silkie - and LOOK at that colour! Doesn't it look delicious?

There was an absolutely amazing quilt kit - I love it, I can only imagine that Sprout will too!









And finally, there was a Tulip hat for Sprout. I put it on her.

Then I told her it was too big and she'd have to wait to wear it. This is what she had to say about that.









I have to say a great big thankyou to my secret pal Nessadawn123 for the awesome package - I love it!

Speaking of things I love, have you seen my daughter? Damn, she's something special. This is one of my favourite things about her: when she feeds, she holds her ears on. Not all the time, but a lot of the time. It's awful cute.

The view from here:

You wouldn't like me when I'm angry . . .

Why do people insist on picking on my beautiful baby?


Seriously, the next person who calls her scrawny is getting a pinch. She is long (21 inches), and slender (just over 7 pounds) and lovely. She is chubbing up and getting adorable cheeks. Believe me, she is NOT scrawny.

Plus, she's got this adorable kitty hat.
Cat-eared baby hat
made with remnant Colinette Jitterbug from my Mermaid Mitts, on 2.25 and 2.5 mm needles. I did most of this hat while I was in the hospital with the baby, waiting for her to wake up and feed.
Motivation? They put this godawful pink acrylic garter hat on her -- and it had a seam up the back! Now, I am in fact a fibre snob, so I knit as fast as I could to replace that thing with this hat -- but I wasn't fast enough. I feel pretty badly about being so ooked out by that hat though, someone took the time to make it out of the goodness of her heart. I just wish they had saved it for a baby that NEEDED it. We had 3 or 4 hand knit hats in her bag!

Things I've learned this week . . .

. . . or shit that blows my mind.

I've had a pretty intense week, really. Birthed my first baby, trying to adjust to being a mom, trying to adjust to being a family. And there are some things that really blow my mind!

* From the second she was conceived, that little baby knew - she knew which organs to form, where to put them, and what they do. She knew that she was going to be a girl, and which features she was taking from which parent. She knew when she would be born.
* From the second she was born, she knew other things - How does she know how to breastfeed so well? Instinct, I know, but still! She amazes me.
* From the second our daughter was conceived, MY body knew. It knew how to sustain the pregnancy, what to crave to give the baby what she needed, and how to give birth.
*Labour and delivery: Sweet Christ on a Cracker! (Mr. Wonderful-ism, you like?) How does the body do it? How can you fit a whole person through that? And the memory of the pain - it fades so fast. I already almost don't remember. I said Almost.
*Labour and contractions are not so much painful, as painful and intense. Those contractions had me in a grip . . . it was like nothing I've ever felt before. When my water broke, I was scared - when the contractions started, I didn't have the wherewithal to be scared anymore.
*I can't believe how strong I am. I mean, I am really truly impressed with how well I did in the delivery room. I know it sounds a little conceited, and maybe self-centred to be so impressed with oneself, but I did not see that coming. I thought for sure epidural, whining, yelling at Mr. W. Nope to all. I'm much stronger than I ever thought.
*I'm told I make it look easy, that I'm a natural born mother. For the record, I need to hear this often. Along with 'you're doing everything right'. During labour, the nurses didn't believe that she was our first, because we dealt with the contractions so well. Mr. W was a pillar, and I hate to lose control. *shrug*. Breastfeeding thus far has been fairly easy - Sprout is a sleepy baby, but I look at her, and I can't get frustrated. She's my baby, and she needs me. I got lucky. So what blows my mind on this point: I have such a good baby, such a great husband, and so far (touch wood) mothering the babe hasn't been difficult. A little overwhelming at times, but not too hard. I feel so blessed, and I don't even believe in that crap!
*My body is the shit! I mean, sure, some stuff is arsed up, but here I am less than a week post-partum, and I look HOT! I mean . . . smokin' hot! I already have my pre-pregnancy shape mostly back, although I am terrified to step on a scale and learn it's all in my head. In any case, maternity pants are falling off me, in spite of all the elastic, and that makes me smile. Sure, it's probably delusion, and I'm probably looking kind of . . . well, sloppy, to outsiders - but I'm thrilled to have a rib cage and waist line back. Now if the hormone thing would just get itself together, I'd like to stop crying and feeling anxious one minute, and then on the top of the world the next.
*It also blows my mind a little that she's here. I'm finally using those little outfits, and learning that I need more receiving blankets, and that bathing a newborn is so hard it can make you cry. And it did. I've been waiting almost 10 years to have a baby with Mr. W - I didn't want to push him, and he wasn't ready . . and in retrospect neither was I. Everything happens when it should. And it was time.
*My daughter is so beautiful. I know, every parent thinks their child is amazing, beautiful, smart -- and they should! I spend a lot of time just staring at her little face while she feeds. I think I need to take a picture, so I can remember this tender time when she's a toddler, or . . . oh Lordy, a teenager! I can't believe that something so beautiful is the combination of Mr. W and I. I mean, we're both pretty cute on our own, but together, we are (apparently) gorgeous!

Sprout's Big Arrival!

It finally happened! Sprout came!

She was born on July 6, at 2 am - 6 pounds 15 oz, 19 inches long. She's so long and skinny! And she's absolutely beautiful!
Disagree? Well, you would be wrong!

Her story:
Saturday, after a fabulously greasy lunch of a Reuben sandwich and fries at the local diner, Mr. Wonderful and I headed off to do our groceries for the week. In the checkout line, I felt a little trickle - and then another little trickle. I told Mr. W that I thought my water had broken. When I checked at home, I really wasn't sure. A few trickles later, I was pretty sure, but still not convinced. I called the doula, and the hospital for advice, and had a good "OMG, this could be it" cry, and then the contractions started.
Now, when they say 'you will know a real contraction from a Braxton Hicks' they are lying! My first contractions were very mild. I argued Mr. W on timing them - denial, perhaps? I was sure I was not in fact starting labour, and that I was just getting everyone all excited for nothing.
When he timed a few contractions, though, they were only 3 minutes apart. The doula convinced us to head for the hospital. On the way, I became thoroughly convinced that I was, in fact, in labour. It felt terrible, and exciting all at once.

When we got to the hospital, we were sent to triage, where they assessed me at 'definitely not that far gone' and sent us to walk around the halls. I am convinced they would have sent us home if I hadn't proven I was in a bad way. Puke will do that for you. They immediately sent us to our suite.

6 hours of labour later, including 25 minutes of pushing myself inside out, some time in the tub, a lot of time in a rocking chair, and a fair bit of time in bed - Sprout came barreling into the world.

Can I brag for a minute? All natural. No drugs, just an amniotomy (they broke my water). Crowning and birthing the head are the Worst Pain Ever - but I lived, and I know I can do it. Wonder what you look like after giving birth?


Fat, and swollen, and very happy.
And maybe a little tired.

And like your shirt fell off.





And here's what the babe looked like, brand new -- just a few minutes old. AWWWwwwwwWW!

Pretties!

Let us begin with Sprout's room. It's all ready and waiting for its tiny inhabitant. Compare this to previous views of the room, and it now looks like a real live child's room!

Next up, the four headed rose in our garden! All of these blossoms are on the same stem. Aren't they beautiful??And finally, this is the project I cast on with the Alpaca laceweight. Gorgeous! The first photo shows the pattern, the second photo shows the true colour of the yarn. I love it!

Happy Due Date!

Well, Sprout's due today - but she's not coming today. Although, at today's prenatal appointment, the word 'imminent' did cross the OB's lips. We had our lovely bonding moment, over my 'internal check' and then he told me that should my water break, I am to head straight to the hospital. Sounds hopeful, no? He had me make an appointment for next week, but I'm told it's not really likely I'll make it to that appointment. I'm trying not to count on it, so as to avoid disappointment.

Since Juno Regina is done, and since I seem to be on a bit of a lace kick, I cast something on yesterday with this:


Oh my God, it's so delicious! I love the feel of this yarn! And the colour is phenomenal!

If I had another month of at home time before Sprout turns up, I'm sure I could clear my lace knitting queue - it's what I want to knit on right now!