Baby Knits

These days I don't seem to do much besides nurse my baby girl, change her diaper, feed everyone else, and get them where they need to be.  Needless to say, cleaning my house and knitting don't get the time they deserve!  My little darling loves to be held, and with my arms full of sweetness, it's hard to fiddle with knitting needles!

I have finished two projects though.  One just needed to be blocked and seamed, the other fulfilled a need to keep baby girls toes warm!

Remember this sweater I was so excited to start?  Well... it's finished, but I don't love it as much as I thought I would.

The collar is so wide and overwhelming.  Also, the sweater just wants to ride up, so I find myself constantly pulling it back down.  We all know comfort is essential when dressing babies.

I used the same wool blend yarn, in a cream colorway, to make these adorable Epipa Booties for Aline.

Cute little kickers!  I usually pull them up all the way so they cover her pants.  The ribbing keeps them nice and tight so they don't easily fall off.  This was a fun pattern.  One of the things I love about trying something new is that it often inspires my own creative design, assisted by the skills I've just used.

While my baby is nice and cozy, I'm starting to work on a few things for my sister-in-law's baby, due in 5 weeks!  

Here are a few more pics, just for fun!

Sleeping sweetly!

They love their little sis!

Aline and her new baby friend, Josiah.

Welcome to the World...

...my little Aline.

Our sweet baby girl arrived December 12!  She is a 6 pound bundle of soft dark hair, velvety skin, and adorable faces!  I wish I could capture every single one of them!  Aevyn and William are in love with her (as are her daddy and I), and we're settling into life as 5 this Christmas season.

Aline Lace

Oh, love!

Aevyn and Aline in their pink frilliness!

Welcome to the family, my sweet petite!  You are the perfect addition!

Sweet Shirts

Since my due date is Christmas Eve, I've been trying to do as much as I can each day to prepare!  You never know what the next one may bring!  

My mom wanted to buy our baby a coming home outfit, and she picked out the sweetest pink gown.  In Aevyn's words, it is "gorgeous"!  So, I thought I'd try to whip something up for Aevyn to match her baby sis.  

I had some pink linen fabric from a skirt that didn't fit right, so I ruffled a long strip and sewed them to a plain pink shirt.  Thank you, h&m, for keeping us well stocked with plain T's!

I used some of the linen, plus circles of tulle and satin to make the little rosettes.  Fold each circle in half twice and grab a bunch together.

I love how quick this project was!  I can't wait to see my girls together in all their pink frilliness!

Christmas Advent

During the holiday season, kids are bombarded by the thoughts of gifts, 'gimmes', and more, more more! It's important to me to make sure my kids are also taking time to remember the meaning of Christmas, that God sent Jesus to live and die for us.

So, I thought I'd share what we are starting for our Advent Calendar this December.  Last year I went through the Bible and found verses that I wanted my kids to be hearing about the Christmas story.  Many of them are Old Testament prophesies followed by the New Testament fulfillment in the birth and life of Jesus.  We used a paper chain last year, but this year I made a tree out of lights and put the Scripture references inside.  Our star verse is the reason that God sent Jesus, to save us.  

1. Jeremiah 33:14-16

2. Isaiah 9:6-7

3. Matthew 1:1-17

4. Luke 1:5-12

5. Luke 1:13-25

6. Isaiah 7:14

7. Luke 1:26-38

8. Luke 1:39-45

9. Luke 1:46-56

10. Luke 1:57-66

11. Luke 1:67-80

12. Mark 1:1-8

13. Matthew 1:18-24

14. Micah 5:2-5

15. Luke 2:1-7

16. Luke 2:8-20

17. Matthew 2:1-12

18. Matthew 2:13-16

19. Matthew 2:19-23

20. Luke 2:21-40

21. Isaiah 40:1-5, 28-31

22. Luke 3:1-14

23. Luke 3:15-18

24. John 1:19-34

25. John 3:16-21

Feel free to use these verses as part of your holiday.  I would love to hear the traditions you share with your kids during the Christmas season!

Paris Party

The theme that Aevyn wanted for her birthday party this year was 'French Cafe'.

Some may ask why a 7- year- old would pick that...  We live in a college town that has an incredible English Language Institute.  People come from all over the world to study English here, and some stay in local homes during their time. We've enjoyed hosting, and in the past 2 summer have had students from France. 

 Anthony stayed with us this past summer,

and Julia and Fanny stayed with us the

summer before.

Also, one of my oldest and dearest friends works and lives in Paris right now, so we skype weekly with her.  So, Aevyn loves all things France!

I spent some time working on ideas to make a Parisian party that would still feel like little girly.  Here are my inspirations from my Pinterest board.  We decided to do a tea party, with lots of black and white and pink.  With black bistro chairs and damask prints at table, our dining room naturally turned into our French cafe.

I'm always looking for new ways to use streamers, so I had found one image that look like a tent canopy.  I wrapped long pieces around our lamp to make them in a striped pattern.  They were the perfect backdrop when we added all the balloons. 

Aevyn's most favorite thing to do is color, so we set up an art table.  I had traced and copied images of a poodle, treat stand, and frame for a masterpiece.  We set out markers, glue, scissors, buttons, ribbons, and feathers.  Those girls were creative!

Aevyn asked that everyone wear stripes, and they looked adorable!  Here's the birthday tea toast!  They had tea and pink lemonade, cheese and crackers, and grapes.  We made mini cupcakes with strawberry frosting and nutella cake balls, and bought madeleine cookies.  Yum!  It was a delicious party!

We sent the girls home with a bag that included a cake lollipop, pencil, and a bunch of Haribo gummies that my friend, Jenni, had sent from Paris.

I hope my sweet girl had a wonderful time at her party!                                    

Hot Pink Set

Hats and Aevyn have always been a tough combo!  Her head is the same size as mine, and has been since she was four!  Making cute, girly stuff and sizing it out right has been hit or miss for me!  But you can't go wrong with hot pink, right?

I love Patons Silk Bamboo yarn.  It feels so good and is super warm as a hat!  I had knitted a few hats last year with this yarn, based on the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret pattern, found on Ravelry.  I changed some of the numbers and increases (testing my math skills to the max!).  The silk bamboo yarn does stretch a good bit, so I tend to make it a little small and plan for growth over the season.  Aevyn's hat is one size smaller than I would make for myself, but with little hands pulling it on and off, I figured it would get plenty of stretch.

Once I finished the hat, I realized she still had a huge gap in her coat, exposing a sweet little neck that needed warmth.  So, I made a scarflette to match the cables.  

This can also be worn alone as an ear warmer.  I think Aev really likes that part a lot!

My little girl will be cozy and warm this winter, and her little pink head will add brightness where she is!

7 years!

7 years ago, my first baby was born....

November 15, 2004

It's hard to believe she's grown into this....

November 15, 2011

Happy birthday to my sweet girl, Aevyn!

She has changed my life in so many ways, revealed things about myself I never knew, and continues to stretch me every day.  God surely did make her wonderfully!