Mongrammed

I finished my first project in the FFS2012 project last week. It's a great sweater with a bit of room to grow for Molly. 
I loosely based this sweater on the Bodacious Bunny Baby Set and tried a bit of double knitting on the pocket. I decided against making the bunny toy for the pocket because Molly is too young to care at 2 months. 











Stats:
Ravelry
Pattern Inspiration

Two Months with Molly Pop

Dear Molly,


Happy two months! I can't believe that 62 days ago, I was dreaming about meeting you and enjoying one of my favorite Mexican meals at Oaxca de la Carta. Now I dream about sleep and eating out but those are little things when you smile at me. You've really started interacting so much with your Papa and I. I tell you about all the mundane things I'm doing and your giggles make it so much more interesting.





This month, you've started holding your head up with very little bobble head-ness and you love to play stand up when we stand you on our laps. You also experienced your first Seattle snowstorm. We so rarely get them that the entire city shuts down. And this one was such a dozy, Governor Gregoire declared a Winter Storm State of Emergency. Here in Ballard, we had at least 6 inches of snow with a nice layer of ice on top and in the middle.





The other exciting news this month is that your Grandma B got to go home from the Rehab Center. Now when you visit her, it will be in the comfort of her own home. I had fun showing you the home I grew up in this past weekend. 





Dad and I have so many nicknames for you but our favorite is Molly Pop. We also call you Squirt-ial, Squirt, Fussbot, Squirtalbot and Mol. I'm sure we'll have many more that we come up with over the years. We're nickname people and you'll just have to accept it.





In the last week, we've also started a proper bedtime with you. It mean seem earlier but it has made all of our lives easier. The 8 p.m. fussies have pretty much disappeared. I think you were getting too tired and needed a routine to help you wind down. Our routine is bath (or wash cloth wipe down because you do not get a bath every night), massage (I write I LUV U on your belly a few times and tingle your arms and legs), PJs, read 2-3 books, lights dimmed, lullaby (same one as your mobile), breast or bottle, back rubs and then blissful sleep. You are a pretty great sleeper but you do like to throw a wrench into the routine once in awhile. I think it is just your way of helping me appreciate what a great sleeper you are. You already "sleep through the night" which means you usually have a 4-5 hour stretch of sleep followed by a brief wakeful session for eats and then another 3 hour stretch of sleep. Bliss!


We love you Molly Pop! We're having so much fun with you and can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Doubleknit 2012 Finish, Frog, & Slog-along

After listening to my friend's Erin and Jessica's Doubleknit podcast challenge for 2012, I decided to join in on the 2012 Finish, Frog & Slog-along. I have a few too many projects lingering on the needles.

The first thing I did was gather all my WIPs and place them in one spot. We have two ottomans in the den (aka Grand Central Station) and so I put my projects in one of those. That way I can reach in and grab the next WIP without having to find them in my craft room. It will make it harder for me to avoid them.



I've also decided that each month, I will work on two projects with the hopes of finishing two projects a month. This month, I'm finishing Molly's Monogrammed Sweater and my Year of the S(ox) #7 socks which I started in 2009 with some beautiful green yarn from North Loop Yarn.



I'm also going to work on at least two mitered squares from my Miter Square Blanket which I started the same month I met Scott in 2007. This might be my longest lingering WIP. I have about 18 squares to finish and I want to finish this blanket!



Ready, Set, Go!

Baby Boot Camp (and a letter to Molly)

 This week, I feel like Molly and I have graduated from Newborn Boot Camp. We've made it through the trenches and survived! Scott and I are starting to figure out Molly's moods and she keeps throwing in new ones to keep us on our toes. She began smiling at us this week and really began recognizing Scott and I as her parents (or at least the two people who are around her the most).

She's been awake more and napping less. This week, Scott went back to work after a two week vacation which means that it is just Molly and me during the day. We're doing pretty good. We went to the breast feeding support group, had lunch with Meg and Ruby and even made a trip to UVillage.

 Molly still hates tummy time but I'm making her do it twice a day. I figure making your child do some things that they dislike is one of the things you have to do as a parent. It's all part of tiger parenting.
Molly, 


 We've made it through the first six weeks and are settling into a nice routine. I love snuggling with you in bed every morning. I swore that I would never co-sleep and on night one, you proved me wrong. While I've been working hard to get you to sleep in your co-sleeper at night and some nights, you do, there are still many more nights where you sleep in my arms. Dad has been gracious in sharing the bed and has not once complained about his shrinking bed space. We are both just so in love with you. In fact, Dad had told me that sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night to check that you are breathing and to watch you. I find that to be very sweet. 


 You are a champion at breast feeding. I am however not a champion at making milk due to my breast reduction 10+ years ago. (I, however, do not regret having the reduction. It opened up a whole wide world to me and has made the person I am today.) I am happy that you get more than half of your nutrition from me. I didn't know how important it would be to me that we'd be able to breast feed so I'm happy that we can. Dad also enjoys that he gets to give you some bottles and it is nice for me to have a break once in awhile. 


This week, you started smiling at us and our hearts melted again. You already have us twisted around your little fingers. We've been lucky too. You are a pretty chill little lady. You really only complain when we take too long responding to your few desires. During the day, you love being carried around in the Beco Gemini and I often use it to lull you to sleep. I've also started it using for outings and it is so much easier than carrying you in your car seat. 


 Good work, Molly! Now we can continue getting to know each other and enjoying all these new moments together. I love you so very much, more than you'll ever understand (well maybe one day you'll have a daughter of your own and you'll have a glimmer of how much I love you but it will be just a glimmer).