Monthly Archives: September 2011

Make-Your-Own-Moby Wrap

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I made myself a Moby Wrap! Sam and I both like it. Sam falls asleep pretty much instantly when I put him in there, and I get my hands free which means more knitting time for me! I was so stoked to find the exact color I was looking for in the fabric store.


He’s totally conked out in there, and so I pulled up the cover over his head so the bright kitchen lights wouldn’t wake him up. (Just a note, due to some comments- I don’t wear him this way, with his head covered. His face is always visible to mine, I just pulled it close so the lights wouldn’t wake him up, safety first!)


If you’re interested in making your own wrap, basically it’s just a really big rectangle. I bought 5 yards of a jersey knit fabric and cut it down the middle. It needs to be at least 20 to 25 inches wide, but mine is about 30, and that works just fine. I think I might taper the edges like a real Moby Wrap, but I haven’t yet and it still works great, but the knot is a bit bulky. You can also use a serger and make the edges look really nice, but I am lazy and so I just cut it and left it. I think we’re going to get a lot of use out of this wrap!

Sneak Peek at the Sock Monkey

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Ok- so I am nearly finished with Sam’s Halloween Costume, I love it. I am so excited! You guys just get a Sneak Peek of it, cuz I am going to save the rest of it to show you guys somewhere near the end of October.


Mismatched buttons! I didn’t want to pay a bunch of money on new buttons for a Halloween costume…


Gotta keep the pants up. No plumber jokes around here.


Cuff of the pant leg!


Monkey butt! I haven’t made the tail yet, but it’s coming.

I’m halfway through the hat now, and guys, this is going to be so great. I am really excited about it. I love it!

Whoa. 40 Weeks of Belly.

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I realized I never showed you guys the last of my maternity pictures! These shots were taken the day before Sam arrived!


I can’t believe how huge I was! I mean, it wasn’t that long ago, but it’s still very strange to look back and see pictures of a huge belly now that it’s (mostly) gone!


It is so very nice to have my body back, though. Well, nursing really means that I’ve still got someone attached to me a good portion of the day, but I don’t mind too much. He’s cute and makes funny faces and that’s enough to make me glad that he’s on the outside now. So VERY glad he is on the outside now.
Speaking of funny faces, this is a hilarious one that Paul captured the other day.


Man, this kid makes me laugh.

Stay tuned for some sneak-peeks of Sam’s Halloween outfit! It’s almost completed! I’m so excited about it! And be sure to check in tomorrow for your weekly “You Knit What?!”

Cloth Diapering

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So, this week we started using cloth diapers.


I haven’t started using them exclusively yet, we’re just dipping our toes in the water right now. By the time he’s a month old I want to start using them all the time. Sam didn’t seem to mind them, except when I flipped him over to take a picture. (For those of you who want to know, we’ve got a stash of BumGenuins4.0’s)


He wasn’t thrilled. But hey, that’s a cute little blue butt he’s got, right? But, so far, so good. We’ll see how it goes!

And this is for Auntie Erika, who got him this little ducky outfit.


Pretty cute, right?


and he is ALWAYS trying to hold his head up. I guess I shouldn’t say ‘trying’ because he is pretty much succeeding at it. He doesn’t like it when I try to hold his neck at all and always jerks his head around until I let go and then he’ll just hold it up on his own, like a big kid. Funny baby.


And now I’ve got dishes to do so I can have a clean sink to bathe my baby in. He needs a bath!

Red Cabled Blanket, Now With A Baby!

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Remember this blanket? I’m so happy I have someone to use it on, now!


It’s just the right size for his carseat or the stroller.


I think he likes it.


Gosh, I think he’s swell. I mean, c’mon, look at that little face! So squishable!


After a while Sam was really fed up with this whole photo-shoot thing. Not really his favorite, I guess.


Ah, that’s better.

Happy Weekend, everyone.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle?

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Finally, a craft related project! I know, right?

So, we’re not really a crunchy kind of family. Yeah, we are cloth diapering, but that’s about as crunchy as I get. However, sometimes I find ideas on other ‘crunchy mama’ blogs that just seem like a good idea.


I know, I know. Ugly yarn, right? But it’s what I had on hand, and since this particular handknit will be generally used and abused on the floor and covered in dirt I wasn’t too torn up about using ugly yarn. Any guesses as to what it is?


It’s a reusable Clorox Ready-Mop pad! I made a few of them in case I need to mop up something while the other is in the wash. There are tons of patterns online, but this is the particular one I used.


And they definitely work better than the flimsy paper-towel-like pads that are expeeeensive. And they’re more absorbent, especially if you’re cleaning up a wet mess!


And you can also make your own cleaner by combining 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent, and 2 cups of water!

Bath Time

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So, I don’t really have any finished crafty things to show you just yet, although I am working on several projects! It just goes a lot slower when you’ve got tiny little cheeks to kiss and snuggle all day! But at least by blogging pictures of the baby I am making SOME people happy (Yep, that’s you, mom and Erika!) So, without further ado: Bath time!


He really enjoys bathtime. He calms right down if we put him in the water.


I was so glad when his cord fell off so we could give him real baths! He did NOT enjoy his sponge baths, but to be honest those don’t sound so much fun (brr!)


(um, please excuse the “new mom” hairstyle and makeup. Ha! But in my defense it was only noon and I just hadn’t gotten ready yet)

And Sam keeps falling asleep in the most hilarious positions! Last night he was asleep like this for a good hour.

And then a little while later he sunk down into this comfortable position (And no, I didn’t pose him this way! It was all him!)

But now I gotta run some errands and drop off lunch with my baby daddy. And I swear I’ll try to come up with some crafty posts soon, but until then, you’re just gonna be stuck with more baby pictures. (How sad for you!)

Busy Weekend!

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We had a busy weekend! We hung out with Paul’s family and got some great family pictures!

Paul, Sam I, Sam III and Sam II.

Samuel I, II and III

Grandpa Sam and Baby Sam.

And had a birthday dinner for Auntie Carrie! (Sam’s face in this picture cracks me up!)

Sam and his grandparents! (Who so kindly watched Sam for a few hours so we could hit up the fair!)

Hanging out with Great Grandma Carol.

Big yawn!

And Paul and I got to hit up the fair since there were so many willing hands to hold the baby! We didn’t stay long, but just enough to get an elephant ear, ride the Ferris Wheel and play a few silly games.


I was a little worried about being away from the baby for the first time, but he did great and it was nice to have a little date with the husband.

And now I’ve got to go give my baby a bath because he just spit up all over himself. Yum.

Sam And His Buddies

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Today I introduced Sam to his little crib buddies. He didn’t seem all that impressed.


But, you know, it’s pretty hard to impress a 13 day old baby. Unless you have food, then he’s impressed.

And here is Sam snugglin’ up with a sock monkey that used to be mine when I was a little one!


And last, but not least, here he is all snuggled with the bear his Nana (Paul’s mom) got him. Isn’t it the cutest?


I hope you all have a great weekend! We’re just chilling out, enjoying the cooler weather (Finally!) and visiting with some family that’s come all the way from Ohio to visit! And hopefully I’ll get a picture of Samuel David I, II AND III together! And a 4 generation of Tong men picture, too! And go to our sad little excuse for the fair, which can be fun as long as I try not to compare it to the Puyallup fair, which I haven’t been to in two years (saaad!) But I better go now, somebody wants some breakfast.

My Hands are Full.

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So, it’s been so weird. I haven’t knitted anything since the day before Sam was born. This is the longest I’ve gone without knitting something probably since I started knitting in 2005. Except for maybe my trip to Europe, but even then I had brought a project to work on during the plane trips. My fingers are getting a little bit itchy and I need to cast on a new project.

Oh, and I was going to show you the money shot my sister captured while she was here. Seriously, I am like dying over this photograph of my beautiful (um.. handsome?) son.


Sheesh. Totally head over heels in love with that chubby face. And that picture was taken on Thursday, Sept 8th, and he’s already gained weight and those cheeks are even bigger now. He’s two respectable chins now, too.

On Sunday we went to church! Here he is with his dad, all dressed up!


He wasn’t thrilled about having his picture taken…


And we survived. We kept our heads above water. We’re totally in love. It’s so awesome to see how Paul interacts with the baby. He comes home, and if I am holding Sam, he’ll say “Can I hold him?”  Hecks yes, you can! I love seeing him playing with the baby, giving him kisses and talking to him. It’s the most adorable thing I think I’ve ever seen in my life. My boys! I’ve got TWO of them to love.

And now, a parting shot. Peace.