Michael attended Startupriot in Atlanta to pitch his new company.* Ellie and I went along to practice our Travel Skills and visit my folks for a couple days. This trip was double our Experimental Overnight to Biloxi for Free Cone Day: twice as far, two nights, one night without Michael at bedtime - which we’ve done before but not in a “strange” place. The trip went smoothly, with one exception: a significant unwillingness on the part of the aforementioned baby to nap. I finally got her to sleep and just left her on my lap. Luckily, I could reach the strap of my knitting bag with my toe and my laptop was already in the bed.

My folks have the wi-fi. And I love them for it.

I was satisfied with this arrangement until I finished both the legs and realized that my pattern was downstairs on the kitchen table. I desperately wanted to call my Mom from my cell phone to get her to bring it to me, but I was afraid that would rouse the kid. My Darling Sister Favor of the Day had been used when I texted her to call Mom to tell her why I never came back from putting Ellie to sleep. So I resigned myself to reading blogs until the nap was over. Progress reached a standstill until the next morning.

Those are Gracie’s feet.

I didn’t get a whole lot done in the car due to the ban on front seat knitting, so I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life aloud instead. When Ellie was awake, I sat in the back to entertain her and knit a little when no one was looking.

In an effort to get this Napping Situation under control, the new strategy is a loose schedule (she IS only three months old) coupled with a napping routine that is similar to the bedtime one. I won’t jinx our progress by telling you how well it is going - but the fact that I am blogging should be a hint.

*He says to tell you if any of you are interested in investing in a early-stage technology company, to send an email for more information to: michael@divvs.com

I finished the back of her romper!

She’ll be three months old tomorrow.

It’s kind of sad that this feels like a major accomplishment.

It’s even sadder that I just this moment realized how far behind I am on this year’s CounterPain Squares.

Added later: I am absolutely enjoying every second of time with Ellie (including Unhappy Hour)! I think my current slowness in project completion has more to do with my current project not lending itself well to fits and starts. The CounterPain squares, however, are much easier to just pick up. Now that I have remembered that they exist…

Just for you, Kathy!

I think the hiccups bracket the smile nicely.

The past two weeks I’ve been working on one project and one project only: The May Day Socks. I’ve taken them on the road (Michael makes me sit in the back seat if I want to knit in the car). I’ve taken them to restaurants to pick up food.

Dreamland has outstanding barbecue. It’s worth the drive.

I’ve worked on them any time Ellie let me have both hands free.

I’m glad Life is Good shirts come in baby-size.

I even worked on them this morning until everyone else woke up.

I also managed to weed, take a shower and get dressed before Michael woke up and took this picture.

But I don’t have to work on them tomorrow because they are finished!

WooHOO!

Now they are blocking. I am ecstatic!

Thanks to a Napping Day* I am halfway there. Halfway where?

Halfway through a pair!

I am also halfway through April so I’ll be spending a lot of time with the second May Day Swap Sock over the next few days. Housework and sleep are overrated. All that matters is the Swap.

Thanks for the napping, baby, I’ll return the favor someday.

For gratuitous Ellie pictures, visit my Flickr.

*Not every day has naps in it. The days with no naps are rough days.

Here are some of the things I liked best about this Easter.

Little girls in Easter dresses.

(Click to see her Saartjie ’s Bootees.)

The first sandal wearing of 2008.

I’ve been painting my toenails for a week in preparation.

Dinah in Michael’s sandals.

Hates the boy, loves his shoes.

Easter baskets.

Mom The Easter Bunny provided everything except his likeness.

Joining the legs of Ellie’s Romper.

Not as exciting as armholes, but progress nonetheless.

The awesomest thing of all: 182 participants in Wee Tiny Sock Swap 2008. You’ve got ’til Thursday to sign-up!

How to Make a Bunny in One Short Week

Step one: Wait for Ellie to take a nap.

(Repeat as necessary.)

Step Two: Only do housework halfway. (i.e. Wash and dry clothes but do not fold and put away.)

Step Three: Knit all Bunny pieces over the course of several days.

I know you’re sick of this link, but the pattern is here.

Step Four: Seam and stuff bunny pieces.

The ideal stuffing is a blend of fiberfill and cat fur.

Step Five: Take a break to pet Betty and express appropriate gratitude to Michael for the Cranberry slush!

Happy Hour is the best time of day.

Step Six: Assemble Bunny.

It’s easier if you line him up first.

Step Seven: Don’t forget the tail!

Note: Do not make pompoms on the bed. They make a fuzzy mess.

Step Eight: Forget to take pictures finished bunny. Dang. Well, he doesn’t have a sweater yet anyway.

For the first time in my personal history of sock knitting, I am making a sock that will actually require blocking to look good. Weird.

You know it’s lace because it looks like someone has chewed on it.

I love the Shi Bui - it is bouncy almost to the point of smooshiness and I am really happy with the interest that the color variations bring. I’m going to have to order some extra (hmmm, it looks like Simply Socks has more colors in stock)!

I’ve got the dress for Ellie that I mentioned in the last post on hold for a little while (I’ve got plenty of yarn so I can afford the delay). I’ve got another project in mind for the more immediate itty bitty knitty future: a little cabled romper thing from Baby Knits. I ordered some Rowan RYC Cashcotton in Sugar (it’s machine washable!) in the wee hours of the morning.* I also want to make a Fuzzy Mitten rabbit for her Easter basket. More deadline knitting. Sigh.

I am right on track with the CounterPain quota for 2008, with two squares completed for both January and February.

On to March!

There is something to be said for keeping one’s expectations low.

*Ellie likes to eat at 3am. Since that takes about an hour from start to finish, and my body likes to wake up at 5am anyway, there isn’t any point in going back to sleep. I use that time to read email, catch up on blogs, attempt to write thank you notes and (starting again this morning) walk. It’s kind of nice to have that time all to myself - even though Daylight Savings Time has really messed up how much of that happens in the actual daylight. The early morning quiet would be even better if I could convince the kid that bedtime is best when it happens at 8:30pm.