Mommy and Me

Mommy and Me
Sharing life with you is fullfilling

Sunday, June 16, 2013

half way there

We got our ultra sound done a few weeks ago now, didn't find out babies gender, I'm so excited to have my surprize baby!  And I'm starting to collect the things that I need for my birth box.. though I still have to order the packet that the midwife said I needed to order... I just feel like this pregnancy is rushing by, like I thought I had a ton of time but actually I'm getting to that point where I need to start putting things together, like actually together.  So I'm writing out a list of 'to-do's' and you get to hear all about them!

1. Order my birth package
2. eat more pickles.... yes, I just had a little dish of them but I foresee lots more pickle eating coming up!
3. Order the material for my ring sling
4. finish the basement (we are making it into a guest bedroom/second livingroom
5. along with number 4. reapolster the fold out couch down there, which means measuring and ordering the material
6. mend all the stuff my best friend gave me FOREVER ago and get it mailed out to her.
7. mail out my invitations for the summer camp out we are having in July
8. Go on VACATION!!!
9. Fix the fence, technically this isn't something *I* have to do, it is just something that needs to be done.
10. clean my sewing room, as it will most likely be my birthing room... at least that is my thought, I really could be delivering this kid anywhere.. that is so exciting to me!
11. sort and wash all the neutral newborn baby clothes I have
12. Plan a shopping trip down by my parents and utilize all their much better stores.

There is probably a ton more to do, but these are really the important ones.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of the baby!  Oh and next appointment is J
uly 8th.


Saturday, June 15, 2013

how to make a pumpkin cocoon for your newborn

I wasn't going to post my pattern for the baby cocoon because I don't consider this to be a crafting blog, but then I was thinking one day I may want to make another one and how will I remember what to do if I don't write it down?  So forgive me while I turn my blog into a craft storage area for a moment or two.

This pattern is for the cocoon only:

Supplies:
I used Red heart yarn in Orange and Green
H or 5.00MM hook

Abreviations
ch- chain
sl st- slip stitch
sc- single crochet
dc- double crochet
dc2tog- double crochet 2 together (decrease double crochet)
BPdc- back post double crochet
FPdc- front post double crochet
hdc- half double crochet

+ note: total st listed at the end of each row includes ch 3 done at the beginning of each row)

Pattern:
Using Orange yarn
Row 1: ch 10, sl st to first ch to form circle
Row 2:  ch 3, 12 dc into ring from row 1, sl st to ch 3
Row 3:  ch 3, dc in same space, 2 dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (26 st)
Row 4: ch 3, dc in same space, *dc in next 2 dc's, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * all the way around, (34 st) sl st to ch 3
Row 5: ch 3,  dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from* all the way around ending in same dc as ch 3 (47 st)
Row 6: ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, * dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * all the way around, (53 st) sl st to ch 3
Row 7-11: ch 3, dc in same st as ch 3, dc in each dc around (53 st) sl st to ch 3
Row 12: ch 3, dc in same st as ch 3, *dc in next 8 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * all the way around (you will end one dc before reaching the 8th dc on the last repeat, this is ok) sl st to ch 3 (59 st)
Row 13: ch 3, dc in same dc, *dc in next 8 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * 6 times,  dc in next 3 dc, sl st to ch 3 (65 st)
Row 14-16: ch 3, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (65 st)
Row 17: ch 3, dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (64 st)
Row 18:  ch 3, dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (63 st)
Row 19: ch 3,  dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (62 st)
Row 20: ch 3, dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (61 st)
Row 21: ch 3, dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (60 st)
Row 22: ch 3, dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (59 st)
Row 23: ch 3,  dc2tog, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (58 st)
Row 24-32: ch 3, dc in each dc around, sl st to ch 3 (58 st)
Row 33: ch 3, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * around, sl st to ch 3 ( 57 st)
Row 34: ch 3, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * around, sl st to ch 3 (56 st) fasten off

Green yarn
Row 1: attach green to an dc from Orange along top row, sc in each dc around. (56 st)
Row 2: ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st to ch 3 (113 st)
Row 3: turn, ch 3, dc in same dc, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc repeat from * 7 times (26 st) this is your first leaf.
Row 4: turn, ch 1, hdc in next dc, dc in next 22 dc, 2 dc in next dc (26 st including ch 1)
Row 5: turn, ch 1, hdc in next 2 dc, dc in next 20 dc, hdc in next dc, (24 st including ch 1)
Row 6: turn, ch 3, dc in next 19 dc, hdc in next 2 dc (22 st)
Row 7: turn, ch 3, hdc in second space from ch, hdc in next dc, dc in next 15 dc, hdc in next dc (19 st)
Row 8: turn, ch 1, hdc in next 2 dc, dc in next 10 dc, hdc in next 2 dc (14 st)
Row 9: turn, sc in first st, hdc in next 2 st, dc in next 6 st, hdc in next st (10 st)
Row 10: turn, sc in first st, hdc in next 2 st, dc in next 3 st, hdc in next dc (7 st)
Row 11: turn, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 st, hdc in next st (5 st)
Row 12: turn, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 dc, fasten off.
You have now completed your first leaf.
I chose to put leaves all the way around but you can space them at any distance you want, just choose where to begin and start from Row 3 continuing to Row 12 for each leaf. 

Pumpkin baby

My great grandfather used to call my mom 'pumkin' cause she was born in October, then when he was old and couldn't remember things well he began to call me 'pumkin'.. it was sweet but I didn't know why until after he had passed away.
When I discovered that my baby was due in October it seemed natural to 'pumpkin theme' it.... so whether baby is a girl or boy this kid is going to be a pumpkin! 
I started by deciding to make a pumpkin looking baby cocoon.  I couldn't find a pattern for one that looked like what I wanted so I tried to use just any plain pattern and just wing it from there... once the cocoon was finished I was unhappy with it, not due to the pattern at all, just because it didn't fit what I was imagining, so I really truly decided to wing it and forgot about using any sort of pattern and just used the measurements that my first pattern suggested, 12 inches across the top and 17inches long.  It turned out AWESOME!! (if I do say so myself.)
Then of course it needed a pumpkin hat to go with it.  I've never been successful with hats, especially if I tried to wing it so I used a pattern, and it was PERFECT! and I LOVE how it turned out.  I had no idea I could crochet as well as I have this time, however so much of the credit goes to on-line tutorials for teaching me some of the stitches I had never learned before.
After finishing the cocoon and hat I decided that the baby wouldn't always be wearing a cocoon and should therefore have some cute booties to go along with the hat for 'going out' opportunities where a cocoon just wouldn't work well (I'm thinking car seat and cocoon just spells trouble, and the cocoon may never leave the house simply because I wouldn't want to put it on after getting baby out of the car seat only to take it back off when leaving again.)
So I searched for another pattern for booties, honestly this is one I didn't have to do because my Great Aunt Della taught me how to make booties minus the pattern a long time ago, and I've done it that way ever since.  But I wanted the added peace of mind that they would be the right size.  So much for that cause the first cute pattern I found ended up being HUGE, so I tried again (only getting about 1/3rd of the way through the pattern before realizing how huge it would be) but still the finished product was way too big even with a smaller hook.  So I searched again and found this pattern.  I LOVE how these turned out as well!  I did use a smaller hook than recommended because she mentions that they might be a little big (lasting to 3 months) and I only had two options a size bigger, or a size smaller, so I opted for smaller.  They are so tiny and cute I think they will only last a week or so before baby grows out of them, but I don't mind baby is due at the end of October and by 3 months will be needing Christmas stuff anyway.
This hat was made exactly as the pattern specified, but the cocoon ended up being my own design completely.

These booties were mostly made with a pattern (referenced above) but I changed a few things, namely I used the front and back posts instead of a regular dc stitch when she called for that, in the finishing row I used a reverse sc instead of a slip stitch, and instead of using ribbon I made a 45stitch chain and put leaves on the end that I created myself.
If you are interested in the adjusted pattern for any of this I will put it together, but only if you ask.  ;)
 
I hope you enjoy!