Introducing Emma!

I had an easy pregnancy and birth with Emma.  She came on Father’s Day last year and what a gift she has been!  Labor was again less than an hour with the midwife arriving afterwards.  Emma was born in the the caul weighing in at a petite 6 pounds 4.5 ounces.

Emma has been a very sweet and laid back baby, but I had a difficult time postpartum.  I lost my grandmother and was trying to do too much emotionally and physically, which took its toll.  I had to admit that I’m older and that I have limits, not always such an easy lesson.  I was blessed to have good friends that helped take care me.

She’s happy to nurse, happy to sleep, happy to be held by a sibling or to be snuggled up against mama in the moby or ergo.

 

And how we all adore her!  She has daddy wrapped around her finger and brothers and sisters fighting to be near her.

She’s recently become mobile, rolling and scooting where she wants to go.  And the “put everything in the mouth” games have begun.

(Not) So Crazy About Hand-Knit Socks

I have a confession to make:  I don’t like hand-knit socks.  I thought I was the only knitter to feel this way, but I recently discovered that I’m not alone!  Socks take a certain amount of patience to make, especially with small children around that like all the multiple thin, pokey sticks and think nothing of pulling one out regularly.  Once I finish with one and I’m feeling all accomplished and proud, I realize that I’m only half way done and have to start the process all over again.

And after weeks of knitting while little ones slept and while the husband drives everywhere, I have this beautiful pair of socks that I just know will fit better than any store-bought socks and will keep my feet so warm and cozy.  Only I pull them on over my feet and they don’t live up to my expectations.  The cast-on is too tight, which makes it difficult to pull over my heel.  The ankle is slouchy.  The instep is too large.  The foot feels a bit short.  Disappointment.

I wear them anyway, proud of what I’ve accomplished, and gladly accept compliments and brag about how amazing my hand-knit socks are, but secretly curse them.

But I’m a glutton for punishment and take full responsibility for my shortcomings.  It must have been the yarn I used, the pattern that I followed, my technique, my lack of knitting a gauge swatch (which is another post all in itself!)  So what do I do?  I try again.  And again and again.  I’ve convinced myself that there must be a perfect pattern and perfect yarn to make the mythical perfect pair of socks and I’ll just have to keep trying until I find the combination that works!

So in my latest efforts, I decided to ditch sock yarn and go with a washable worsted weight, thinking it would take less time and less stitches.  I chose some Cascade Paints that I had hidden in my stash.  And since my issues seem to be ill-fit, I wanted a simple cable to tighten up those pudgy areas.  I decided on the Spanish Dancer pattern.  I declared this pair to be for my mama’s birthday since she was the one who gifted me my first sock yarn, needles, and pattern a few years back for Christmas.

They took less than 2 weeks to knit.  Upon finishing the first sock, I cautiously tried it on expecting the worst.  Gasp!  It fit!  The cables did exactly what I hoped and made it snug around the ankle and nice around the top of my foot!  My toes didn’t feel squished and curled!  Could it be!?  Excitedly, I knit up the second sock!  I had my friends try them on for size and fit, and they has similar reviews!  SUCCESS!

I proudly wrapped them up and presented them to my mom on her birthday.  She made my knitting heart thump and promptly kicked off her shoes, put them on, and raved about how wonderfully they fit!  I think I found a keeper of a pattern and will be knitting more socks!

 

Family Update

A lot has happened over the past 18 months.  I think I’m going to try to do a bit of back blogging to fill in the gaps, but here’s a quick summary of the big stuff at the Acorn house:

We welcomed a new aunt to the family when my brother got married 2 falls ago.

And then we welcomed a sweet baby cousin this past summer!  Having another little one to knit for and love makes me so happy!

Speaking of babies, we were also blessed with another little one!  Emma Elyse joined our family this past June, on Father’s Day!  She is such a joy and I can’t wait to share her with y’all!

We lost my grandma to pancreatic cancer.  She battled it for 2 long years, being diagnosed just a month before we lost grandpa.  She held on long enough to meet her newest great granddaughter and her strength will forever empower me.

The kids grew older and wiser!  We have 3 official homeschooling kids!  Alex is working on 6th grade.  Jackson is an active 2nd grader, and Izzy begs me for kindy work everyday.

{This Moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. 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.  – See more at: Soulemama.com

Is anybody there?

Wow!  It’s been almost 2 years since I last posted.  What happened!?

I had drafts for the next week saved and ready to go and hopes of posting regularly after a small blogging break.  I had great intentions, but a power higher than myself said it wasn’t meant to be.  Our house was struck by lightning the day following the last post.  It killed all of our electronics, including the computer.  Insurance covered most of it, but I took it as a sign to spend less time with said electronic and more time with my family and friends.  And what a blessing it has been!

I’m hoping to make a come-back here in blog land, one small step at a time.

Thank you to those who commented recently or nudged me online or IRL to get back to blogging!  You are wonderful!