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Sophie the bunny: my first knit toy

 

Sophie was intended to be an easter present for Ethan. Since I only started her the week before the holiday, I suppose I was a bit too ambitious. I finished her sometime in June and think she's the cutest little bunny around.

This is another pattern from Ravelry, which very well may be my favorite place online. The pattern is from Ysolda Teague. I used Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran in this lovely pale green. I used 3 mm double pointed needles - two sizes smaller than the yarn calls for to make the stitches extra tight to ensure no stuffing starts peaking through the fabric. The only challenging steps were picking up stitches for the ears, arms and legs. But for the clean finish, I would use this trick again for sure. I wanted her to be soft and pliable, but next time I would add more stuffing - especially to the head.

I would love to say that this is Ethan's most beloved new toy, but that would not be quite true. Recently he has attached himself to a little metal school bus. Sophie, he tends to throw when I suggest he gives her a cuddle. Oh well, maybe she'll grow on him.

Life right now

 

Life right now is crazy busy. Mostly because we are building a house and Aubrey is doing the work himself. Partly because I've had to pull a bunch of overtime at work. And simply because life with a toddler is crazy busy.

It is wonderful and we are happy, but there hasn't been time for much else except this. Which, is pretty fun. Wandering through the mud on our new driveway.

Because babies are not round

I just finished this sweet blanket for Marisa's baby who will be arriving anytime. This is my first knitted baby blanket and I love how soft and cozy it feels right away. Not like a baby quilt which needs to be washed and washed before it starts to feel soft.

You start the pattern in the centre, and knit outwards until the circle is the size you want. I would have kept knitting a tiny bit bigger but I ran out of yarn. Ethan tested it out and thought it was just fine. I used Mission Falls 1824 Cotton in Wheat.

I think I'll start a knitted blanket for Ethan, too. Another pattern and another yarn, but something equally cozy. Which will be especially important in our little cabin.

 

Can't you just imagine a little baby snuggled up here?

Nicknames for you

 

Silly pants, giggle pants, sweet pea, lovey, sweet boy, best friend, little love. Just a few of the names I call you. Here you are, peaking out the pawprint shaped window in Padfoot's dog house.

Your feet

 

Dear Ethan,

It's been more than a year since you were tucked in my belly. And still, almost every time I see those feet I think of them wedged deeply into my ribs. In the last few months of my pregnancy we had a constant battle where you would be stretching your little legs (and feet) up into my ribs, and I would try (mostly unsuccessfully) to push them back down.

Lately you've been getting those little feet stuck in the bars of your crib as you try to slowly rotate from one end of the bed to the other. I caught this picture one weekend afternoon when I was coming in to wake you from your nap.

Later, when you are a teenager with stinky shoes I may not look so lovingly at your feet. But for now I think they are perfect.

Love,

Mama

Our house in the woods is worth a year without water

 

Dear Aubrey,

We just sold our condo and are going to live in a cabin on our property for a year while we build our house in the woods. I can't say I'm not a little bit apprehensive about the whole thing. Moving to a cabin with no water with a toddler. Building a house by ourselves.

When I look at this picture, though, I can't help but think everything is going to be just fine. Ethan and I are meant to live in the woods. We just came back from a walk in the snowy forest - watching the squirrels, smelling the needles, getting stuck in the snow. You can just see how happy we are. This boy will spend his childhood running through the woods with his friends and siblings, having the time of his life.

So thanks for making this happen for our little family, Aubrey. And sorry if I complain a bit too often about having to live without running water. I know it will be worth it in the end.

Love,

Michelle

You can learn anything on YouTube, Grammie

 

Dear Grammie,

I was so lucky that you and Nannie taught me to quilt back in the late 1990s. I still love to quilt and crafts have become such a big part of my life over the last ten years.

When we were together, though, I had no interest in knitting. I don't ever remember trying to learn to knit with you. I did with my mom, and later with Aubrey's mom, but I don't think we ever did that together.

I do remember you knitting and crocheting, though. Well, to be honest I don't remember you actually working on your projects, but I remember many, many sweaters that you made for us and the rest of the family over the years. I remember you and Grampie wearing matching sweaters in Pugwash. I remember lots of holiday decorations and ornaments made by you. I'm sure my mom still has lots of those.

For almost 30 years I had no interest in knitting at all. And then I became pregnant with Ethan. Before I even knew I was pregnant I had this overwhelming desire to learn to knit. I'm not sure where it came from, but I am so grateful to be knitting now.

It turns out that quilting with a toddler is not an easy task. It's just not something that you can do with ten minute chunks of time. And it's certianly not something you can drag around the house with you all day. But I can pick up a (simple) knitting project and hang out with Ethan while he plays. It's a great way for us to spend time together - he's doing something he loves and I'm doing something I love.

So far I've finished a hat and a baby sweater. Right now I'm working on a lap blanket, a baby blanket, a pair of felted slippers and a stuffed bunny.

I often think of you when I'm knitting. Mostly I think "what would you say if you knew that I've learned to knit with YouTube videos?" Times have changed so much in the last ten years. Most of my knitting patterns and ideas online on Ravelry. When I come to a tricky stitch that I don't know while I'm knitting (recently I learned how to wrap-and-turn) I just load up a video on YouTube and I'm all set.

I am sad that I missed out on learning this craft from you. But I am happy that I am able to share my knitted gifts with my family and our friends.

Love,

Michelle

It turns out I am sentimental about my kids art

Dear Ethan,

This is your first art piece. You made it at Marisa's house. To be honest it hadn't even occured to me to give you crayons or paper to play with. I know you are growing up and everything, but I still think of you as my baby. And babies don't play with crayons! Babies eat crayons!

Okay, so you also eat crayons. Luckily we have the non-toxic, practically organic kind that are not a huge deal if you put them in your mouth every so often (which you do). But Ethan you are not a baby anymore. You are a big kid who loves to colour.

I love this picture. I love how you press really, really hard on the crayons and put lots of colours on the paper. And I really love how you can tell where Marisa taped the edge down to the high chair to help keep you focused on colouring and not on throwing the paper onto the floor (which you are known to do sometimes). I especially love how Marisa rounds the corners of the paper. That is such a special touch.

I hope we have many years together doing arts and crafts, Ethan.

Love,

Mama

For these boys, this is love

 
Dear Shona,

I know exactly how you feel. I grew up in a family of girls, too. Sure, we had our disagreements. But there was no rumbling and tumbling around to speak of. There were no great punches followed by laughter. But that is in a family of girls. And right now the only kids that play around here are boys.

I think that boys are different. That's what Aubrey and Geoff keep saying, anyway. Boys are wild and physical even when they are by themselves. You know when Marek jumps on the bed? Or when Ethan climbs onto the rocking chair and trys to jump off? You can just imagine how that is multiplied when they interact with each other. Wild and physical. Sure, sometimes there are nice moments when they are hugging. But more often one is trying to hug while the other is going in for a big shove.

I guess what I'm saying is that I think they DO love each other. The punching and slapping and pushing is just another way for wild and crazy boys to show it.

For our own sanity though, let's encourage moments just like this, okay? Quiet moments when they are standing together at the window, watching something (or maybe nothing!) outside. It's easy to see their friendship here, right? And so much more lovely for a couple of mamas to watch.

I'm not sure I always believe what Aubrey and Geoff have to say, but they did grow up in a wild house full of boys, right? (Oh, poor Andrea). So if they say the pushing and hitting means these kids love each other, I guess we'll just hope this time they are right.

Love,

Michelle

Trouble in blogland

I am having troubles with my Typepad account. I am hopeful they will be fixed soon, but that explains my lack of posts in the last while.