Craft actually

To do

Today's to do list:

• Accupuncture appointment

• Finish back-tack gifts

• Obsessively tidy house and wash towels again (perhaps the nesting is finally kicking in)

• Buy milk

• Have a baby

For the last point ideally today but has to be before Thursday when my favourite midwife is off duty. And defo before Friday as avoiding an induction has now become a challenge having come this far and the thought of still being pregnant then.... well I can't think about that. Thank you so much to everyone for the encouraging comments, emails and texts. I feel like I'm in the final mile or two of an extra challenging marathon and the "crowd support" is really keeping my spirits up.

The thought of having a little babe to put in this cutest onsie in the world that just arrived from my mate Jo in Aus is also keeping me going. Awwwww

Baked Bean

41 weeks but whose counting hey! 

Well not much else to say on that topic! Apparently 41 weeks is an average cooking time and the scan today says everything is good with the Bean and she's *quite* a healthy size but we're not talking about that either. We have an appointment for an eviction (induction) in a week so she's got a bit more time to sort herself out (and grow? Yikes).

Nada

Even after reflexology in the morning and accupuncture yesterday afternoon - NOTHING! Not even a little Braxton Hicks for encouragement. *sigh*

But I've told myself not to get frustrated until the 41 week point, THEN I can start getting antsy!

It wouldn't be so bad but I'm just getting so vague and tired its hard to do anything. Although my friends and folks have been lovely about distracting and entertaining me. 

One nice crafty thing I've been working on is my swap presents for my back-tack  partner at YarnTherapy and I really hope to finish them off today so I can post them before the deadline. I managed to come up with some quite good inspiration (I think).

I also have a collection of frames, some from wedding presents and some ubiquitious IKEA ones that I want to put together some photos and arrange creatively on a wall somewhere. I realised at our second aniversary that we don't have a single wedding photo displayed anywhere so it would be nice to put one up at least!

Due date

  

But *someone* didn't get the memo.

I had a lovely day anyway. I treated myself to a pedicure because goodness knows what could happen if I don't have freshly polished hot pink toenails before the baby arrives. Then some of the girls came over for lunch and I cooked up some pumpkin and sweet potato soup and we had a good catch up.

The midwife pronounced yesterday that I have a "happy baby" but she's not in the "optimal" position yet so it could be a bit more of a wait. And I almost kissed her when she said she didn't think she was overly big. I'm ready...

Nesting

The cot was my first baby purchase about six weeks ago and it finally arrived on Friday with the pram. Smithy's choice on the later - a manly Phil & Ted's 3 wheeler. I fell for the adorable Stokke Sleepi cot.

We put the cot together on the weekend and I think the fabulous quilt that arrived yesterday from my little sis Suze goes perfectly with it.

 

She did a course to learn quilting especially and the detail is perfect. She also has an Etsy shop Cottonwood for fabulous baby gifts. Just a little plug for her lovely things, especially if you're in Aus.

One of the (many) things we picked up at Ikea last week was some shelves which Dad very kindly put up for me. I think the little collection of softies look comfortable.

 

I've carefully edited out the washing hanging racks, ironing board and computer that are still part of the nursury! I guess this qualifies as nesting. Now all we need is a bebe. Even with the due date in just a couple of days, not to mention the ginormous belly it still doesn't seem real yet.

A bit of knitting

The gap in posts isn't due to any exciting bebe news I'm afraid.

Last week got pretty busy with a trip to Kings Road for a craft fair and a spot of shopping on Monday, a marathon trip to IKEA (ughhhhh) on Tuesday and lunch in town with some of the girls on Thursday. With all that running around I didn't have much time to post. But it was a great week because it went really quickly and I got quite a bit of organising accomplished.

If anyone is wondering whether Misty is still disgracing herself - she did it a second time in the same spot so I rang the vet who recommended putting out a litter tray ("she could just be feeling lazy!") and some Feliway to chill her out. This combination seems to have worked and the Feliway seems to be especially effective as both the girls are acting completely stoned. They've been lying around looking extremely relaxed until they get the munchies and practically inhale their dinner. Very funny.

I've been doing my fair share of lying or sitting around too with a bit of knitting happening also.

These Joe's Office socks are coming along quite well. I'm loving the way the colours of this Cherry Tree Hill yarn are working out.

 

I've also started a Baby Suprise Jacket (BSJ) - a famous Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern in some very bright hand-dyed yarn from a market in Aus that Mum gave me. I've been wanting to try this pattern for awhile. I've been using Dawn's notes which I'd recommend if you haven't tried this pattern before as it makes it really clear.

Oh noes!

 

Misty had a little accident the other night - on the leather sofa. Although I'm not sure if it was an accident or some kind of cry for help because she came up on the sofa beside me and looked straight at me while having a big pee. I was so shocked because neither of the girls have had a single accident since they came to us.

I'm not sure if she has been frightened by a couple of the nieghbourhood bullies Mr Black and Mr White, whether it was too cold outside for her sensitive constitution or if she was just marking her territory big-time to piss off Minnow!

She spent the whole next day lying next to me on the sofa and was so cute that I had to forgive her.

Both the girls have also been soaking up the underfloor heating with as much body surface as possible.

Squishy socks

I made these "Smith" socks from a Noro pattern book for Mum's birthday. She received one sock on the day and the second a few days later. Knitted on 4.5mm needles, they were a very quick knit.

I'm now working on another pair in regular sock yarn that are taking a bit longer but I have until Christmas so there's a bit of time.

 

Smith (Ravelry link) from Noro: Knits

Yarn is Mirasol Qina (my new favourite yarn - alpaca of course) and Noro Cash Island on 4.5mm needles.

Handmade in Britain

I'm planning to go to this Handmade craft fair and exhibition at Chelsea Old Town Hall tomorrow. I'm hoping to be inspired and to maybe find some hand made Chrissy pressies.  Let me know if you're going too! (thanks to Kirsty for posting a link to this)