Yes, there has been knitting! Not much but there is knitting!

Before I had my sweet CGR, I knew there would be a decrease in the amount of time I would be able to spend knitting and spinning.  I still thought I would at least think about it right away....boy did I not realize the power of sleep deprivation and baby brain has on you when you first have a child.  I know other women who were able to pick up their needles very soon after having a baby but it took me a month or so of realizing that the times when I could knit I wasn't.  It wasn't that I didn't want to knit but there wasn't enough room in my brain for thinking about knitting. :)  I didn't realize I missed it so much until one day I realized I had not knit a stitch in weeks!!  I talked to my sisters about it and they explained that when I was over their house if I wanted to knit while they held the baby, which they were doing anyway, I could knit.  It took me a couple visits to start doing that and then it was close to going back to work after my maternity leave and I still hadn't knit very much. 

Once I got back to work and little miss CGR started actually having a bedtime she was sticking to, I finally starting knitting more.  I tried to knit at least a couple stitches after putting her to bed at night and before I crawled into bed myself.  I still wasn't getting much done because she was waking up so often at night so I was dead tired working full time and trying to help around the house.  I also am the only one who gets up when she cries at night because I'm breastfeeding and honestly there really isn't much my husband can do most nights.  Every once in a while, I need to get him up if she wants to play too much and I've been trying to get her to sleep for over an hour and losing my ever loving momma mind! But mainly, she fusses I get up, feed her, and she's right back to sleep.  Anyway, I'm getting off topic..yes...momma brain. 

So, at work I have to take pump breaks and at first I would go and watch netflix shows on my ipod and pump.  I'm well into the 2nd season of Lie to Me and I love it!  Then my best friend since 9th grade sent me the most amazing thing EVER!!  A hands-free pump bra!  It revolutionized my pumping!  I then added an extra 20 minutes of knitting a day!  Once I added that, I got my knitting mojo back and have been knitting more in the evenings and weekends again!  Thankfully, little miss CGR is sleeping better.  She still wakes up 1-3 times a night but I'm getting enough sleep that I feel ok staying up past her bedtime for a while and knit. 

I have TONS of things I've added to my queue lately and I also started a new project!  In an upcoming post, I'll share my ever growing queue list but today I'll just share what I'm working on.

This pattern was shown to me by the inspiring Jasmin from the Knitmore Girls Podcast.  I have mentioned her and I talk about patterns a lot.  I was looking for something inspiring to start for myself and she sent me this and I quickly bought the pattern and cast on that night I believe!

Goodale(rav link) by Cecily Glowik MacDonald 

Using Green Shuibuiknits Worsted

It doesn't look like much yet but I'm moving right along with the pattern and am about to split for the sleeves.  So far the pattern is straight-forward and simple.  Exactly what I needed.

So...for all you wondering out there.  Yes, I'm knitting!  I've even spun a bit since I had CGR and finished up some fiber I was working on and have been slowly...and I mean VERY slowly working on some new fun Polwarth!

Happy Knitting!!

This moment - The determination of a new solid food "eater!"

{this moment} – A Friday ritual from Soule Mama.  A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your “moment” in the comments for all to find and see.

And the adventure in solid food begins...

I've been doing research on starting solids since little miss CGR was only 2 months old.  I quickly decided that I was going to wait until she was ready...and 6 months olds.  I read several ways of doing solids but the one that made the most sense to me was Baby Led Solids or as it was originally called in the UK Baby Led Weaning.  In the UK, weaning means to start solids and doesn't mean what we think it does of weaning from nursing.

What is Baby Led Solids you ask?  Well, in my words, it's skipping purees and cereals and waiting until your baby is developmentally ready to eat foods, such as showing interest in foods, sitting up pretty well, and more. Then instead of spoon feeding your baby, you start with french fry shaped fruits and steamed or baked veggies and put them in front of your baby and let them feed themselves.  This is done while monitoring them very closely of course.  At around the time you start, you baby's gag reflex is far forward in their mouth so this helps them from choking.  It takes them time to learn to manipulate the food around it and down their gullet.  I've been warned there is a lot of gagging but to let the baby work it out.  If they are chocking of course intervene.  The blog that helped me gain the most confidence in this method and really helped me understand was Adventures in Solid Foods.  I've read the thing from start to finish!  It's got everything you want from facts, to loads of pictures and some video!

The book that started this is called Baby Led Weaning by Gill Rapley. I have not read it yet but have read a lot of excerpts from it. :)




So, armed with this knowledge I pledged to wait until my girl turned 6 months old until she would taste anything but breast milk.  We all know best laid plans are always broken right?

The last two weeks or so Carmen who will be 5 months old on May 1st has suddenly discovered that these humans around her put all kinds of food in their mouth and they seem to really enjoy it!  She stared at us whenever we ate or drank anything.  Last week, she forcefully grabbed my cup of water I was drinking out of while I was holding her so I let her have a sip.  You would have thought it was the best thing EVER!  She was so excited!  I only let her have a little bit of it because I wasn't ready for her to drink too much water.  Also am worried it will effect her nursing and then my milk supply.

Then came today.  I went home for lunch to nurse Carmen as I do pretty much every day and after she ate I sat her in her booster chair with the toy part in it and we were just playing.

Then her nanny niece Sarah sat next to us and was eating an apple.  Carmen was interested so I said let's try it out.  She at first didn't notice we had put it on her tray but once I showed it to her and she got it in her hands and IMMEDIATELY it went into her mouth.  Thankfully I was already taking pictures of her so I changed my cellphone to video and caught her experiencing the sweet juiciness of apple!

I'm still not really ready for her to eat too much solid food but the fact she's so interested I plan to try out some other things I think she'll do ok with.  I don't want to do anything too mushy as I don't quite think she's ready for things to go down her throat.  Apples seem like a great start!   She was even able to pick them up when they got all slobbery!

See her figuring it out!  It's amazing to watch her brain working so hard!

Well, as we try new foods and actually start eating things I'll share more of our "Adventures in Solid Foods."  Hope you enjoy it as much as Little Miss Carmen does.

Happy Eating!

Happy Earth Day and Good Friday!

With today being Earth Day and Good Friday all in one, I figured I'd start with some green talk and tell you about a family tradition.

How green are you?  What do you do that you would consider being "Earth" friendly? I've often thought that I wish I was "greener" than I am.  Currently, we try to use some natural cleaners but we don't do enough in my opinion.  I wish we did more recycling and ate only fruits and veggies from the farmers market and so much more that would benefit the world and us but alas we do not!

If I had my way, I would not just be a breastfeeding, somewhat baby wearing momma but I'd also be a cloth diapering one.   When we were pregnant, the conversation between Special K and I went something like this.  "I plan to breastfeed"..."ok"..."what do you think about cloth diapers?"..."not into them."..."ok."  I'm sure there was more to it than that but that's how I remember it.  As you can tell, I was ok not trying them out.  My sister had tried them and she had problems with leaking and it didn't work out for her.   I also knew we'd have a hard time finding daycare that would support this cloth diapering idea and I was already having such a hard time finding one that I was comfortable with.  In the end, my niece is our daycare provider until the fall but I did talk to my nanny niece about cloth diapering once and she was the same as Special K...not into them.   So, we've never tried them but I feel if I was a stay at home mom that I would put more effort into trying them as I do think they are a great idea.  Well...maybe someday with the next baby I'll try them out.  So...for this Earth Day I will  put it out there...someday I plan to be more green by trying cloth diapers...someday...but as sad as it is...that day is not today.

Cloth Diapering Mommas out there...did you try cloth diapers?  What worked for you?  What didn't?

On a happy note, my baby is a happy girl!  She is spending today with her daddy because he has the day off!  I wish I was staying home with them but instead I have to head to work...oh well.  Some of you may have already seen this video but here is my girl laughing at her cousin Crazy boy! :)  He's a riot!



I love her laugh and I melt every time I hear it!

Good friday:
When I was a little girl growing up in Panama, my family had a tradition.  On Good Friday, we'd all pile in the car and go to 7 yes, count that 7 different churches.  Each church represented a station of the cross.  I'm sure I complained a lot when I was young but I appreciated the tradition and my father always bribed us with lunch out afterwards.   Today as I work, I will remember all the beautiful old churches we visited in Panama and remember the many times we visited them when I was growing up.

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!  I will be working all day and then heading to a wedding at night.  It will be the most time away from little CGR I have had yet.  I will miss her tremendously but I know that her and her daddy will have a good day together.

Well...better get to bed and schedule this for tomorrow!  Have a lovely Friday and happy Earth Day and Good Friday!

God Bless

Dogs on Thursday: Letting the dogs out.

The Barknknit pups are doing really good!  As has been discussed, they are doing really good adjusting to life with CGR. She is already a dog lover!  She loves to watch any dog around her and she just wants to pet them aka grab them and put their fur in her mouth if they are close enough!    We have several rituals we do with her and the dogs.  One is we like to go around and say "Good morning" or "Good night" to the pups.  She usually gets a nice big wet tongue but she just goes along with it.   Another thing she likes to do with the pups is go and watch them while they are being let out in the backyard.  Here is one of these experiences in pictures.

Abby likes to hang out in the screened in back porch with us.  Abbygirl knows this is the best place to be to get pet and for some lovin. 

However, if Abby hears a pup or person passing by the fence then she runs out to join Jackjack in the barking!  This prompted little miss CGR to call out to them and or join their barking at the innocent person passing by. 

Then Jackjack came over to get his love in before we headed inside.

It's amazing to see that our love of our pups is already being matched by her.  I'm sure as the weeks come when she starts crawling and moving she'll annoy poor ole grumpy Jackjack but Abbygirl will be delighted when she learns how to pet her for real.  The big question is how to teach Abbygirl not to pet her back! :)  I'll keep you posted on that one.

Hope you are all having a fantastic week!  We have been having lovely plumbing issues which are now resolved but forced us to take showers at our families houses.  We look forward to this Easter weekend as well...which also happens to be daddy aka Special K's birthday on Sunday!

Happy DOT!!!

Carmen is 4 months old!!

4 months ago today, little miss Carmen Grace came into our lives and changed it forever.  It's amazing how much she has taught me about life, love, and motherhood already.  She's changed my view on so many things in her short time on this earth.  Just watching her grow makes me happy.  I can sit and watch her discover the world and just be amazed.  Her little voice brings joy to my heart and I can't wait to watch her learn more and more.

She grows so fast and I try so hard not to miss anything.  That has been the hardest thing about going back to work...missing the things she does during the day.  As my dad has reminded me over and over again..."It's about quality time not quantity."

In her first 4 months, I've watched her learn to smile at more than just gas, roll over from her tummy to her back, start enjoying tummy time, cry less and less and communicate more, discover her hands and the taste of her fingers, and learn to giggle.  I look forward to what comes next.  She has been concentrating so hard on getting moving.  As we continue to learn about the world together, I hope to share her experiences as well as my thoughts on motherhood and more.  Stay tuned!

Happy 4 months to my little baby girl Carmen Grace.