How we have grown

top - Harper at three days old

bottom - Harper at 93 days old

Hasn't Harper grown? And his mother shrunk?

Top five things I am loving right at this moment ...

1. The anticipation of getting a sewing machine for Mother's Day this weekend. Yey - a new toy!

2. This picture of Sweeney

3. This quote:

"A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he known full well he will never sit."

4. The late afternoon sun blinding me

5. Harper's belly laugh

Much craftiness

I am pleased to report I have overcome my fear of sewing machines. It was a fear I didn't even know I had until I borrowed this beast from my pal Ange Lee (not my sister Ange) to sew up some receiving blankets for the kid. When I was 11 or 12, I nicked my thumb on a sewing machine needle in sewing class, and it happened to be the same day Lisa and I were pulled out of class to have our rubella shots. Then as the Elnita sat on my dining room table, I just felt so scared of it! Crazy! But anyhoo, I've sewn up one receiving blanket and will do another one this afternoon. Ange L and I are starting actual dressmaking lessons at Wellington High on Monday and I'm glad I overcame the fear before going. Now I can't wait to see what things we're going to learn, and I'll start scouring op shops for fabric like my favourite crafters Tiny Happy, Anemone, Stripy Sock Studio and Toast & Cupcakes. No pillowcase will be safe with me around. I'm even going to buy a sewing machine on trade me. *squeal* Any recommendations?

At craft night last night I finished a project that's been hanging around for a while - the purple cardigan in merino that I started late last year. The top picture is a better indication of the colour, it's really dark. The wool is beautiful to knit with, but when I got to the neckband I just panicked and the Postie's mum had to bail me out. But now it's done and the kid isn't too big for it, so I consider it a complete and utter craft victory.

Last night I also made a start on a jersey for when the kid is 9 months old (or thereabouts) in red double knit that I've had hanging around in my craft drawer for a couple of years. I'm just a bit concerned the colours are a little girly - or perhaps just the lilac buttons are girly? Perhaps all red buttons would be better? I have six months to finish it, so here's hoping I don't panic at the neckband stage again...

Progress

As Harper approaches another milestone - the 12 week mark - he's getting bigger and sleeping longer at night and has become the wriggliest baby in Wellington. We've moved him from his wee bassinet into his cot, he's taking a bottle of expressed milk without melting down like Chernobyl, and yesterday he made a grab for his feet. He has been more and more interested in the world around him, the mobile that hangs over his cot, his wrist and foot rattles, and he seemed to totally love going in the stroller to Newtown yesterday, even chatting to the man in the post office queue in front of us. He was graced with a visit from his Graham grandparents last week who let his parents out for an evening (they went to the pictures and saw Lars and the Real Girl which is excellent and had his mother all choked up at the end). He could be spotted in the company of his grandad Ces (above) in the stroller doing the rounds of the neighbourhood even though the weather was a bit pus.

Today, Harper's mother achieves her own milestone - she's writing her first freelance article since Harper's birth. And even though she can't remember her own name somedays and has once called Harper Sweeney, she's doing alright at it and is today interviewing chef Richard Till.

Tiny Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Tiny Happy. You're the first blog I really got attached to, that I read most days, that inspires me even though I don't sew (yet) and the contents of the neatly packaged brown paper parcels coming through the mail over the last 18 months have been awesome, much treasured gifts. First there was the coin purse (see below), then the ipod cover, then the tunic (which I can at last fit again!), then the smocks, then the apple-appliqued bodysuit and bibs, then the little brown owl suit and the patchwork shoes. You're a genius with vintage fabrics, and your clothes for kids are beautiful. Harper and I have been very lucky indeed to make your acquaintance, and hope to see you in the real world again...

Smelly

Today I bought a tea tree deodoroant and the smell of it is exactly like the insect repellent we coated ourselves with in Cambodia. Every time I move my arms a little waft of Asia comes out. In a good way.

Hat tip to Mr Cheng for the pics.