Lists: Nesting for Baby Girl #3

I've known for some time that this next baby is another girl, and I am thrilled! Would have been happy with a boy too, of course, but I have two sisters and I LOVE the idea of three girls. Sisters are great fun and great friends--I would be lost without mine. I also love so much sewing and knitting and crocheting for my two girls that it seems just perfect to have a third to amortize the effort! I can't wait to be surrounded by their giggles, smiles, and girlish expressions. I am a lucky mom indeed!

So the next thing is how to prepare for this next little girl? There isn't a whole lot that is truly needed given her two older sisters' things, but we did get rid of the baby seat and stroller, and she does certainly deserve some of her own special things to welcome her.

The biggest question is the nursery. We happen to be lucky enough to have three "kids" bedrooms grouped nicely together upstairs, and it just seems logical to use them for our three girls. However, one bedroom is currently an office and moving the equipment, files, etc. seems onerous. Initally I was thinking two of our girls, perhaps the younger two?, could share a room, at least for a while. But as time has gone on I realize that my own ritual for welcoming my babies has been preparing their nursery spaces--deciding on the color palette, picking the fabrics, sewing the crib bedding, selecting accessories, thinking about paintings for the walls, even planning ahead for the "big girl" version of the nursery. There was the red, gold and acqua, slightly Asian approach for Audrey's room, and the pink, green and acqua slightly vintage approach for Scarlett's room and those rooms are now a bit more significant--doesn't seem right that a new individual should have Scarlett's hand-me-down crib bedding instead of her own scheme. Besides, Scarlett has been especially rough on her bedding--loves to mangle it.

So I think this baby girl should have her own unique space to arrive in. I am just not sure when we'll do it. We have a couple big events in the late Spring/early Summer and I am thinking I won't worry or discuss it too much until after then. But I can think about some smaller projects such as:

• a white version of the Best Baby Booties and Cloche (maybe with three flowers this time?) (DONE!)
• the "February Sweater" from Elizabeth Zimmerman (perhaps to coordinate with her older sister's Fall sweaters?)
• perhaps this Picot and Lace cardigan (looks so sweet and not too time consuming!) (DONE!)
• some more booties...
• some more little hats...
• some blankets, such as the Heirloom Chenille Blanket (DONE!), a flannel rag quilt blanket, and maybe a patchwork quilt blanket...
• crib bedding (if she doesn't have a nursery immediately she can at least have her own crib/bedding!)

Then of course there are the things I want to get done for Audrey and Scarlett for this summer and planning ahead a bit for Fall (didn't get nearly what I thought I would get done last Fall since I started too late...):

• Audrey's birthday outfit (DONE!)
• Scarlett's outfit for Audrey's birthday party (DONE!)
• White and lavender crochet dress for Scarlett from the latest issue of CrochetToday (DONE!)
• Lavender crochet sweater for Audrey (DONE!)
• Dress for Audrey from Pink Fig's new"Miss Kitty" pattern (can't wait to get my preorder!) in Anna Maria Horner's beautiful voile; coordinating apron dress for Scarlett from a vintage pattern I just bought. And, if I can, coordinating shrug sweaters from Mason-Dixon Knitting.
• A line dress for Audrey and pinafore/bloomers for Scarlett in Robert Kaufman's fun "Punchy Pique," which I bought last year

• 
• Sailor outfit for Audrey (full blouse and skirt) with anchor-embroidered fabric I bought a couple years ago and vintage pattern
• Crochet tank dress for Scarlett from Ella Apron Top pattern I just bought from anji..beane
• Pillow case dresses for fourth of July? (something simpler than last year) (DONE!)
• Button Placket ("Presto Chango") sweater Valerie Wallis for Scarlett (meant to make it for Audrey but didn't get to it)
• Upsized version of the "February Sweater" from Elizabeth Zimmerman (hoping to switch to a heavier yarn and see what size it turns out) and Debbie Bliss Matinee Coat from one of her baby books for the other (upsized with heavier yarn) in this great "Red Velvet" colored yarn I bought a few years go from KnitPicks

That ought to keep me busy! I won't even get into various nesting projects around the house but for instance, I haven't yet moved everything out of the garage and into the now finished basement...

Lists: Nesting List for Another Baby Girl!

We found out on April 30th that the baby we are expecting is another girl! Better yet, she looks really healthy. I was so happy--first that she is healthy, but also about the idea of sisters. It just seemed like this baby should be a girl.

And then the wheels started turning! There were so many things I wanted to do for Audrey, which I didn't have time to do, and can perhaps do for this little girl. I have a big long list of things to do to welcome her, and to get things in order in general as that is how the nesting things goes for me.

Within a couple days of learned we're having a girl I had the nursery fabric purchased! I foudn this darling crewel-embroidered fabric in a sturated acqua, green, yellow, and pink. Then I found an acqua/green/pink sort of paisely--a feminized version of a typically male pattern--that looks great with the crewel embroidered fabric, and a gorgeous multi-pink braid to use on the crib bumper and chair. I decided I want to paint this little girls room the same color as Audrey's (Pratt & Lambert's "Clear Acqua"). So I am ready to start sewing, but first i have to make Audrey's "big girl" bedding--I'm going to use the same gold floral I used for her crib.

So here are the lists. A little long now that I look at it all so who knows how much I'll accomplish, but it's worth a shot!

The Nesting List (Knit, Crochet, and Sewing)

• Dusty purple ribbed cardigans (Audrey & Baby) (DONE)
• Dusty purple booties (Baby) (DONE)
• Cream corduroy yoked dresses to match purple sweaters (Audrey and Baby) (DONE)
• Moda Dea Crochet Baby layette in apricot colored yarn (DONE)
• Easy Crochet Lace/shell sweater, hat, booties in off-white (DONE)
• Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino white matinee jacket (Audrey & Baby) (DONE for baby)


• White seed stitch booties in two sizes (DONE)
• Red Zipper cardigan, hooded (Audrey) (DONE)
• Purple crochet poncho (Audrey) (DONE)
• Pink Lace yoked cardigan (Audrey) (DONE)
• Pink lace/popcorn yoked cardigan (baby) (DONE)
• Button Cable placket cotton sweater (Audrey)
• Pink Sunday jacket w/ seed stitch (Baby)
• Lacy Bonnet in pink (Baby) (DONE--in off-white)
• Debbie Bliss Simply Baby smock coat (Audrey)
• Easy Baby Knits double breasted jacket (Audrey)
• Cream knit dress (Baby)
• Audrey kitchen accessories (apron, tablecloth, napkins, dishcloth) (DONE)
• Waldorf doll and doll clothes for Audrey (DONE)
• Pink jumpers to go with cardigans (Audrey and Baby) (DONE)

Nursery:

• Clear out sewing room for baby room (DONE)
• Baby's crib bedding (DONE)
• Baseboards in baby room (DONE)
• Rocker chair for baby room (DONE)
• Side table for baby room (DONE)
• New face plates for baby room (DONE)
• Paint baby room (DONE)
• Light for baby room
• Organize Audrey's baby clothes for new baby (DONE)
• New closet (DONE)

Audrey's Big Girl Room:

• Audrey's "big girl" bedding (DONE)
• Bedside table for Audrey's room (DONE)
• Paint Audrey's headboard (DONE)
• New closet (DONE)
• Fix Audrey's wall (patch and paint) (DONE)
• Audrey's baby book
• Audrey's first year book of photos
• Audrey's second year photo book

Christmas (I feel I should get a jump on it):

• A painting for my in-laws (DONE)
• Nativity costumes?
• Something knit or crochet for my sister/gift exchange (DONE)
• Something hand made for all my sisters (DONE)

2008 Creative Projects List

I love January! I love the idea of a clean slate, a new year and some space after the holidays. Now that my Christmas craziness is behind me (don't get me wrong, I love it but I also know it's a bit nutty) I can come up with a list of things to do for my family and maybe even myself. I have to write it all down so I can prioritize and keep things straight. And, I confess, since I just bought bags and bags of yarn on sale (rarely can you get it all 30% off so I thought it made sense to stock up--telling myself I won't need to buy any yarn the rest of the year!) I need to make a plan for using all of it. So here it goes, and not necessarily in priority order:

KNIT AND CROCHET PROJECTS

• Barcelona Bolero Sweater for my mother-in-law (knit) FINISHED

I wanted to hand make something for David's family since I made something for everyone in my family for Christmas. It's a bit dangerous to try knitting something for his mother because she has such elegant style, but if it doesn't turn out for her I can always keep it or give it to someone else. I saw the pattern here on Lion Brand (Pattern #: 60353A) and I think it looks beautiful. I chose a Homespun yarn that is shades of beige since that seems to be my mother-in-law's preferred hue.

• Sailor Collar Cardigan for me (knit and crochet) FINISHED

Another pattern (Number: 60705A) from Lion Brand (I had a bunch of pages tabbed from their Fall catalog--I loved it). This is in Wool-Ease Thick&Quick yarn and I thought it would be quick, which it was, as I already finished it! Got started while in Phoenix for New Year's.

• Ribbed Cowl Sweater for me (crochet)

I think this sweater looks so cute, at least on the model! I love cowl neck sweaters. I ordered a great avocado colored yarn from Knit Picks for this. Another Lion Brand pattern (70210A). If it turns out well I may duplicate it and give it to my husband's sister. I know she'd love the color.

• Debbie Bliss Ribbed Cardigan for Audrey (knit) FINISHED

From her Special Knits book. I am going to do this in a dusty shade of purple, Audrey's favorite color.

• Yoked cardigan sweater (knit)

I found this Seamless Yoked Baby sweater pattern on Knitting on the Net and the cardigan looks like something my grandmother would have knit for me--so old fashioned. I bought Bernat Alpaca yarn in the color "Sky" to do this. So gorgeous. I hope it is soft enough for baby. I also bought more of the yarn to do....

• Yoked "Leaf" Sweater for me (knit)

Found this in a Bernat pamphlet and it looks so pretty... Is it too lame to wear a sweater that coordinates with my baby's or is it too fun? I guess I'll have to see.

• Striped Cardi for Audrey (knit)

I can thank Lion Brand for this pattern too. I love that they make all these free patterns available to promote their yarns. I picked up some red, orange and purple Paton's Classic Wool on sale to do this for Fall 2008. I love to plan ahead!

• 8-color granny square Afghan (crochet)

In a twist, I have an afghan on my list. I've never done one before and I think it would be fun to try. I really love the comeback the granny square is making and thought the colors in this Vanna's Choice pattern (# 70139AD) were really cute, so I thought "why not?" I am highly motivated by a yarn sale.

So believe it or not,m the yarn bargain buying stopped there. But, not so with the list of projects. I also want to get to the following knit/crochet:

• Debbie Bliss Pinafore dress for Audrey (knit)
• Debbie Bliss Smock coat in brown for Audrey (knit)
• Debbie Bliss Lace Edge Dress for Audrey (knit) (I LOVE Debbie Bliss!)
• Icelandic Jacket for Audrey (crochet) from Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers
• Fisherman's Cabled Vest for me (Knit)

I want to sew:

• Finish the brown and turquoise jacket I started before I was pregnant with Audrey
• Kimono set for Audrey FINISHED

I want to paint:

• A portrait of Audrey FINISHED
• The Carob tree at my in-law's in Phoenix FINISHED
• Portraits of all my nieces and nephews with my mother (who knows how and when...)

I also need to tackle:

• Organizing the disaster in the basement!
• Audrey's 1st year photo book
• Christmas pageant costumes for the nieces and nephews to play with next year
• Family Night packets about getting to know my grandparents (do extra for my siblings to have)
  

Nothing like a great list to get me motivated for the new year!