Lurverly Designers’ Guild fabric - colour is a bit dodgy but I’m too drunk to adjust it.

Nowt to do with HE

I *finally* finished J’s tank top - I had to rip the neckband three times before I got it right (not that it was hard I just wasn’t concentrating). Pretty pleased with it, my finishing is definitely improving It is in baby cashmerino & the pattern is Cable Tank Top from Debbie Bliss’ Simply Baby.

I finished the first T-shirt dress for C (oh so very pink!), it cost £3.49 (Primark T-shirt £2.50, 99p for the ribbon, skirt fabric from stash). I just made it up as I went but there are lots of how-to guides on various blogs. I have fabric/T-shirts for two more when I get around to it, it is years since I properly sewed & it showed - more practice required.

I haven’t finished C’s handwarmers yet (although I’ve knitted three (!) she must have freekishly large hands because even though the pattern says to age 10 they are too small - my tension is a bit tight but not that much), but I did knit her a hat!

It took me 44 minutes on 19mm needles, I LOVE Biggy Print! Pattern is Kim Hargreaves ‘Flip’ & C is very happy.

… and I think I may have finally found my true vocation, knitting little bags! This is for Mothers’ Day.

It was another Kim Hargreaves pattern (Lulu) knitted in Big Wool (superchunky on 9mm needles). I knitted up really quickly, I made a couple of pattern changes (e.g. made the gusset wider & gathered it). Although it was okay I wasn’t enamoured of it when I finished, it’s an odd size and not strong enough to use without stretching. After felting and adding a little knitted flower though … perfect!

Simon did some more work in the kitchen (built in the appliances & made a breakfast bar), we may actually have cupboard doors by the time J is crawling

WIPs - 2x T-shirt dresses
- handwarmers
- J’s kaftan
- bag for C (cotton glace)
- six little dolls (groan)
- Jaeger jumper for J that I started while pregnant (it’s 18-24 months luckily)
- 2 cushions that just need finishing
- nappy boosters(need to find my fleece)

In the stash - pinafore drsses & summer sets
- another felted bag
- hat for Si
- Flora for me
- jacket for J
- flannel bed set for C

Oh & the router death wasn’t his fault, we’re using the old one while J & he go to get a replacement. I was very nice about it

Despite spending most of the last 3 of 4 days in bed & having C at MIL’s today (& J sleeping last night) I don’t feel any better. Not one little bit. My mum said she was really proud of how well I’ve done since J was born, I’ve had no help at all & C hasn’t left my side. The house is clean & reasonably organised , we’re well fed & in budget, C is engaged & busy, J is adored, Simon & I occasionally have conversations, we get out most days. That meant a lot, probably because I’m so knackered but I’m feeling just a little bit sensitive at the moment. Anyway I don’t think it’s normal tiredness & I’m definitely feeling metabolically challenged so I’m ending my longest-unmediated-period-since-we-were-married and going back on the metformin. The plan was also to be back on aspirin by 3 months but J still isn’t going long enough between feeds.

Anyway I knitted & washed clothes today; J’s tank top is coming on nicely (I love knitting cable v. meditative).

C also did some knitting - MIL helped her, I am *so* impressed, she’s really quite quick too

And some more pictures:

J grabbing things - you can just see his new cashmere boots as well

Building the path en famille (C in princess garb wielding a spirit level in the background)

J just because he’s cute

Managed to finish both teddies & a pair of booties that actually fit J - yay! Simon laid a path in the garden, we blitzed the house & managed a visit from the in-laws (& C asked to go theirs on Tuesday - yippee - major step foward) so pretty good weekend.

I am dog tired but resolve to be nice to C all week.

I have so much ongoing atm - January was crap (my eye didn’t help, it still hurts sometime ), a hat for J, one pair of socks & a pair of booties finished.

Knitting - teddy bears for C & J (supposed to be for V’s day), both knitted need assembling & stuffing.
- cabled tank top for J, need a circular needle
- cotton sweater, need to get the contrast colour
- I have 6 little dollies in pieces that need assembling as well.

Sewing - kitchen blinds (cut need trim)
- sitting room curtain (have fabric need to cut)
- dress for C x2 (need to cut)
- any-way-you-cut-it quilt (have some practice squares cut but I reaaly need a rotary cutter)

… and it cost me nothing, just stuff from the stash

There are a few minor adjustments I want to make for mark two (like padding the ties or making them wider & more wrap like) but I am so pleased with it. It is fully padded & contoured (2 layers of canvas, one of batting & two of pretty fabric which is a Liberty Tana Lawn I got from ebay years ago) and based on a pattern I found on thebabywearer.com.

My cold of last week turned into something full blown & nasty so I had a pretty grotty time but feeling better now.

Claudia has hit a developmental leap & things that have been tricky have finally clicked - she is so enjoying reading (magazines, signs, my shopping list, everything) it’s brilliant to see! I went with my gut instinct with the reading every day rule - she certainly did not like it for the first week - I’m so pleased that it hasn’t stifled her love of anything just helped her achieve something she was desperate to do. She’s spending a lot of time watching films, playing in the garden (building things with rope, bricks & wood), K’nex-ing & sewing I think (fingers crossed) that most of the post-Jasper-angst has been weathered now - we’re getting along really well & its lovely again. She loves gymnastics, even if the class is full of the worst trashy little cows imaginable (she is so wonderfully oblivious - long may it last!), & the new ballet class (lots of practising at home) - the kids are so much nicer there, its worth sitting in traffic then the car for a couple of hours.

Jasper has had a bit of a rough two weeks - he’s learnt to roll over which means the end of the swaddling blanket - giving it up has been very traumatic for him (& us) . He also laughed for the first time yesterday . He’s been ill for a couple of days & I’ve been quite worried about him, but seems to be more like himself again today. he has grown lots of hair.

Simon is crazy busy at work & has discovered the joys of ebay (selling ).

That’s it

C decided she doesn’t want to go to her dancing class anymore - this has been building up since before the summer & I agree with her reasons for not wanting to go (with the additional one that its a bloody rip off), we’re trying to get her into a new class (an after school one - I hate weekend activities) to start after Christmas. Saturday moring was therefore not at all stressful and we were pretty productive.

Simon built a table & benches (not pictured) - they need painting, but aren’t bad for £40

I painted a Christmas pressie for J - I was really pleased with it, I’ve seen similar being sold for £40+ and this cost be £1.99 (canvas from Lidl). I need to do one for C now!

And from the ball of green cashmerino that never ends, a tank top & socks (I enjoy dressing him funny )

C & S also went to Lily’s 12th birthday party - swimming - on Saturday night & had a great time. We all went to my parent’s for cake & wine on Sunday

today I’ve:

changed a billion nappies (he’s got a sore bum )
washed, dried & packed C’s swimming stuff including finding her goggles (I’ve lost her record book again though )
washed all of J’s clothes & blankets
done a massive hand washing load
2 other loads of washing
cleaned the kitchen
cooked soup for tonight
cooked C lunch
put a nappy load on
booked theatre tickets for next year
remembered to feed the cats!
put out the rubbish & recycling
knitted a baby sock!
loaded & unloaded the dishwasher
miraculously - read to Claudia

Still got masses of washing to do & want to wash kitchen floor - J’s will wake up soon. Suddenly feeling much more organised (not counting on it lasting long though )

… and answered some emails, cleaned the nappy bucket, given J a bath

…being normal.

We’ve done quite a lot recently, not sure that I’ll ever get round to blogging it though. Not least was J’s one month birthday - he’s vocalising loads now & the cutest is ‘ung-eeeeeee’ which he shouts a full volume (He’s currently asleep in his cot - in the day time gasp! - he was fussy and grumpy from 5am & I couldn’t soothe him so in the end I swaddled him & put him in the cot, 5 minutes of ung-eee-ing & yawning later he was asleep).

On Saturday S took C to ballet & I took J into town to meet Lily & my mum for breakfast & shopping. We used to meet up regularly when L was a baby & I’d forgotten how much fun it is (& how nice it is to do normal things). I took J to get his Imprints done (we didn’t get around to C’s until she was 5 months old, his are tiny in comparison), bought some yarn (I must to a knitted loot post, J has got loads of lovely stuff), birthday presents and a few bits in the sale for J.

(Lily & Jasper - in his pea outfit )

On Sunday we had a family trip to Lidl (wrenches, antifreeze, Father Christmas candles, paint brushes & some vests for J), tided up the garden & sorted out all our filing because we’re redoing our wills then got up to date with Lost. I still haven’t finished J’s birth announcements.

Not a particularly productive weekend but it felt very normal

Monday ~ C went over to my mum’s to spend the day with Lily. J & I went into town and had a potter around (must have been an inset day because town was heaving), didn’t spend any money but managed to find the parent room in John Lewis. I’m amazed how well I feel! We went around in the evening for food & more baby worship, C decided she wanted to come home with us rather than have a sleep-over.

Tuesday ~ Lily came to us for Halloween. They made a huge spooky Halloween banner that took them most of the day, carved some pumpkins made a cake & dealt with the many trick or treaters we had (judging them on standard of costume & politeness ). They dressed up as witches and Jasper was their cat! We dropped Lily back home after fish & chips for dinner & promised them they could trick or treat next year.

Wednesday ~ it took us ages to get ready (breakfast at 11am, although I did managed get them both bathed & dressed) but we eventually made it around to A’s to introduce Violet to Jasper. Got hooked on High School Musical Felt pretty exhausted in the evening, bit coldy too.

Thursday ~ Jasper shows his dark side & I get an hours sleep the previous night, combined with too much exercise & a cold I beg Simon to stay at home (since I’m obviously dying ). We all went to the home-ed sports club, they did quick cricket & C got hit int eh face with a stump. Jasper doesn’t sleep much.

Friday ~ Lily arrives early & she & Claudia head off to her bedroom to play (Neopets I think). Dom & Natalie arrive in the afternoon with the children (& dog!). Have a very pleasant afternoon admiring the boy & catching up. They children rampage & eat biscuits. We all head off to my parent’s for our annual Halloween/Bonfire party (pumpkins, costumes, apple crumble, bonfire, Guy, sparklers and fireworks). Much fun was had & Champaign consumed. C decided to stay for a sleep over.

Saturday ~ Si picked Claudia up from my mum’s & takes her to ballet. Nic & Ady arrived here shortly before they get back. Tea, toast & skippy are consumed, geomags played with, Tarly is injured ( ) and J is worshipped (definite pattern here!). After they leave we go out to sort out the birth announcements (will go out this week). I have very early night.

Today ~ C spent the morning playing with her Fairytopia dolls (thanks N & A! )we decided to go into town and have a look for C’s birthday presents, we bump into C & A on the way and J meets the rest of the clan. We end up doing rather a lot of impromptu shopping (some Gap stuff for J (in the sale), a load of DVDs for Christmas presents (& School of Rock for us ), a v. cheap DVD player (ours doesn’t work at all), and C’s birthday presents. Off to eat apple crumble & watch School of Rock