New and On-Going Projects

What is the thing with scarfs and me?! I have a thousand patterns I would love to knit, then I start one, then either change my mind, or if I finish it, I end up giving them all to friends or family! I guess this one was no exception...

This (photo below) is where I am with my Berroco Ultra Alpaca (which, by the way, is my current favourite yarn!) Shifting Sands Scarf. Something was just not looking right, this pattern and yarn just do not make the best combination! But I found a pattern and I think I am going to give it a go! It's Piece, a free pattern from Berroco for the light version of the same yarn but I am going to try it with the thicker yarn.

I have also been working on finishing this cute dress for Margot - only the sleeves and front pocket to go, and a little sewing!

My visit to The Village Sheep's Open House yesterday was a lot of fun and I purchased a few goodies... these fabulous bamboo cable needles by Brittany and three skeins of, yes, Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light to knit something for Margot. I still have not made up my mind yet but for now these are the three contenders, more or less in order of preference...

What do you think? Which one do you prefer? (woooo! two posts in two days!! Actually yesterday's post had been mostly written last week but baby girl is indeed now giving me a bit more time!)

Baby Stuff

Now I know why friends who had babies seemed to just talk about baby stuff! - not only does life revolve around your baby (not just because of your love for them but because they are truly dependent on you, for feeding and everything else) but baby stuff is cute, really cute!

I do have to admit, though, that during the first six weeks of Margot's life it was hard to figure out why people have children... we of course love her beyond anything but at that age babies are not responsive, have no acknowledgement of you and it all seemed very un-fun. You have to feed them every 2 hours, day and night, you cannot figure out why they cry, the rest of the time they sleep and life in general is really a sleepless blur. Then one day she coos and smiles back at you, your heart melts and you think that this thing of having had a child with the person you love is really, truly the bee's knees!

Now, I might have mentioned here that we have a pet peeve with things made in China - and let me tell you, it has been very very difficult to find baby things, from clothing, toys, feeding accessories, etc, that are not cheaply made in China or elsewhere in Asia. Yes, I know they're more expensive but we prefer to have fewer, but better and less harmful to the environment. I admit sometimes we have no choice, like the vibrating chair we bought - there was none made anywhere else but China, I was desperate to quiet Margot down, so we bit the bullet and bought it. It does works like a charm. Something else that worked like a charm was taking the train to and from Cleveland - Margot was in rocking heaven!

Clothing is easier. Do not be fooled by certain brands that are "boutiquey" because it is all the same chinese cheapo with a bigger price on the tag. I am lucky enough to be Portuguese :-) and have my mother send me baby clothing all still made in Portugal. Cute stuff too, like Laranjinha. One of my favourite brands is Berlingot and everything is made in France. There is also Room Seven, Sweet Baby Jess, Bognar & Piccolini, and Magnolia Baby, to mention a few all made in the USA or South America. Once again, expensive yes - but there is always Ebay...

However, my most favourite boutique ever is Baby Cottons, from Argentina. Everything is pima cotton, absolutely adorable and made in South America. My husband worked on the design of one of their boutiques in the USA and we became friends with the owner - and we have actually visited most of their shops, including the one in Buenos Aires. We also became addicted to their clothing and my husband has even semi-joked that we decided to have a baby so that we could buy Baby Cottons!

And when it comes to baby knitting, Phildar is still my favourite!

This afternoon I am off to my local yarn shop, The Village Sheep, that is having an open house - expect a report on goodies soon. Before I go, congratulations to two of my favourite knitting bloggers who gave birth within about 24 hours of each other, Jeanne of Life in Cleveland, and Noo of Spitting Yarn! Also, a secret congratulations to another favourite knitting blogger who is also in the motherhood path! ;-)

A (very quick) break from motherhood...

While baby girl takes a nap, I just may have time to finish this post... Knitting has been almost nonexistent as Margot takes all my time, but recently I finally cast on for a scarf for me (easy, repetitive yet fabulous pattern - shifting sands!) and have been working on finishing the baby dress I started right before I gave birth.

Thank you for all the comments left on the post about Margot's birth. Perhaps one day I will write my labour experience, when I have the time and the patience. Overall, it was a straight-forward labour. Skipped most of the initial phases, going almost straight into active labour. We chose to not take any drugs and have a natural labour and I have to say that contractions are painful but bearable compared to the actual delivery - the epidural does nothing for delivery pain, in fact it needs to wear out when the tough part starts (the pushing)and considering that I was fast into this phase, it would have done little for me anyway.

Recovery was tough, a lot tougher than I expected, for all reasons, and motherhood, especially adjusting to life with a newborn is even tougher (whoever tells you that breastfeeding is natural, it is NOT - but alas, I persist and insist and I am exclusively breastfeeding despite the obstacles). But you adjust and you get better and all along you have a gorgeous sweet baby to love.

And because this is still a blog about ferrets and weasel dogs, here they are, taken this past week...

Uh oh, I hear cooing coming from the bassinet... got to run :-)!

La Reine Margot

Margot Frances was born on Tuesday January 13, at 1.29pm EST, at 19" long and weighing 6 lbs. 2 oz. After a fast-progressing labour and not-so-fast delivery, baby, mummy and daddy are all recovering just fine - the latter two, though, are still in shock and deep awe of what they have created, and with the tinyness and cuteness of the package!

Still Going...

Still here and pregnant and knitting away!

I stopped working for now a couple of days ago and have been resting at home. My feet have complained a tad and every now and then get swollen but nothing critical. I am (even) larger and moving with less agility, so this is the perfect excuse to sit on the sofa and knit! I started this cute dress, once again from a Phildar catalogue and with Plymouth Encore DK, but this time for 6 months, instead of 3, which is what I have been doing so far.

Ah, and the new Tricotez Calin catalogue just came out and I have a feeling it will be coming across the ocean to CT soon! Look at some of the adorable new "modèles":

In case you are interested, here is the 38.5-week bump! And baby Bayou who has been the cutest thing recently, following me around and licking my hands and belly at every opportunity!

I leave you with a photo taken from the "kitchen" window of our Guest Apartment - which is being our home for the next couple of months. This view is of our horse barn and the back of our property - this morning the light was particularly stunning!

Baby Cardigan

Pattern: Phildar Layette N.489, N.31 Cardigan

Yarn: 2 skeins of Plymouth Encore DK

Needles: 3mm and 3.5mm

Comments: I really love these Phildar baby patterns! This cardigan was not as easy as the dress but still more or less straight forward - which has the rare consequence, for me, of allowing me to follow the pattern exactly as written.

However, I did do one change - the original pattern has a gorgeous round collar. I had the collar done but as I was stitching it to the body, somehow I pulled the wrong thread, undid a bit and as I was unsewing, it got all tangled, I got exhasperated (that's what 37 1/2 weeks of pregnancy will do to you) and ended up doing a crochet trim around the neckline! This way it can be worn with a collared shirt. I just could not bring myself to re-knit the collar!

And I couldn't resist showing this fantastically cute pair of spectator shoes from the 50's that I bought at a vintage clothing shop near us. Heh heh heh - can't wait to see this outfit on bumpette!

And that's a wrap! - Happy New Year, everyone!

Full Term

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! We had a very pleasant day, first by doing our usual exploring: this year we drove to the top left corner of the state, through Sharon and Lakeville and into Millbrook, NY. It was a glorious day and as usual, we admired some fabulous New England houses along the way!

Later, we joined some friends for a nice and quiet dinner! As we arrived early, and my husband was helping with the cooking, I knitted for a little while - expect another FO before the end of the year (I hope!). No photos yet, but this is the cute jacket I am knitting. Also, below is possibly my next project - how cute is that dress?!

And this week we reached the 37th week, which means I am now full term. And what does this mean? In my doctor's words... "the cake is baked"! While my due date is not until mid-January, bumpette may want to come out at any moment from now and she will not be stopped - aiiii! Here's some pregnant p*rn for you (yes, that is me)!

The waiting game is on...

Whoever said it was 9 months, lied...

I have reached the paranoid point where I am afraid of not knowing whether, when or how or if I am/will be in labour. I am not due for another three weeks but it has gotten pretty tight inside for bumpette! I also feel like a beached whale and I waddle like a penguin. I am afraid that I will not know where Braxton Hicks contractions stop and real contractions begin - I know, the difference is in the pain, so the books say - but the books also say that some women have no contractions at all, some waters do not break - then how am I supposed to know??!! Add to that the fear that we are not ready yet, logistically (which I think we are but I am paranoid), for baby girl to arrive. Aii...

In any case, here is the 36-week bump (yes, that's 9 months!), which brings me to the subject of this post's title... Really, who came up with the myth that a pregnancy lasts 9 months?? It is actually 9 and 1/2, if you do not include the initial two weeks of your cycle. Doctors count 40 weeks (that's 10 months), 38 of those are from conception to birth. So I do want bumpette to stay in just a few more weeks but it is getting exhausting! We are dying to meet you but hang in there, baby girl, for just a couple more weeks! :-)

It snowed heavily in the past few days here in northwest CT leaving everything covered in a white blanket. Today, despite the cold, it is absolutely glorious! Have a Wonderful Christmas, everyone!

Le Robe

Pattern: Phildar Tricotez Calin N.002, N.4 Le Robe

Yarn: 2 skeins of Plymouth Encore DK

Needles: 3mm and 3.5mm

Comments: Oh my, it has been 11 months since I actually finished any knitting! Anyway... Finding Phildar baby patterns was quite a discovery and it has made me want to knit every single one of them! Ok, they are in French but once you know the abbreviations (if anyone needs a little translated chart, let me know), they are easy to follow. So this dress was pretty easy, as you can see and the result is the cutest thing.

As for knitting with small needles, I love it! Not sure I would knit an adult sweater - but then again, now that I mastered the fear, I just might.... And as for the yarn, no it is not a delicate yarn (I chose so on purpose), but it is very soft and I like it that is has a percentage of wool. Considering that my baby girl will probably wear this a handful of times, it's also the right price and I got the thrill of knitting it. Oh and it is so cute!!!!!!

Uh-Oh, It's a Foot!

The silence on this end has had to do with a not-smooth-at-all move. I am not going to get into details but after several hicups, we are now moved in and closer to a normal existence in what will be our home for the next few months. Tight quarters, but cosy and almost self-sufficient. It's the almost...

To add to that, I am now quickly putting on weight (about 6-7 lbs. in the past 4 weeks, to a total of about 26-7 lbs at this point). I am retaining fluids and showing them all on my (c)ankles. I do not walk, I wobble. And even though my weight is all still up-front, I am feeling more tired than ever. And baby girl has decided that the best position is to have one of her tiny little feet pop out on my right side. How do I know it's a foot? Because I have grabbed it! Not kidding! She's still cute, and I do want her to stay there a tad longer, but my body is right now just a mere cocoon and I am just a carrier....

I have also started to panic that we are not logistically ready for this baby to arrive! So last night we got diapers and wipers and a diaper pail. Clothing we have plenty. But there is still no crib! Aiii! Anyone can recommend a crib that is NOT made in Asia (China, Vietnam, etc) and not too expensive (that is, under $400)?

So here is the 35 week bump. See, I know that it is very self-contained and not too big but I feel ginormous!! Ok, I know you want to see photos of knitting. Here is what I am currently working on:

I promise I will try and have actual finished pieces before year's end. Yikes, I just realized the counter says 33 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a holiday always celebrated in my husband's family. I have grown very fond of this time of year in the eight years that I have been in the United States and always look forward to spending time with family. As you may recall, we also usually take this week off and travel the "slow way" (that is, by train) all the way to Montana. However, this year, Thanksgiving will be spent packing and moving (yes, it's finally happening) and trying to finish as much as possible the in-laws apartment that we have built above our new garage - as the new house is still behind - and where we will be living in for the next couple of months. Right now it seems like a daunting task, with electricity and water still to be set up, and knowing we will be living in a small space with a doggy, three ferrets, and soon, a baby.

A few weeks ago I was in a serious car accident and spent all day in hospital (not mentioned here because the blog is about happy things - everything is ok, so no need to worry). As I lie in the hospital bed, hooked up to a fetal monitor, my husband brought me a cute baby turkey toy. Bigodes had a favourite stuffed toy, a turkey, that he used to "kill" all the time, you know, as ferrets do! We kept the old toy safe in a drawer to remember sweet Bigodes and we always giggle when we see it. It pretty much looks like the parent of the baby turkey my husband gave me at the hospital. As we listened to our baby's strong heartbeat, and as we reflected on what a difficult year this has been to us in many ways, this cute stuffed toy became a symbol of all the good things we are thankful for, not just this holiday but all-year round.

If you can, take a minute to reflect and be thankful for everything good, big and small, in your life. I know it can be difficult but it can change your perspective on things. And if possible, save a turkey! ;-) Have a Great Thanksgiving Holiday!