Merry Christmas!

After spending an hour plus in line to see Santa, we managed to get one picture before Joanne turned back, looked at Santa and lost it. Only tipped the stroller over once on our outing to the mall.

An actual crochet post!

Have been working like crazy on my lunch hours and was able to finish up the hat for Rachel for Regan. She had a teal hat and wanted one to match. Joanne's hat matches the one her Madame Alexander doll wears that Grandma got her for Christmas. She looks like a little garden gnome according to some people.






Came across this on the computer. My baby before the baby came. My blue ribbon I won for my baby Christmas hat in 2007. Has been a dry time since. The judges are really tough and very picky on what wins. It seems like basic, boring and traditional are the qualities they really like. I am sure they will just hate the afghan I am make for the next fair. Oh well, I make stuff I want to make and just see what happens.

Joanne's First Graham Cracker

Rachel is so cool to take pictures. So glad she is addicted to her phone. LOL

It's Snowing!!

Today is Joanne's first snow! She was not too sure about it but did not cry.

Fun on our new couch

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

Music Bar Time

High Chair Fun

Picture Update of Joanne

The most recent pictures are at the bottom. Boy how she is changing.

La Push Hat Update

Well the 17 rows I got worked in are now a curly mess in the bottom of my project bag. After row 14 on the pattern things just did not work. The pattern did not repeat right and the hat looked all wrong against the photo. So I will make a different hat for my co-worker Carolyn that she also likes.

Halloween 2010

Joanne's first Halloween. She had fun hanging out on the porch giving out candy.

Good Morning Grandma

Since Grandma was not feeling well enough to come and visit today, here are some pictures and a video of Joanne this morning.

Fun at the fair

Here is Miss J and I waiting for daddy to eat his deep fried cookie something at the fair on Tuesday night. She loved all the colors and the crowds did not scare her at all. She turned 5 months on Wednesday. Seems to be just flying by already. Can't wait to see her in her ladybug outfit for Halloween.

My WIP Mission

After Mike asked me the other day, "When are you going to finish that Mondrian afghan you started for the fair?" Ok, I started the thing 3 years ago now. I am all done except for the red block and a few white squares. Off of the top of my head, I believe that there are around 250 red two round granny squares left in the red block. Just have not been able to face them. But I do believe it is time to finish the thing and have it ready for the fair next year. Since this year's fair ends on Sunday I have over a year to complete my mission. I will pull the finished pieces out of the tote this weekend and take some pictures to post.

It was a dry year for me at the fair this year with my entries. No ribbons this time. The judges love the tiny lacy stuff on the baby items but I just can't work with a hook smaller than a F. So that puts me out of the loop there. If I had finished my felted purse I might have gotten something. Only three entries in that category this year. Could have done a better stuffing job on my safety barrel so he would have looked better. Oh well, will have to try again next year.

New Crochet Project

Taking a break from finishing the sock monkey and teal afghan. Found a pattern for Bella's hat she wore at La Push Beach in the first movie on Ravelry. Got the first round done yesterday at lunch. Going to work on it some more today. Hat patterns that start from the bottom and work their way up to the top are not my favorite. So we will see how it goes. After I complete it, just might try to figure out how to make it from the top down. Got a request for one from a co-worker yesterday when she saw me working on the first round.

NC State Fair Completed Entries for 2010

* Afghans and Throws (1-2 colors) Not Completed
* Baby Afghan Done and turned in
* Baby or Child's Hat or Cap Done and turned in
* Hats Done and turned in
* Crocheted then felted/fulled item 1st attempted scrapped, did not make another one
* Stuffed Animal under 12 inches Done and turned in
* Stuffed Animal over 12 inches (sock monkey) About 80% done
* Other Wearable Accessory (scarf) Done and turned in
* Shawls, capes or ponchos (shawl) Not Completed
* Photography - Amateur division Did not like my choices so did not pick one

Caught her rolling over!!

Finally had the camera in my hands today. She kept rolling over when ever I would step out of the room to get something. She is a tricky little thing.

Busted by the baby last night

Ok. Mommy was tired and tried to cheat by putting Miss Joanne to bed in the jammie like clothes she is wearing in this picture. I put her down, turned on the music on the monitor and went into our room to change into my pj's. Miss J let it rip and fussed and fussed. So I went back in and said okay here come the pj's and a bottle then she was out for the count. I guess I have her used to changing into the pj's and I messed up her nightly routine. Sorry boo boo, mommy will not do that again.

Trying to roll over!!

Look at what Miss J was just trying to do! She is half way there. Should be rolling over very soon.

2nd Sock Monkey Update

Just have a few more decreasing rounds to do to close up his little head. Then two arms, one tail, and the hat / scarf accessories left to go. Hopefully I will be able to finish him for the fair.

Sock Monkey Update

This was taken on Sunday. The body part is about double what is in the picture right now. Four more inches to go then I switch over to the white.

Hanging out Saturday

Miss J having a morning snack of organic bananas.

State Fair Projects - Completed

This is the under 12 inches stuffed animal I made out of cotton.


This is the scarf made out of I Love This Yarn by HL.


This is the adult hat made out of I Love This Yarn from HL.


This is the baby hat for the fair made out of cotton.

First night in the crib

Joanne slept for the first time in her crib last night. She keeps hitting the side of the bassinet so we decided it was time. She did really good. Put her down at 8:30 pm, she woke up at midnight with a very #2 diaper. Changed her and her pj's and feed her a bottle then back to bed she went until I woke her up at 5:50 am. Super dad did the midnight feeding/changing. Thanks hun!!

Link Tuesday

Found some new and cool crochet/crafting sites and patterns:

Gods Tiny Angels
Creative Recyclers
The Purse Project
SmoothFox Original Crochet Patterns
Learn to Crochet
Confessions of a Crochet Pattern Slut

Baby Bath Cloths
Kid's Granny Hat (Suzie's Stuff)
Child's Roll Brim Hat (Suzie's Stuff)
Pretty Shells Baby Sweater and Hat (Susie's Stuff)
Learn Your Colors Fish Counting Toy (Suzie's Stuff)

NC State Fair Entries Update

* Afghans and Throws (1-2 colors)
* Baby Afghan One more round of edging
* Baby or Child's Hat or Cap Done
* Hats Done
* Crocheted then felted/fulled item 1/4 of purse complete
* Stuffed Animal under 12 inches (Materials bought)
* Stuffed Animal over 12 inches (sock monkey) (Materials bought)
* Other Wearable Accessory (scarf) Done
* Shawls, capes or ponchos (shawl) half way completed
* Photography - Amateur division Looking through pictures

Fair project update

* I have 14 more rows on the baby blanket then the edging and it will be done.

* Picked out the wool for the felted purse I want to make.

* Bought some grey yarn for the sock monkey.

* Still trying to decided what colors to use on my under 12 inch stuffed animal.

2010 NC State Fair Entry List

Here are the crochet projects I hope to be able to finish before the October drop off date:

* Afghans and Throws (1-2 colors)
* Baby Afghan half way completed
* Baby or Child's Hat or Cap Done
* Hats Done
* Crocheted then felted/fulled item
* Stuffed Animal under 12 inches (idea I have been working on)
* Stuffed Animal over 12 inches (sock monkey)
* Other Wearable Accessory (scarf) Done
* Shawls, capes or ponchos (shawl) half way completed
* Photography - Amateur division

Do you think I have lost my mind??? LOL

In the kitchen with Mommy

Last night Joanne was helping me make my lunch for today. She is such a big help. We really love our swing!

Some fun video of Joanne

She is telling me about her day at daycare. She had lots of fun at Rachel's as you can tell. This was the first time I have used the video feature on my camera. The video's should get better as I get some more practice.

Got to felt/full something finally

While I was out on maternity leave I was able to make myself a purse from some fun wool I bought a few years ago that was dyed with kool-aid. I really like the second attempt of the handles much better than the straps I originally was going to use.

Peace to You

I had not noticed that Joanne's fingers were in a peace sign when I took these pictures. She is my little hippie girl!

3 Month Mark

Miss Joanne turned 3 months old yesterday! She is becoming such a big girl. We are still working on lifting our head while on our tummy. She is not a big fan of this activity so we have to cry and play while getting her time in per the doctor.

Back in action

Boy it sure has been a while since I have posted. But I have a good reason. Her name is Joanne Nella Ridlen. She was born on 05/20/10 and was 6 lbs 15 oz and 21.5 inches long by c-section. I was scheduled for a c-section on 05/24/10 because she was bottom down instead of head down but she was ready to get out of there earlier. Was at my weekly appointment and I was starting to have contractions. When ever I had one, her heart rate dropped really low so Dr. Fisher said you are going to have a baby today!

I must say that the epidural was the most painful thing I have ever had done. It felt like my tailbone was on fire and was about to pop off of my body. They had to give me some pain meds after she was out and they were sewing me back up because I was so uncomfortable. I usually have a high tolerance for pain but this was not the best hospital experience of my life.