1//2013 He is here.

Well, he's actually been here for 5 weeks at this point - he's grown quite a bit and lost a lot of hair since this photo was taken. I never imagined the time would go by so quickly, though we do little more than eat, sleep and change nappies (diapers). We are incredibly lucky to have a very chilled little fella who rarely makes a fuss. His mum and dad are completely and utterly in love.

Donnacha was a bigun... 9lbs 11oz, almost 22inches tall, and was too big for many of his clothes from the start. Thankfully all the things I made for him still fit, though I need to get to work on more! The mammy-made object I've been happiest with is the puerperium cardigan, knit with Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK (in denim and candlewick). Both the pattern and the wool are a joy - I'm going to cast on a larger size as soon as I have a chance! I'll make the next one stripey too; just like babies, I love stripes!

8.5 months

Well, here I am, 8 and a half months pregnant. So many trips and photos and projects and edible things happened over the past 8.5 months but I haven't gotten around to recording them here yet... Anon, anon.

two | pants!

Of all the Christmas crafting projects I tried this year, I think the Christmas pyjama pants were the biggest success.

I used Anna Maria Horner's Quick Change Trousers pattern from her Handmade Beginnings book. The pattern and instructions were very straightforward and they were a joy to make. I made four pairs in the 6-9 months size and one in the 18-24 months size. I used Alexander Henry's Yuletide Zoo in natural and green, and they were really perfect for the pattern - the pants are completely reversible, so I used one colorway for the outer side and the other for the reverse side (apart from the larger pair for which I used a solid, Kona cotton in grass, I believe). The turned-up leg openings allow you to see both sides, which worked really well!

Unfortunately, I think that due to the unprecedented weather conditions in Ireland, some of the pairs did not make it to their destinations before Christmas... No matter, I'm sure they will be kept for the next child or passed along.

There was at least one happy recipient though!

My very first Baby Surprise Jacket

Completing a Baby Surprise Jacket seems to be somewhat of a rite of passage for knitters. The BSJ, as it is known, is the number one pattern for babies on ravelry, which is how I came across it, and its author Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Elizabeth inspires total devotion from anyone who has read her work. As her obituary in the New York Times put it, she "brought a penetrating intellect and a sculptor's sensitivity to revolutionizing the ancient art of knitting." If you are thinking of learning to knit (or just picking it back up again), I would highly recommend Knitting Without Tears - a handbook full of basic tips and information that will serve you well no matter what you're working on. The best thing about EZ's work is that not only does it evince her obvious intelligence, but also her sharp and vibrant British wit, which makes it really fun to read (dare I say, even if you're not a knitter!).

Of the Baby Suprise Jacket, which is knitted in one piece and magically turns from an amorphous blob into a neat cardigan, she says, "Funny-looking object, isn't it? Well.. [some instructions for folding] ...hey presto eureka and lo - a baby sweater. The baby will be unmoved by this offering, but the parents may well be charmed and your friends will be AMAZED." She was right! When I finished knitting the jacket, I laid it out for 3 PhDs and asked them to try and make it into a cardigan with two simple folds. They were stumped... and, as promised, suitably impressed when I demonstrated the genius of the pattern.

This BSJ went to baby Maeve. Hopefully it will keep her warm now that the nippiness of autumn has really set in!

Right, I'm off to do my last long run before the marathon - only three weeks to go now!