Back to Reality

My mom has been here for two glorious weeks and 3 days.  This morning after a delicious greasy spoon diner breakfast we said our goodbyes and she pulled out onto the highway, headed for home.  This past week we got a few "your mom's still here? comments".  Yes! She's amazing.  I don't know how we'd have gotten through these last 17 days without her.

This past week was all about slowly acclimating to our new bigger family.  I cooked a bit more, started delving into some household chores, all the while with the support of my wonderful mother, who kept my two big girls so happy and active.  It's kind of appropriate that her trip ended on mother's day weekend.  What a great reminder of what an amazing woman I have as a mom.  I love you, you're the best!

Having her here allowed us to be mostly ourselves, and do so many things that would otherwise have been far too overwhelming this early in our parents to three gig.  Take Ian's graduation for instance.  No way could I have braved that 5 hour sojourn through the city and back to see our boy all hooded and robed.  I am SO thankful we got to experience that together.

Ian's dad, Dan was also here for a bit and he, his son and the girls had some extra fun too.

Botanic Gardens

Post Bedtime Cubs Game

It's times like these when I'm almost thankful we don't live so close to everyone.  Because when we're together, we're together. It's wonderful.

And all those moments in the middle?  The ones where the girls are smitten and we are overjoyed and our hearts swell to bursting with gratitude and happiness and our new baby is just too cute for words?  Well, of course there's lots of those.

And now that we're on our own? blazing the trail to this family of five thing full force?  well, it's kind of great so far.  I've been stunned by how easy it's all been. How getting up once or twice a night to feed and change my boy is no big deal, still kind of remarkable and fun I'll admit.  Today after pulling out from breakfast and saying goodbye we fell right back in to ourselves, our family.  Tromped over to some garage sales, scored BIG (lots of amazing clothes for all, puzzles, new bowls...good stuff) napped, took Ainsley on a little mommy daughter outing, and now?  My baby is in my lap, we're listening to trumpet concertos, the house is quiet and life is amazingly good.

Felix is the sweetest, we love him so much, and while I know getting the girls to and from school for the next two weeks is going to be dicey I also know that we'll be just fine.  I am SO excited to settle back further into ourselves, rediscover spring and summer with my three little ones, take trips up north, relish in the lush world outside (once my dang allergies clear) and be us, because that's what it's all about.

Ahh.  Reality is really really good right now.  I'm glad I'm here.

Getting Organized

This post is really just for me.  A little jumpstart, some fun to dos to get me back in my groove.  I've been so ansty for our baby to come these past months that I've really slacked off in the making things department.  I am so excited to have a few moments to get a bit organized and line up my projects for the coming months.  Perhaps you can help me narrow it down?  I tend to get a bit carried away when it comes to adorable tiny knits and luscious yarns...

For the tiny boy...
The one absolute MUST for fall and winter is at least one little old man cardigan.  Lining them up below I think it's pretty obvious to me that I need to make the top one, aborably coined the Gramps Cardigan, but that bottom knit, the Fish Creek Sweater, sure is cute too.  And then that simple middle choice, the Demne?  kind of looks like a staple to me.  Oh boy, how will I choose.

I see this wrapped in delightfully bright paper for our third born on Christmas morning.  Could it be any cuter?  

And of course AFTER he has arrived I would find the perfect FREE baby bonnet pattern.  I may just have to whip this one up for the cool days we're still having, and those inevitable cool nights up at the cabin this summer.  It's too cute not to.

My other knitting faux pa?  I made Felix's baby blanket in amazingly soft THICK AS ALL GET OUT organic cotton.  I don't know what I was thinking.  It will be perfect as a play mat this summer, but as a buttery soft wrap around blanket? Not so much.  I may just have to start in on a new one for my spring babe and this Hansel pattern, with lace edging and manly huntsman coloring seems kind of perfect.  Plus when/if he decides he's over his mama made blankey?  I'll get to inherit it as a shawl.

And now for my girls.  With Ainsley's new sweater completed earlier this year they're both pretty set for long sleeved knits, though their favorite cap sleeved cardigans are just this side of small.  I'm excited to have an excuse to try out a revamped Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern for them.  This one is the February sweater, adapted for a 5T, perfect for Ainsley, and really Louise too.  My girls are getting so big!

Another knit I've been dying to try out for them is one of those over the dress layering sweaters.  Here's one called Bulle, and I love its shaping, but the girls would have to be VERY keen on them to justify all that tiny knitting.

This one looks like a good option too, a bit simpler and smaller.  I love the eyelet and front band details.

This is a cardigan version of the same idea, with 3/4 length sleeves and adorable shaping.  I would love to make them each one for next spring.

For my biggest girl...

Ainsley has been begging me for her own "nay nay" (mama knit blanket) ever since she's realized that Louise's are actually hers from babyhood.  This knit is actually called the sunshine baby blanket, knit in a half circle which is kind of perfect for a loose swaddle, but then grows with the child into a shawl, which really, is how baby blankets are used by little ones as they grow (or at least by my kids).  It's very simple, and I may look up some fun lace pattern for the edging to spruce it up, but I think with the right yarn it will be just perfect for my biggest girls who needs and deserves a little extra love at the big sister to two little ones.  I can't wait to see her face when I give it to her! (in a few months ;o)

And of course in addition to all these knits I have many sewing projects in mind.  The girls are really pretty set for summer, still I can't resist some new simple sundresses and skirts, of course oodles of pillowcase nightgowns and FINALLY finishing up their quilts (just in time for the heat, I know I know).

I hope all of this making will ground us in our old ways among all this change we've faced this year.  I see long summer mornings out and about, enjoying the sun, water and earth, and lazy afternoons at home, making sure our sweet baby gets at least one good nap in, and that we get all of our goodies made!

Ahhh.  That felt good.

First Days

Felix is 10 days old today.  My mom's been here just as long and Ian went back to work last Wednesday.  I'm slowly slowing trying to ease back into full time parenting and caretaking.  It's a process.  We're getting there. Really enjoying this newborn cocoon while we can.

evening out the playing field a bit

learning how to multitask

always time for extra snuggles

my newest little kitchen helper

Grammy makes entertaining three look way too easy...

This past week has been pretty good.  Once I figured out that it was a wicked case of mastitis that was causing my excruciating pain, things have been on the upswing.  We've spent the week as normally as possible.  My mom carting the girls to and from school, me tagging along with Felix every so often to introduce him to all of our regulars, the girls' teachers and friends.  The best reaction I got to his newness and cuteness was from my good friends at the bakery.  They insisted on giving each of the girls their own free sprinkle cookie and rounded my order total down to the nearest dollar.  They even hollared at the baker to come to the front to see "the most adorable 8 day old baby imaginable!". I can't disagree.

Yesterday we did our first big excursion, up to Winnetka to see my grandparents.  Felix was spoiled beyond imagination, both with gifts and snuggles, while the girls enjoyed all the extra attention on them and running around and playing in one of the coolest houses ever.  

The girls crashed in the car on the way home and I ran into Target while my mom watched my brood, so thankful for possibly the last solo shopping trip I'll get in a long long time.  Now today I'm paying a bit for that outing.  I forget how long it takes for the body to recover fully from all that being pregnant and giving birth stuff.  So I'm taking it slow today.  Feeling a bit frustrated, but thankful that I can still take it slow, surrounded by so much help. And of course so thankful for my beautiful healthy baby boy.  That kind of makes everything better, just about always.

It's been a great 10 days.