Little Laughter

Our wee boy is aptly named.  He laughs so easily much to our delight!  

I took these pictures to have record of him in this mama-made vest.  Do you remember this?  Yep, on our visit to L'abri, over a year and a half ago, I finished off this vest for Rowan.  I love the fact that at the time I was disappointed because it didn't have any growing room and Rowan wouldn't get to wear it very long, but I comforted myself with the though that another baby might wear it... and here he is!

And for those of you who know my Jim, doesn't he look like his Daddy?  It is really rather striking.  His eyes even crinkle the same way Jim's do when he laughs.  I love that!

The Christmas 'To Do' List

Oh, I had such plans for my handmade holiday, but there is a lot of stitching to do and the Christmas parties, Church play (A Medieval Morality Play in which I play Discretion), and other festivities are upon us.   I've started flannel solstice PJs for the boys and Rowan's doll in the past couple days, but time for sewing doesn't seem to be coming.  I shall have to prioritize... who needs clean dishes anyway and swept carpets are definitely overrated.

Not to mention the more pressing needs.  Jonah needed a warmer hat.  I finished it last Thursday just in time for the snow that has been falling and laying for the past few days. (This area of Scotland doesn't typically get much snow so we are enjoying it.)  The hat is a patternless - cast on 72 stitches - rib 4x4 and when it seems about right start decreasing... it worked and was fast and very doable while conversing or watching a movie.  It is warm and my boy likes it, so I'm content.

Thanks Giving: Handmade Warmth

Day 21 - A November discipline of giving thanks each day

I love the emphasis in the Waldorf tradition on warmth.  I do feel like one of my primary jobs in this cold place is to keep my family warm - warm meals and drinks, warm hats and clothing, and warm hugs and words.  I am particularly grateful for the way seeking warmth has called me to create and to be resourceful.  

I finished Rowan's vest when we were in Switzerland.  It is made from this free pattern (same one I used here), but with larger needles and two strands of washable worsted wool held together (so it is more like a 12 month size than the 3 month size of the original pattern).  Unfortunately, it isn't going to last long on my growing boy, but it fits now and perhaps I'll find time to make another one before winter is over.  I love how warm it is and how well it layers under other sweaters and jackets.

The other project I finished recently to give our wee boy some warmth was super easy and gets used most days.  Someone gave us some baby legs when Rowan was born (you can see them - a bit of green peeking out in the picture above) and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!  They are great when he is in the ergo backpack (which he is most days) because the ergo tends to pull the trousers and leave his legs bare.  But I wanted a third pair (we wear them everyday after all) so I felted an old sweater of Jim's, cut off the sleeves and sewed some of the ribbing from the bottom of the sweater on the unfinished edge.  Voila, free baby legs!  And because they are 100% wool they are even warmer.  I also love them because they are from Jim's first wool sweater that my parents bought him for Christmas when we were dating.  He was so cold those first couple winters in Wheaton before he discovered the wonders of real wool and wore that sweater almost every day.  Good memories and a new use for such wonderful wool warmth!

KCWC: Day 3

In Progress...

This little sweater vest for Rowan (notes on Ravelry) is coming along nicely and I think I might have it done by the end of the weekend. We will see.

And the fun of the day...

I remember reading somewhere (maybe soulemama?) about children designing their own costumes and thinking creatively about what materials to use and how it will all fit together. I was excited about the idea, but this is the first year this has been a significant part of our costuming.

Today Jonah and I were drawing Scotland with Kitts and Nevis off the coast ("Kitts and Nevis are part of North America Mum, but lets just pretend they are by Scotland.") And I decided to take the drawing opportunity to sketch out Jonah's costume for Halloween. He has decided that our family is going to have a Wizard of Oz theme and he will be the wizard. I know the wizard is a humbug and not the most recognizable of the characters, but Jonah wants to be the wizard.

"So Jonah lets think about your Wizard of Oz cape." "The Wizard doesn't have a cape mum. He just wears all green and he is all green."

Much deliberation followed. Not a cane but a staff. Not a cape but pants. We probably don't need the nine piglets because they don't show up until a later book (Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz)....

He thought it out, colored things green and later chose green buttons from the button bin. So fun and not finished yet. But, here are glimpses of our little wizard costume: a true joint effort. Oh I love how collaborative we can be now he is 'a big boy'!

(The 'oz' is mum's touch to give people some chance of guessing who he is.)

KCWC: Day 1

First item of the week was Rowan's winter gnome hat. I have to admit that I finished all but the button last night, so it only took a couple minutes today. I think it will fit better in a year, but he is a cute little gnome. If only he would sit still for a photo!

And off the sunporch... Rowan's birthday shirt.

The tee-shirt was a charity shop find for 30p. I added the sleeves and length from one of Jim's cast-offs. Its going to be 9 months till we are wearing tee-shirts around here again, so I'm keen to do this to a couple other tee-shirts of the boys - it was really fast as I used the hems and cuffs from the cast off shirt. I was inspired by this tutorial (though I didn't really read it, so I might have done it differently.) I did freezer paper painting on this and two other shirts, but they are gifts for some friend's birthdays so I can't share them just yet, maybe by the end of the week.

Christmas Preparations Begin

Oh my, we are months away from the holidays, but I'm already beginning to collect and brainstorm projects and gather materials for gifts. My knitting needles are full and the stacks cut out by the sewing machine are numerous. I've begun a wee book of ideas and will share some of the lists soon. Jim's List is always the hardest to make and right now Jonah's is the easiest. There are oodles of things I want to make for my boys and nieces and nephew, so decisions will need to be made.

I have a couple projects for Rowan's first birthday in October, Liliana and Rowan's Birthday crowns and some baby gifts to finish, then I'll be on to Christmas gifts for my nieces and nephew's and then will move to my boys' Christmas. Last year we bought each boy one gift and made the rest. I hope everything will be handmade this year with a few charity shop finds over the twelve days of Christmas.

Also, you will notice the Handmade Holiday button on the right of my blog. If you click on it you will find a list organized on Plain and Joyful Living of various blogs that will be writing on handmade holiday preparations - a great way to find ideas and inspiration.

And here is the first thing of my needles...

This yarn is soy and I love the colors (sorry I don't remember the brand.)

Jonah's May Day Hat

Jonah needed a spring hat. He's outgrown all but one of his caps and it is lined with fleece. I made this one out of washable wool, and while I have never worked with washable wool before and have been skeptical (it just doesn't have the feel of one strand wool), I was really pleased with it. It is a little less forgiving, but not as bad as I imagined.

We set off down the Lade Braes path today with a camera (hopeful to snap some birds for a little project we are working on), a trike, two boys, a mama, bread for the ducks down the way, and a stroller. It was a good May Day outing as spring was all around us. We are now beyond the poking bulbs to a full on green floor with a canopy of blossoms. Beautiful!

A Hat for Daddy

The first thing I knit when I was learning the skill during our time in Vancouver was a hat for Jim. And, I knit him another at some point, but it was on the small side, so he didn't wear it much. Anyway, it was time for Jim to have a new hat. This one is mostly llama wool (though the blue stripes are merino). It was my olympic watching project. I didn't follow a pattern, so I'm quite pleased with how well it fits, considering I always tend to make hats to small if I'm not following a pattern.

For the Love of Yarn

I sorted my yarn Sunday night and while doing it I was reminded that it is for the love of yarn that I knit. I have met women that love knitting, but I'm not one of them. I enjoy knitting, but I love collecting beautiful wool and cotton yarns. I think that is why I'm so picky about what I knit with; if the yarn doesn't inspire me the project won't get done. I also think this is why I need to stick with small projects, at least in this stage of life. And, by the looks of this basket, I need to get on with the knitting and try to hold off on the yarn collecting for a bit.

I did just finish Jim's birthday hat, but keep forgetting to photo it when he is home. Soon.

Accidental Spring Hat

This past September, in a moment of waiting for baby, I cast a hat on for Jonah... but I didn't use a pattern, let alone check my gage. I made it of the soft organic Rowan wool that I used for baby's sweater. At some point it was clear that, while the hat would nice, it would be far too small for Jonah's head, and when Rowan was born it seemed woefully big. But, I think it will fit just right in about a month, which is perfect as it is a little lighter weight than some, and it will see Rowan through Spring.

Rowan was working really hard to not look at the camera. Brother's lego towers were so exciting.

Rowan is loving this Bumbo seat we inherited from someone in the St. Mary's community. He'll sit there and watch Jonah play for long periods of time, which is great because, somehow, adding one baby seems to have doubled this family's laundry, and sometimes I feel like putting clothes on and off drying racks is a full time job in and of itself.

Adored and Adorable

Jonah simply loves Rowan and it warms a mama's heart! Rowan gets so many extra hugs, kisses and pats on the head from big brother!

Love these boys! (this is the first sweater I've ever completed the pattern is free here on Ravelry - the yarn is Rowan brand 100% organic wool)

Oh, I'm in love with this little guy.

The night I didn't go to the Louvre

Last night was my night to go to the Louvre to spend three childless hours wondering a museum.  But, by the afternoon I decided that I'd rather stay home.  I think something in me switched yesterday and I'm totally ready to go home.  I'm tired, very pregnant and, to be honest, I think I'm tired of museums.  If I wasn't pregnant I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be the case as I continue to be more and more interested in art the more I learn about looking at art and making my own creations.  But I am 35 weeks pregnant, and facing the metro trip down and hours wondering in a crowded museum just seemed overwhelming.

It is funny to think that when I pictured a month in Paris the first thing I would imagine were long mornings in the Louvre with Jonah.  But, due to the crowds in the Louvre, the price, the difficulty of managing the metro, Jonah and a stroller on my own and my own need to pace myself we only visited once (though Jim did go for an evening last week).  

So, instead of a trip to the Louvre, I walked a couple blocks to a good bakery, bought Jim and I dessert and settled down with my new buttons, knitting, dessert and decaf coffee.  A great conversation with Jim ensued.  I don't regret staying home at all.  It was lovely.

I couldn't keep my eyes off Jonah's new boat.  Grandma told us to find something in Paris for Jonah and after sailing the boats in Luxembourg a few weeks ago I began a search for a little wooden boat.  We found this one yesterday at an amazing toy store near the gardens - so thank you Granddad and Grandma!  It is all wood, floats, held up to a very stormy bath time and is made in France.  Jonah loves 'tuggy' (I know it isn't a tug boat, but Jonah named it) and has been playing with him non-stop.

And isn't this vest fun!  The wool is from Ireland and the buttons are from Paris.  A very appropriate 'Mummy made' for this 'in-utero-traveled' baby.  The pattern is free on The Thrifty Knitter.  You can find it here.

Everyday creative living in Paris

We've been enjoying seeing the Paris sights, but at 8 1/2 months pregnant I'm having to pace myself, which means while some mornings Jonah and I are out on a big adventure in the morning, we are also at home half the time.  So here is a glimpse into our home mornings.

Jonah woke up a few nights ago crying for his toys.  We brought three small drawstring pouches with us - one with godly play figures, one with a few animals and one with some cars - and his tool set.  Finn and Knuffle Bunny came along as well, but overall the toys are pretty sparse so we've been forced to be creative.  I began a bowl of slips with activities on them (i.e. count to 25, play a montessori ABC game, say "Five little monkeys", look through the Atlas, sing "Head and Shoulders, Knees and toes", play follow the leader, do a work book page, watch a video of Jackson Pollock painting... you get the picture)  This has been hours of fun and a great way to introduce some new concepts to Jonah.  

The best new activity has been treasure hunts.  Jim remembered that we did this with the three year old we babysat in Vancouver.  So, we drew pictures of different things around the house and then hid them and Jonah goes clue to clue by looking at the pictures.  He uses his godly play bag as his treasure - rather appropriate!

And even when we aren't out on an adventure we tend to get to a park nearby for at least part of the morning.  Jonah loves to play in the sand and I love the chance it gives me to knit.  I am missing our yard and the freedom it gives Jonah to be outside as much as he wants.  We've made sure to have some unstructured play in a park most every day.  I've just been reading some Charlott Mason educational theory and it claims that a child under 12 should be outside at least 5 hours a day.  I agree that being outside as much as possible is great, but I'm not sure how five hours are possible for city kids or kids who live in Scotland with only four hours of daylight in the winter (which happen to be the same time most tots nap).  

Jonah's watercolors in Scotland are falling apart, so we went up the street one day and found some new ones and some watercolor paper.  He has spent lots of time painting.  The picture above is 'An Imaginary City' by Jonah and Daddy.

I brought my embroidery, but didn't bring Jonah's.  He was rather distraught when he realized this, but we quickly found that by using the new hole punch we bought daddy to organize his french notes we could sew around Jonah's paintings.  Jonah loves punching the holes and gave a couple of these little masterpieces away as cards.

And that inspired me to help him make some lacing cards.  We used a cereal box, his crayons, some yarn and a bit of tape to make a couple cards and he is very proud of them.

So overall we are living much as we do at home - trying to create something most days and learn something new together.  Jonah is thriving, though he still misses home - as we all do.  We have one more week to go in Paris and while we aren't wishing it away, we will all be glad to be home next weekend to settle in for a Scottish fall and welcome little brother.

Someone just learned how to pose for the camera...

The hat Jonah's wearing was cast on this fall when I was playing around trying to make Jim a hat.  Because I wasn't using a pattern it was obvious by the end that it was going to be Jonah sized and not Daddy sized.  I finished it off and it laid in my knitting heap for most of the winter with the end strings hanging.  Finally, several weeks ago after finishing his mittens and embellishing a star on them I got out the hat and finished it off, adding the same star.  I'm loving the fact that he loves having a hat Mommy made.  I know this may not last, so I'm enjoying it while I can.

Jonah is running full throttle in this photo - obviously delighting in being out in the sunshine!

Mornings at our house

Theo, Dashiell, and Morley came over Wednesday morning (Morley isn't in the picture.)

My first Mitten:  I just decided to knit Jonah mittens and am really enjoying using a knitting pattern and learning some different skills.  

Jonah helped make cookies for uncle Jeff this Morning.  He loves licking that spoon!

Jonah wanted to paint this morning.  I was soaking beans to make "Gingery marinated chick-peas" and a "four-bean salad" from the Moosewood Cookbook and he thought that the beans were pretty cool.  All that to say we ended up with a nice bean and paint collage - quite fun.