View from the cheap seats!

$2.35

Today I managed to make it to one garage sale, despite the rainy weather. I am always looking for more books and toys for Emma, and also clothes. We were all out together this morning so Tony and Emma were along for the treasure hunt. I didn't find anything too exciting but any time I get new books and toys for Emma for $2.35, it's a good day.

We found 5 books, including one Elmo and one Ernie book, .25 cents each, so of course Emma loves them.

We also found a nice big book of shapes and colors with lots of flaps to lift up for $1.00. Emma loves those type of books. Also found a Winnie the Pooh book, .50 cents, and a potty book for girls, .25 cents.

I was about to leave when I saw a Playskool barn for .10 cents! It only had the cow figure with it, but we already have the matching tractor at home along with the chicken and pig, so I was happy to get the barn. It plays a few songs including Twinkle Twinkle. Plus I found a Fisher Price Little Person and they just threw that into the mix. Emma loves these little toys and I've become a bit obsessed with finding more Little People for her.

One of Those Days

It's one of those days when Emma eats more cat food off the floor than anything I put on her plate.

It's one of those days when I wash the cover of the changing table pad for the first time 6 weeks, and then poop gets on it at the very next diaper change.

It's one of those days when there is nothing I want to eat in the house even though I just went to the store 3 days ago.

It's one of those days when the smell of cat crap hits me before I get to the bottom of the stairs.

It's one of those days when Tony is out of town and Emma is getting sick.

It's one of those days when I wash 4 loads of laundry but still don't have a clean bra.

It's one of those days when it's over 100 degrees.

It's one of those days when I want to let Emma watch TV all day long but my head will explode if I hear Elmo's voice one more time so I can't.

It's one of those days when I find out Emma's in the Kid's Day Out Program and it starts Sept. 7, but it's not the days I wanted.

It's one of those days when Emma gives me lots of hugs and kisses and we have a good time together when I stop trying to do other stuff and just give her all my time and attention.

Five weeks

This week makes five weeks in a row that I have gone to the gym. Just once a week, but it's something. Emma goes to the kid's center to play while I'm on the treadmill. I started out just walking but now I do some running too. I usually walk/run between 1.5 and 2 miles. I would like to go to a yoga class soon, it's free with my membership. Maybe next week I'll make it to yoga.

I'm still not done with Emma's blanket. I have slacked off and I don't know why. I also have a sweater project that has been sitting for a couple of months. I've been working on the sweater the last few days but not making a lot of progress. I am feel a lack of mental stimulation and that makes it harder to concentrate on the knitting. I guess after reading Goodnight Moon 10 times a day and watching Sesame Street my brain has turned to mush a little bit. I need something new to kick start it. Maybe a good book, but I've got a stack of books to read already.

I think I need a night (or a day) off but that seems very unlikely to happen any time soon. I had hoped to get Emma into a Mother's Day out program for 2 mornings a week, but I think my plans for that have been foiled. The church doesn't have anyone to run the program yet and it's supposed to start Aug. 31. If it doesn't work out this year then I'll try to get Emma into a preschool program for next fall.

Emma's Dress

This post is long overdue, but better late than never! I finally finished knitting Emma's Fiona Baby Sundress. I started this project in April, and finished on June 26th, just in time for Emma to wear her dress for her 18 month pictures on June 27th. This was a hard pattern for me to get started on. I ended up ripping it out several times before I got it right. The pattern starts at the bottom of the dress, and you knit up. The straps gave me a bit of trouble as well. I ended up attaching them too far out and they barely sat on Emma's shoulders, so I had to cut them off and knit new straps, and reattached them the night before Emma's pictures. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! The dress was on the big side, and I was concerned it looked like Emma was wearing a sack. So I knitted about an arm's length of the brown yarn and then threaded that through two places on the back of the waist to make a tie. That helped gather the skirt a bit and made it fit better.

I also got creative and crocheted a little blue flower to match the dress that Emma wore in her hair. The dress really turned out great and I'm really happy with it. Emma hasn't worn it again. It's a bit hot with the 100+ degree weather we have been having, but I'm hopeful she can wear it more this fall. And it's pretty long and with adjustable straps, so I hope she can wear it for a couple of years at least.

Yarn: 4 hanks of Cascade Luna in color Sky, 1 hank of Cascade Luna in color Chocolate.
Needles: Size 7 US 16" circular needle, size 7 US double pointed needles, cable needle.
Gauge: 5 stitches/5.5 rows per inch

Shy little Lillypoots!

First ripe tomato!

So I actually have tomatoes to eat now, and Emma loves them!