There's never any time!

Any time I'm stressed out, I remember back to a Saved By The Bell episode. The one where Jessie is taking speed because she's got too much going on and not enough time in the day to do it all.

"I'm so excited, I'm so excited... I'm so ::sobs:: scared"

That's what I think of when I'm stressed. Probably odd, but that's okay right?

I still have not finished my friend Stephanie's baby blanket for Rebecca... nor have I finished Kathy's baby blanket for Jackson. I'm trying. But I have a lot going on and on the days that I plan to get more things done, Jake seems to know I have those plans, and makes himself extra needy.

Today we had one of those gross "only a parent could understand" diapers that made me debate throwing him in the bathtub over going through a handful of wipes to clean him. The wipes won out in the end because he was wiggling so much that I was scared if I tried to bathe him that he would have more issues.

Needless to say, I haven't gotten a chance to make anything to put in the Etsy store.

I'm not sure how often I am going to be able to do that when I go back to work in May. Between work, Jake and trying to complete projects, something has to fall to the wayside. And since kiddo is #1, and work pays the bills... we know what's going to fall.

When I finally finish those blankets, there will be pictures, if only to prove I actually finished them.

9-day Granny Square

So before I show you the square, I have to explain my square.

Over the last ~1 yr I have been frequenting a forum on Ravelry ("Ravelry is a place for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, weavers and dyers to keep track of their yarn, tools, project and pattern information, and look to others for ideas and inspiration.") of women who were (at first) trying to conceive and then those who were also due in February 2011.

One of our members lost her baby. Incredibly sad story, and not mine to tell. Because of this, the ladies in my forum have begun putting together crocheted and knitted squares to assemble a blanket to give her.

So, I signed myself up to make one square. I have been pretty busy lately (baby and all) so I wasn't sure how long it would take me to make said-square.

I began this square 12 days ago (finishing 3 days ago). One 8 inch square which would normally take me a single afternoon, has taken me 9 days. It took me 3 days just to weave in the ends.

Why? Because any time I picked up the square to work on it, Jake would start screaming.

And while I love listening to the munchkin scream at the top of his lungs, I prefer him not to be a dark shade of maroon.

So here, ladies and gentlemen, is my 9-day Granny Square.

Now we will see how long it takes me to mail the square (currently sitting in my living room for the last 3 days)

Square pattern from: http://dayna.tdgservices.com/ShowPattern.aspx?PatternID=35

Once a week = Fail

So before baby Jake was born I said "once a week" for my blogging goal.

Well if you check the date of the last post, I did not do a good job with that one.

I can't blame Jake for that.

The first week I was busy doing freelance work with taking care of a brand new baby.

The next 3 wks, well I was adjusting and trying to get my brain back.

My memory is still shot; I'm constantly starting "projects" and then forgetting what I was doing. Heck even now I am typing this with one hand as someone nurses.

What (other than a New Year's Resolution) have you tried to commit to that you just haven't been able to follow through?

Today's the Day

Well at least it's the day we're going to the hospital.

It seems our baby boy has made quite the comfy nest in there and does not want to come out. So today at 5pm we will be going to the hospital to begin the induction.

Since I had hoped to go through this labor with as little intervention as possible, this has been quite disappointing to me (to say the least).

However, although I am the eternal pessimist, I must be optimistic that once things start going, that they will continue that way and we will only need a minimal amount of intervention.

So, since that's a lot to have on your mind, I've been keeping busy making things for baby.

In the last 2 weeks I've started and finished 3 projects.

A wool soaker to go over his cloth diapers (above)

Wool soaker pants (both above and below)

And finally some thing cute and fun, a stocking cap!

In the meantime I am also working on several baby blankets for the slew of friends I have who will also be having a baby this year.

Boy am I a busy girl

Back, with a good excuse?

Okay maybe it's not the best excuse as I'm certainly aware there are lots of people out there doing what I am doing and have time or at least the severe dedication to update their blogs.

Yesterday was my 40wk doctor appointment for our soon-to-join-us new addition.

For those of you who may know me on a personal basis, you know, i'm a planner. I've spent pretty much every moment the last 9 months either working, sleeping, or planning something for the baby. That's not necessarily a good reason to be neglectful to my blog. Because really, this is something I have decided I wanted to do and need to continue to dedicate myself to.

So my new and I swear this time it's official plan is to post at least once a week with what I am working on. I'd rather once a day but I cannot promise that when baby boy does finally decide to show up that I will be able to handle a once-a-day regimen.

Once a week, once a week.

My new mantra.

Snappy snap snap

Almost a year ago I began this pattern for a sleep sac with a matching hat.

Then all I needed, were some snaps to close the sleep sac

(Here it is while I was crocheting the border - without the snaps)

I kept trying to remember to purchase some snaps but completely forgot.

Then fast forward to four months-or so-ago when I started looking into cloth diapers and the patterns to make them. I realized that you also needed snaps for those. So, since I was going to request that my husband's mom make some diapers, I should probably pick up some of these snap things then huh?

So, I went online, and asked around. Who had the good ones, which type should I get, etc.

I ended up going to Kam Snaps and purchasing a snap plier (which yay for me came with 200 snaps for <$8). Sign me up! I ended up ordering 100 white and 100 offwhite, which also came with a card of samples of the other colors available.

For those who have never seen plastic snaps before (like I was prior to this adventure) this is the top portion. It looks like a thumbtack

And then here are the two inside pieces.

You place the thumbtack through the fabric (in this case the crocheted sleep sac) and choose one of the inside pieces. Then you take the pliers and give it a firm press.

(another angle)

Here is one with a few of them already installed

After a bit, it gets to be pretty easy to decide which pieces need to go where. And then soon enough, you have a finished product!

Now all I have to do is finish weaving in the ends, and wash the sac to see how it all goes.

Once that is done, I'll have to send a picture of the final piece (hopefully with someone inside so you can see how adorably cute this pattern really is.

It's about time!

Well a lot has been going on the past few months.

We found out that we are going to be having a baby boy in February.

Work has been insane. Every time I think there is going to be a little break - something drops into my lap that needs to be done yesterday.

But... now, although it's super busy, I've been able to start crocheting again.

I had been on and off for a bit - but not really completed any projects.

In the last few days though, I've started quite a bit and finished several of them.

Sadly, nothing yet will be added to the store - most have been for our upcoming addition (who is currently kicking me in the bladder, thanks son!) and then this blanket that I had originally made for the baby but I've since changed my mind. Might hit the store - or might be given as a gift to one of the several people I know that are expecting right now.

First off for baby - Ear flap hat

Then another ear flap hat - (currently working on the matching mittens)

And a pair of blue hats

I've also finished a blanket (which is currently tumbling in the dryer), and am working on the cutest stuffed animal turtle (complete with removable shell and diaper)! Pictures to come on those. And hopefully so will more posts now that I have gotten a handle on everything going on.