Barefoot Childhood

Weekend Loves

2012-02-17T20:45:00.000-06:00

"Look, Mama! I'm an elephant!"

A few links for your weekend:

: : I finished the Beyond Puerperium baby cardigan a few days ago. It's a simple pattern, but not dreadfully boring...a good combo, me thinks. I did the first one in a sport weight, and I've cast on for another in a fingering weight. Photos to come...eventually. (Here's a free version of the same cardi. It has fewer sizes and yarn options.)

: : Popsicle sticks and velcro are on tomorrow's shopping list. I'm convinced that this will keep Levi busy for hours!

: : 100 ways to be kind to your child.

: : This doll and her sweet clothes. Oh. my. Love!

: : If I can stop knitting baby clothes for a few minutes, then these might jut make their way into this year's Easter baskets.

Happy weekend!

Other than buying popsicle sticks and velcro, I'll be conquering the mountain of laundry (that I've already been working on for two days!), catching up on Downton Abbey, and, of course, knitting. How about you? Any fabulous (or not so much) weekend plans up your sleeve?

Favorite New Toy?

2012-02-16T21:35:00.000-06:00

This is what he asks to do every day now.

"Mama, I love to wind yarn for you! Can I wind more?"

"Sorry, Baby, there is no more."

"Mama, can I wind more tomorrow?"

If it was up to him we'd spend our grocery money on yarn just so that he could wind it.

The first swifts I looked at were the umbrella style. They're pretty, but at upwards of $50 I knew I would cringe every time my kids went near it. I didn't want something that I only felt comfortable pulling out when they were sleeping. Yay for this Amish-design swift. It's inexpensive and seems to be reasonably kid-proof...a good combo. The ball winder was also inexpensive, and so far, so good.

Yesterday...In Mostly Photos

2012-02-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

French toast, strawberries, mama-made hearts, cards exchanged, a lunch date...just the two of us (thanks, Mom), flowers from my love, a nap, tea and knitting in bed, topped off by a yummy supper made by my favorite Valentine.
I don't think it could have been any better.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T08:10:00.014-06:00

Hope y'all have a day full of joy and love!

Happy Anniversary To Us!

2012-02-13T07:10:00.014-06:00

2 years.
2 kids.
1 more on the way.
1 ongoing house renovation.
Loads of love.
And dreams for the future.

I can't wait for more.
I love you.
Happy Anniversary!

More about our wedding here.

Sunday

2012-02-12T07:05:00.007-06:00

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
~Jeremiah 17: 7-8

At Last!

2012-02-11T20:16:00.000-06:00

I finally finished Levi's Gramps Cardigan. I blocked it a couple of days ago, and put the buttons on today. This is the first knitting project that I've been really proud of. To say it was a challenge is an understatement. There were so many times when I sat there scratching my head and thinking I'm never going to get past this point. It was my first go at cables which were actually surprisingly easy. The hard parts came in trying to figure out the construction with vague instructions, decreasing through the cables, short rows in ribbing, and some math errors in the pattern itself. Yikes. The only really noticeable flaw is in the collar. I made it way too wide. I think in my short row confusion I ended up adding too many rows. Oh, yeah, and I put the buttons on the wrong side...oops. I still love the way it turned out, and more importantly Levi is thrilled. He was involved in the decision making process from the beginning and has been diligently checking my progress for the past 5 months. He had final say over the pattern, the yarn color, and the buttons. The boy's got taste...if I do say so myself.

For the knitterly types: I used 3 skeins of Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Paints. I knit the sweater in a size 6, so he would have room to grow. My Ravelry notes are here. Happy knitting!

Weekend Loves

2012-02-10T18:51:00.000-06:00

A few things worth checking out...

: : A chocolate craving led to making this dairy free chocolate mousse. It was yum. I used sugar to sweeten it, but next time I'll try turning it into a much healthier pudding by replacing the sugar with ripe bananas.

: : I'm smitten with these valentines.

: : Striped and polka dotted paper straws. Need I say more?

: : After seeing this, I think I might need some Rasta yarn of my very own. So pretty.

Run across anything wonderful lately?

Knitting Pretty

2012-02-07T20:23:00.004-06:00

via

Miss Hepburn makes me want to have better posture while knitting.

Everyday Blessings

2012-02-06T21:14:00.000-06:00

Is it just me or are Mondays coming around faster these days?
Anyway, happy Monday! Here's my attempt at starting the week off on the right foot...one of gratitude.

I am grateful...

: : that teeth eventually have to surface and no longer cause 3 am wake ups. I'm going for advanced gratitude with this one. ;)

: : that I am very close to finishing Levi's Gramp's Cardigan. It's been awhile since something has sat in my knitting basket for sooooo long.

: : that despite being oh so tired from the many teeth Sophia has coming in, I have still managed to be a not too terribly grouchy mama. I'm pretty sure that was all God's doing because I certainly struggle to be nice when exhausted.

: : that I have a really sweet husband who cleaned the microwave. That sounds so dumb when I type it out, but it had been on my neglected to do list forever. Then I woke up one morning, put a cup of water in, and surprise! It was sparkling. He gets me.

: : that this baby's kicks are getting stronger each day. Little baby kicks make it all so much more 'real' (for lack of a better term). I'm not actually ready for baby just yet. There's still lots of knitting to be done. Okay, and maybe a few other more practical things too. Thank goodness for a 9 month waiting period, but at the same time I can't wait to meet him/her.

: : that Levi and Sophia love each other so much. They wake up each morning and first thing want to see one another. They hug and squeal and laugh and play. It makes my heart smile.

: : that my mom came over this evening to watch the kids while I went to a yoga class. While she was here she even folded laundry, and got the kids ready for bed! She's a good mom.

I could keep going. It's been a good week, but I think I'm going to knit a bit more on that Gramp's Cardigan and then hit the sack. After all there's a very likely chance of another 3 am wake up.

Dear Teeth,

Please, feel free to take a break for a night or so. We could all use the rest.

Thanks,

Sophia's Mama

So, how about you? What have some of your everyday blessings been?

Sunday

2012-02-05T20:11:00.000-06:00

Photo flashback...Levi February 2011

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations."

~Psalm 100

Weekend Loves

2012-02-03T21:26:00.000-06:00

Links to love...

: : Petite Purls has some dreamy free knitting patterns. This and this are a couple of my faves.

: : Yana gave birth to a beautiful baby girl recently. Her wonderful homebirth story is here.

: : This made me laugh way harder than it should.

: : Little boy fun.

Happy Weekend, y'all!

Morning Pile Up (Or How To Wake Daddy)

2012-02-02T19:51:00.006-06:00

The Bump

2012-02-01T19:51:00.000-06:00

I'm nearly 20 weeks....halfway there! How did that happen so fast?

My first two pregnancies were so different from one another. After Sophia was born, I decided that it must be because she was a girl and Levi was a boy. Ha. This one is really different from my previous two, so unless there's a third gender that I am unaware of then I have to come to the conclusion that all pregnancies (at least mine) are just different.

Although, the differences are many, the one that is most on my mind these days is food. With Levi all I wanted all day long was junk food...chocolate in particular. With Sophia I had so many food aversions that I actually had trouble eating, but what I did eat was generally healthy. Oddly, though, I gained more weight with her. With this one, I've craved healthy foods and lots of them...raw onions, cucumbers, any veggie drenched in lemon juice, pomegranates, oranges, avocados, and salads. Okay, so red meat and dairy were major cravings for awhile there too...not exactly my idea of health food but still different from my previous pregnancies.

Levi and Sophia are pretty much like compatible (at least for now) polar opposites. It all just makes me curious about this new little one. Will he or she be wildly different as well? No two are alike I suppose, which really just makes it all the more exciting. In 20ish more weeks we'll get to meet this new, tiny person...who, I am positive, will fit right into our little family no matter what.

Everyday Blessings

2012-01-30T22:57:00.000-06:00

Maybe it's just pregnancy hormones, but I have been extra grouchy this week. I'll blame it on the return of fatigue...really, though, most of attitude comes down to choice. I haven't been choosing so wisely lately.
I think a little reorienting of perspective is definitely in order today, so here are just a few of the blessings from my week...

: : Tonight's yoga class. Getting out of the house to do something good for my body and soul is refreshing. Also, I came home to a happy, albeit rowdy, house and got hugs all around.

: : Stephan ripped out our old (very beaten up) counter tops and replaced them with new ones. There's still a lot of touch up work to be done on his next week off, but the kitchen looks so much brighter now.

: : Stephan has been busy. On top of home renovations, he sold my old car and his old motorcycle. I admit to getting extra grouchy about all of the phone calls and interruptions, but the motorcycle sold in two days and the car in one. Plus, our bank account looks much happier now.

: : A friend lent me some knitting needles and sent along a bag of clothes and some cute hand knit legwarmers for Fia. Generosity is always something to smile about.

: : I finished knitting the owlie sleep sack for the new baby, and I'm making lots of headway on Levi's sweater. And, I have a swift and ball winder being shipped to me as we speak. I cannot wait. I'm trying to hold off on my next knitting project so I can test drive them on the yarn. I'm glad I can knit again. The first trimester was made all the more difficult because knitting made me nauseated. I'm not sure if this is actually true or not, but in my head I'm a better person when I can knit.

: : That photo up there ought to be enough reason to feel blessed! Sophia loves to give kisses. When she wants to kiss you she makes the cutest fish lips and a little smacking noise to accompany them. The adorableness kills me.

What have your everyday blessings been lately?

Sunday

2012-01-29T07:21:00.003-06:00

"Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need."
~Hebrews 4:16

Weekend Loves

2012-01-27T19:56:00.000-06:00

The daffodils have already started blooming, and I even saw irises on the side of the road. Oh. my. What a warm winter we have had!

Onto the links...

: : Lately, I've been loving the blog, Posie Gets Cozy. This little sweater was what got me hooked. And, this cake sealed the deal.

: : Speaking of cakes...the star topper for this one is too cute!

: : For Valentine's Day morning this easy, yummy breakfast is in order.

: : We have lots of mismatched chairs. I've toyed with the idea of painting them different colors, but I'm really liking this color scheme.

: : I want to make this sweet, soft baby book.

So, what have you been looking at this week?

Oh, The Cuteness

2012-01-26T10:05:00.023-06:00

I've been diligently working on an owlie sleep sack for the new baby and on Levi's sweater that I started months and months ago. I ~~have~~ had plans to start up more baby projects when those are finished. Ahem. Then I saw this.

Source: lionbrand.com via Tanya on Pinterest

And, this.

Source: images4.ravelrycache.com via Madeline on Pinterest

Now, all I can think about is how much fun it is to knit for girls. Both of those just scream Sophia. It probably doesn't hurt that they are in shades of purple. I am inexplicably drawn to purple and yellow when pregnant.

Maybe a little knitting detour is in order.

Food and Knitting

2012-01-25T22:03:00.000-06:00

A good day = fulfilled pregnancy cravings and loads of knitting.

Today was a good day.
Stephan (my knight in shining armor) not only went out of his way to get me the best tacos around....

But, he also made me a bowl of my very favorite. Tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and mint swimming in lemon juice...heaven.

And, he let me sit around knitting all afternoon while he entertained the kiddos.

I don't think I could have asked for a better husband. Or a better day.

Hope you had a happy Wednesday, too!

Everyday Blessings

2012-01-23T21:20:00.000-06:00

Some of the joys and blessings from our week...

: : My kids melt my heart...today Levi said, "It would be fun if I put a crown in your hair. Then you could be my beautiful, beautiful mommy. Let me go get some pipe cleaners." Then, post crown-making, "There! Now you are a beautiful princess!" The resulting crowns (he needed one too) are above.

: : My dad has spent the past two Monday evenings watching the munchkins so that I could attend a prenatal yoga class. It's six weeks long, and he, my mom, and Stephan are splitting the evenings up, so I can go. It's been really great, and I already feel more prepared for carrying and delivering this baby.

: : Speaking of baby. Y'all, there is an itty bitty person inside of me, and it kicks a ton! Squeal! I love baby kicks...especially when they're too small to aim for my bladder or lungs.

: : For awhile now we've been having some...hmmm...shall we call them challenges?...with Levi. It's been hard, and there have been times when we've been at a total loss. We've prayed and talked and prayed and talked, and finally we seem to have found some things that are working. We've made quite a few changes, and we're starting to see some really positive results. So, yay! Sigh of relief.

: : The pipe cleaners find their way onto more than just heads around here. It's fun to stumble upon Levi's pipe cleaner "installations" around the house. His favorite theme being the spider web...

: : And, of course, I have to mention the van again! We were extra blessed with that one because we didn't have to go into debt to buy it. We were a little nervous about being able to find something good in our price range, but, of course, God pulled through...despite our doubts. Also, we bought it from a preacher who was selling it so that he could afford to go on a mission trip. I love that our money not only got us exactly what we needed but also funded missions.

So, what blessings have come your way this week?

Sunday

2012-01-22T07:12:00.011-06:00

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
~Deuteronomy 31:6

Weekend Loves

2012-01-20T19:57:00.000-06:00

Good stuff...

: : Downton Abbey is back! I'm a total sucker for Masterpiece Theater, and they haven't disappointed with this one.

: : This whole flickr stream of dolls is killin' me with its cuteness!

: : Two retro valentines here and here.

: : Love this article.

: : I decided on the Owlie Sleep Sack. It's knitting up nicely.

Happy Weekend!

So Far So Good

2012-01-18T20:47:00.000-06:00

So far this week, we bought a van! It's so roomy, and a third car seat will be no problem. Plus, it's way easier to park than the truck. I am the world's worst at parking, so this is major for me. (Promise I was at a full and complete stop when I took that pic.)

The belly is a growing. I'm nearing 18 weeks, and I finally felt this baby move!!!!!!!!

Yay!!!!

That's actually Sophia signing "nurse", but it's super cute and looks appropriate for "Yay".

Happy Wednesday!!

Everyday Blessings

2012-01-16T11:53:00.000-06:00

My sister and Sophia

A few blessings from the week...

: : Stephan was off work the last half of the week. He let me sleep in a lot. He's also cooked almost all of our meals. Best of all, he discovered my new favorite food to crave...a giant bowl of tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley swimming in lemon juice. Yum.

: : My parents kept the kids at their house yesterday after church so that Stephan and I could go to the movies. A date! We never get to go on those, so it was quite a treat.

: : We found a very affordable sit and stand stroller in excellent condition at a consignment shop! Levi is forever wanting to ride with Sophia on walks and at the zoo, so this is perfect.

: : We also bought shelves for a closet I cleared out a few weeks ago. It's well on it's way to becoming our toy library...an idea from Simplicity Parenting. I'm already so impressed by the changes we've made based on that book. Both of the kids have begun to play in a more engaged way, and they seem a lot calmer and happier at home.

: : We're looking forward to lunch with my sister and parents today. Annie is only in town briefly, but it's always fun to see her!

Hope y'all had a blessed week!

Sunday

2012-01-15T07:20:00.006-06:00

"Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it"

~Proverbs 4:23