A Few Things

Hello Loved Ones and Happy New Year. I know, it's been a while since anything new has come to this blog but it isn't because I haven't had anything to write about; just laziness. Christmas was lovely and we are getting together with the extended family in just a wee bit. A few things before I go about the day.

Thing the first:

The wee sweater for the newest babe was given and the little mama loves it! 

Nana has had lots of snuggles with Michael lately. You can see that she hasn't lost that touch :)

Michael has become the official taste-tester in the kitchen.

The first woolie of the new year is on the needles. Any guesses about what it is?

Thing the Second; Michael is growing up super fast. He is going to be two this autumn. That doesn't seem possible. Thing the Third; Alex and I are going to celebrate five years of marriage this summer. That also doesn't seem possible. 

This is a new year. That mean new memories, new wool and things to knit, new friendships, new recipes to try. I feel like this will be a year of hope and good things. I wish the same for all of you.

It's Coming. Very Quickly.

The little one is finally sleeping. At least, I think he is. I put him in his crib a bit ago and I haven't heard any screaming since then so I think we are in the clear. Alex is away at work but will be coming home soon and the house is quiet, save for the comforting sound of the radio and the pitter patter of cat paws over the floor. The knitting is going about as well as can be expected. There has been a gift finished (except for the buttons) and another one started.

Also, if you remember that lovely alpaca farm I discovered a few month ago, you might remember that somehow, a few hanks of that delicious wool made it into the car with us and found its way onto a set of DPNs and is now almost a whole mitten. I tried it on today and imagined just how amazing it is going to be to strut parade wear my treasures when I go out in public, even if only for a few minutes.

You may be thinking, "how can you find time to knit a gift for yourself? You have only weeks until Christmas and the other projects aren't done yet.." Yes, that's true, but that happens every year. This year, at least I will look fabulous while wrapping the cheap last minute dollar store crap that is replacing this years hand knit socks. Again.

The First Year

Dear Michael,

Today marks a very special day in our family. This is your first birthday and there is much to celebrate. You came into this world a tiny baby with bright eyes and smiles. It's true, you started smiling at your daddy and me when you were just s few hours old. I didn't know that was possible. We swaddled you when you were cranky, gave you baths, nursed you through the night, and played with you until you finally fell asleep at the end of the day. This past year you have had 4 teeth come in, learned to walk, and learned how to say no fewer than 5 words. We are so proud of you already.

Today, Little Bright Eyes, we are going to celebrate your birthday with our family. We are going to have cake, and presents, and fun with the people that we hold most dear in our hearts. You are so loved, Michael Jefferson. Yesterday, when we took you to the pumpkin patch, and you climbed that big pyramid of hay with your daddy, I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed, becuase you are growing up so fast. It won't be long before you tell us "I can do it myself now". 

Sometimes I watch you sleep and I pray you could stay a baby for just a little longer so I can hold on to you for just a little while more. There are a lot of things I want to share here on this blog, but I think I'm just going to leave it here. I love you Michael. Happy First Birthday.

Love, Mama

And Now, a Sweater

We have a lovely family that has grown exponentially over the last few years. There have been marriages, girlfriends, boyfriends, and now babies. It is a good time for the Headrick clan. Cousin Amy had her son, Liam, just a few weeks ago and is settling in (rather happily) into motherhood. He is a beautiful child with dark hair an bright eyes with all the innocence that comes along with being freshly born.

He is Michael's first cousin. A playmate and a little friend to grow up with, playing the games their parents played as youngsters and listening to the same stories of our family history. It will be a wonderful thing to watch. And, they can do it in what else but matching sweaters. Yes, my wool-loving friends, I have taken on another project for Christmas. It's shocking, I know, because the list of Christmas knits is already lengthy and there are only so many weeks to finish and....well, I decided that it doesn't matter.

So, here is a photo of the wee wooly. I'm hoping to finish this one by the end of the week and then start the second.

There have been several attempts at this pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman. It is her Baby Surprise Jacket and this is the farthest I have ever gotten on any of those attempts. This time, I think it will actually make it to the end. It even looks like a sweater.....

Waiting....

For the past several months, we have all been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the second great-grandbaby and since last night, we are closer to meeting the little guy. Amy is now laboring and getting closer to meeting her son and we are all so excited about this. Babies do something strange to people.

They have this strong magic that pulls people to them. I think it's because they start out so fresh and new and innocent and represent everything that is good in this world. They have those irresistibly smooshy cheeks and itty-bitty toes and when they smile and giggle it is like music to the soul.

They are perfect and precious. And the best thing about it all?

You can put them in something wooly and wee and warm and they are too young to put up a fuss.

I love you cousin Amy and I can hardly wait to meet your son. Welcome to the terrifying, exciting, most amazing club you will ever be a part of. Welcome to Motherhood.

This Year I Have A Plan. Sort of.

As of today, there are exactly 98 days until Christmas. That sounds scary to some people (like the knitting population that has yet to finish their items, perhaps even start them....) But, this year, I have devised a plan. Stop that laughing. 

It's true. I know, this happens every year. I put a small dent, crater, into our bank account, building up the wool that will be magically knitted up into socks, hats, mittens, sweaters, etc. for the few loved ones that have albeit warily, supported each of my knitting endeavors, spend countless hours knitting and dreaming of the looks on their faces, only to find myself the week before Christmas staying up late, cursing, drinking eggnog by the gallon and wondering what exactly I was thinking when I thought that those colors would look good together....

It's awful. But not this year. I have a plan. Sort of.

This is the current list of recipients. There are a few additions since you last saw this list. Note, this is due to a minor lapse in my memory this afternoon as I was knitting away and realized that I forgot a few people. Better to remember now than not have anything to give them, right? The items in red have been completed.

Mother: MittensFather: Socks
Mother-In-Law: Mittens
Father-In-Law: Socks
Brother #1: Socks
Brother #2: Mittens
Sister-In-Law: Socks
Sister: Sweater
Sister's Fiance: Socks
Husband: Socks
Son: Sweater
Friend: Shawl

Swap (Male): Hat

Swap (Female): Mittens

Now, I know this doesn't look like much, but here are the items that are in progress:

Mother: Mittens
Father: SocksMother-In-Law: Mittens
Father-In-Law: SocksBrother #1: Socks
Brother #2: Mittens
Sister-In-Law: Socks
Sister: SweaterSister's Fiance: Socks
Husband: SocksSon: Sweater
Friend: Shawl

Swap (Male): Hat

Swap (Female): Mittens

That means, that of the 14 projects I have planned out, I only have 6 that need to be started. That's less than half of the usual Christmas List. See, progress.

Now, onto my plan. I share this list with any other Knitters out there that need some guidance to that beautiful land called Finished Projects.

1) Make sure to assemble all of your materials now. If you still need to purchase the wool for your mother's sweater, this is the time to do it. This will save you from realizing 1 week before she is going to open her gift from you that you do not actually have a gift for her.

2) Assemble project baskets/bags around you. Put your pattern, yarn, and notions together and make sure that you never leave the house without one. I have started keeping one in my car, and even in the bathroom (you may be surprised how often you find yourself perched on the back of the toilet, working on a sock. If anybody comments on your frequent trips to the bathroom, blame the fruitcake that your husband's grandmother sent).

3) Make it clear that someone else will need to do the cooking while you finish the Christmas Knits. This would not work very well in our home as I am the primary chef, and were I to leave the duty to my husband, we would be living on canned chili and the occasional Stouffers lasagna for the next 98 days. Unless you enjoy those foods, delegate wisely.

4) Be sure to have your box of tissues and beverage of choice in stock. If you need a further explanation, keep reading.

5) Know where (and if you even have) gift wrap, bags, ribbons, etc., located. It's embarrassing gifting a beautiful hand knit sweater to somebody in a beat-up plastic grocery bag.

6) Pop in a Christmas (or 3) and hunker down. Take the couch, your favorite chair, the entire living room, if you have to, and make it known that this is your space until all of the knitting is done. Should someone catch you crying, and perhaps swearing under your breath, grab your tissues and hot chocolate and say that the tears are because you "just can't help getting a little emotional" when the Grinch's heart grows and he befriends all the Whos in Whoville. They need not know it's because you spotted a very large hole 48 rows back on that lovely cabled sock that has taken up 13 hours of your life.

7) If you are somehow roped into going to a gathering where there will be food, music and lots of good cheer, make a note of #2 and bring along a project. Smaller items like socks are easier to tote along than, say, a king sized afghan.

8) Relax. It is Christmas after all.

It Is Coming. And Quickly.

There are this many days until Christmas and while I realize that for a normal person with absolutely no obligations and responsibilities in life this probably is not a big deal. But, for a knitting mama like me with a job, husband and at least a dozen projects that still need casting-on before The Big Day, that's a wee bit scary.

My list right now, looks something like this:

Mother: Mittens
Father: Socks
Mother-In-Law: Mittens
Father-In-Law: Socks
Brother #1: Socks
Brother #2: Mittens
Sister-In-Law: Socks
Sister: Sweater
Sister's Fiance: Socks
Husband: Socks
Son: Sweater
Friend: Shawl

These gifts are all over the board right now. Some of them have been finished already (I felt pretty optimistic back in July) and some have been started and stashed in clever places throughout the house so I am never more than a few feet away from a project at any time, and the rest haven't even been matched up with patterns and yarn.

This will be a good year. It will be a great year. Know why? Becuase this year every single ball of wool in my stash will be stiched up into a lovely cherished item and gifted to the people I hold closest to my heart. This year, I will knit every moment I have in between laundry and dishes and spit-up and tending to my husband. This year- why are you giggling? It could happen. I have heard stories of success from other Knitters, why not me?

I'll keep you all posted.