There hasn't been a whole lot of time to be knitting lately but I did get to begin this Gift Wrap Romper for my cousin's yet to be born little one.  I'm so excited for them!  Her husband had mentioned that they would love some knits for the baby and I more than happily obliged.  Who can resist knitting something that adorable especially when they have the same taste as you in baby clothes?  They don't know the gender of the little one and she likes neutrals and earth tones anyway so I'm knitting this in a variegated Peruvian wool in light tans and cream.  If it wasn't for someone I was super excited for I'm thinking I may have a hard time giving this away.  Did I mention that she using our awesome midwife for a home birth?  Yes, I am excited for them :)

I forgot to take a picture of the little hats I knit last week for Dwija's new baby girl.  Go congratulate her and check out that precious little bundle.  Her name is Mary.  I love her already.  And since Dwija is busy sleeping and nursing and postpartum healing and smooching on that brand new baby, maybe she won't notice if I steal the pic that she took:

I'm sort of proud of the one on the left.  It's a watermelon!!  Who doesn't want their newborn's head to resemble a giant fruit, I ask you?  I used the pattern for this On the Sunny Side hat and got all inspired and happened to have the perfect colors so out it came.  I don't recommend the pattern, to be honest.  It's really picky and has some hard stitches but I kept at it because I just had to finish it.  You know what I'm like when I get an idea in my head.  The hat on the right is yet another Simple Newborn Hat with a Touch of Lace from Ginny.  It's my go-to new baby gift hat.  I really have some pent up girly knitting inside of me that I must get out.  My sister just found out that their newest little blessing is a girl.  I am SO on it.

Anyway, you know what's cool?  I love knitting...like really love it.  I enjoy it so much and miss it when I don't have enough time for it.  I love being able to create something usable and hopefully beautiful from a simple ball of yarn.  I love that it's a way I can show people I care about them.  I love that I can use the time on the needles praying for and thinking about the person for whom I'm knitting.  I love that it's a way for me to welcome precious new life into the world and show how I excited I am for their arrival.  I love that it keeps my hands busy and forces me to sit down sometimes.  I love that it takes skill and your brain still needs to work and it sometimes even involves math (yes, I'm that nerdy).  I now love that John Paul is playing baseball despite the commitment.  It gives me a designated time to SIT.  I can bring a project along and still pay attention to the game (they aren't that fast moving after all ;) and all is good.  As long as Luke isn't stuffing grass into his mouth which has been his new favorite pastime. 

Reading on the other hand?  That doesn't happen all that often anymore.  If I have that time of sitting, my choice is to be on the needles and knitting rather than reading and there's just not that much down time around here.  Not that I don't want it or miss it.  There's just only so much time in a day.  I just began Kirsten Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset since I've heard such rave reviews from a whole variety of people.  I'm only a chapter or so in so I can see this taking a very long time to get through which is perfectly okay except that I only have one renewal left at the library.  I'm looking forward to seeing what all the excitement is about and sharing in some much needed intellectual discussion with friends.

Check out the rest of Ginny's Yarn Along!  In the meantime, we've got a big fun times ahead...please keep Greg and Caitlin in your prayers as they prepare for and celebrate their marriage!