ATTEMPT #2

So my first crocheted baby hat, was kinda lumpy and uneven and had a lot of mistakes in it...
So I decided to try again... I bought some softer 'baby' yarn, and started another one.

I am VERY pleased with myself at how it turned out.
Considering I barely learned to crochet 2 days ago, I think this is one cute little hat :)

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

This week was 'project week'.
I decided to try my hand at a few new things.

Just after Christmas last year, I went to Michaels craft store and bought some supplies to make Christmas wreaths for this year... their wreaths and picks etc were all 90% off, so I spent just a few $, which definitely beats the cost of a ready made, store bought wreath.

I wanted to make a gold & silver wreath, and a red one.
I haven't made the red one yet, but here is my silver and gold one.
It's pretty simply made, but I'm happy with my first attempt at wreath making.
Now just to get the red one done :)

I've also been wanting to learn how to crochet... particularly baby hats, because I've been looking at crocheted hats for Kate, but couldn't bring myself to buy any, when I hadn't even tried to make one yet.
My good friend Tricia, spent nearly the entire day with me today, teaching me how to crochet, so I could try my hand at making hats. She really is very patient, because I've NEVER picked up a crochet hook before. LOL.. so I am a complete beginner.
I have A LOT to learn still, and my baby beanie is far from perfect, but I am quite pleased with my chunky looking, lopsided, flaw filled first attempt...My sore fingers feel great :)
I'm eager to start another, to see if I can get it neater and nicer looking.... I'll start with a better yarn selection... my choice for todays hat was coarse and chunky.. I'd like to go with a softer, finer baby yarn next time...
So these are the 2 new things that I tried this week. It's been really fun having the gratification of learning and doing something new. Even if the final product isn't perfect.
I hope I can find the time to keep on trying new things, and working to perfect the skills I'm already trying to learn. I could definitely do with a few hobbies to occupy my mind and time with things other than just poopy diapers and house work :)

34 WEEKS

I'm 34 weeks 1 day today :)
Yesterday I had another prenatal appointment to check on little miss Kate.
She is doing well. I am measuring 33cm at the moment, which although still a little on the small side, puts me back in the 'normal' range, so there aren't any concerns about her growth anymore.
The OBGYN just thinks she'll be a petite little thing... in fact, the Dr I saw yesterday said that she's gonna guess after palpitating my belly to feel Kate that she'll be about a 6lb (2.72kg) baby...
UM... sure, OK! LOL... I'll believe it when I see it on the scale at her delivery... I can't imagine going from 8lb Luke to a little 6lb thing. haha...
My guess is that she'll be smaller than Luke, but not under 7lbs
I was only a 6.5lb baby, but after having Luke, I think Jake and I are just 'designed' to make bigger babies. LOL

She's been squirming and moving a LOT lately, and I'm thinking she's kinda a scrawny, boney little thing, cos good grief, am I getting some sharp jabs... I don't remember Luke actually hurting me when he poked me with a limb, so I guess his bigger, chubbier size and limited room in my belly made for softer, more padded prods and pokes. LOL

All in all we're doing well. I'm feeling quite tired again, and my hips hurt quite a lot but it's really all just third trimester 'complaints' and ailments I suppose. And soon enough little miss Kate will be here and it'll have been all worth it.

Here is my 'much smaller' 34 week belly (I'm not looking at the camera anymore, cos my face is starting to get some third trimester chubbiness, lol)

MORE FUN AFTER THE RAIN

We had another big storm today... crazy 'rattle the house' kind of thunder, and lots of rain.
It's hot and muggy, and the gnats are out full force, but despite that Luke got a bit of play time outside.

What would you do with your Sunday afternoon, on a hot, muggy, rainy day in North Carolina?
LOL... this is what Luke did with his...

There are definitely perks to being 2 years old...

32 WEEK APPT

Today was my 32 week prenatal appointment.
My weight gain is right on track, my blood pressure is good, and Kate's heart beat was strong and steady. I am however measuring a bit on the small side.
I'm 32 weeks and measuring only 30cm. I should be measuring close to 32cm, as your measurements generally correlate with how many weeks you are.
There is leeway to be up to 2cm over or under the weeks that you are, but anything above 2cm, they generally start checking that baby is growing on track etc.
They'll be checking my uterus size closely in 2 weeks at my next appointment.
If I am over 2cm out, then they'll have to make sure that little Kate is growing well, and that my amniotic fluid isn't low.
So hopefully Kate will have a nice little growth spurt over the next 2 weeks and I'll be appropriately whale sized so that there is no need for concern :)

On a funnier note... trust my husband to make me feel like a whale despite the 'small' circumstances. LOL.
I called him when I left the OB office, and told him how the appointment went.
Our conversation went something like this...

Me: So I'm measuring about 2cm out
Jake: Oh, so you're BIG!
Me: Um, no, I'm measuring SMALL
Jake: Ooohhh!
Me: LOL.. way to make me feel like a whale, automatically presuming that I must be measuring BIG, and not small.
Jake. LOL. (Oops)

I guess all Jake sees is a big belly, regardless of whether it's size appropriate or not. LOL

BATH TIME PICASSO

Tonight, we gave Luke some 'finger paint soap' to play with in the tub.
Here is my little naked artist creating his master piece.