Gracie Knits

Aren't I cute?!

Well, my little Ladybug is growing up, and how time does fly!  She has cut one tooth with another one quickly on it's way.  And, we are starting to crawl, or scoot as it would be.  She inches along the ground now, and hasn't quite gotten that she can use her arms in a forward motion rather than army crawling her way along.  She has also gotten pretty chatty these past few weeks.  She says "da da" and Philip thinks it is for him, but she calls everything da da.  Sometimes I think she gets that he is da da, but we are just trying to reinforce it. 

Summer has been busy with swimming lessons, and we are about to start more this week.  We also have Baby Signs class coming up as well as Kindermusik in the fall.  I think it is going to be a nice way for the Ladybug to expand her social network.  ;)

My "knitting mojo" as it has been called has been lost a bit and it is starting to come back a bit.  For the first time in months, I didn't have anything to knit.  Kathleen remarked how sad that was, and indeed it is.  I scrapped all previous projects figuring that if I really was going to knit them, that I would have done so already.  So, I started some socks for me yesterday using some Claudia's that Amanda gave me - I think the colorway is Plumicious.  The color is fab and I can't wait to get a little further on it to see how the pattern is going to turn out. 

I'm starting to get my life a bit more organized and back on track where I want it to be.  I was naive at the time and didn't realize how hectic my life would be with a new baby.  I guess it was pregnant woman amnesia or a fog.  Slowly but surely I am figuring this mom thing out.  It is strange going from not having anyone depend on you (besides my husband for food and laundry, but he could really do it if pressed to, I just cook better), to having someone 100% dependant on you.  I think I was on a mom identity crisis.  Needless to say, blogging has been put on the back burner.  So, I decided that I am going to slowly ease back into it because I really enjoy the online knitting community and I need to find time to do something for myself.  My goal is to be fully knit blogging functional by Labor Day.  So, between now and then I'm just going to try and post more often even if it is to post just pictures of my cute kid.  (And, isn't she the cutest?!  I know I am very biased being her mama and all...) 

Naptime is over!  Back to being a mama....

Ladybug's Frou Frou Pants

Check me out!  Another FO!  I love love love these pants that I made for the Ladybug.  I winged the pattern as I went along but I kind of based it on the cargo pants from Knitty.  They are capris and I added the ruffle on the bottom from Knitting On the Edge.  It doesn't look like the picture of the ruffle, but it is ruffly none the less!  I used some extra Rowan cotton in lavendar that I had around.  I'm working on another pair for a friend, and I'm doing those from the top down in the round, so we will see how that goes, it is a grand experiment.  And, I know yall want to see the model shot -

And, another one for good measure....

Now, I know I'm bias, but I do think she is one of the cutest things out there.  And, she is very advanced as Kathleen would say. 

I'm horrid at getting to everyone's blogs, so I sincerly apologize.  I'm trying to do better!

I'm a Swimmer!

The pool, green as it may be, is officially open for the season!  Ladybug really really loves the water.  So, we will be taking mommy baby swimming lessons this summer!

I finished Ms Marigold last night and I'm wearing it today!  I'll take some pics later.  I am really really pleased with how it turned out.  I'm going to make Ladybug some pants next and then a doll for Ladybug.

Off to do the laundry - it never seems to end!

Ok, I'm a bad blogger

I realized today/last night that I'm a bad blogger and life suddenly gets insanely busy with a baby!  But, we have had a busy past few weeks!  We've been in Atlanta, back to Mobile and then back to Atlanta.  All the while, Philip was in India.  He went for a friend's wedding and had a great adventure.

As for Miss Ladybug, she is doing great.  I can't believe that she is 6 months old already.  Time flies and I can't believe how quickly she is getting to be a "big girl".  She isn't sitting up on her own yet, but I"m hoping in the next couple of weeks she will be.   Her new thing is to jump.  My mom got a Johnny Jump (you know, the things you hang from the door jam?) and she loves it.  She takes this bouncing to when she isn't in the Johnny Jump.  We have also had our first adventures into the pool and she loves it.

As on the knitting front, I'm finishing up my Blooming Feet socks.  I have been horrible and not gotten them finished, but I'm almost done with them and hoping to get them finished tonight.

Life has been a bit overwhelming, and I'm hoping to get things back on track and post a lot more regularly! 

And now for some pictures of the Ladybug (Philip had the camera with him in India, so I haven't been able to take any pictures!)...

Busy as Bees!

I realize how quickly the days go by when you have a baby in the house! 

Here is the Ladybug in her Easter dress that my mom made for her.  I dare say that she was the cutest baby in church.  It isn't the absolute cutest picture of her but her grandmother would have been very upset if I hadn't taken one of her.

Ladybug and I have been keeping busy doing all sorts of spring cleaning tasks.  We are very excited about the warm weather that is starting.  Hopefully, the pool will warm up soon and Ladybug can have her first few swimming lessons.  I know Daddy is probably the most excited to get her in the pool!

I am plugging away at my Blooming Feet Pal's socks since time is drawing near!  I've started the cuff to the first sock and should be finished with them soon (I'm doing them toe up).  I am loving the pattern so far and hoping that my pal likes them!

Off to get a bit done before Ladybug wakes up from her nap!

This is Ladybug with our grad school friend Mukund.  He came in town to visit from Houston for the "Weekend of Cheese".  I know, strange isn't it?  To make a long story short DH, Mukund and our friend Dan thought it would be great to eat a ton of meals revolving around cheese.  They had talked about doing it for years and now finally got to do it. 

Well, it was Ladybug's 5 month birthday on the 4th and she is such a big girl!  I can't believe how quickly time has gone by!  I know I will be shocked when it is a year and then when we start school and then she goes to college and then when she gets married (according to her daddy, she won't be allowed to date until she is 35 so that should be awhile ;)).

In exciting news in Ladybugland, she has slept from 7-7 2 times this past week!  Mommy was probably more excited than she, and Mommy also woke up several times because she was shocked that she was still asleep and wanted to make sure she was still breathing.  But, sleep is always good!

The outfit is from everyone's favorite store - Norsdrom.  Some friends of ours gave it to her when she was born and it is nice to see her wear it. 

But, I've made progress on my Blooming Feet socks.  I'm doing them toe up and I'm halfway done with the first sock.  Yay!  They are really cute and I am going to hate to give them away.  Pictures of those later!

And, because Olive needs to get in on the action.....

We are having fondue tonight with friends, so it should be great fun.  And Kathleen is coming back from seeing Flan tonight and it is going to be nice to have her in town again!  They got to see the Harlot and I am very jealous, but I did get my book signed!   

Isabella

I finished my Sockret Pal socks this weekend, and I have started my Blooming Feet socks.  I decided that since I was making great progress on the socks (I've changed my mind to what I am doing but more on that later), I was going to make something for myself to wear since I haven't done that since before I was pregnant.  Kathleen and I have decided that we are going to knit Ms Marigold together, and since we haven't started that one yet, I got startitis.  So, I started Isabella from Knitty Spring 2007.  I figured that since it didn't have sleeves, I was going to be much more successful.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Yummy!

These past couple of weeks we have started introducing Ladybug to the wonders of real food.  I have to say that it was a struggle at first, but she is slowly learning that food is good.  Wait until she tries chocolate!

I snapped this picture of her this morning.  I'm sure it will be good blackmail when she gets to be a teenager and might show up at a photo montage when she is a senior in high school. 

Other than discovering food, things are swimming along here.  I've been planting pots out on the porch and it looks very nice and spring-like.  I decided that since I tend to kill plants in the ground, I'll try plants in pots this season.  If we are successful, then we may move to the ground. 

I'm in the homestretch of my Sockret Pal's socks and soon to start my Blooming Feet socks - I can't wait to work with STR. 

And, not to be outdone, Olive needed to get on in the action.  Here she is before Kathleen's birthday surprise luau.

We're Back!

The little Ladybug, Olive and I packed up and headed to Atlanta to visit family for a week or so and ended up staying longer than what we thought!  We got back at the end of last week, so I am trying to get caught up on everything including housework and all of my daily blog reads!  Isn't it a shame that laundry continues even after we leave?  I've decided that men produce way too much laundry. 

But, we had a good time visiting family, it was nice to be able to be at home.  We went to the Atlanta Sewing and Quilt Expo and that was great fun.  There were more yarn vendors this year, which was nice to see.  I bought some yarn and got an autographed copy of Inspired Cable Knits.  Very exciting.  Pictures of those to come. 

In other exciting news Philip is going to India for 2 weeks in a month or so.  We have a friend getting married and he is going for all of the wedding festivities.  While he is gone, the house is going to be painted.  ;)

Thank goodness for a baby carrier!  This is Ladybug and I from this past weekend.  Philip has been playing frisbee golf lately and we go and walk along with him.  It is good exercise for me, and company for Philip.  Ladybug has had enough and is asleep. 

Yay!  I finished one of my Sockret Pal's socks and have started on the next one.  Pictures of that when I can find the camera...