Life and knitting in Chicago

Welcome, Julia

Julia Frances, born March 22, 2007, 7:33 p.m.  5 lbs 12 oz.

Deeply shallow

What do I want in my heart of hearts?  Okay, a healthy baby.  But if it's not too much, maybe a subscription to Carol's Cookies Cookie-of-the-Month club?

Attack of the giant Snickers bar

Gross, yet I can't look away.  From the crazy folks of Pimp That Snack, a giant candy bar for your entertainment.   

The power of cute

It distracts from last minute jitters, late-pregnancy discomforts, and once the baby is here, from any baby behavior that is less than charming or fragrant.  I am enjoying the cuteness of these newest baby items for all of these reasons.

Outfit from cousin Sharon and her partner Barbara

Little pink socks knit by Grandma Linda

Itty-Bitty flower hat knit by friend Elisabeth

Booties knit by talented Irish stranger, gifted by family friend

Also enjoying the cuteness of Stella, who is eager to start a Sunday stroll through Lincoln Square

Nursery addition

No--not the baby.  Just a glider chair and ottoman from Costco. 

Biscotti mise-en-place

Makings for Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti.

Babies = lots of stuff

Our UPS guy is awesome, and carried these into the apartment for me. 

Cooking wise, I lost my mind while watching the Barefoot Contessa and made these:

Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, "How bad could that be?"  Actually not so bad, because none of them are staying here. 

Another reason to love Chicago

Casimir Pulaski Day.  Even though March 4 is nationally-recognized as Pulaski day, I'd never heard of it until I moved here.  Chicago public schools and libraries are closed.

Blanketed

Behold the glory of a completed baby blanket.   The pattern comes from Lucinda Guy's Handknits for Kids, and my mother and I split the task of knitting the rows of squares and the lace edging.  We used Rowan Classic Cash Soft DK yarn and size 5 needles. 

Feather and faning

my way to something that will hopefully look like Stitchmarker's modified baby bonnet pattern.

Big ticket items purchased for the baby and nursery this week:

a Maclaren Techno XT stroller (the Honda CR-V of strollers, solid, reliable, Consumer Reports endorsed, mid-range in price)

and a glider chair for nursing.