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yay! i have three people to participate in the pay-it-forward exchange!
i completely forgot to mention that i'll randomly pick the *something extra* person from the comments at noon {pst} on friday, november 2, 2007 :: so leave a comment before then and you'll be in the running :)
:: reading about the work of some of my favorite artists|designers|creators being copied and noticing some other negative criticisms floating around online :: some interesting developments regarding our situation and lots of deliberation|discussion|planning :: add in some pregnancy hormones {read: feeling delicate and extra-sensitive}, a very late night {it's almost 2:00 am} and lots of time spent thinking of our little nephew who is due to have surgery tomorrow :: results in the need to spread some love, especially to those who have been so patient and supportive over the past couple of months ::
and in order to spread some *online love*, i jumped at the chance to take part in the pay-it-forward gift exchange - not only will melissa from one door down be sending me a little handmade something {which i am so excited about, i love her gorgeous baby knits}, but i get to spoil three of you with some handmade goodies, too.
:: the rules ::
*i will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment here requesting to join this pay it forward exchange. i don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! the only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog*
:: something extra ::
i am also going to randomly select a fourth person to send something to, so you don't have to worry if you aren't the first, second or third to comment - there is still a chance :) since this person will be randomly selected, they will not be obligated to participate in the 'pay-it-forward' exchange {perhaps they could opt to commit a random act of kindness for someone in their day-to-day life instead}
also...i'd love for the packages to arrive unexpectedly, so i'm not going to set a time limit other than what is outlined in the rules...although i most definitely won't be procrastinating for 364 days :)
{with my feet up}
{thank you}
:: for all of your comforting words, in response to my last post, as well as during these past few months ::
Some perspective has been gained. While sitting in the car, on the I-5 freeway, the skies glowing orange and black {the fires came within a mile or two of our house and although we weren't under mandatory evacuation, we left because the smoke became unbearable}.
The prospect of having placenta previa and a slightly more complicated pregnancy isn't so scary on it's own...it carries a risk of being problematic, but may resolve in time...by being very careful + resting I can lower the risk...for this, I am very thankful. What makes it frightening is that we are so far from our friends + family, in a country that is familiar, but also very, very different. To say there are a lot of questions swirling around in our heads is an understatement. It is at these moments when we realize that we are not at home. The private health care system is foreign to us and putting a price on health|life is a concept I simply cannot get my head around. It is the reality of living in the US, but it is not our reality. Or maybe we just haven't accepted it yet. The idea that help is not just around the corner, but rather in another country or on the other side of the world is another scary reality that we're faced with. What if we were to go home, surrounded by loved ones, wrapping ourselves in the cocoon of all that is familiar? Is that the answer?
Today we received a letter. The official quote from the health insurance company :: $669/month to insure myself and littleone with the most basic coverage available, a deductible of $1500 and a copay of $30.00 per visit. Switching companies is complicated as we are not considered residents {we are 'temporary legal aliens'} and this quote is unaffordable for us. Perhaps this will be what determines everything.
While we have gained some perspective, there are still so many questions, so many unknowns that are out of our control, so many factors to be considered. Hoping there will be some clarity soon...until then, I am going to knit. And sew. With my feet up, of course.
:: my heart goes out to all those who have lost their lives, their homes in the devastation of these fires - a stark reminder of the power of nature {wildfires} and of man {arson}::
as i type this :: afternoon sunshine streaming through the living room windows, curled up in my corner of the sofa, wearing my favorite maternity jeans and a comfy new top, sipping lemon tea, littleone kicking gently {for once}, bailey whimpering quietly in her sleep, thinking this may not be so bad afterall...
Slowing down that is...on doctor's orders. Yesterday I found out I have placenta previa which, if not resolved over next four weeks, may complicate my pregnancy {bed rest or perhaps even hospitalization for the rest of my pregnancy, a chance of pre-term labour and an emergency c-section}. So I may be spending a lot of time on the sofa over the next little while...crossing my fingers that the rest helps...and hopefully finishing some knitting for littleone. Speaking of finishing...
littleone's first knit :: simple grey cardigan
pattern :: organza-edged cardigan from 'special knits' by debbie bliss, in the 6-9 month size
wool :: rowan classic baby alpaca DK in color 'southdown' {shade 208} | an incredibly soft wool that is luxurious to knit with and feels even softer after blocking
needles :: US 5
notes on pattern :: used moss/seed stitch for borders instead of garter stitch | opted for a single shell button closure instead of using organza trim | sleeves seem a little short, perhaps they'll be 3/4 length?
Despite all temptation to go with the wrong side {and changing my mind several times}, I decided to keep the knit side out. Not that I needed another reason to use the rest of my baby alpaca dk for littleone {originally intended for the hourglass}, but can a girl really have too many soft, cozy cardigans or sweaters in the loveliest grey colour? Probably not. I'm thinking a kimono-style top in a smaller size {3-6 months} to capture the lovely texture of the purl side paired with shell buttons.
And then maybe a shrug, in a larger size {9-12 months} for wearing with a simple white dress or a white t-shirt and the cutest denim bloomers {purchased for $6 from babyGap, along with the denim skirt pictured above, also $6}.
{baby shrug from 'simply baby' by debbie bliss}
Can you tell that littleone's wardrobe is providing me with much amusement? :)
I just updated yesterday's post. I can't believe I forgot to include the 'make your own' option! I also messed up the html and somehow managed to turn all of the text into italics, as well as the sidebar, so I'll be doing some re-formatting later on tonight - hopefully this won't mean that you'll get tons of test posts in your bloglines...and apologies if you do :)
I can't remember when or where I first heard about blog action day, but I remember thinking that it would be incredibly interesting to see so many people post about something as essential to all of our lives as the environment. And with such a broad spectrum of current environmental issues, it's an overhwelming task to find just one topic to post about. So while I'm not intending to turn the dotted line into a blog exclusively about pregnancy and our first steps into parenthood, these are things that are undeniably and unavoidably on my mind all-of-the-time and they influence my thoughts on so many different issues in ways that I never imagined possible. The state of our planet is no different and to be honest, it is something that I've been thinking about a lot these days :: trying to make environmentally-conscious decisions has become a very relevant part of getting ready for littleone to enter our lives and it has taken on an importance that can only be explained by wanting to preserve what is left, for her and all the other littleones out there. I can't help but feel sad that whenever we walk on the beach, we come home with thick patches of tar and oil all over our feet and legs, undoubtedly coming from the oil rigs in the distance. And I don't want to go into detail about the dead dolphin we came across, since I can obviously make no claim about the cause of death, but it was a stark and extremely visual reminder of the lives that are lost due to an unhealthly environment.
I realize that I'm being totally hypocritical because I know I could do more than just recycle and walk everywhere, and admittedly, there are a lot of environmental issues that I'm unaware of and have not actively tried to educate myself about. However, I am of the mind-set that each little action counts and while I may not be perfect, I am going to try, try to be a little more aware and a little more willing to change. Which brings me to the environmentally-conscious | parenting decision that we are currently contemplating :: reusable vs. disposable diapers {or nappies, as the scottish in me prefers to call them}.
Apologies to all those of you for whom this is irrelevant - you don't have to keep reading this incredibly long post! I *promise* to have a finished knit to show you sometime very soon, as well as a new project or two...with colour...so be sure to come back :) Until then, check out whipup's crafty contribution to blog action day.
This, like so many other environmental issues, is perhaps a little controversial and I am fully supportive of the idea that it is also a very personal decision based on many different factors {cost and convenience to name but a few}. I'm not intending to start a debate about the merits of each :: I just think it may be helpful for other soon-to-be parents contemplating disposables vs. reusables to share some of the resources that I've come across so far and the different options available...spreading awareness, so to speak. And to be completely honest, we are still extremely confused about which route we will take, so any advice, about any of the options available, will be very welcome. And while I'm being honest, when I first considered the use of cloth nappies {when my nephew, Luca, was born last October}, it was not the environmental impact that struck me, but rather the softness of the nappy that the hospital had provided for him.
THE FITTED
totsbots {UK-based or shop online}
+ cotton, organic cotton, microfibre and bamboo fitted diapers, worn with a flushable liner and a waterproof wrap
+ our reusable choice - both the micro-fibre and bamboo versions are naturally anti-bacterial and much more absorbent than cotton, as well as being incredibly soft - bamboo is an eco-friendly material that grows naturally without the need for chemical pesticides or fertilizer, is highly sustainable, easily cultivated and completely biodegradable - microfibre dries very quickly and negates the need for using the dryer - a little concerned about the sheer number we will need, the laundry that will be generated and the high inital cost
THE HYBRID
gdiapers {available at whole foods or shop online}
+ the 'hybrid' - a breathable cloth diaper with disposable, bio-degradable, plastic-free inserts that can be flushed, composted or tossed
+ for an interesting comparision of dispoables | reusables | hybrids and some environmental statistics, see the great debate
+ our alternate option - eco-friendly, convenient and generate limited laundry {less power, less water}, however the inserts are more expensive than disposables
THE PREFOLD
bummis {see site for list of retailers}
+ cotton prefolds and nylon covers, as well as a one-size, all-in-one
THE ALL-IN-ONE
motherease {see site for ordering information}
+ cotton prefold diapers, fitted diapers, covers, liners, all-in-ones and one-size-fits-all
+ cost analysis and sample calculations
THE FOLD-YOUR-OWN
mothercare {UK based}
+ carry all supplies required for folding your own diapers
OTHERS
smart nappy system {similar to gdiapers}, kushies, bambino mio
I haven't included a section about different brands of disposables as many seem to be quite similar in price and functionality, although there are chlorine-free diapers on the market which may have a lower environmental impact.
Some other considerations...
+ using a diaper service vs. laundering on your own
+ is laundering 7000 cloth diapers over the first two years of a child's like actually less harmful to the environment than adding 7000 diapers to a landfil?
+ some regional councils in the UK have started incentive programs for switching to reusables and may even provide a partial reimbursement of costs
+ this one seems a little daunting to me, but what about going diaper-free with the use of elimination communication?
+ make your own cloth diapers {my sister/mother-in-law did this and they turned out really well}
My belly is so big I can't see my toes anymore. I'm not quite sure when this happened, and it's not that I wasn't expecting it, but it's kind of shocking to realize just how far you have to lean over in order to see your feet...and then it hits you that there's still sixteen weeks to go! I may not be able to see my own toes, but I did get a chance to see littleone's toes - she spent the entire ultrasound with her fingers in her mouth and rubbing her feet together, to the dismay of the technician who then felt it necessary to slap my belly from side to side to try and get her to move into a different position. Not pleasant when you did as you were told and drank 32 oz of water an hour and a half before the appointment. Although totally worth it when you get to see your baby be stubborn just like her daddy...and her mummy :)
A very soft, light grey alpaca cardigan for littleone, using a slightly altered pattern {organza-edged cardigan from 'special knits' by debbie bliss} is almost finished. I say almost because I can't seem to draw myself away from the wrong side of the knitted fabric. And I love the way it looks with the shell buttons that I had decided to use for this project {instead of organza ribbon}. I can't decide if I should turn all the pieces inside out and sew it up {so the garter stitch side is on the outside} or if I should continue as planned, but make a garter stitch kimono-style top with shell buttons for the closure as well. Then she could have two knits in my favorite color and made with the softest alpaca yarn.
Hmmm...decisions, decisions. Decisions that I am very happy to be making, though, since I finally feel a little more like myself. {Could this be because I have gone for a day + night without any anti-nausea medication and have only gotten sick once? It doesn't sound like much, but it is a big step - which I'm trying not to let myself get too excited about, just in case.}
And because I can't get enough of this knitted fabric and the contrast of the knit and purl stitches, I have posted some more textural shots on my flickr...admittedly, I'm a little obsessed with it.
+ slowly catching up:: exploring + admiring {all you talented people out there!}
+ starting something new :: a favorite yarn, a favorite color + a little girl to knit for
+ a beautifully touching moment :: a father seeing his daughter for the first time
+ feeling a little more inspired, a little more connected :: content
A little girl started it all {who apparently likes to frantically kick and wriggle whenever her daddy sings 'little fou-fou rabbit' to her mummy's belly}.
Our first ultrasound together revealed that our little one is in fact a girl.
