I Wish I Had His Energy

Of course, I wish Play-Doh (being swung in that bucket) got me that excited, too. More darling pictures at my brother's blog.

Tuesday Project Roundup: SQUEEE!

Look at who's modeling his really really oversized sweater!!

 In new project news, I'm going to say that putting up the Christmas tree counts. 

(I'm having a fuse issue with the bottom third of the tree--I replace them but they short out again. That's not very Christmas-y of you, tree.)

No Projects To Round Up

I haven't tackled the pile of Christmas projects from October (except for the chutney--everybody's getting chutney this year!) nor have I put the sleeves in that rayon dress, nor have I started on a quilt for a friend. I also don't think I ever mentioned that Skyler's sweater turned out plenty big, so I don't have a picture of him wearing that (since wearing it won't be possible for a few months). 

Instead, I give you a picture of Skyler hiding in an end table, lifted from my brother's blog. Because sometimes you just have to hide in an end table. I feel the same way lately, kiddo.

Eeeeeeeeeeek!

It's Halloween, and if you're a Celt it's Samhain tomorrow, and that means it's just six weeks until the winter solstice, and if you're me you may begin a prolonged and escalating freakout as you contemplate 2013, so what do you? 

You pet your cat, you see your nephew tonight in his costume, and you look at this picture from your brother's blog yesterday.

You may also listen to this.

It's Monday

Stand on it like it's a tree stump and you're a tiny mountain explorer on another weekend hike. (See more pics on my brother's blog!)

Hiking With Skyler!

I went up Millcreek Canyon with my brother and sister-in-law and Skyler (in the backpack) yesterday. It was a perfect fall day! 

 

Skyler thought nature was pretty delicious. 

Friday Unrelated Information

1. Yesterday brother posted about my dad's latest balloon creation for Skyler (a fireman's hat!) and included this picture. If this doesn't make you happy, I think you're broken. 

2. I just discovered the Yummy Books blog, which takes foods from literature and cooks them. It's recipes and quotes--perfect!

Skyler Says

"It's Thursday! My grandpa makes me balloon animals! I'm eating tiny food!"

Enjoy.

Tractor Boy

Most of my family--including Skyler--spent last week on my grandma's farm in Nebraska, so I missed a nephew visit. I went to see him yesterday and he's learned to shake his head "no": 

"Skyler, do you want to get out of the swing?" {shake)
"Skyler, Auntie has to go goodbye now."(shake)

I pretty much melted. If I had had candy or a pony I would have given them to him right there. Wouldn't you? 

(The picture isn't from the Nebraska farm, but from my brother's "homestead" before the trip. Check out his blog for more Skyler!)

Tuesday Project Roundup: Baby Steps

The knitting lately has been more of the "sneak in two rows here and there" variety than the "sit down for two hours of a movie and go for it" type, but I'm making a little progress.  

The fake socks/boot toppers are nearly done: 

And I got a swatch going for the nephew's sweater, to figure out what size I should make. 

 

Turns out it's the "stop growing, kid, you're nearly a toddler and when did that happen?" size:

It's Monday

Sit on a chair and just delight everyone:

Tuesday Project Roundup: Less Doing, More Planning

The last thing I knit and finished was those legwarmers for my yoga teacher in February. (The knit tie was knitting up way too thick to actually tie in a knot, so that's been shelved.) I just realized this lack of knitting may be contributing to feeling like I need hippie affirmations all the time. 

But what to knit? Sure, I could finish the two sweaters for me lying around, but I think I need a new project. And I think Skyler needs a little hooded sweater for the fall. 

Construction-wise, I think this pattern ("Duck Soup") wins (knit in one piece, plus the cuffs and hood edges can  be rolled back to accommodate him growing):

But I love the Christopher-Robin-ness of "Roo" (and the real toggle closures, vs. knitted ones):

So planning has begun. I just hope this kid doesn't grow too fast between now and the end of the year--look how big he's getting!

Skyler

He continues to be the cutest baby in the world:

That is all.

Friday Unrelated Information

1. This is making the rounds in advertising circles and it is awesome: This Advertising Life. 

2. Here are some pictures of Skyler enjoying his birthday presents this week, taken from my brother's blog. 

Playing the piano!

And riding on an inflatable rubber burro...

I have no idea where my parents found this, but it's really great. Every kid needs a red rubber donkey, right? 

Look Who's One!

The Smartest Baby in the World* is one years old today! He had a big party Saturday afternoon to celebrate.  There were cupcakes:

 

There were so! many! colors! on the gift bags:

And there was the toy piano to try out: 

It's incredible to think that in 36 weeks you can grow a brand new human, and that in 52 more you can go from this: 

To this (yes, he's walking):

Happy birthday, Skyler!

*Totally un-biased auntie opinion.

Friday Unrelated Information

1. Here's a fiesty (and profane) piece about the benefits of working in advertising if you're creative. The writer makes some good points:
You can try to make it with your band or be a novelist in your free time. But during the day, you may as well learn about how to work creatively with other people, and how to accept rejection and outright failure, even if you still think that Verizon catalog copy you wrote was a masterpiece.

2. Being Easter weekend, it's time for my annual religious experience: listening to Bach's St Matthew Passion.

3. It's also this guy's first Easter (and nearly his first birthday)! I had to resist buying him the bunny ears costume I saw at Target.

Because obviously he doesn't need ANY clothes to be cute!

Friday Unrelated Information

1. I'm going to see this little guy tonight:
Yes, he's sitting in a pot, and he looks so unsure about it, he needs a hug from his auntie.

2. How about a little MST3K for Friday? I feel like Gypsy all the time when I deal with people:

Better Than A Space Picture

Can you even stand the cute?

In the words of Napoleon Dynamite, "There's more where that came from."

Advantage: His

My brother has started a blog for the new year, and he has a secret weapon: Daily pictures of Skyler. Go check it out and get your fix of baby cuteness and antics (and tractors). It's called Living with the Bubbs.
See what I mean?

Friday Unrelated Information

1. Enough talking about me; let's talk about clothes! I've found a blog that covers all of James Bond's clothes in the various movies, down to fit, cut, and sources: The Suits of James Bond

2. We also haven't talked about space in a week. Here's a site with some gorgeous pictures of the night sky from Earth--because the planet under our own feet is pretty incredible, too.

3. And, preemptively, Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is good to us all. 2011 was pretty great, all considered--I have actual muscles in my upper body, I have a house, and I have this guy to be an auntie to:

(Hm, back to talking about me. But do you blame me for wanting to show this kid off?)