What Joy! Happy Boys!

Is there anything better than I smiling baby? I really can't think of anything. I love that, despite his tummy troubles, Jellybean is a smiley little boy. He smiles when he spits up. He smiles while he's crying with a tummy ache. He smiles when he hears Daddy or his brothers.

Wow, I can learn from that! Do I great adversity and challenges with a smile? I think, most of the time, I don't handle things well. I get down and depressed, instead of being like Jellybean. I should smile through my tears, like he does.

 Wouldn't it be amazing and great if we all were content to be chubby and happy like a baby? To trust others to be there when we need them? To love everyone without question, just because they are there?

Of course, life isn't that simple. It's impractical to go through life expecting the things all babies deserve (and not enough of them get!), but I can borrow his joy for a little while, when I just look down on that beautiful, trusting, happy face.

Are you smiling yet?

Try to resist this face:

We have a saying in this house:

"Two Year Olds are DANGEROUS!"

"Who, me?"

You'd better believe it!

Knit Knacks: Fish's Blanket

 Fish's blanket is done in what you would call a 'moss stitch'. Again, it's one pound of yarn, worsted weight. Size 11 needles.

Cast On 120

*Knit 1, purl 1 repeat pattern all the way across the row.

Purl 1, knit 1 repeat pattern all the way across.

(Pay attention to your stitches from the previous row, you want the opposite stitch of the one in the previous row, or you will end up with Boy's blanket.)

Repeat from * all the way through until desired length.

I finished the outside of this blanket with a border of Double Crochet stitches. Just double crochet into every stitch all the way around. Double crochet three times into the same stitch at every corner.

Knit Knacks: Cookie's Blanket

It's hard to tell in this picture, but Cookie's blanket is pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Again, it's pretty simple, but it creates a basket-weave like texture.

This was done in worsted weight yarn with size 11 needles.

Cast On 110 stitches.

*Knit 5, Purl 5 repeated all the way across.

Repeat for 5 rows.

Now Purl 10, Knit 10 repeated all the way across.

Repeat for 5 rows.

Back to * and repeat until desired length. Cast Off.

Knit Knacks: Jellybean's Blanket

Jellybean's blanket is the pale blue one on the left. Again, this is a pretty easy pattern, that will need about 1 lb of yarn.

I should note that this is baby yarn and I used size 11 knitting needles, I believe. Smaller needles will make tighter weave, and also a smaller blanket. Larger needles will make a looser, larger blanket.

Cast On 112 stitches.

Knit 8 stitches. Purl 8 stitches. Repeat to the end of the row.

Repeat this pattern for the next 8 rows.

Then...

Purl 8 stitches. Knit 8 stitches. and repeat, again for 8 rows.

Repeat the whole process until the blanket is your desired length, then, Cast Off.

Five Times Five

Five minutes watching my baby sleep.

Five minutes tickling my crazy two year old.

Five minutes keeping house, on the clock.

Five minutes playing babies.

Five quarts of water (and it's only noon!)