One of these things just doesn't belong

Eli and I have been discussing a lot things that don't go together.  Like when he asks for jam and honey on his toast, together.  Or when his finger and his nostril end up together, often.  Or when he puts on a cowboy shirt with track pants, and socks in his Crocs.  I feel like Mr Hooper singing "One of these things is not like the others..."

We're learning.

In my life I've found a few things that don't belong together either.  Like a clean house and a happy family.  It just doesn't happen.  I can either clean the house, or feed the children; clean the house, or read a book; clean the house, or be a good mom.

Sometimes I try to get the boys to help. I threaten them with taking away privileges, but then I realize that they are 2 and 4 and that's just silly.  Besides, their privileges are basically just being children, and I'm not often willing to take away play time and food (that's really all they do... oh, and sleep.) Besides that, I'm not sure if they see any correlation between not being able to go to soccer and whether or not their bed is made.

Cozy Cap - Knitting Pattern

Well, I've said I have a few patterns, and here's one, finally!!!

This is a super easy knit hat. It knit with a great wool blend, making it warm, and washable.  I've sized it from Infant to Adult, so you can knit up one for every one in your family!!! I've included size XXL, which is just that,  a super chunky, super huge hat, at my sister Phoebe's request.

Cozy Cap

SIZE
Infant, Child, Adult, XXL

MATERIALS

Super bulky yarn (I used Cozy Wool by Loops & Threads Super Bulky: 50% Acrylic, 50% Wool)

1 set of 10 mm (US size 15 double-pointed needles (can use a 16" circular needle until decreases make using the DPNs necessary)

Stitch Marker

Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

9 sts/14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

2X2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts)

Round 1: [K2, P2] to end

Repeat this around for 2x2 Rib

If changing colours, use the Stationary Jogless Stripe Technique to make the stripes even. 

DIRECTIONS

Infant, (Child, Adult, XXL)

CO 40 (44, 48, 52) Divide stitches between needles.  Place marker. Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. 

Work in 2x2 rib for 9 (10, 11, 12) rows.

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch (knit around) until hat measures 4 (4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2) inches

Decreasing: 

Rnd 1 - K 2(2, 4, 2) K2Tog around - 30 (33, 40, 39) stitches

Rnd 2 - K around

Rnd 3 - K 1(1, 3, 1) K2Tog around - 20 (22, 32, 26) stitchs

Rnd 4 - K around

Rnd 5 - K2tog around - 10 (11, 16, 13) stitches

Rnd 6 - K2tog around (for the child size and XXL you will have one stitch left - just knit it) - 5 (6, 8, 7) stitches

Break yarn and with a tapestry needle thread through the loops and draw tight.  

Weave in ends. 

And that's it.  As you can see in the pictures, I've made a few variations:

Colour: Stripe your hat by changing colours: three rows of ribbing in MC, three rows in CC, complete hat in MC

"Umbilical Cord" Top: (For infant size) Knit to end of instructions, and then instead of breaking yarn and pulling through, instead knit the remaining 5 sitiches as an I-Cord for 5 inches.  Cast off five stitches and tie I-Cord in a knot close to hat. 

Find the pattern here on Ravelry.

All photos are taken by Chloe Taylor Photography!

Preparing my Heart for Motherhood of Three

Okay, so in my last post I talked about how I wanted a clean house, and I wanted my "instincts" to take over and get it done for me.  Well, I've been sick this week, and therefore, instincts or not, I have not been able to get much of anything done.  But, I have spent a lot of time in bed where I could just think.  I've thought about where my priorities lie, and how maybe, just maybe, if my house isn't clean, that's okay.  What really matters the very most is my children.  I'm sure that living in a spotlessly clean home will help them learn and grow even better, but there is a lot more I could be doing with them than just sweeping my floors around their messes.  Not only that, but in a very short time I'm going to have one more to care for, and I'm sure life isn't going to get any easier. 

Today I am starting a challenge for myself.  Before this baby comes, which is sneaking up on my way too quickly, I want to make a few changes in my home, and in my heart.  I want to set some patterns that will help me to be a better mother to Eli, Silas, and the baby that is joining us. Some of these things may seem silly, but I think they will really help me to be the mother I want to be.  So, starting today I am switching things up.  I am starting small (don't judge!) and hopefully moving on to bigger and better.  Here's my list of changes I'm going to implement this week:

1. Start my day off on my knees.  I'm terrible at personal prayers.  We pray over meals, and the boys always pray at night, but I often forget my own devotions to my Heavenly Father.  I'm going to hit the floor first thing every morning.  I figure it can't hurt, seeing as I need all the help I can get!
2. Get ready for the day before I leave my bedroom.  Showered, dressed, and even a little makeup!  I'm hoping this will help me get moving with other things quicker, instead of spending the morning in my PJs not getting much done at all.
3. After breakfast clean the kitchen and do a house tidy. I live in a small house, it isn't hard to clean up the messes from the day before, and with the house tidy, I can get so much more done.  While doing this, start a load of laundry - that way it doesn't pile up quite so much.
4. Have a plan for dinner before lunch.  Soak, thaw, and prepare what I can so I'm not rushing later in the day.
5. Do an activity with the boys every day where I'm totally engaged.  That means I'm not doing something else while they are working on something, but I'm right in there with them.  With St. Patrick's Day and Easter coming up, this should be easy. 
6. Read scriptures with the boys during lunch.  Again, something we often leave out of our day that is very important to me.

Okay, I'm going to stop there for now.  There is a whole lot more I need to be doing, and a bunch of stuff I need to NOT be doing, but I'm going to focus on a few things for this week anyway. 

What things do you do each day to keep you grounded with what really matters?  Does anyone else need to join me in a revival of spirits? I'll keep you posted on how this affects my day and my heart.

I've got a nest, now to nest!

Seriously, at 33 weeks pregnant I should have this undeniable urge to deep clean, shouldn't I? Well, I am so tired and unmotivated, that I am seriously worried that this nest of mine is going to remain in total disarray forever.  Today I made myself dig out my newborn diapers to wash. I even emptied a drawer in my dresser to fill with the clean diapers. 

I've looked at my clothes bins, but not gone through them to find the newborn clothes and wash them.  I have a whole box of receiving blankets and baby wraps that also need to find their way to the laundry.  And that's totally ignoring the load of clothes from the four of us on the outside that remain unwashed. 

In three weeks I have a home visit with my midwives, where I'm supposed to have a whole list of things ready for them to go through for our homebirth.  I've looked at my birth bins numerous times, but have yet to crack them open.  Since I've yet to actually have a homebirth, and so therefore have used very little of my homebirth supplies, I'm pretty sure I'm stocked. 

But, my baseboards are dirty.  I need to clean my baseboards.  And I'd like to do some dehydrating and food prep for after the baby is born.  I've still got a handful of baby things I want to sew/knit/make.  I haven't seen my horses in weeks, even though I promised myself to keep up riding until the end (last time I rode my belly kept hitting the horn and it wasn't very comfortable.) 

So, where is it?  The nesting instinct that I'm supposed to be overcome with?  The burst of energy to get all this stuff done?  Luckily Jared is the best husband in the entire world and has done a lot of the stuff I don't have the energy for.  This weekend he installed hooks and shelves in our otherwise storage-less bathrooms. He set up a shelf in the basement for all our linens which have been siting in a corner of our bedroom since we moved in.  He didn't even complain when I took over a little more of his closet space.   So, here I sit waiting for the elusive nesting instinct to kick in.  If anyone else is feeling it, feel free to come over.

Busy Bag Bonanza

So, in an attempt to get some crafty things done (besides knitting) before this baby comes, I am hosting a Busy Bag Bonanza in a few weeks.  Basically, every person comes with enough supplies to make one of the same busy bag for each of the other guests.  That way each momma will leave with as many different busy bags as there are people at the party.  I already have 11 people confirmed coming, so I should be stocked!  I figure busy bags will be perfect in those weeks after the bean within is born.

I've been asked what a busy bag is, and basically it is a small craft/activity contained in a bag, ready to be brought out to entertain kids at a moment's notice.  I think it will be great to have one or two in my diaper bag, and bring a few to church each week.  I'm excited to see what other mommas come up with, but as I've been searching, here are a bunch that I think are fantastic:

There are seriously so many more out there, but these are a few that are inspiring me. I could go on, and on, and on. Here's a link to my ever growing board on Pinterest devoted just to busy bags.  I'm liking the more educational ones: colour matching, counting, letter matching, etc. I also, no surprise, like anything made with felt.  I love felt.

So, here's to the Busy Bag Bonanza!  If you live near me, and you'd like to partake, join us on facebook:
Busy Bag Bonanza!

To Whom it May Concern:

Actually, To the male shop owner of the yarn store, the checkout girl at the grocery store, the random woman walking her dog, and various others who need this:

I am 32 weeks pregnant.  I still have 8 weeks to go before I even begin expecting this little one growing inside of me to make his or her way out, and I'm willing to take that to 10 weeks.  I am measuring right on track. No one is concerned about my size, my weight gain, or my ability to hold my baby in my womb while shopping for milk and eggs. I do not, while I am buying my yarn, my groceries, or anything else, need to hear any of the following comments:

1. You must really be counting down the days?!?  8 weeks?!  Well....
2. April?  When you walked in here I thought, "Wow, she's going to give birth in the store!"
3. Twins?
4. You aren't due until April?  Holy crap!  Well, I guess it's almost the end of February, so only 5 weeks away.  I would have thought you were about to pop. 
5. How uncomfortable you must be...?

First of all, let's discuss the term, "about to pop."   Has anyone ever witnessed the "popping" of a pregnant woman?  I've seen a lot of births. I've been through two of my own.  I can assure you there is nothing "popping" about bringing a baby into this world.  Secondly, no pregnant woman, no matter how confident or assured she is, wants to be told how huge she is.  Every time I bite my tongue so I don't retort with, "Well, I'm growing a healthy baby inside me, what's your excuse?!"  At times I am dying to explain to random people, who obviously know nothing about pregnancy and birth, the nitty gritty of what's going on inside my body, and just why saying such things is so rude. 


On the other hand, I've got a letter for another group of people as well:

To the sweet girl in my homeschool speech arts class, the woman shopping at the antique store, my friend (who happens to be a midwife) in Idaho who didn't even know I was pregnant and so many others:

Thank you for the following comments which make me feel beautiful, empowered, respected and excited about my upcoming birthing:

1. Do you mind if I touch your belly, I just love to see pregnant women!
2. You look amazing, how much longer do you have?
3. Is baby kicking?  Isn't that the most amazing feeling?  Not much longer until he'll be kicking on the outside.
4. You are almost there and are going to do amazing.  I can't wait to hear the story.


And, To all those who don't know what to say:

Remember Thumper's dad who said, "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all."  You don't actually have to say anything. Feel free to treat all pregnant women like normal people.  On the other hand, every pregnant woman loves to hear how great they look.  Most don't even mind answering questions.  But, check your response to the answers and try just answering with a "Well, you look fantastic!"  It will make her day, I promise. 

Crocheted Camera Strap Sleeve - Pattern

I promised you two patterns soon, and this is not one of them.  Sorry.  It is, still, a pattern, but not one of the two I promised. You will have to keep waiting for those.  My friend Laura asked me to knit her a camera strap.  I didn't, I crocheted her one instead.  It's super easy, and with the chunky (washable!) yarn, it is so squishy and nice.  I want one around my neck. It is basically a knit tube that you just slide over your existing strap.  You can embellish it however you like.  I made this flower but you add some buttons, another flower, or just leave it plain. 

So, here it is.  This pattern has not been tested, so please let me know if it needs some tweaking!

Crocheted Camera Strap Sleeve

SIZE

One-Size

MATERIALS

Berroco Vintage Chunky (Bulky / 12 ply, 50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon, 130 yards / 100 grams )

Crochet Hook US H/5 mm

Tapestry needle

PATTERN NOTES
dc = double crochet

sc = single crochet

DIRECTIONS

Row 1: Chain 15

Row 2: Sc in second chain from hook and sc across -14 sts
Row 3: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc) twice, sc 10 across, (2 sc in next sc) twice - 18 sts

At this point you are going to join to crochet in the round and continue this way until the piece measures 26 inches (or the length of your camera strap.)

Round 1: Sc in the third sc from the opposite end of the piece (creates a tab, used later for a button) - 16 sts

Round 2 and beyond: alternate between sc row sections and dc row sections of varying lengths for 26 inches total, always alternating at the "back" of the camera strap (hold the strap so that the flap at the beginning is at the middle front to determine where the back would be).

Decreasing round: Once you have reached 26 inches you will need to taper the end to hold the strap snug.  To do this do two rounds of crocheting 2 stitches together at either side of the strap: 

Round 1: From the center back sc 3, sc2tog, sc 6, sc2tog, sc 3 - 14 sts 

Round 2: Sc around

Round 3: Sc 2, sc2tog, sc 4, sc2 tog, sc2.  

Break ends, pull through and weave in end.

Finishing: go back to the beginning and sew on a button under the button flap.  You will slide the sleeve over your strap from this end and use the button to secure it (the tapering at the other end will do the trick there.)

Embellish your strap as you wish with a flower, buttons, etc.

You can find the pattern page on Ravelry and upload your own projects there!