Monday, August 29, 2011

She's here!

Jeralyn Promise Smith
August 24, 2011 @ 9:38 am
7 lb 13 oz
20 inches

She's perfect!






Posted by Picasa

Sunday, August 21, 2011

40 Weeks

Hello!


Today is Baby Smith's due date! As of 8:07 am Alaska time, there are no signs of labor...yet. Only 4% of babies actually arrive on their due date, so we shall see. Quent is still convinced since he was born on his due date that she will still come on hers. Only time will tell. Yesterday we went for a long drive, in the pouring rain, on some bumpy roads. I never thought I would be someone who would go to that length as to induce labor, but there we were! I think we'll have to go on another long drive today!!


Have a good one!


Monday, August 15, 2011

39 Weeks & 1 Day

Hello! I just wanted to give an update. No baby yet. I thought I felt some mild contractions in the middle of the night, but I was in and out of sleep, so who knows! We are anxiously waiting...


I started knitting a hat days ago, but I think there's something wrong with the chart for the pattern, so I'm going to stop working on that. I was just practicing following charts anyway. I did start on another little project that I had been collecting patterns for last year. The Point (the local yarn shop here in Ketchikan) had a calendar scarf project last year. Each month we would get a new pattern to add to our scarf. So I started working on that yesterday and also started listening to another book on cd. This one is called The Help. I'm enjoying it so far and find myself cracking up!


Have a blessed week!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fair Isle Knitting

It's Friday! Are you ready for the weekend?

After finishing the quilt the other day I started looking for some other projects to work on to keep myself occupied while waiting for baby. I've been wanting to learn how to Fair Isle knit, which basically means knitting with more than one color at a time. As with cable knitting, this looked really intimidating to me, but I knew that if I could just get my hands on a simple beginners project that maybe I wouldn't be so intimidated. Ravelry is the best place to look for such patterns, so I searched on there and found this pattern called First Fair Isle Anything. So I found some leftover yarn and got started. It took me less than a day to complete this.


It's supposed to be a head band or cowl, but for me it's too wide to be a head band and too small to be a cowl. So it's just a "thing" of practice, I guess. Quent did wear it around the top of his head for a little while last night. Ha! Anyway, so that is what the pattern looks likes. I had never followed a chart before, and I have to say that it was really quite easy. Now I want to do more and more Fair Isle!



This is what it looks like inside-out. All of the yarn just carries over until you use it again.




I'm starting yet another project. This time it's a hat. And there are hearts involved in the pattern! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Oh, I wanted to answer my friend Jamie's question/comment. She asked how you will know when Baby Smith arrives. I will do my very best to create a quick post after she is born to announce her arrival. *smile* And hopefully that will include a picture! 9 more days until my due date!

Posted by Picasa

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Quilt--finished!

Hello! Well, yesterday I finished the quilt. I have to say I really enjoyed hand-sewing the back of the binding. I listened to a book on cd while working on it and I found it quite relaxing...minus the neck stiffness afterwards. Ooops!

I have to embarrassingly admit that I actually started making a different quilt top for our bed months ago, but when it was all finished I didn't really like it that much. It wasn't making my heart go pitter-patter...haha! I still have the top, but I don't know what I'm going to do with it now. Another project for another day I suppose. What inspired me to make this completed quilt was some fabric I saw on Etsy called Sweet Nothings. I bought a baby blanket for my niece and when I saw the blanket, it was love at first sight! I just had to make something using the fabric. So...I ordered about 5-6 yards of fabric and got started.

I love how intricate and creative some quilts are, but that's just not where I am at with quilting right now, so I decided to just cut plain ole 8x8 inch squares. Without the binding, the quilt is 91 x91 inches. It wasn't my plan to create a square quilt, but I guess when we make the bed we won't have to wonder what's up and what's down. Haha! The quilt is bigger than needed for a queen size, but I like having extra blanket (since I can be a blanket hog). It's perfect for us!


I love all of the colors on the quilt. I'd have to say these have been my favorite colors in the past year or so. Another simple thing about this quilt is that there was no actual "quilting" involved. I just did tying. Simple! Someday I would love to learn how to make those intricate quilt designs, but like I said earlier, that's just not where I'm at right now. Someday...

Quilting isn't my favorite hobby, I have to say. It's not like knitting where I feel relaxed and ok with mistakes when they come up. The sewing machine was yelled at a couple of times and I wasn't too happy to become aquainted with the seam ripper, but I suppose that's all part of the game, right? But I do have to say I enjoyed the process.



When I was working on laying out all of the layers, I told Quent, "I'm 3 weeks from my due date and here I am on the floor laying out a quilt." I bet this process would be a lot easier without a belly. Haha!



I'm still not very good at taking pictures in the house on cloudy days, but here's a picture of the quilt on our bed. One day (maybe) I'll make some pillow shams...or I'll just buy some decorative pillows. Or make some pillows. Hmmm... I could even knit some!! I'm working toward making the colors of our room turquoise, brown, cream, and orange. It's slowly getting there.

Some resources that were very helpful to me in making this quilt were some YouTube videos (I love YouTube!):

How to Join Strips for Borders and Bindings

How to make and attach quilt binding

Binding Your Quilt - Quilting Tips & Tricks

And of course, phone help from my friend and step-mom, Kelly! Thanks Kelly!

Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Hello

I'm 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I'm playing the waiting game. I wonder when she will say, "It's time!" I'm ready. I'm excited! So what have I been doing with my time?


I've been working on a quilt. I'm almost finished! More pictures to come...soon!



I've been reading. I sit in this chair on our deck in the sun reading until I get too warm and have to go back inside.



And growing a baby!

Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

37 Weeks

I am now 37 weeks! Well, today is 37 weeks and 2 days. During my appointment last week the midwife said I was measuring more like 38 weeks instead of 36 weeks, so....she could be here any time. We shall see!! Let's just say that information kicked me into my final "nesting" mode. I haven't gone too crazy, but I find myself wanting to be as ready as possible.



It's funny how in 9 months the color of our bedroom walls have changed 3 times! First it was the original color (taupe), then it was mostly turquoise with two walls partially taupe. And now it's cream and turquoise! I'm so thankful to Quent and Natasha for finishing up my painting job!

I have to buy another 3/4 yard of fabric in order to go on to the next step of the quilt I am making for our room. I plan to do that today. I wonder how far I'll get with that project?

Have a beautiful day!
Posted by Picasa