stay-on baby booties and bonnets

i hope you will indulge a bit of a story with these booties. i'd finished just about every little thing in preparation for our new arrival, but she hadn't come yet... so, i knitted *just one more* pair of booties. my mother posited that i could bring labor on by making plans i was really excited about (and would have to cancel). so, i told marc i was going to go get more of this yarn for a hat at the yarn shop the next day. luckily, they were open on christmas eve...but azalia actually arrived before the store even opened!

the idea of the bonnet grew on me. i had knitted the same one for my friend's little girl (whose birth i attended) before marc and i had children. it turned out that i had just enough yarn left over to make it! also - it turned out huge! colden graciously agreed to model it.

along with some other treasured baby hand-me-downs, the original bonnet i knitted for my friend was passed on to azalia. with room to grow.

sling baby

thank you, sweet baby, for settling into slinging. look! now i can craft and take self-portraits too, all the while keeping that little one close.

this moment

inspired by soulemama's this moment

gratitude and good things

thank you so very much, heather, for the utterly gorgeous yarn! i am already enjoying dreaming up what it might become... for more good things, check out stephinie's 365 flickr pool and this affirming post from sarah.

p.s. i am working on changing over my flickr account - from byhandathome to by hand at home.

this moment

inspired by soulemama's this moment

yarn along - finished projects!

i almost posted this in-progress picture two wednesdays ago for the yarn along, but i was feeling too disconnected. i had truly expected our baby to come on the 21st, or even the 20th. so - i tried to channel my energies into knitting. after all, i wouldn't have too much time for such pursuits once the little one arrived, right?

turns out, the past week has been a lovely holiday. having papa home after azalia's arrival gave me time to read and knit while resting and snuggling on the couch.

i was even able to finish up these gorgeous mittens! however, i am not ready to venture outside in the freezing weather just yet...