My Funny Valentine

My sweet husband is always spoiling me. If you knew my life before my husband you might say it was about time someone did. Maybe not!?! Still, he seems to think I deserve it, and who am I to argue? I don't think in all my life anyone has ever taken the time and the effort to really know me as well as he does.

I always think of romantic relationships as petering out over time. It's not the case here. Every day I love him more. Every day I realize what a blessing he is.

The first picture is full of my Valentine's Day gifts from my hubby. The barrets are from Cubitas. They are so lovely. Look at the cute little boxes they came in in the second picture. The third is just an expirement in mittens. The fourth is some yarn my dh picked out for a sweater for himself that probably won't be enough now...oh well, yarn never goes to waste around here. Smile. I have to find him the perfect yarn. The name of this yarn was so appropriate too. He wants a non bulky kinda plain sweater. I have been on the hunt now for the perfect yarn and pattern for him for about a year. Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Ben and Jerry To The Rescue

Feeling down gets me thinking...waaaay to much.

I started smoking for the first time my senior year in high school. I started because (dumb reason in retrospect of course) my friend who drove me to school smoked heavily all the way to school. I figured "what the hey" I'm getting all this second hand smoke anyway...might as well enjoy it. Ugh! That was how many years ago? eeek...too long to mention.

I quit smoking for a couple of years before my first child was born. I started again after my second child was born and quit again before the third was born. I started smoking about a year after the third child was born and smoked until I got pregnant with the fourth. I started again when my father died three months after the fourth was born. I just quit smoking about 10 months ago when I found out I was pregnant with Zeke (number 5). What a @#$%&!! rollercoaster! I said I'd quit for good after the last baby. I mean to...that is...I'd like to stay quit. I just crave the darn things so badly. I don't even smoke the ones with all the additives that make them especially addictive. I smoked American Spirits. My husband quit for the first time with this last child. I think alot of what is keeping me from smoking is feeling that he will smoke also and that is not fair to him.

I didn't quit because of popular opinions. I always smoked outdoors and took care not to annoy other people with it. I never smoked during a pregnancy. I didn't quit because of my health. I come from a long line of heavy smokers who are a pretty sturdy stock and live healthy until around the age of 90 something. I quit for good because my daughter (6 at the last quit time) told me that watching me smoke made her want to do it.

I'm not a drug taker...not even asprin...not even a motrin during any of the five natural hard and long birth/labors of my five wonderful children. I do however miss my American Spirits. I am trying so hard to resist. I think about it alot. I don't think of myself as an especially weak person...rather strong I'd say. This just happens to be my achilles heal. Anyway...I thought blogging about it might help ease the addict demons and of course a little Ben and Jerry's always helps!

Some light online shopping could cheer me up temporarily....hint... http://www.cubitas.com/jewelry/hair-accessories/hair-pins

Wink!

Mrs MJW

Name That Fiber!

I am having a little contest to invoke curiosity and hopefully round up some new online acquaintances. If you can name the fiber in the first picture I will send you as a prize the hank of alpaca pink yarn in the second picture. I knit a scarf in this yarn before. It is yummy.

Lets say that the first to name the fiber by March the first will get the prize! Please be specific! Happy guessing!

Mrs MJW

Zeke's Sweater Vest

Needles: Size 5 dpns
Size 5 straight ndls
Yarn: 4 (50g) skeins 4 different colors DK Merino Knit Picks

Front:

Cast on 60 stitches
K1 P1 rib for 1"
work patt of your choice for 6" (or desired length to arm pit)
CO 4 sts beginning of next 2 rows for pits
K to middle of vest (30sts)
Slip next 30 sts onto a holder
K back and forth in patt of your choice decreasing 1 st each end of K row 3X's
at same time decrease 1 st at neck edge to end of piece (2 more inches)
slip to holder and knit other side of shoulder the same way

Back:

The back is in a solid color.
CO 60 sts
K in KP rib for 1"
K in stockinette stitch for 6" (or same length as front)
CO 4 sts beginning next two rows (or same as front)
decrease 1 st at each end 3X's
K st stitch for 2 more inches (or same as front)
Slip first 14 sts on holder, 16 sts onto middle holder and last 14 onto holder (total three holders)

Assemble:

Weave in all ends on front piece
Attach front and back pieces at shoulders by using 3 needle bind off
Sew up the sides to pit
Turn right side out, pick up and knit 23sts (begin at V point)on right side of front of vest
K across back (middle) holder and increase 1 st for every 2 along the back of neck
Pick up and knit 23 sts down the left side
(Using four dpns at this point is very helpful. It helps you see the V more easily.)
Work in KP rib for three rows. On last row kp to last three sts K2 tog. Then knit last stitch and first stitch from next needle together, and then CO VERY loosely. (Caution: babies heads are large! Make sure its LOOSE. You can otherwise make it very uncomfortable for your little one if it is too tight.)
Pick up and knit 43 sts on each arm hole edge. Work in KP rib for three rows. It is not necessary to CO so loosely for arm holes.

I hope you enjoy this pattern and the pictures. I hardly ever write things down this coherently, but if you have trouble you can leave me a comment/question and I'll get back to you on it.

My babies are big. Zeke is about 11lbs. I will go so far as to say that this vest should fit a baby anywhere from 0-6mths.

This is my pattern, and you may use it if you like.

TTFN!

Zeke Says

"I really don't say anything yet, but my mommy advertises her thoughts on my clothing."

More Winter

I confess I was so bright and cheery last week when the sun was out and the temperature was in the sixties and seventies. I had forgotten how much the weather affects me. I love the rain. It doesn't have to be dry...just sunny. I sat on the porch last week with the baby feeding at my breast and just revelled in the sunlight on our cheeks. It felt like love and power absorbing through our skin.

Now the weather is back to fourties and fifties. We even had a whisper of snow yesterday morning. So for now I'll have to look into the faces of my wonderful little ones for the warmth and the joy. They are such beautiful little people. Here is another picture of my littlest sunshine. Zeke! Zeke means "Strength of God". How appropriate for my littlest guy. He's such a joy.

The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool. I am using it to make the pattern "Salina" from Vintage Style by Rowan. I love this yarn. I made a shawl with it once. It feels a bit on the fragile side though.

Baby Zeke

Just a picture of my adorable little bundle of a boy! He was born December 30, 2007. The labor was long and hard hard hard, but we made it.