The Z-man and his Momma

I made this!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Don't mind the clashing orange shirt LOL

I've ventured into the world of fleece diaper covers...by making my own! I really should've measured him before I started sewing, but I just went to it. I made a medium and I think it's too tight. However, it did do what it's supposed to do by keeping all the wetness and mess inside where it's supposed to be. I'm going to make a large soon and see if I like the fit on that better.

Fitted peeking out the top

Prefold under this one

I think they're really cute nonetheless and looking forward to making more.

What do you think?

8 months old!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:02:00 +0000

I just can't believe how fast this is going. I remember being 8 months pregnant and how it seemed to take forever. Now it's flying by!

Here's a picture of Z-man at his 8 month photo shoot. In the past month, he's learned to crawl and is getting into everything! He loves animals and will squeal with delight when one of his doggies walks in the room. He also has learned where the dog's water bowl is kept and it is 'Oh so much fun!' to splash and play and tip that over. He has his 2 bottom and 2 top teeth and several more on the way. They seem to be popping through so fast. He's pulled himself up a time or two, but is still really wobbly. Although he will ~~walk~~ run if you hold his hands to steady him. He's also learned to kick a ball when he's upright...soccer player?

Lately he's been battling a slight fever/runny nose. His pediatrician says it is most likely teething related. I sure hope he gets over it fast, because all 3 of us are not getting much sleep.

What else can I say? He's 19 lbs. and 29 inches tall and in 12 month clothing. He's quite the talker....mostly dada, but a few other sounds here and there. Oh, and I swore he said dog the other day.

Wordless Wednesday....Riding on Daddy's shoulders is the best!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:01:00 +0000

6 months old....that was fast!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:11:00 +0000


My handsome little man.

Z, I can't believe you are 6 months old already! Boy, time is sure flying by!! I have no idea how much you weigh because your 6 month appt. isn't for another couple weeks, but if I had to guess, I'd say you're pushing 20. You had a tooth pop through this week and have been working on another. This makes you a little cranky at times and definitely more clingy!


Your favorite place to take a nap lately...on mommy!

You still love standing and prefer to walk if held or in your walker. You're very close to crawling, but I'm starting to wonder if you will just go straight to walking (er, running!) You've been eating purees for awhile now and your favorites are banana's, mango's & sweet potato's. You're very enthusiastic about eating and wish mommy would let you feed yourself.

Practicing your piano playing skills with daddy.

You've been jabbering more and more each day and just recently have been saying dada. Daddy, of course, love this! Your favorite toy is mommy's measuring cup and love passing it from hand to hand. You can sit up on your own, though if you get excited about something (generally one of the dogs walking by) you will fall over. You're wearing 9 month clothing, but I'm sure you will be moving up to 12 month soon...especially with the big cloth diaper booty :) I love ya, Z-man!!

My baby is 5 months old!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:43:00 +0000

I can't believe you're 5 months old already baby Z! It seems like just yesterday you were still in mommy's tummy and I grumbling about how uncomfortable I was. You've grown so much!

Here are your Babycenter accomplishments for 5 months:

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do):

Sits momentarily without support - YES, this amazes me...I think it won't be long before your sitting on your own
Mouths objects - yes, you've been doing this for awhile now
Separation anxiety may begin - haven't really noticed this yet

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do):

Recognizes own name - this I'm not sure on...you will turn your head toward us occasionally when we say your name, but that's about it
Turns towards new sounds - yes
Rolls over in both directions - yes, though it's a lot easier for you to roll from your back to your tummy. You will roll from tummy to back when on your tummy, but that's rare.

Mastered Skills (most kids can do):

Distinguishes between bold colors - I think so, not really sure how to tell. You love grabbing any and every toy within reach. And you will smile at mommy or daddy when we are across the room and smile at you
Plays with his hands and feet - yes, you've been playing with your hands for awhile now and just discovered your feet about 6 weeks ago

Other than that, you will push way up when on your tummy and bring one knee up like you want to start moving, but haven't figured out how to bring the other up. You will spin on your tummy though to get to different toys around you. You've been able to stand with support since you were 2.5 months old and now when we hold you up, you will actually take steps in the direction you want to go. I'm thinking we should get you a walker since you absolutely love being upright!

I love my little Z-man!! And I love watching you grow and explore the world around you!

Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 01:20:00 +0000

Soaker number one made! I want to make a couple in each size. Hopefully they will go much quicker now that I know what I'm doing!

Here's the actual first one I attempted. Made newborn size, but skipped a portion in the pattern, so the leg holes are way to small. I will have to un-graft and see if I can fix it.

And here's my most recent pregnancy photo. Taken when I was 31w5d at my baby shower. Me and my sister-in-law (we are due 10 days apart!) And no, I do not know when I got that big! I don't look that big when I look down.

One FO and one WIP

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:55:00 +0000

Here is a current WIP photo of my Zarabel sweater. I'm on row 80 of the chart, getting somewhat close to the armholes. The yarn is great to work with (Berroco's Ultra Alpaca) and the cables and lace make it an interesting knit for me.

I finished Christopher's scarf today. It only took me 2 months because the only place I worked on it was at work, on break time. He says it's really warm, but not sure if he'll get much use out of it now that it looks like spring is finally here. But there is always next year! As long as he doesn't lose it between now and then.....

Another project finished....I'm on a roll!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:37:00 +0000

I liked this pattern and Christopher needed a new hat since I accidentally felted the old one. I finished it in just over a week - which is a bit of a record for me, but then again, it is only a hat. It was a fun knit though. The yarn is Cascade 220 tweed and it took about 3/4 of a skein, size 6 needles.

Jon's scarf

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:37:00 +0000

I know, it takes me forever to finish something, but this one was only a month. (I tracked my progress on Ravelry.) This scarf is for my brother, Jon. I debated and debated on how long to make it. The pattern called for 71", Jon thought that was too long, but it's actually not as long as you'd think. I didn't actually measure the finished project, but I stopped the pattern when it measured 73".

I really like the pattern, and several people commented on it as well. So I may end up making more scarves like this at some point.

Another finished project!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Socks for friend. I really don't think she reads this blog, but just in case, I'm not saying her name. She'll be getting them for her birthday.

Now that I've finished these, I hope to get working on Roscoe's sweater, because boy does he need it! It's cold here!!

1 finished object and update on projects

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:46:00 +0000

I actually finished something, can you believe it?!?! I started it back in June because I fell in love with the pattern. Toward the end there, it felt like it was taking forever, but the 7 hour car ride back from Virginia helped me with the final stretch. I modified the pattern just a bit by adding 2 rows of green as edging.

Because of the nature of the pattern, it came out quite wonky. I should have taken a picture pre-blocking, but I forgot.

Once I finished the baby blanket, I picked up my Cold Mountain stole again. I'm on chart C (which is the final chart), but have only just started that chart, so it could be awhile before I'm done. I can't wait to see how it looks blocked.

I've also started some plain, 2x2 rib socks for a friend. As you can see, I've got one sock done and just barely started the second. I was also too lazy to match up the color change in the yarn so they are completely matching. I hope she won't mind.

Kool-aid dyed socks update

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:36:00 +0000

I've frogged and started these socks over so many times. They are still a tad too big, but I didn't want to rip them out again, so this is how they will be. I am really enjoying the toe up method of sock making. Much easier to try them on as you go.

Trellis and Keyhole Tank update

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:29:00 +0000

As you can see, I haven't gotten too far on this tank. Once I got to the plain stockinette bit, I got interested in the much more fun lace project I'm also working on.

Cold Mountain update

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:21:00 +0000

So although I started several projects a month ago, this is the only one that I've really been working on. This is the Cold Mountain Stole from Knitty. I am currently in a KAL (knit-along) with my friend Melanie on this one. Last I checked she was beating me and most likely she still is. I'm trying desperately to catch up though :-)

Trellis and Keyhole Tank

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:58:00 +0000

Ok, I've been wanting to make a tank top for awhile and decided on this pattern from the Interweave Knits magazine. The yarn is also from Knitpicks, a cotton/modal blend that I thought would be nice for summer. The cast on took forever! It is the tubular cast-on and I had never done it before, 5 rows of casting on! Go figure...... I finally got past that part and am into the 1x1 ribbing. Now, if I can only get it done before summer is actually over. Maybe that's wishful thinking..............

Cold Mountain wrap

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:45:00 +0000

I also started this wrap at the knitting marathon because I had been itching to knit some lace recently. I haven't gotten very far yet, probably because I've been working mainly on my socks. It is a fun knit and the pattern has been pretty easy to memorize, so far. The pattern is from Knitty and the yarn is hand-dyed from Knitpicks. Are we sensing a theme here that I order yarn from Knitpicks a lot? Uh huh :-)

Kool-aid dyed yarn

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:32:00 +0000

When Melanie and I got together, she asked me if I wanted to try kool-aid dyeing with her. So of course, I said yes! And this is the result, pretty cool, huh?

I wanted to try something I had never tried before, so I pulled out my 60" length, size 1 needles and set to work. Two-at-a-time socks, from the toe up! After many restarts, I thought I finally had it, until I tried them on and they were coming out way too big! So I restarted again, and am not going to increase quite so much. This yarn is the sock blank from Knitpicks.

Sipalu bag

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:25:00 +0000

I ordered this kit from Knitpicks a looooooooooong time ago. After starting it a few times, I got frustrated and put it aside because I couldn't get the hang of the stranded color work. I took it up again a couple weeks ago and have caught on to the colorwork, but since the yarn is fingering weight (Palette yarn) it is slow going, but still fun. And no, I did not grow a third hand, I asked the hubs to help me hold it open so I could take a picture :-)

OpArt blanket

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:18:00 +0000

I started this blanket a few weeks ago because I just fell in love with the pattern. And you know what I thought....."Oh, this is going so fast!" But that was at the beginning and now that I've increased several rounds, I have slowed down quite a bit. I haven't worked on it in about a week since I've started other things after a knitting marathon with my friend, Melanie. This pattern is found on the knitty website. The yarn is what the pattern calls for, Swish DK weight from Knitpicks.

More socks!!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:20:00 +0000

I just finished the socks I had been working on this weekend. The yarn is Classic Elite Alpaca Sox and I loved knitting with it. It's very soft and I liked how the colorway had a spiral affect on the pattern I was knitting.

It's so hard to take pictures of your own feet. I have never found a good angle for it. So I begged hubby until he agreed - though he was grumbling about it.

Now, on to the next project as the yarn I ordered just arrived today - yay!!!

Finally, finally, FINALLY!!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:38:00 +0000

I'm finally done with knitting the main part of my mom's bag. Yes, I know this was supposed to be for Mother's Day, but I realized about halfway through that it was going to take a lot longer than I had anticipated. So here it is un-felted. I just have the I-cord handles to do and then felt it all and then I will be done. As Melanie says, Yay for finished projects!! LOL

It's done!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:15:00 +0000

My shrug is finally completed for my brother's wedding in April. You know what that means!?!?!? Time for new projects. Here are some quick pics my husband snapped of me modeling it. This is before I blocked it so that's why the sleeves curl up a bit. They won't after blocking. Plus, I'm going to thread some brown ribbon through the sleeves as well.

Christmas ornament

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:25:00 +0000

So yesterday, I decided to make a Christmas ornament for the ornament exchange at the Knitting Guild's Christmas party that was held this morning. I had the bright idea to make this snowflake fair isle ball. Well, I finished, but barely in time. The party started at 11:30 this morning and I finished at 10 this morning. Phew. I suppose I should have looked at the finished size though because it came out to be about 5 inches in diameter, when I was hoping about 3. Oh well. This is my 2nd fair isle project.

Update on progress

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:33:00 +0000

Since I've got the colorwork done on the vest I'm currently knitting, I thought I'd share a photo. Here it is, doesn't it look awesome!!! Since it's knit in the round, it's just straight knitting from here on out. I haven't worked too much on any of my other projects, so there's no pictures of those for now.

Yarn purchases this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (graceInk) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:02:00 +0000

While we did go to some yarn stores, all I could afford was some sock yarn. I probably won't start any more socks though until I get something else done.