Cool swinging and warm snugglies

It was warmer today but yesterday's chilly breeze called for hats and mits at the playground (boo!). This was G's first time trying out the swing and while we can always get a few picture-worthy smiles out of him, he was not impressed.

Ella loved the swings as always.

And let us not forget the monkey bars and slide. ;)

And the "warm snugglies" part of the title... I went to a conference for work early last week and it appears that shawls and wraps are popular (I'm not very trendy... so I wouldn't know these things). I decided to make one for myself, so that's my latest knitting project. I found a soft cuddly handspun-type yarn in blue. I can't wait to wrap up in it on chilly spring/summer evenings. :) Pictures to follow...

Pulling up and a Girly Cover

Gabriel is now pulling himself up on everything. He also got his first tooth on Sunday! (I'll try my hardest to get a picture) He'll be 7 months tomorrow... babies grow way too fast.





I would love to get feedback from folks that try my patterns/tutorials (found off to the right). I received a lovely e-mail from a Mama who made these for her daughter from the Gabey Baby pattern. She did an awesome job and gave me permission to share! Don't you just love the colours? Great job!

What we're up to.

My second week back to work has fizzled away. As it was the first time around, the dread beforehand was worse than real life. I do miss my kids while I'm at work, but going home twice a day to nurse my son makes it a whole lot easier. So now the countdown to summer break begins. :)

Easter was fun. E had a wonderful time doing an egg hunt and even though it snowed that weekend, she still had some outdoor fun. (Spring is more than welcome to show up any time now!)

My new found love for crafting has slowed, but has not died. I just finished knitting 4 dolls for trades (trading for wipes, dryer balls and a new pocket diaper! woot!) and I've started another pair of shorties for Gabriel to wear this summer.

Example of the doll sets I've been making:

Gabriel's new shorties-to-be:

I have sewing projects on the go (they've been this way for quite some time now). I'm making some mama head scarfs, I need to make bedding for E's new doll crib, I need to fix a hole in my bed skirt (as a certain toddler uses it as a foothold to climb onto our bed). When I was young (maybe 7 or 8?) one of my aunts used to let us embroider at her house... and I'd like to try it again. E is starting to draw pictures that actually look like faces and I want to embroider one (or more) of her drawings and frame it... so now I just need to re-teach and refresh my embroidery skills (if you could call them that).

I also need to reupholster my dining room chairs. Before you think I'm some kind of know-it-all... no, I have never in my life put new fabric on a piece of furniture... but the lovely creamy white fabric is just not working with the finger paint and food stains, and so I will try. I have the fabric. I have the staple gun. I've watched home decorating shows. It can't be too difficult... right?!

The embarrassingly stained chair and the new fabric:

Our weekly creative circle is also still trucking along. Occasionally it has been a little sparse member-wise with one having a baby and one finishing school, but I look forward to it every week. It's nice to have a time set aside where I know I'll get some knitting or sewing done. ;)

Some of our most recent projects:

Letters for a toddler's room ~

Doll knitting ~
Drawing~
Painting ~ (we just let her do as she wishes at her art table... haha)

And one of our members has been MIA because she was making this ~ (awwwww)

News on the baby front: I have pictures and video of E's first time pulling herself into a standing position.

Ella, 9 months old~

I will not have the same documentation of this first for G. Last night he awoke at about 1:30am for a little boobie snack. I snoozed for a few minutes, hoping he would go back to sleep. When it was clear he wasn't going to, I went to get him. And there I find my son, standing in his crib, and since the mattress is still at the highest setting, arms and head dangling over the side *insert Mommy heart attack here*.

So needless to say, no middle-of-the-night-first-pull-to-stand pictures. And I suppose it's time to lower the crib mattress. Why don't I just get him a toddler bed and save myself the surprise of my baby hitting another milestone and getting closer to toddler-hood?

Also, he's starting into some non-booby food (I guess it's also time to start steaming/baking/mashing/blending. I normally hate cooking, but there's a certain satisfaction in making my own baby food):

Longest blog post eva. Ha!

Back to work..

The final days of my maternity leave are sliding away. I go back to work on Monday and I'm a little sad. I enjoy being at home with my babies and I worry about missing their milestones and important events.


Even the little things can be so much fun...

Like Ella making her own breakfast:

Or Gabriel not realizing how funny he is...