swimming

wow, i really am horrible at this!

today was rileys introduction to swimming lessons...it was just a orientation lesson, our real lessons start june 2nd...not your typical swim lessons (definitely not american red cross or swim america lessons--yes both i have taught and this is not them! not at all, but i did think about asking if they want/need another teacher, hehe)

riley loves swimming! he loved the lesson we got today and really did very well

the lessons are from swimbabes, they teach survival skills first and swimming skills (stroke) after
so he will learn to jump into the water (fully clothed eventually) and float on his back until an adult comes to save him or until he reaches the side of the pool and can get out himself (that might be a reach, but if he got to stairs i can see him being able to figure it out to get out himself)

scarf exchange

so on Ravelry were doing a scarf exchange...and on my LYS-the knitting bee-'s website they have advertised their yarn of the month--fresco! and along with this they have a free pattern for a basket whip cowl, so im making a heather grey cowl for my secret partner...and then im going to go get myself some more fresco yarn and make one for me!! i LOVE this yarn!!
edit:
i lied, im too in love with this cowl to give it away, i found some other yarn that i think is perfect for my swap partner and am making a lace scarf out of it...picture below

socks

ugg...im making my first socks and well, they are taking all my patients...im through the heal turning (the hard part which really wasnt hard) and on now on the decreases to get to the foot...the problem? well im using mochi plus and i keep making mistakes (and not noticing them until im rows beyond them...and i have to tink back to fix it...the mochi plus DOES NOT TINK WELL! will post pictures when im done
oh ya the pattern im using is the basic socks from I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks

Knitted felted knitting bag!

so im in the process of designing/knitting this bag, but i need somewhere to keep my notes, and eventually the pattern i develop so here it is!

yarn using: wool of the andies from KnitPicks, worsted weight
amount:
needle size:13" needle on 24"circs

knit using double strands-or maybe use the bulky weight instead of worsted?

CO 200sts

round 1: Knit
round 2: purl
round 3: knit
round 4: purl
round 5-:knit
BO

im using 2 colors, black and orange--i knit with one color till i run out then switch to the other color and on and on until the bag is the desired length.

for a rectangular base: use double stands CO 75sts, knit 25 rows
attach to bottom edge of bag using your prefered method of attaching

alternative base otption:
seam bottom of bag together
decrease stitches to 10 or increase from 10 up to 200
for a strap knit a strap 1.5-2x's your desired length 4 sts wide (also using double strands) graft/attach to bag

oops

ok and apparently the links didnt go through... here they are:

AAP News
YouTube Rear Facing
YouTube 5pt Harness

rear facing child seats

i honestly cannot remember who i was talking to about the benefits of extended rear facing car seat use...but here are a few links that talk about the great benefits of extended rear facing use and some videos...

happy friday the 13th!

alright so first off i have a question...im not even sure how many people read my blog, or if anyone does really so i may not get any answers but here it goes anyway...Riley is now 20 lbs at 4.5 months, is his weight gain going to slow down? I am working at the GDiapers booth at the everything green expo this weekend and in compensation I will get some little g pants BUT do i get some mediums (go up to 28lbs) or should i get larges?? im really not sure what to do since im not sure how much longer he will be in mediums...if hes only in the meds for another couple of months then id get larges but if hes going to be in mediums until after hes one then i might consider getting a mix...what doyou think???

im a special ed teacher for children birth to grade 4, so youd think id know how to teach a child to drink from a sippy cup BUT i really have no idea how to teach this skill to Riley...he refuses, screams, cries and shuts down when you try to give him a bottle...which really is just fine with me since im breastfeeding and im not working at all, BUT id like daddy to help out in the middle of the night sometimes...so how do i teach him to take a sippy cup???

do you know what really annoys me?! my husbands alarm...he sets it for 615am, but then when it goes off it takes him a good 5 minutes before it wakes him up and he rolls over to hit the snooze button, he then repeats this process for a WHOLE HOUR!!! the alarm wakes me up instantly and if Riley is not already awake and eating he is woken up the the alarm as well...frick, if your going to set an alarm set it for the time you want to get up!!!!

alright im done....going to go sit on the floor and play with Riley now