The best laid plans...

I woke up yesterday morning miserable with a cold. And with that my Mother's Day lunch and dinner plans were put aside and a prescription of rest, reading and knitting taken up instead. My dear Cohen has been suffering from the same cold, as were half his classmates when we Mama's visited the classroom Friday afternoon for our Mother's Day afternoon tea. But while it may not slow down a five year old too much, it certainly has quite the effect on a heavily pregnant Mama.

Still, there was the rare opportunity to read in bed all day, in an empty house. And rarer still, I started and finished a book in a single day. The wonderful Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracey Chevalier. It was the kind of book I didn't want to put down. Fortuitous indeed.

Regardless of the broken plans, my little people showered me in love and kisses, helped their Dada cook for me, and presented me with gifts. 

What more could a mother ask for?

I hope your Mother's Day was wonderful.

11 - 37 Weeks

11 Weeks

13 Weeks

15 Weeks

20 Weeks

22 Weeks

25 Weeks

26 Weeks

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

'Cohen's Mum'

I was flicking back through the Instagram photos of my pregnancy today and wanted to pop them all in together in a post, along with the photos we have from two of the ultrasounds. I love seeing the progressive growth of my bump. I couldn't resist adding the portrait Cohen made of me at school too. So very cute.

Today I'm 37 weeks pregnant. Tomorrow I celebrate my 11th Wedding Anniversary. And the next day is Mother's Day. 

So very many reasons to be grateful and to celebrate.

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You'd be forgiven for thinking it was Winter in these parts, rather than mid Summer, given all the knitting of late. I can't seem to see my way to any other craft. I do believe a part of me is trying to fit in as many stitches as I can before the baby comes.

These wrist warmers made it off the needles yesterday. My first every double pointed needle project and a great way to learn. Definitely one I would encourage others with a fear of dpns to try. They were much simpler than anticipated, quick and satisfying. My next step is more practice, in order to alleviate the 'ladders' formed where the needles meet, which are visible when worn. This article also seems like a great place to start.

The little man has been wearing these around the house and waving his arms around like some sort of woolly action hero, exclaiming 'mine, mine!' Which may explain why he kept asking 'knit for me?' while I was working on them. He seems to have ignored all my "no, they're for Mama" answers.

Free Pattern: Toast

Yarn: Harmony 10 ply, 100% Pure NZ Merino Wool

Ravelry.

My Creative Space

It's been almost a year since I knitted my first ever garment, a vest for Cohen, and posted it in 'My Creative Space.' Hooray for recording such moments through blogging. The differences between these two vests amaze me. From miscounting my stitches on that first vest, and making the vest too large, to learning how to calculate a smaller chest size than the pattern offered, so that the cabled vest fits Cohen now. Or crocheting around the neck for fear of picking up stitches, to picking up many stitches around the neck and arm holes to make the ribbing. Needless to say, I'm quite pleased with how this little vest turned out and how much my knitting has improved. I also think a three year old in a vest is a pretty cute thing, though I may be biased.

I'm feeling inspired for the next knitting challenge...

Pattern: 'In the family', Vintage Knitting Book

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Rustic Wool 8ply, Green Tweeed

Ravelry.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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37 weeks. The hospital bag is packed. And checked. And repacked. Our dreams and conversations drift constantly to the baby. The excitement is growing. Dave and I both are reminiscing about our time as new parents with Cohen too. We find ourselves in wonder at welcoming a new baby and becoming a family of four. I'm sure Cohen feels that the change is closer now too. He talks about the baby often and understands that he and I will be spending our first ever nights away from each other. Something I'm secretly not looking forward to.

Other than that, issues that have troubled me the last half of this pregnancy have been laid to rest and I feel at peace with them. I'm calm and waiting. Full of joy at the thought of a reunion with my twin sister, who arrives home today after her six week scholarship in Canberra. Though this may have to wait longer than anticipated, for her sake and mine, as the poor dear seems to be coming down with a cold and is feeling miserable. As much as I want to see my sweet sister, I'd rather avoid a cold at this late stage in my pregnancy. We shall have plenty of time together after the babies birth though, loving Aunt that she is. And she will have a chance to spend time with Cohen, who has grown so much these past six weeks, as she has been entrusted with babysitting while I'm in hospital.

I'm sure I'll be quite fed up with waiting within the next couple of weeks, but I just keep reminding myself, not long now.