I still knit!!

Ok, I don't have much time to knit, but I was able to finish the fair isle mittens for my mother in law, and I have also started another project, a pair of thick socks for my aunt. Technically these are all Christmas gifts, but I don't think people will mind if they are a little bit late. I used the pattern for Eunny's Endpaper Mitts and modified them slightly to be mittens. I used Louet Gems Pearl fingering weight yarn. I also started a new project, some thick socks for my aunt, made with Mission Falls Wool on size 5 dpns. I'm using a pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. And in case you guys were dying for more Robby pictures, here is a good one of his eyes open!

Thanks everyone!

Hi everyone, I wanted to say thanks to everybody for all the encouraging comments, as you all know, it's been kind of crazy around here. I actually got 4 hours of sleep last night straight through and I feel great! I have been able to do a little knitting, I'm almost finished with one fair isle mitten and have been working on Robby's little jeans. Thanks to my sister for being at our house everyday after work to help me with laundry and cleaning the house, and cooking dinner. Also, thanks to my friends who brought me food, and to my mother in law who helped during the labor. Rob is a great dad, very involved and can swaddle Robby and change a cloth diaper like a pro. He is also teaching Robby the fine art of shaking your groove thang.

Cloth diapers are working out well, I never believed people when they said your own baby's poo wouldn't bother you, but I think it's true. For those of you who are interested in the cloth diaper thing, some things I would change for the next batch I sew. I think I will have to use a different type of fabric for the inner soaker pad. The woven cotton terry doesn't absorb very well, so even the diapers with the three layer soaker pad, Robby still soaks through. Another thing is for the layer that touches his skin, I need to use a fabric that will wick the moisture away from his skin. He doesn't always cry when he wets his diaper and with the flannel, the wetness just kind of sits on his skin. So, maybe with the next batch, I will try a fleece type fabric that will pull the wetness away from his skin. Another thing is, I need to find a fabric that has greater absorbency so I don't need to use so many layers for the soaker pad. While the cloth diapers are cute, those things can get bulky really quick. I can't dry them completely in the dryer, so I have to hang them up to dry overnight to get them completely dry. I also would like to try an AIO because it does get to be a pain with the cover and the inner part of the diaper. And I would also like to try other options for waterproofing the covers besides PUL, maybe felted wool, or fleece, I'm not sure. I have a tiny washing machine so I'm doing laundry everyday, and I have an emergency stash of disposables for those times where I'm going to go crazy and the thought of dealing with a cloth diaper is just too much, usually around 3am in the morning, when I've been up for 2 hours feeding.

That's what I'm learning about being a mom, I have all these grand schemes for cloth diapering, breastfeeding, etc., but sometimes, to keep yourself sane you have to compromise and take it easy on yourself for the good of the baby and for the mom. I don't have any knitty pictures to show, but I will leave you guys with a picture I took of Robby when we were still in the hospital.

Robby's First Bath and his thoughts....

While Mommy and Auntie Kathy were sponging me off, I wasn't too happy, although I did like the feel of her hemp washcloths. Mommy washed my hair too, who knew it had so much body? I thought it would always just stick to my head. Now I'm all snuggly in my socks and cloth diaper! Much better feeling against me bum than those disposables. I like to be swaddled up real tight.I sneezed all over Auntie Kathy!

Helloooo Nurse

Hey everyone, this is Rob. Bea wanted me to put the official announcement up about Robby. Bea is doing great and so is the baby.

He was born on December 4th at 10:02 PM. He was 8 lbs 14 oz and 21 ¾ inches. This is him a few hours later.





The birth was difficult and there were some concerns, but after a while we heard from the staff that he was doing just fine. He appears generally happy and he likes to open his eyes when he hears a new voice. However, when he does this the light makes him sneeze. It’s pretty funny.

Here is another picture with "robear". We are going to post more pictures on Bea’s family website, but that might be a few days.