The Rattled Knitter

2010-07-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Flower Power Lunch
So obviously, I have to send my girl off in style, so I made her another special lunch today as well. This little "shaped lunch" will be the last until she comes back from visiting her grandparents.

I still need to acquire some cute molds, cutters, and boxes because I very limited in what I can achieve at the moment. I might try to collect some while she is on holiday to surprise her when she comes back. Again this simple little strategy produced a happy plate (not that I really care about that....) without encouragement or ranch dressing. This mother is one happy camper right about now!!

2010-06-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Bento Box Bandwagon

Okay, I'm jumping on the bento box bandwagon with both feet forward and eyes open. My daughter has been requesting shaped food items for some time now, but I was always reluctant to start. My reasoning was that I would be investing my limited time into a meal that she may or may not eat anyway. It just didn't seem worth it.

Recently, I caved a little by taking a cookie cutter to her sandwich (now she doesn't want her sandwiches any other way, so my reasoning prior did have some merit). Needless to say though, she loved it.

Well, today I went a bit further with her food since her appetite has decreased a little as of late. Now, let's keep in mind that this is merely my first attempt at decorating her dish and it was on a whim too, so it's not super attractive. It did the trick though, she devoured everything on her plate starting with the carrots. I'm sold. I'll be on the look out for everything bento now!

2010-04-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

I'm Zhu Zhu for Zhu Zhus

So my daughter requested that I start making items for her beloved Zhu Zhus. Here is my humble start. It's a crocheted carrier that is based on the style of carrier that is already sold in stores for Zhu Zhus.

I figure it is a decent base pattern ready for embellishments and updates. I'm envisioning adding some beads, buttons, ribbons and other such 'bling' to my later carriers. Hopefully, I'll have some time opportunities to create a few more with improvements.

The pattern:

Supplies: scrap amounts of worsted weight yarn in 2 colors, crochet hook G, set of double pointed needles size 2 (for i-cord handles)

Gauge:
5 stitchs per inch; 5 rows per inch

The body:
In main color, ch6.

row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 4 chains, ch1, turn (5sc)

row 2: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 3 scs, 2sc in last stitch, ch1, turn (7sc)

row 3: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 5 scs, 2sc in last stitch, ch1, turn (9sc)

row 4: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 7 scs, 2sc in last stitch, ch1, turn (11 sc)

row 5: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 9 scs, 2sc in last stitch, ch1, turn (13 sc)

row 6: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 11 scs, 2sc in last stitch, ch1, turn (15 sc)

row 7: 2sc in first sc, sc in next 13 scs, 2sc in last stitch, ch1, turn (17 sc)

row 8-13 : sc across, ch1 (17 sc)

row 14: sc across only in the backloops (17sc)

row 15-26 : sc across, ch1 (17 sc)

row 27: sc across only in the backloops (17sc)

row 28-33 : sc across, ch1 (17 sc)

row 34: dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 13 sc, dec in last 2 sc, ch1, turn (15 sc)

row 35: dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 11 sc, dec in last 2 sc, ch1, turn (13 sc)

row 36: dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 9 sc, dec in last 2 sc, ch1, turn (11 sc)

row 37: dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 7 sc, dec in last 2 sc, ch1, turn (9 sc)

row 38: dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 5 sc, dec in last 2 sc, ch1, turn (7 sc)

row 39: dec in first 2 sc, sc in next 3 sc, dec in last 2 sc, fasten off (5 sc)

weave in ends.

Trim:
Using the contrasting color, sc around the curve and front loops. Do this on the front and back sides.

Handles (make 2):
Using main color and #2 dpn, knit 5 rows of stockinette stitch, the begin making i-cord for about 5 inches. End the i-cord with 5 rows of stockinette stitch. Use the tails to sew the handles onto the body of the carrier.

2010-01-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

All Dolled Up

So with Valentine's Day creeping it's way closer, I'm getting Enid's presents ready. Each year I try to make some gifts for her. This way we are still celebrating the Hallmark holiday (makes her happy), but we aren't giving in completely to the commericiallism behind it. Last year, I made a felt grocery bag filled with crocheted food items (she was really into her kitchen then). This year I'm making a doll clothes treasure chest since her tastes are gradually moving toward her dollies. So far I've made a couple of hats and a faux-fur trimmed jacket her Our Generation dolls. I have plans to include a cape and, maybe, a poncho. I've found so many amazing, and free, patterns on ravelry so it's going to be difficult to pick and chose. What makes these projects even better is that they are being with stash yarn!

2010-01-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

Finishing

So I finally finished the golf club covers for my husband last night. I started working on them to have for father's day last year, but they got pushed aside (due to another circumstance) right after I started them. I picked them back up last September and finished knitting them, only to leave them at the bottom of my knitting bag for several more months. I'm horrible at getting around to finishing sometimes. It only takes one obstacle to send me off track.

The only reason I picked them back up this week to finish them was because my dog inadvertently broke a needle on my current project. Anyway, they're done and I'm glad now that Finley sat on my sock! I'm happy with the way they turned out, but mostly I just ecstatic that they are off my plate (and out of my knitting bag!).

Now it's time to figure out what I want to make for Enid's Valentine's Day gift.

2006-01-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Wrapped Up

I finally finished my Enid's baby sweater. It doesn't fit her yet since I made it in a 9-12mo size, but if she ever gets to wear it I think it will look really cute. I finished sewing it together during last nights TV watching of Lost and Invasion. It's becoming a knitting ritual. I'm going to start the baby blanket I've been wanting to make for a buddy of Enid's, who is still "in the oven". I picked out two shade of pink and white yarn for it. I hope they don't think it too pink!!

Go out dancing but just remember one thing:
You can get a little wink
If you got a little pink
In your swing.

So I was just about to start the blanket when I noticed that the pattern required worsted weight yarn. Grr. That's what I get from relying on my failing memory!! I guess I just assumed that a baby blanket would be made with sporting weight. I thought about altering the pattern to accommodate the yarn I already have, but that would mean I would have to knit on smaller needles and make the blanket larger (in other words, more to knit). I have so many colors and types of yarn in storage, but none appropriate for the blanket...imagine that. Tomorrow I am going to have to make a trip to AC Moore to get supplies.

Sippy Cupping

Enid has been using the sippy cup for a long time now; mostly for juices and water after meals. She started to really get the hang of it around 6 months, but she would never drink more than an ounce out of it. For this reason, I never bothered to try putting breastmilk or formula in the cup, but I did over this past week. It has worked out marvelously!! She sucks down her milk without me helping her now (she can only hold the vent-air bottles for short periods). This saves me from purchasing more bottles that she can hold. I think she enjoys being more independent these days. Sippys are so much easier to clean than bottles so I will welcome the change with open arms.

Her Little "Yagee"

Buggy love for her dogs continues. She still drops little snacks for them when she has her finger foods. She loves to tug on Shiloh ears so she tries to lure him in with a treat to eat from her hands. He gets so nervous because he wants the treat, but he knows it's against the rules (always the good dog).

So Enid has this little dog that actually John gave me when I had a food poisoning a few years ago. She doesn't get to keep it because it's such a little plushie it may not be safe for unsupervised play. So this dog is very special to her because we use it as a distraction for her changing table. Anyway, she named this dog a couple weeks ago and we thought it was very cute. She calls it "Yagee", which only recently dawned on us that she is trying to say "doggie". How adorable is that? Now we have nicknamed Shiloh "Yagee" because the plushie looks just like him in miniature! He loves the attention this new name is getting him...he's such a ham!!!

2006-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Fruit Salad. Yummy! Yummy!

Enid has started to eat more finger foods. I have been trying to make her lunch mostly finger foods since we have more time during that meal to fool around! We've tried kiwi, banana, apple, cheese, crackers, Cheerios, and tofu so far. Needless to say, I have a lot more finger foods up my sleeve to introduce over the next few weeks. I really need to delve into the fine art of veggie finger foods as well (as my list reveals I'm seriously lacking in that department). Time to start steaming for my baby again! I shouldn't have made so many frozen puree reserves, so I won't feel I have to use them before I start making the cubes.

One Sleeve, Two Sleeve

I haven't finished that silly sweater that she probably won't be able to wear this year anyway due to global climate change! It's so goddamn warm these days for winter. Yeah, it's cooled down a little bit in the last week, but not enough for a sweater...especially since she overheats so easily. I blame it on the mother-fucker in the White House for not caring about the environment!! Okay, so maybe it's not solely his fault, but old monkey face seems like the perfect person to pin it on!

Anyway, at least I'm almost finished. I'm halfway through my last sleeve, then all I have to do is sew it together. It probably is too tall of an order to think I'm going to finish it tonight during my shows (Desparate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy), but at least I can try to finish it this week. I have a baby blanket that I have to make soon, so I really need to get back on the ball. I wish I could find more time to work on knitting. I might need to reconsider how I spend some of my other units of time and redistribute accordingly. I really feel like I'm being stretched too thin these days and can't dedicate myself to important non-bug things. It's something to think about.

End of the Night Knitting Update: Well, I didn't fare too horribly with my knitting progress tonight. I finished the sleeve and started finishing. I've sew up the sleeves, now the body needs finishing and the sleeves attaching. Not bad.

Teeny Weany

I am almost finished weaning Enid. I can't believe how fast I was able to shift her to the bottle and how my milk supply declined. I don't even pump before bed anymore and I was getting 8-10 ounces at the beginning of the month on my last draw. I'm hoping that I will be finished with nursing by the end of the month. I may be a little optimistic about how fast I can finish, but we can all hope. I think I'm going to try to run this week since my milk supply is down I'm hoping physical exercise won't lead to the dreaded mastitis. Gosh, I fear getting having the intense boob pain again, but the sooner that I start back on my exercise plan, the sooner I lose more weight.

One thing about my fast wean plan is that I have been in severe hormone flux of the last month. My face has broken out and I'm super bitchy. Things slip out of my mouth really quickly without my self-edit system's approval. Sensitivity to other's words....my goodness, I'm sitting her even as I type analyzing a friend's words. I'm having arguments in my head, but no one else knows I'm having them. Yes, I've turned crazy. It's especially shocking to a person to have intense menstral-type mood swings when I haven't had my period in about a year and a half!

2006-01-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

Cheese Please
I introduced cheese to little bug over the weekend and now she's a little cheese monster. She just can't get enough! First, she had macaroni and cheese sauce on Sunday, which really liked. The cheese blocks get gobbled up at a moment's notice though. Man, that girl loves her dairy! Doesn't really matter the type of cheese either so far she has tried mild cheddar, havarti, and colby; all of which go over very well in her book.

The teeth on the top go chomp, chomp, chomp.....that second top tooth is making it's presence known. You can clearly see its outline underneath her inflammed gums. She reached her breaking point with it today. I put in her new Baby Einstein video the Language Nursery for its viewing premiere. Usually, she loves a television treat, but she started to whimper when "Pop goes the Weasel" came on. The next time the music played, she started to wail. So much for introducing different languages through her videos!

2006-01-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

Toothy Grin
Enid cut her third tooth last night (left top incisor) and her fourth is clearing on it's way. I don't know if I'm ready for the teeth grinding phase yet. Apparently, her little buddy, Maxine went through that phase when she got her opposing teeth.

Progressive Weaning
I am currently trying to wean Enid. It's a very emotional time I think for both of us. I've decided to wean her though because I would like my body back for a time before number two. I would really like to be free to run again. I have the jogging stroller all rip, roaring and ready to go!! Unfortunately, I am prone to mastitus and vigorous exercise is one of my triggers. I'm also still mostly on my pregnancy diet (eating less, but similar). I would really like to indulge in an alcoholic beverage without the guilt that currently comes along with it. And I long for the day that I won't need the accoutrements that have taken up residence in the nightstand. Oh, and to be able to go to bed when I'm tired without having to spend ten to fifteen extra minutes attached to a pump. I end up procastinating pumping when it's cold and then I'm only going to bed later and later.
I am going to miss the feeling of closeness that comes with breastfeeding. She has become so independent with the bottle that is really not the same. With the bottle, I'm only there to assist her (in her eyes anyway....I actually am bearing most of the weight), but with nursing we are sharing the experience. There isn't anyone that can replace me in that way. She's so serene when she's getting her drink. She will still often relax right into a nap on the tail end of a nursing session. You've got to love those naps (they are so rare in this house!!).
Enid definitely prefers breastmilk over formula though. She will drain a bottle of breastmilk or a boob, whereas she will sip on the formula like I'm giving her pickle juice! Luckily, she only has a few more months until we can introduce milk. I'll bet she will enjoy drinking that almost as much as her father will enjoy having something other than Silk milk in the fridge!!

2006-01-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

Baby Houdini
No, I'm not talking about a new Baby Einstein video. I'm talking about Enid's little attempt to escape her crib yesterday after her nap! When I didn't get into her room to get her after her first call, she pulled herself up on the side of her crib. She was so proud of herself. Her eyes were shining and her grin was beaming! John had to come home early to lower the crib because I didn't want anything scary happening on our night out. Sneaky little girl! Yesterday was such a big day in her life. She started crawling and pulling up efficiently all in one day!

Knit-Wit
Tonight is a TV night (new LOST and invasionepisodes) so I am hoping to get some knitting done. I have been working on a 9-12mo baby sweater for Enid from The Baby Knits Book. I just have to knit the sleeves and sew the pieces together. It should be pretty cute. It's just a simple raglan sweater, but the interesting thing about it is that it's made solely using stockinette stitch. The collar and sleeves will have rolled edges since there's no border on the stockinette stitch. I think this will be the last sweater I'm going to make for her this season. I need to finish my afghan and start some projects for myself. I have a few gift items that I need to start on as well. Time to stop the talk and knit the knit.

2006-01-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

Camouflage Cheese

Well, I decided to break down and introduce a new food today to Enid. She seems to be feeling better and the length of time between new foods is getting ridiculous. We tried cottage cheese today, which didn't go over as well as I expected it would. We tried it as a finger food, which she merely threw on the floor for the pups. I grinded it up and spoon fed it to her and you would have thought I was trying to poison her. She started fake gagging (I can tell the difference now after the "pea episodes"). Finally, I mixed it with plums and she ate, only while giving me a very knowing look "You aren't fooling me, mama. I know they're in here, but I'll eat them anyway." At least today's brekkie was a success in that she ate her dairy and fruit allotments. I'm becoming a professional at getting her to eat things she doesn't like.

It's official. Enid started crawling today. She crawls like a little inchworm, very accordian-esque movements. It took me a while today to find something that would motivate her to get her locomotion kick-started. The Sassy bug jar came in very handy. I emptied the little bugs onto the floor and spaced them a couple of feet apart. The lightning bug was the furthest away since he's the favorite. As soon as she was able to grab the bee, she was so elated that she continued on to the next bug, and the next, until she got the ultimate prize...Mr. Lightbulb!

Grrr....

I'm getting very frustrated with the name-picking for grandmothers. Originally, there was a Meemaw, a Granny, and a Gigi (all fine), but now John's mother wants to be called "Maw" instead of Granny. I probably shouldn't have a problem with it, but I want to be called "Mama" (or "Ma" when she wants to shorten it) and I feel it's too similar. I'm sorry, but it's my personal opinion that there should be certain terms reserved only for mothers and that falls into that category. I'm NOT pleased at all. I completely feel like she's stepping on my toes. If we didn't have such a tumultuous relationship to start with, I would definitely say something. I just feel I'm always walking on broken glass with her (and with John when it comes to her since he's so protective of her). She has a knack for doing things that I completely find inappropriate and offensive, so I guess I should have seen it coming. Well, I think I might have to do some elusive work and train Enid to call her something different. *cackles* My darker side is starting to become more apparent daily.

2006-01-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

Little buggy is really making progress on her crawling. She can even move forward about a foot when she is in the crawlling position. It's funny I have noticed over the past couple weeks that she practices crawling even in her sleep! Enid is a back sleeper. She has been for 8 months, but the last 2 weeks she has been experimenting with other positions (it might actually be due to the cold...maybe side and tummy sleeping help her breathe better). I went in to check on her the other night before bed, and she had her legs tucked underneath her and her little bum was sticking up in the air!! Take about a funny site!

We had a great day today. Her midmorning nap nice and lengthy, which hasn't happened in a while. It was very refreshing....to both of us! I have a feeling the decongestant that I was prescribed was making her jittery on top of her own cold medicine. I stopped taking it today and -surprise, surprise- she went down for a nap. I don't think doctors really think about what they are prescribing you....or care for that matter. I mean, okay, so technically the decongestant is safe for me to take while nursing, but obviously if it's going to make her feel like she's taking trucker's speed after she's eaten it's not good for her. They need to clarify when they give you the meds that it will make you feel better, but your baby isn't going to get the sleep she needs to get over the cold. Healthcare is on a decline these days that's for sure. The doctor's foot is out the door before she even lays eyes on you. If only my OBs could see me for mundane stuff like colds....

I can hardly wait until Enid is feeling better. I have been holding off on introductions until she gets better. It's been almost a month since her last new food. I didn't want to introduce anything over the holidays since we were traveling, then we brought home this illness *merry christmas to us*. I really want to get her eating more finger foods. She isn't very keen on anything but crackers, Cheerios, and fruit puffs at the moment. I don't think she likes the feel of fruit on her fingers because they're wet and sticky, so she generally passes on them even though she likes the taste. I have been thinking about coating them with wheat germ or rice flour, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

2006-01-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

So our whole family is still dealing with the remnants of our cold that we caught over the holidays. Enid is at least sleeping through the nights again, although I can hear coughs emanating from the monitor intermittently through the night. This is Enid's first cold and I don't think we were truly prepared adequately for the sleepless nights. Hopefully, we won't experience another one until we are fully caught up on our sleep.

Enid started feeding Shiloh her unwanted Cheerios from the table during her cold. She had problems eating finger foods with her stuffy nose so I guess she might as well make her food useful. Shiloh has thoroughly enjoyed it and was very disappointed today when she ate most of her fruit puffs. It's funny to see her lean over her booster seat to watch the Cheerios fall on the floor and dog scurry to eat them up.