So with days to spare, I manage to squeak in with some knitting in the first month of 2010. It’s been a “difficult” month, and I’ll be glad to see the back of it.

I hadn’t picked up the needles since I finished my Evangeline Armwarmers. I had plans, though. Plans for lace and socks and lots of creative stuff that would flow from my needles. And then my baby had a personality transplant and the only time I am free is when I am having a bath. I even have an audience when I’m having a wee – had forgotten about that part of having babies.

But we’re turning a corner and yesterday I tentatively delved into the deepest recesses of my stash for an oddment of soft pure wool yarn, pulled out some soothing bamboo needles and cast on for another baby hat. The plans will still be in my brain next week or next month, after all, ready for when I can finally turn them into reality.

The combination of baby brain and post-Christmas confusion means that I have no idea what the date is at the moment. When I posted a couple of days ago, it didn’t register that it was an important date. Which it was, being Rose’s 4th monthiversary.

The days are going so fast right now. I’ve found it’s best to go with the flow and not hope to achieve anything other than get through the day without collapsing in a wailing heap of misery. Such is the delight of the four month growth spurt. But each day is also filled with magic as Rose discovers new things. A few weeks back it was her hands and then discovering that she could use her hands to put things in her mouth. Now after spending a few days suddenly stopping what she was doing and staring transfixed at her toes, she grabbed hold of them this morning. There are also signs that she’ll be able to roll over on her own soon, although currently she just gets halfway and then cries.

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I also wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has bought one of my patterns since Tuesday. So far enough patterns have been bought to pay for 3 families to have basic water kits, which is just brilliant. I will post a final total after 31st January.

Just a quick post to say that 100% of all sales of my Rosamond and Trillian patterns until 31st January will be donated to UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal. If you already have one (or both!) of these patterns, you can buy one for a friend through Ravelry’s gifting system.

I was going to post a picture of us all bundled up for the cold weather, especially for Kai, but Oscar’s school is closed because of “heavy snow”. Ahem.

It’s slightly heavier than before Christmas, but based on last February, it’s nothing. And Henry’s school was still open, much to his disgust. Just checked on the school’s website, and they’re closing early at 1pm, probably because nicer parents than me let their offspring stay at home and there’s no one to teach. *blushes*

And it’s just started snowing again, so fingers crossed that the buses stay in service til he gets home and I can stop feeling evil.

I’ve been spoilt for the past few weeks. Mr B has been working from home and then on holiday, meaning I haven’t had to venture outside first thing in the morning for the school run for almost a month. So although yesterday was the first day back after the Christmas break, today was the first day I had to see just how cold it was first thing in the morning. But I’m a knitter: I am Prepared.

Rose went out wearing a vest, tights, trousers, long sleeved top, socks, legwarmers, Sweet Baby Cap and Tomten Jacket with the hood pulled up. I wore my new socks from Diane and scarf from Kai (pictures coming up), wristwarmers AND mittens together and a hat, along with my coat and other clothes of course. Along with the baby sling, which is another three layers of fabric, this meant that all that could be seen of my daughter was her face, and I’m now considering the possibility of some sort of baby balaclava. Oscar refused to wear anything other than a hat and gloves with his coat and Henry leaves even earlier to get his bus and probably discards his hat once he’s turned the corner, so it’s just a poor defenceless baby flying the flag for extreme knitwear wearing. But it all worked as we arrived back toasty warm other than cold cheeks on our faces.

All this is a roundabout way of saying that I do love my knitted accessories and I am so lucky to have knitting friends who make me gorgeous knitted stuff. And that it’s about time I shared my Christmas presents.

A beautiful Gail aka Nightsongs shawl from Kai, knitted in Malabrigo sock yarn and adorable Mum-and-baby matching Express Lane socks from Diane, knitted in The Knittery Cashmere. All have been worn and loved already since they were unwrapped and greatly appreciated, especially since it’s apparently going to get even colder here in the next week…