It's Wednesday! and we're still knitting!

And climbing, crawling, pulling up and standing! Yes, we are growing way too fast and into absolutely everything, but such a sweet baby and soooooo happy!

Yep- It's another Wednesday, and I know, you are surprised that I'm still knitting. Knitting and cleaning. We've been enjoying a busy, productive and hot summer- filled with water, visiting the animals at the Living Museum and possibly big big changes on the horizon which are driving the momma to cleaning, cooking and knitting.

This past week, Spud and Chloe finally graced us with their presence! I'm in love with my new best friends and don't laugh at me when I tell you opening this box was one of the bright points of my week last week! (Would it help if I told you that this box arrived literally moments after my husband interviewed for a job in Florida, the one and only place I have ever begged to NOT move to?) Here's the happiness:

Pear Sweater set and hat This is Chipmunk! He's soooooo soft!!!!

(And there's actually more yarn than that- Ice Cream, Grass, Pollen, this is such a sweet productline, adorable names, great colors and I love the yarn tags!) I cannot wait to get started on the little sweater for Peter and the matching Pear hat!

The Lace Clapotis got some love this week- I made it to the first straight row section last night and I can't wait to start dropping the stitches!

I also CO a Purple Skirt for the Princess- It's going pretty quickly, I'm just bored with how simple it is and Spud and Chloe keep calling me........

The Potty Learning has continued to have it's good days and it's bad days- more good than bad, really. And we've made it on several outings successfully- so we are almost there!

And finally, I'll share a sneak peek at my first Etsy project, and be sure to check back for updates, I'm hoping to get my shop up and running by the end of this week!

"Strawberry Shortcakes"

WIP it Wednesday!

Whew. I don't know about you, but I've had a busy week- holidays, sun, family and fun! And of course, a little time for knitting (or as much of this past week was spent, untangling yarn!)
We have a busy day planned today of course, so this should be short and sweet-

I am having soooooooo much fun with this sweet, little knit! It's in some really soft yarn I found at my LYS, Knitting Sisters, Shepherd's Wool. I'm thinking it's going to be my first official "Etsy" piece! And I made the decision this morning, it's going to end as a shorties set with a very special topping- stay tuned! (And if you happen to have a 3-9 month old baby around your house, if you would be so kind as to measure their inseam for a pair of shorts or capris and send me the measurement and their age, I just might be able to find a surprise for you and will be forever grateful!)

The Clapotis still looks very much the same, however, I have managed to accomplish one more increase row, and another half of an increase row- only 1.5 increase rows to go and then I'll be to the dropped stitch section- YEAH! I'm having a hard time finding time to fit in knitting on this, since it's lace, and so tedious, it's really non-nursing friendly, although, with Baby Peter around, most all knitting is becoming non-nursing friendly as he is determined to pull the yarn or attempt to get tangled in the yarn! (All that to say, I'm not going to bore you with a picture of it this week- just take my word for it!)

Potty learning- is going. We've had good days, we've had bad days (poor sissy just got her bed peed in, but I needed to wash the sheets anyways.) We actually made it to the library and storytime (which I am thinking I'll write a post about tomorrow, it was so much fun!) yesterday and came home in dry undies- yay for the Micah Man! So, we shall see what the week holds, hoping that we are finished soon!

And I'll leave you with this FO from the weekend:

(and just in case you can't tell, that's the International Breastfeeding Symbol on the "butt"!)

WIP Wed and some FO's

Yay! I've made it to another WIP Wed. and I've actually got some things on the needles (and yes, the Feb. Lady Sweater is still looking just like it did last week, so I won't even bore you with it, the poor thing is in hibernation- and I'm starting to wonder what to do with it, what's your vote? Finish it? Frog it? The button hole bothers me, should I rip the whole thing out and start again? Or should I unravel it to the button holes and start over from there? Or should I frog the whole thing and use the yarn to make Kate Gilbert's Cardigan for Arwen? I'm also oooggling the new Spud and Chloe patterns.....What do you think dear readers? I need some ideas or encouragement, this yarn is too yummy to just let it sit there unfinished)

And now, for the projects:

The Shaba Green Shorties are finished and I'm still enjoying using Peace Fleece! I'm looking for another co-op, so if you hear of one, let me know!

And, of course, these pants needed a special touch, a certain Mouse and a Cookie decided to visit:

(I came up with the pattern for the mouse and the cookie all by myself! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and I'm thinking about adding a cookie to the front)

(and funny story: this past week-end, we were taking pictures, as part of my on-going work in progress to open at Etsy store!- and when we were done, Mike happened to catch Baby Peter playing with his sister in her room- she was using her play camera, and put a Pirate Puppet on his "butt", then she told him, 'Hold Still Peter, I have to take a picture of your butt!" )

Next, my Ribbons Hat for the Itty Bitty Hat Swap! (And a certain Princess is highly upset that someone else is getting "purple yarn" so a purple skirt will be CO very soon) This one is almost all done, except for the ribbons of course! I have to go digging in the closet to find just the right ones, they are in the sewing basket on a shelf somewhere that I can't see......

And also in progress, these longies, my first time using 100purewool, which yes, is as soft as Malabrigo (and cheaper when you buy in a co-op!) BUT it's making me turn into a smurf! My hands turn blue every single time I knit with this for some reason, so there's no sneaking in a row on these things! They are super soft, and the color really is nice- these are a pair of longies for Peter, and I did something a little "different" on the butt- any guesses as to what the picture is? I had hoped to get these done last night, but Peter was fussy, and decided he wanted all mommy's attention, so every time I tried to knit, he'd pull at the yarn, or tug at the needles, so I just decided to snuggle him to sleep, there will always be time to knit, they are only babies for so long (not long enough if you ask me!)

I won't bore you with another picture of the Clapotis, which I've only added another 3 rows to, it's not very nursing-friendly knitting, so it's not getting alot of love at the moment.

And of course my Major Work in Progress- Micah's Potty Learning! LOL! He is refusing to wear a diaper, but isn't quite "there" yet to make it to the potty- yes lots of fun! Always an adventure and never a dull moment.......

Stay tuned for my quest to find yellow yarn- if anybody has some they don't want, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands- wool is preferred of course! I've got some plans that need yellow yarn (hints: one has to do with a puppy that is quite pokey and misses out on strawberry shortcake and the other has to do with fish- one or two, I'm not saying, and maybe red or blue, who can tell?)......

What is Success?

For some reason, I've been pondering this morning on what success means to me. What exactly is success? and how does one define their success?
I have to say, my current "success" is nothing I would have dreamed of in the years-gone-by. Fresh out of college, success was how many articles I got published that month, how many ads I sold, how many pairs of shoes I had, and whether or not I had plans on Friday night (and now I settle for the occassional dinner/game night with friends of Family Movie night at home in PJ's!). I would have laughed at you if you told me that I would have the success of 3 Natural/No-Drug/Pain Med births and that one of my success would be an incredible homebirth. I would have literally argued with you if you told me another success would be not only surpassing the "I've made it breastfeeding for 6 months" mark, but that I would have success nursing the same child for, 2 years, 9 months, 2 weeks and 1 day (and that 5 months, 2 weeks and 1 day of that would be from tandem nursing, and 9 months of it during pregnacy!).
Today, I feel successful if everyone is dressed by noon and no one is still wearing jammies by the time daddy comes home.
I feel pretty successful in my "yarn" as well- if not just plain overwhelmed by the sheer volume that I've collected (it's pretty scary, let me tell you- we could probably go swimming in the yarn we have in this house and yet I have more yarn on the way, I just ordered more yarn, bought yarn at the store last night and will probably need or want more yarn before the week is over!) And to think that it all started because I wanted some longies and refused to pay $65 for them and was determined that I could make my own! I was laughing with Mike last night that I can do more with my yarn and needles now than just go around and around in a circle. Something about Peter's pregnancy birthed a desire and ability to knit beyond longies and shorties, and in this past year, I've made sweaters, hats, blankets, a purse, and I'm finishing piecing together a back-pack/diaper bag. I've taken the plunge and attempted, and I guess in a small way, mastered!, instarsia. When I look at a pattern now, I don't feel overwhelmed and run away scared. I can decode it, and I give myself the time to try, learn and actually attempt it. I imagine success would also be a finished February Lady Sweater......but we shall see!
If success is friends, then I should feel successful and blessed- not by the number of friends that I have, but in the simple fact that the friends I choose are Friends that are Friends. I've chosed to surround myself with individuals who love, cherish, support and care for one another. I've chosen to allign myself with those whom know the dangers of gossip, and therefore do not participate in gossip in any form. I will take my close-knit group of friends anyday. Granted, I also have alot of close, online friends, but you know what? When I was talking to Mike about it last night, I actually started to cry- I was relating to him how, whenever a need arises in our online community, we are there for our friends. Whether it is a joint paypal effort to support one another with gifts/goods or material things to help one through the tough times, or just simply having the affirmation, support, or thoughts to help you wade the rough waters, it is there.
If that is what successful is, then I guess I am, and if it's not, then that's ok, I like what I have and don't want to change!

If I were a February Lady Sweater

If I were a FLS (Feb. Lady Sweater) I would NOT want to be CO my size 8 circular knitting needles at this moment, all that lucious Malabrigo Violetas, is sadly not getting the love and attention that it deserves! And it's not really for lack of knitting, it's just not a project that it screaming at me to come work on it.

It's been circumvented how many times in the last month? Oh let's see......

A Shalom Cardigan in Malabrigo Orchid

(Pic taken by the 3 year old!)

Lovely Lace Capelet, in what else, Malabrigo Lace HollyHock!

And of course I needed Bunny Ears for Peter Rabbit!

And then there's the Baby Wallaby Pouch that is still calling my name, after being rudely cast aside for Malabrigo March! (sadly it's only in some Lion's Brand I found at Michaels thanks to a so-called Yarn Diet that lasted all of 2 weeks, yeah, stash-only knitting is no fun!)

Not to mention the Sushi Wallet that I'm eager to make, but hoping and wishing that Hubby ordered the adorable needles at Annie Amelia's, http://www.annieamelia.com/item.php?item_id=247 which, I don't think he did, so if you are reading this and either a) feel sorry for me or b) would like some really neat knitting project for yourself (I'd be more than happy to knit you up almost anything of your choosing!), you are more than welcome to get them for me in a size 10, I can't decide if I like the mushrooms or the apples better, so you can even pick!, suffice it to say, I need, erm, ok, want!, these needles for this project!

So, why oh why am I hunting down any and every little bit of scrap yarn so I can work on a knit Elefant?

Yes, if I were a FLS, I would find another Knitting-ista post-haste because apparently this knitting sister has a little much on her plate, erm, Needles!, and I just might find myself finished next February!

(Did I mention that I really really WANT those needles??????)