It has been a long hiatus. I’m sure it’s implied why I have been away for so long. Life just got really hard. My lovable little guy has been a challenge to say the least. We are definitely now post-colic (THANK GOD) and have been battling insane sleep problems since Thanksgiving. Currently working on them (and seeing improvements, yay). And as you can tell, things are starting to slightly pick up, because now I actually have time to do something crafty.

The pattern is the Osito Infant Bear Hat (pdf link). Tres adorable, non? =)

I added ear flaps just to cover those tiny little ears from getting cold. My first time improvising with crochet increases/decreases. Easy peasy for a sleep deprived momma, I’m impressed and proud of myself.

Now that my little guy’s head is warm, let’s hope he sleeps better. Sigh.

Had the most surreal week ever. Overwhelmed, overjoyed, exhausted, bursting with love. My life has officially changed forever.

Right after birth; all cleaned up and meeting mommy for the first time:

Daddy and baby checking each other out:

Hanging out in the bouncer:

Big yawn:

Want to hear something funny? I was scheduled to be induced this past Tuesday, but the baby decided to get things started naturally a couple hours before the induction. And I had a crochet project packed away in my hospital bag. Yep, I figured during the induction I would be bored. Turns out, by the time I got to the hospital, I didn’t have time for a thing (things progressed way faster than anticipated). I suppose that crochet project will have to wait. (Maybe during nursing sessions when I’m also catching up on Project Runway and Top Chef episodes? Hehehe)

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ETA: If you can handle it, the birth story is here (password: nathaniel) =)

Even though I am considered a “housewife”, I don’t really do much (or enough) “housekeeping”. Or cleaning. Or whatever it is you call it. But now that the holidays are fast approaching, I find myself with alot of house guests and friends coming to stay with us. We are booked every weekend! Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love hosting and having people over (and cooking for everyone!), but it IS a swift kick in the pants to get the house somewhat presentable and “clean” (see how I put that word in quotations?). =)

I’ve been dreading cleaning the craft room for a year. The closest picture I have to a “before” shot would be this one (while viewing it, imagine the mess to be 3 times worse, and that you can’t even see the floor).

Now here are the “after” shots! (Click on each of the photos, and you’ll be directed to the same Flickr photo where you can mouse-over and see all the tags I made for where everything is organized in its place.)

Doesn’t that give you an “ahhhhhh” feeling of satisfaction in your soul? When things are set in their proper place, I have to admit, there is some psychological comfort there (at least for me). Especially when the cleaning/organizing process took nearly two full days!!

And so, while I was cleaning/organizing, I found 7-8 other WIPs I had completely forgotten about. A few of them were socks. Which is sad, because I suppose I can never finish the second sock because I had no idea what I did with the first, and left no notes, or any indication on where I left off last. So I ripped out a couple of them. That was sad at flrst (the letting go part), but then relieving (relief that I have less projects on my “to-do” list to finish). And then I found this little fun thing I made a year ago:

Coasters!! I must have been trying to use up all my leftover Rowan Cotton Glace. 

What a treat, to find a fun thing amidst the yucky mess. =)