Hangin in there...

So sorry I've been MIA. Momma has finally been diagnosed with dequervain's tendonitis. Which means I'm wearing these.


Which also means I'm not crafting, knitting or sewing and that I'm actually getting sick of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" *gasp*.



I made a couple of hair clips for Kayla and Brenda before I got saddled with these monstrosities, and I started cutting out pieces for Jack's Christmas quilt so it might actually be finished on time. I should be in soft braces in the next week or so and hopefully able to do something other than watch TV (I cant even really read because holding anything is pretty unwieldy, writing this post is taking a billion years).

Here's the lesson. If you are pregnant and your wrists hurt, do not ignore it. If they get worse after your baby is born, really don't ignore it. I could have saved myself weeks of pain had I gone to a hand specialist right away. And I wouldn't have had to scrap most of my handmade Christmas plans. Its not all bad though. I leave you with Jack smiles, which make anything worthwhile.

Wow, I'm a lucky girl

Not only do I get to be this guy's mom (one week old today, yay for you buddy!)
But I've made a new friend! Eric over at Quirk Books, publishers of the super popular Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and my fave crochet book at the moment Creepy Cute Crochet. He heard how much I was digging Creepy Cute and sent me this!


Winattack right? It's full of awesome baby books, craft books, knitting books and Quirk Classics like Android Karenina. He also sent me Witch Craft, available this Friday, October 1st. I've browsed through it this afternoon and am totally dying to try just about everything in it. Stay tuned for some witchey crafts if I can tear myself away from this delicious morsel for a few moments.

Jack Danger is here.

So we left for the hospital at 11 am on the 22nd with this.


And came home on the 23rd with this.


I'll be busy smothering the crap out of this baby over the next couple of weeks. Expect me back with renewed vigor in time for some Halloween awesome. For now, I leave you with a Jack snack. Mmmmmmm... delicious. <3

38 Weeks

38 weeks today! Momma is increasingly uncomfortable and not sleeping well at all, but overwhelmed with excitement at the imminent arrival of our little Jack. I can't stop smiling. Today is my last day of work. I'll miss my buddies at the office but it will be nice to be able to nap during the day, hopefully catch up on a little of the sleep I'm loosing at night and maybe being home will afford me the energy to finish up the few baby projects I had left on my list.


Over the last couple of weeks, I've slowly completed these baby leg warmers and matching hat. For the legwarmers I just sort of made them up as I went along, I've no idea if they'll fit. For the hat I used Jane Richmonds top down tutorial from Love in the Mommyhood. Ive been wanting to try this for awhile and while I think I ended up going way too big for a newborn (totally my fault) I'm pleased with the results and the tutorial. If you've got a head measurement or the recipient handy to try the hat on, its a fantastic way to knit something to size without swatching. Yay for indulging my laziness!


I've also been trying to come up with goodies to hang from the bars and mobiles that attach to Jack's bassinet and bouncer. I'm not the kind of gal that likes the junk that comes with that stuff... it's so commercial and boring to me. Amigurumi seemed a good solution but since I can't (strike that, couldn't) crochet to save my life I kept putting it off. Last weekend I busted out my copy of Creepy Cute Crochet (thanks Kim, it's about time I know) and made this little skeleton. He is totally lopsided and ridiculous looking but I learned so much in the process that I'm fully confident I could make something much less crappy next time. I've developed a pretty bad case of carpal tunnel in late pregnancy so that project may have to wait till after I deliver, but what a great activity to keep me busy while nursing! The days sure stretch out as we get closer to Jack's due date. I can not wait to meet this baby.

Gardening, stash busting and true love.

Finally, something to show for my not very hard work in the garden this summer. A giant zucchini and a large yellow squash! I made 2 loaves of really delicious zucchini bread last week and I've been wanting to make more to freeze as well as to attempt a version including chocolate chips. Yum!


This afternoon I used a disposable nursing pad as a template to make these washable nursing pads. I used some weirdo flannel that was included in a package of fabrics I got for super cheap at the thrift store awhile ago for the fronts. For the backs I used some leftover terry cloth scraps and the sleeves of a robe we were given on the Caribbean cruise we took last winter. Judging by those materials you can see how badly I needed this destashing challenge. Sad. Anyhoo, I now have a large stack of washable nursing pads to wear at home. Yippee!


Lastly, this evening Bruce took me to Cafe Juanita to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. This man is my favorite person in the whole world. He is my best friend and I can not wait to become parents with him. Love you so much Bruce. Happy Anniversary baby!

Hats for Jack

I haven't been doing much of anything lately but growing this baby. Bruce has been my handyman extraordinaire, taking on lots of little projects around the house under my careful direction. And I now have everything I wanted done on my list save the purchase of a nursing bra (suggestions welcome) and the stocking of my baby medicine/first aid basket (suggestions welcome there too). I did get a wild hair up my ass last week and decided that Jack was in dire need of more hats. Using up stash bits was an added bonus. Used up part of an old tank top, and 2 different shirt sleeves for the monster and the bottom (cuz I'm lazy and didn't want to sew a hem) of some old PJs for the blue one. I used this as a guide for the smaller hat and the hat Gidget, Mike and Hank got us as a guide for the other. I hope Jack likes them.

Baby Shower Goodness

Ive been away. Well not AWAY away, but away from crafty, bakey goodness. Partially because I'm now just 6 weeks from my due date, and I've been really tired, and partially because we've been having a major heat wave here in the Seattle area, and I can't imagine doing much but laying in the bedroom with the portable AC. But I want to post something. So I'll tell you about the lovely baby shower that Brenda and Maren threw for me last weekend. It was a Dia De Los Muertos theme and they executed it beautifully. Brenda made delicious snackies including "Favorite Sandwiches" and the yet-to-be-named provolone, tomato and fresh basil sandwich on a sourdough roll with mayo. They were deliciousso good! Maren was in charge of decorations. She did these paper flowers and baloons as well as felt mustaches on sticks! So freeking fun. Alissa helped out in the kitchen, totally unnecessary but so sweetest. Kayla made some Jackacolladas from scratch so tasty that I almost didn't miss the Rum and all my other girlies showered me with awesome gifts.




Maren made these georgeous and delicious lemon cupcakes with a lemon curd filling and italian buttercream frosting. She even made the sugar skulls! Isn't she talented?!


My buddy Erin here is due only a month after me. On November 2^nd she and hubby Ivan will be welcoming their own little boy!


And then of course, after all the guests had left, Brenda and I had to ham it up and make some silly faces.