McKenna's Stocking

I went to my stash and came up with these 4 colors to knit McKenna's Christmas stocking. Not Christmas-y colors by any means, but definitely girly-girl colors. I made up the pattern as I went along, and had no idea how it would turn out. McKenna thought it was a pretty cozy sleeping bag before it went into the washer for felting!



I haven't felted anything in a while, and I guess I forgot that standing over the washing machine with a watchful eye is the key to getting the results you want. I had the stocking in the washer for only 8 minutes, and it was done. I would have stopped the felting a bit earlier had I been standing there. It's not WAY too small, but I would have liked it if all my design elements were a bit more visible and also if it were just a wee bit bigger to fit more goodies inside in future years.



I'll be needle-felting McKenna's name once the stocking is dry.



Hey! What happened to my sleeping bag? It used to be THIS big! I can't fit in that anymore!!!!

My new toy

My new piece of electronics arrived today. I decided I needed one of these slick little Flip video cameras. The fact that you could personalize it with a photo or a graphic really sealed the deal for which camera I might buy. I love the fact that no one else will have a camera exactly like mine!

It really couldn't be any easier to use. The USB connection "flips" out of the top of the camera and you plug it right into your computer, without any cords.


The software is so user friendly. Within mere seconds you can save to your computer, email your video, upload it to the internet, pull screen shots from it, make it into a video greeting card, burn it to a DVD, etc.

The Flip MinoHD is quite small, (smaller than my phone) and will slip easily into a pocket or purse. I am going to be taking a ton of video of McKenna (and Christmas, and many other things) How handy, to just be able to whip it out because it's with you all the time, instead of having to haul around the big video camera, in its big case, worrying about if you have a blank tape or DVD to record onto, etc.

I'm so excited to get the early Christmas present that I bought myself. I got the power adapter free (you get one free accessory on the website right now) which allows me to charge it when I am away from my computer. I also want the HDMI cables that will let me watch the videos on the TV, and also the mini tripod which will come in very handy.

Knitting has resumed....

My cut has healed, but I still have swelling, pain and numbness in my finger. I decided I couldn't wait any longer to knit McKenna's pumpkin hat, so it was knit yesterday with my finger up in the air. My tension was definitely all over the place. Oh well, it still turned out to be a cute hat for an adorable little girl. Hopefully my finger is back in working order before too much longer.

Well....

There will be no knitting with THIS (or the pain that accompanies it).

Public Service Announcement:

Can Lid + Stupidity = 6 Stitches (of the non-knitting variety)

McKenna hits the yarn store....

McKenna is 2 months old today, and she decided it was about time she shopped for yarn. She had an appt. downtown today, which happened to be in the building next to where City Knits is located. So McKenna convinced her mommy to take us inside so she could pick something out.

She quickly was overcome by the yarn fumes, and went off to la-la land, which meant she had to trust me to pick out the yarn. I picked Crystal Palace Bamboozle, in the Tulip colorway (which reminds me more of melon colors than tulips, but it's pretty!) I'm not sure what I'm going to make with it yet, but it sure was exciting to me that one of the very first places McKenna went (besides to her doctor appts.) was a yarn store!

No knitting, just McKenna

This picture was taken today and I love it SO much that I had to share!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

McKenna is leaving the hospital tonight!!!!!! We are all so relieved, happy, excited, etc. This sweetie is finally going to sleep in her own home with Mommy and Daddy. YAY!!!!

ps... that's the latest new hat from me :-)

Blanket of Love

I started this blanket soon after finding out Kim and Drew were expecting. It was a "stop and start again" kind of project, with lots of other knitting going on in between. When McKenna was born early, I had to get the needles clicking again to finish up her blanket ASAP!

Kim's second shower is tomorrow, and I just took the blocking pins out of the blanket and wrapped it. I am very pleased with how it turned out. Such a difference from pre-blocking. It was a rumpled blob ... and now it's a thing of beauty, if I do say so myself. I can't wait to see McKenna wrapped in this blanket. Each of the 55,772 stitches are filled with Grandma love!

ps... McKenna is doing great, and will be leaving the hospital very soon! Yay!

Apple Blossom Cardigan

I knit this sweet little sweater for McKenna this week. The pattern (available free on Ravelry) called for worsted weight and size 10 needles, but was going to be too big. I used DK weight, and size 6 needles, and it is more her size. I'm hoping it will be perfect for her to wear home from the hospital (which we are hoping is VERY soon!) I am going to use the lace pattern at the bottom of the sweater to make a matching hat, and will whip up some booties too. I can't wait to see her wearing this!

Sweet McKenna

Words are not really necessary. This face says it all!

McKenna continues to do very well. She's reaching milestones, gaining weight, and we are all hoping her stay in the NICU will be over soon. She has changed SO much since she was born, looking better (and cuter!) every day! She is loved by so many. Thanks again, everyone, for your continued prayers. They are working!

I am one proud Grandma!

Sizzlin' Sunday

A quick update, and I'll try to post pix very soon.

McKenna is now 2 weeks old and doing great. I am going to go see her in just a little while. I have not seen her since Monday, which breaks my heart, but it was all I could do to pull things together for the baby shower (yesterday). Thanks to many good friends and wonderful family members, it was a beautiful day for Kim and Drew. So much love was in that room, and we had McKenna's photos on a digital frame slide show, so she was with us in spirit.

Kim is doing great. Her blood pressure seems to be under control and the symptoms of preeclampsia are all but gone. She is exhausted, understandably, from all the trips to the hospital, catching up on her class for her Masters, phone calls, paperwork, and just getting things ready for McKenna to come home. Now with all that extra LOOT from the shower, she'll spend a lot of time getting everything set up in the nursery for her. How fun!

Happy Sunday! I'm hitting the pool when I get home! It's a hot one!

Welcome to the world, McKenna!

My grand-daughter McKenna was born Saturday evening, more than 9 weeks early. She weighs 2 lbs. 5 oz. and though very tiny, is doing very well! She came out crying and breathing on her own, and is full of spunk. Of course I fell in love with her the minute I saw her. I am hoping to be able to hold her tomorrow.

The way things happened made for a wild ride, and even though it's not what any of us had planned, it looks like it will all be ok.

I missed out on 2 months of knitting time... I'd better get moving on finishing up that other project, and making a few preemie hats!

McKenna's arrival put a wrench in my plans to go to Sock Summit, and while I'm disappointed, HERE is where I need to be...where I want to be. Kim is going to need a lot of help in the coming weeks. I want to be the one helping her.

I can't believe I'm a grandma!! Squeeee!