BookSneeze

Ever heard of it?? Well, you will now. It's a website. Where you get books for free in exchange for doing a book review.

So, here is my first book review. :-)


“Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God”
By Sheila Walsh

In a sense, this is three books in one. A book just for an individual to read; a book set up for a book club, complete with discussion questions; and a book for a Bible study- individual or group(complete with study guide and questions in the back). I like the fact that it is set up this way- for maximum benefit.

Sheila is very vulnerable in this book. In my opinion, she writes this as if she were sitting down and talking to you from the pages. It is easy and enjoyable to read; while thought-provoking and instructive at the same time.

She uses stories and images from her life as well as looking into the pages of Scripture to show women the beauty of trusting God. This is a very encouraging book no matter what stage you are at in your walk with the Lord. If you are new to the Bible, the ten character sketches she gives are a great introduction; if you have known the Bible for a long time, Sheila brings you back to it with fresh eyes.

This is a great book for any Christian woman who struggles with trust and/or fear. And I only saw two minor typos. ;)

Homeschool Giveaway

Big homeschool giveaway at a new website!!! Check out Simple Homeschool!

Check it out for more than just the giveaway- for good ideas and encouragement in homeschooling. Always a good thing :-)

Growth brings Change

We are entering a time of change with Babybug. He is growing so fast! He has such a hard time sleeping now- he is so easily distracted and awakened; so he is learning to sleep in his own bed this week. He is so smart! He is already figuring it out. It's only been 2 days, and he is starting to be restless in my arms when he wants to sleep(where before he was restless everywhere except my arms!), and talking in his bed instead of being sad. I am so glad!
Now, this is supposedly helpful to me, b/c I no longer have to hold a baby 24 hrs a day. I can supposedly get a lot done. Well..... The idea is great; but in practice it's not working quite as well. Mostly b/c I am still working on a major sleep deficit. I am usually a somewhat efficient and focused person. These days- I am a poster child (adult) for ADD/ADHD. I can't focus on the projects that I start, I'm distracted by the smallest things and completely forget what I was doing. I know I was doing something- but don't know what it was. Oh well. I expect that when I start getting sleep at night my focusing abilities will come back at least a little.
(Babybug's hat made for him by a dear friend of mine)


It's funny how it's affecting my knitting too. I want to start 5 projects at once- but can't get any knitting done on the ones I have already cast on! I can't even remember what is on my needles, much less what I want to put on them from day to day. But I did finish a project last week!!!

Pattern: Orangeade socks by Nicole Masson. Yarn: Wolle Rodel Cotton Universal the old, discontinued version. I modified this pattern by doing an afterthought heel b/c I knew I would run out of yarn and have a very short sock if I didn't. The heel was done with leftovers of Panda Cotton. It may clash a bit- but I figure the heel is rarely seen. These are for my Mother-in-law: 100% cotton b/c she can't wear wool.

I don't actually have any more time for knitting than I did when I was holding Babybug 24hrs a day, but the time that I do have is put to better use. Which is good, b/c on February 12th, I will be casting on a new design to finish before the Winter Olymipics are over. Watch this space... ;-)

There are many ways to exercise....

....and I seem to have found one unexpectedly! I have been waiting for when Milo sleeps on his own in his bed so that I could do some things again. Things like exercise- and knitting- and cleaning- and, well, things that I need to do without a baby on me. So I figured that I probably wouldn't be able to get my weight back down until then.
Happily, I was wrong!!! Milo has been exercising me w/o my being aware of it. Well, ok, I was aware of it- I just wasn't aware of what it was doing.

What I am trying to say is- I am able to wear my jeans again!!! Because....

Milo won't let me sit down.

I use a baby wrap. Similar to these during the day; because Milo will not sleep or really even let me put him down for longer than 15 minutes at a time. In this wrap, he will sleep contentedly like a little baby should.

Under certain conditions.

It has to be somewhat quiet (lots of fun w/ 3 other busy kiddos in the house. They are so good about it!)
I have to be on my feet- preferrably walking- but other motion is ok. Seriously, this child is so aware! If I sit down, even on the edge of a chair, he knows, and wakes up!

So packing a heavy baby almost the entire day- and remaining on my feet- has turned out to be unexpectedly great exercise! I'm still out of shape- I can't run or do much- but I can wear my jeans! :-)

And the wrap?? Well, let me tell you- I have tried a lot of different baby carriers over the course of having 4 babies. This is the best I have ever used!
I've used slings, front-packs, backpacks..... This one is the only one that does NOT hurt my shoulders. And I wear it 10-12 hrs a day- with a baby in it for 3/4 of that time.
Expensive?? NO!
The ones you find on that web page or elsewhere may be. I spent $40, and wound up with two wraps. So, $20/wrap.

Five yards of fabric from the fabric store- cut in half, sewn together= two wraps. The fabric is pretty specific. I got knit fabric that was in a tube. It needs to have some stretch to it. It took me about 1/2 hr (that includes getting my sewing machine out and set up and then put away) to make these. Really, it's just 5 yards of slightly stretchy fabric. And the website shows you how to use it. Pretty nice!

And an easy way to get exercise..... ;-)

Midway

We are halfway through the first month of 2010 already. It's been a busy 2 weeks. Babybug is growing so very very fast!! I don't know exactly how much he weighs- but I'm pretty sure he's already over 17 lbs. For being just 3 months old tomorrow- that's a pretty good size. :-) He's already out-grown size 3 diapers- at least the cheapy brand size 3- so we've moved on to cloth. Let me tell you- I am so impressed with Hemp diapers (link not working- but check out hemp pre-folds at California Babestuff dot com)and Thirsties Duo wraps. I've done cloth before- and these are SO nice.

He is changing fast too. While tummy time is not his favorite- he definitely likes being in the middle of all the action. He is trying desperately hard to communicate. While at this point it's in the form of "whoooo,ooooo,oooo" or "ah-goo,goo", the kids love it and surround him if he is anywhere near their level. He smiles most of the day, and each kid claims to have the most smiles of each day. I can't believe how fast the time is going- and how my baby is no longer an infant already. I'm not sure I'm ready to give this time up yet.


Even though it's severely limiting my knitting time..... ;-) Which I am fine with. I'll have lots of time to knit when he is sleeping without me- and then I'll miss holding him all day. *sigh*
I can get in some knitting time- and I do. It takes me 4 times as long- but I can still knit a pair of socks.

These are my own pair of Lorien from the LotR club last year. I still LOVE this pattern- even if it is my own. (my precious.....)

Right now, I am working on an afghan. I haven't done one for 3 or 4 years, and I needed a good stash-buster. So here goes. I even got to knit 2 whole rows on the first panel today!! :-) I'm also doing a pair of cotton socks for my MIL. I usually don't have more than one project going at a time, but right now- well, I'm a bit tired which seems to make me a bit ADD, and I've had some startitis problems. Fortunately, I'm so busy w/ kids, that I get the yarn wound and get interrupted before I can cast on- then when I have a moment again, I forget I was going to cast on, and pick up one of my works-in-progress. It's gets funny if I think about it... ;-)
I'm thinking about doing the Ravelympics this year (Knitting Olympics)- but seriously don't know what would be a reasonable challenge right now. For 2 weeks?? I might be able to do a scarf..... :-)

Welcome 2010

Another year has come and gone. They go faster every year. I remember my mom saying something about that to me when I was a kid- I didn't believe her until it happened to me. Isn't that just the way of kids??



Last night at dinner, we sat down and I wrote memories of 2009 in the gorgeous new journal Joel gave me for my birthday:

We came up with a lot of good memories.

The Lord provided for us at every turn!

We were blessed w/ a new family van

The kids got a swingset and went to the dentist for the 1st time (unrelated incidents)

Daisy lost 4 of her baby teeth!

Asher split his tongue open- but didn't have to have stitches.

Ian got his first Bible for being a good reader

Joel started playing music again- and got a scooter- and a new work van

We moved

I taught at Sock Summit- and had 2 patterns published in a magazine, as well as several published through The Unique Sheep

Milo came into our lives and is a happy, healthy baby






It was a great year, even if it did go by very very fast. We are looking forward to some new memories in 2010.

Final Shipment of Year One of the Lord of the stRings Sock Club

If you have not recieved your December shipment- you may want to wait before reading.....










Introducing:

Rohan

Sorry about the picture. I didn't actually have a working camera at the same time that I had the sock- so I had to scan it..... lol

This design was inspired by the main village of Rohan. The majority of the people in Edoras had long golden braids. The tombs of the kings were covered in simbelmyne- also called Evermind- delicate white flowers. At the entrance to Meduseld- the king’s hall in Edoras- the guards had shields with the emblem of the blazing sun on them. Hence the gold “braid”, and the delicate vine flowers, and the blazing suns on the socks. And since horses were immensely important to the people of Rohan, they had to be represented somewhere. The horseshoes on the soles of your feet won’t leave imprints when you walk, and they won’t press into your foot- but they do make a fun finishing touch.

Fun socks. I like colorwork. I admit this sock didn't quite work out the way I intended, but at this point, I can't remember what I did intend. So I'm very happy with these. :-)

They'll be for sale from The Unique Sheep 6 months after the club.