Boys Can Wear Leg Warmers

I find it funny how people think leg warmers are just for girls. They are actually quite practical! I don't know about you, but my little boy's pants all ride up the leg when he's in the carrier. Also, now that the weather is turning, having that extra layer on his legs is such a nice thing. I have 3 pairs of leg warmers, to match various outfits, of course. The ones above are the pair i made, following Never Not Knitting's easy pattern!

Edited to add: It took me a bit longer than it should to make these. I am still learning how to balance 'non-mommy' time with my wee one, especially as he is such a short napper! Though whenever i do knit (or sew-even more rare!), it reminds me how therapeutic it is. So soothing for my soul. Thank goodness i have realized i can knit while walking Li'l C to sleep in his carrier!

A Camera to Play With

Since before Li'l C was born, i wanted a camera with video, one that was quick and easy to use. I love my SLR but i wanted something that could capture things ASAP.

So, we treated ourselves to this little number. I made it a top priority to make a case for it, as i already dropped it - it's that small! It takes amazing photos with really vibrant colours, and of course, i can now get my wee one doing cute things like laughing, talking, and rolling over! Mind you, i'm not quite a director, and Li'l C gets too distracted by the camera, but it is such a gift nonetheless!

Not Quite Canning, but Close

I wish i had time to can all the great stuff that is in abundance in Ontario right now, but at least i canned some tomato sauce from the tomatoes we had - grown both in our garden and my parents. Remember this post?

I also made pumpkin bread pudding for Thanksgiving dinner with friends, from Hannah's great blog Bitter Sweet. It called for Fudge sauce, and since we had so much left over, i get to store it. I love Bonne Maman jars, and it looks so scrumptious with chocolatey goodness inside. Too bad i sneak a spoonful of it from time to time...too bad for my post-baby belly i mean!

A Quickie Antique-y Trip

On our way to family Thanksgiving dinner recently, we took the opportunity of having a borrowed car - thanks again Mom and Dad - and went to my beloved Aberfoyle Antique Market. It truly never disappoints. We haven't been able to go yet this season (hmmmm...i wonder why!) and had just over an hour to speed-walk through the vendors.I always go with a list so that i don't forget all the things i'm looking for, and of course i don't just stay on the list, but i am very happy with our latest finds. We all walked away with something, cute 'butter' flower dishes for me, a rocking horse for Clem, and records for J. Oh, and some cool

Most exciting are the two new ceiling light fixtures we got to replace the old cheesy and broken ones. Makes me feel like our house is truly coming along. Though, the list of fix-it and reno work i do have is still rather lengthy.

From this: to this :
and from this broken fixture that broke during some especially brutal pile-driving for the new Go Train work (don't ask!):
to this lovely piece, circa before IKEA:

Cute Boys Clothes Do Exist

It looks like i can find cute baby boys clothes, both used (usually vintage) and new. But of course, i still am committed to making some great outfits like this one, my second from Oliver +S's playsuit. This one is size 3-6 months. Baby C work it for my sister's wedding this past September.

I'm starting a Flickr set dedicated to this, as i want to showcase the goods i've found with y'all!

What I'm Thankful For

As another Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, i have a lot to be thankful for this year. It was a holiday that took me by surprise, as has a lot over these last 3 months.

Being a new mom has taught be a lot about patience, simplicity, priority, and love. I have my baby boy to thank for that. And, i have my partner to thank for helping me get through these last few months.

I love how we can look back at the whirlwind these last few months have been, to notice that summer flew by without us noticing too much, but also how amazing it is to have our baby be welcomed by our friends and family as he has. Thank you to all of you.

On another less mushy note, i also have our garden to thank - for a new kind of abundance and love of the Earth. Look at the squash we grew, by surprise i might add, in what we lovingly called Gumball's Garden - luckily his first solid food might be some of that lovely yellow Turban Squash. I didn't get to invest as much time and energy in the garden as i would have liked, but i admired it by the window and when getting a few minutes out back with Clem. Next year, i know we'll get more time there!

He Loves to Bathe

My little ones loves bathtime - it's when he gets out that makes him upset. That's understandable - it's pretty cold outside of his bath. He cheers up pretty fast though because after bathtime is a massage...

Clem is asleep on me as i write this, but i just wanted to share this photo and send a quick hello...

Clem's Secret Garden Room

Not knowing the sex of our baby made no real impact when i started to plan the baby room. I wanted something playful, whimsical, and quintessentially us. So garden decor it was. The room overlooks our backyard, which we find to be such a happy and bright place. Of course we also wish to encourage, if just a bit subtly, a love of dirt, gardening, nature, flowers, and veggies in our little one - hopefully over trucks and aggressive sports! I know, i know, we can't make them like what we like really, but...we can try!
My dad generously offered to help update and insulate the room, being the coldest in the house. So he and J took the two exterior walls down, insulated them, put in a new window, and J refinished the wooden floor. We then painted the walls an ice blue, and used some of our leftover vintage wallpaper for one wall. Then i stepped in with the trinkets and decor magic!

I loved making things for this room, from
- the crib bumper and skirt (for when he eventually sleeps there, right now we just play there)
to
-the birds on the branch and birdhouse i already mentioned here
and
- the curtains from this fabulous line

I can't wait until li'l c is big enough to design his room and that we can make things for it together!