baby beanies

So the nesting instinct is starting to kick in pretty hard. It's like a little domestic spark was lit somewhere deep inside and as it smolders I get inspired to do and make things that will welcome our little baby into this world. I have been knitting for about 2 years now but I honestly haven't done many projects. After I made a bunch of scarves I got really bored and started a sweater. I think the sweater was really challenging (double seed stitch, multi color kimono wrap sweater!) so I kinda stalled with the whole thing. I should have picked an easier project.

Anyway so a tiny beanie hat small enough for a newborn seemed like an easy way to:
-get back into knitting
-make something useful for our baby
-employ more knitting techniques (seaming, decreases)

Well mission accomplished. I made this really cute newborn sized beanie out of Bulky (5) light green bamboo yarn. It was only $2.99 p/skein at our local craft and fabric store.
For sizing I measured a fleece newborn hat that my husband bought on a whim and cast on the requisite amount of stitches(45 based on the circumference of the fleece hat) and knit the appropriate number of rows (based on the depth of the fleece hat). After knitting in stockinette for about 4 inches I k2tog across the entire next several rows until I was left with 1 stitch on my needle. I wove in the tail and seamed the selvage edges together.

It was cute as it was but I wanted to make it cuter so I cut out a bit of purple felt into the shape of a rough star and glued that with fabric glue to the top. This design has a lot of potential... Orange yarn and green felt for a pumpkin, purple yarn with green felt for an eggplant... and on and on it goes.

Here's a pic of the finished product:



Click here for the full set.

nekkid!

OK not really but my belly is nekkid here in this pic of me at 17 weeks. Notice how the linea negra has really started to show!
The belly itself is getting to be really firm and round like a little soccer ball in my lower abdomen.

Also I have been having round ligament pain like a muthafarker and though annoying it's another little reminder that our little Fenix is growing and growing.

Happy Friday!

half and half

So if you didn't know already, I am african american and my husband is white (Irish heritage). The most exciting part of this whole thing is wondering what our little one will look like. I could have a little brown baby or a very fair one. I'll be thrilled either way, I'm just eager to see how our genetic material homogenizes to make a new beautiful person.

I started googling around about mulitcultural children and I found this sweet sweet site. I want to order everything!

Cute tees for multicultural babies

preggo privileges

If I didn't look pregnant before surely I must have crossed over and definitely look it now. I have started getting what I am going to refer to from here on as "Preggo Privileges". It's quite awesome actually so I'm not complaining. The staring is annoying but it's pretty cool when you walk up to a line and people move aside to let you go first. Today on the bus someone even gave me their seat! The only trouble is that I'm not sure how to handle that exchange gracefully. I always say thank you but I can't help feeling guilty. I mean I'm not disabled I'm just a little round and uncomfortable. But whatever... I'm gonna enjoy it. I'll be back to my old self eventually so I want to savor this while I can.

sedona!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just booked a trip to Sedona, AZ for our one year anniversary. We are only going for 5 days but I can't wait!
We will rent a car and do some site seeing while we're there. Definitely also want to get in a couple's massage and some spa time. This is our last hurrah before the baby comes.
One of many red rock formations in sedona:

somber thoughts

I just heard today that someone that I know of thru a pregnancy forum lost her little one at 21 weeks. I know that it is not my business but I feel for this person so deeply that the news brought me to tears. My heart is so broken for her. She was so helpful and kind to the other people that post on that forum including me.

My thoughts are with her and her husband. I am sending so many thoughts of peace, sympathy and hope to them both.

the quickening

That's what they call it, you know? When the baby starts to move and flutter around in the womb? It's called quickening. I felt it for the first time today. Actually I think that I've felt it earlier this week but I was afraid to assume that it was the baby because I didn't want to jump the gun. However after talking to my midwife, I'm pretty sure this is what I feel. It feels like the teeniest tap tap tapping from the inside. It is a pretty distinct feeling so I'm pretty sure about it. That being said, I think I sort of brought this on. I had the most intense craving for coca cola today (I know I know but my midwife said it was ok to have once in a while). I don't even drink the stuff when I'm not pregnant so why in the world am I craving it now?! It tasted pretty good going down though, I gotta say.

So about 10 mins after I drank it, I start feeling this weird little tapping. Almost like little fingers drumming on my middle from the inside. Sorry kid, you aren't even born and I already got you hopped up on the caffeine.

Anyway it was awesome... I can't wait til Jason can feel the kicking/punching from the outside!