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!!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!!!

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!