E is for Easter, Ethan and Elmo?

I'm not exactly a huge fan of childhood characters. Don't get me wrong, I definitely qualify as immature when it comes to my love of cartoons and "kid" movies (at least the good ones.) However, I can't stand the syrupy, commercialized cartoon characters plastered on every kid product from diapers to baby yogurt. I also don't like to put my kid in "character"clothes. I just don't. I like the basics. Lately, however, in a quest to build my child's language skills and attention span (and to give mom and dad a break from climbing furniture, tormenting the dogs and throwing everything but what he's supposed to), we have Tivoed "Sesame Street" so that Ethan can have some quiet time. It has worked. He sits still for more than five minutes as Elmo rides his bike around talking to the same Gordon and Maria I watched 25 (maybe even 30) years ago. So, I have to admit, when he looked at his Elmo and Cookie Monster laden diapers and said ecstatically "MoMo" and "Cookie" it made my heart melt.


I really wasn't going to do anything for Easter, because he doesn't really get these things yet. He wants to throw Easter eggs, not hunt them, and God forbid he should get his hands on a bunny. Guilt (or Patti B. at my work) got to me and I decided he might enjoy an Elmo egg like the Ernie and Bert my dad made me when I was little. It was one of the most memorable things my dad did for me. I loved my Ernie and Bert eggs that he blew out and decorated. They were in my Easter basket every year. So hopefully Elmo can be in Ethan's. That is, if we can keep him from throwing it.

Finished Sweater for Ethan

So, I finished the sweater for Ethan with the yarn that my mother-in-law gave me. It's a little big. (At least in the arms and neck...ha! I'm definitely still learning.) Maybe if will fit him better next winter.

If you want to see more pictures of the sweater, click here.

If you would like the pattern for the Pullover Sweater, it is free from Lion Brand's website.

Pictures of My First Project

The very first project I completed was the Cross Over sweater from Debbie Bliss "Essential Baby". I didn't take pictures of it before I gave it to my niece for Christmas, but my sister-in-law brought her over in it last weekend. Here is is, (if you can see past the adorable dimples.)

Anniversary Flowers

Everytime we go to the local grocery store together, my husband goes to the flower case to try to guess the arrangement I would pick. After I'm done checking out, we compare notes. I love the flowers from this florist. He used unusual grocery items like cabbages, brussel sprouts and onions.

On Saturday, we had our 6th wedding anniversary and Greg surprised me with these. They are way too expensive, but they're beautiful.

Booties for Ethan's doctor

I don't think there are words for how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my son's pediatrician. Dr. Terrill is so upbeat, supportive and understanding. She is possibly one of the peppiest people I have ever met, but not in an annoying way. You just can't help but love her. She has two sons and is now expecting a daughter, so I decided to give a try at making the ever-famous Saartje's Booties [PDF] for her. I had a little trouble understanding how to make the strap, but I think they turned out OK.

I HATE Thunderstorms at Night

Not because I'm afraid of them, although the idea of an enormous oak smashing into our house is a bit disturbing, but because my geriatric dog leftover from college gets up panting and pacing from one side of the bed to the other. To make things worse, it makes my husband insanely angry, so not only is there the CLICK-CLACK of Seagram's (my dog, not my husband) nails hitting the hardwoods, there are also sudden, unexpected outbursts from my bed felllow.

We have started putting him in the bathroom downstairs on these nights because it is completely impossible to sleep and there is absolutely no way to calm him down (he's even afraid of camera flashes because they remind him of lightning.) Plus, when he's scared and we're not there, he always jumps in the bath tub as evidenced by the dirty dog footprints I find when I go to take a shower. The only problem is that inevitably, we wake up to a lake of pee on the bathroom floor the next morning. Sigh.

Giraffe Booties

These are the first set of booties that I knitted. I made them for the son of one of our friends.  I made him little giraffes from the yarn and pattern that came with this: Baby Knits Kit: Instructions and Tools for 20 Snuggly Projects I then knitted little ears and embroidered the eyes and nostrils using embroidery thread. The tie and the name on the heel was done with Lion Brand Chenille. I cut out little circles of tan felt and stitched them on randomly to make the spots.