I ripped the bavarian rockstars I showed you last time, cast-on for the mata hari but found them totally pointless in this colour since there's not enough contrast with my skin tone for the lacey eyelets to show well, ditto for the hedera. I also tried coming up with my own basic cable and rib pattern but couldn't get the sizing right and frankly having ripped and reknit 4-5 times already the yarn was getting tired as was I and a sure bet was in order so I came 'round to grumperina's happy green socks. And I'm happy.
So there ;0)
Now I just have to make up for all that frogging time. If I have enough time and enough yarn left over, I'm thinking of making newborn socks for my lemon drop. How cute would that be? I found a basic pattern here though I'll knit them all in one colour (happy green of course) and perhaps even put some mini-twisted ribs so that they match mine. That would be uber cute, don't you think?
Of course the mother of two guilt has already begun...I'm thinking it's unfair to Julian that he won't have matching socks. I so won't have enough yarn leftover for newborn AND toddler socks anyway. Plus Julian's feet are getting huge. Here's a pic of those cute little piggies peeking from under the blanket as he napped on the couch today. He totally fell asleep in my arms as I knit on my socks which brought back such delicious memories of knitting while he nursed as a tiny babe. But then I had to move him to the side when my arm fell asleep, a not so subtle reminder that he isn't so little anymore!
Back to lemon and his potential socks though. I figure we gave Julian so much because we could and because we weren't concerned about fairness that Lemon will already be at a disadvantage. Afterall, he won't have the benefit of having our undivided attention for a year and a half (Julian is 19 months old!). So really then, a pair of socks would be the least I can do. No? I just don't want Julian to visit us at the hospital, see our matching socks and feel left out.
I think I'm going to find this fairness in parenting thing hard with two kids. I'm already guilt-ridden and number two isn't even born yet! Hubby's the same. He's trying to figure out whether we can/should reuse some of our situational nicknames like captain poopoo, hungry hungry hippo, the little burrito (Julian was really into swaddling), the amazing levitating baby, etc...
I know, we should probably give ourselves a break. As a wise woman once told me "all you got to do is love the kid!"
Well that won't be a problem at all ;0)
Such a beautiful child! When my first daughter lost her first tooth and the second daughter was told about the tooth fairy, her response was...You mean the tooth fairy is going to leave Lorene money but won't leave anything for her cute little sister?....needless to say that after that, everyone got something whenever a tooth was lost. Have fun and enjoy your children!!
ReplyDeletedon't worry about it - you'll be perfect! if i used to say one of the girls was beautfiul or smart or funny, my dh would insist on saying that the other one was also. but then i explained that paying a compliment or giving attention to one does not by any means lessen feelings toward the other. just the opposite - you give 100% to each of them and in turn showing them you love them each as individuals as well as siblings. i think one of the best things about being a mom is how your heart multiplies. it's a wonderful ache, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteyou and hubby and julian and lemon will be the fabulous foursome you are meant to be. XOXO
My daughter was 17 months old when my son was born. I know exactly what you're feeling. Honestly, my daughter didn't feel put out much about the new baby until she was much older! She still had her special names and times spent with my husband and I that were just her own. Now that they are both older, 4 and 5, I find that it works best if one gets something the other gets the same thing or something very close. What one has, the other wants! Uhg! We take turns, if I make something special for one child the other one knows that the next project will be for them. It works out just fine! Congrats on your lovely and expanding family!
ReplyDeleteMy children were 3 years apart and you just do the best you can with the fairness thing. So my daughter got to be the "only child" for three years and get all my attention. When she went off to college in another state, I turned to my son and said, "Now it is your turn to be the only child and have my undivided attention!" He wasn't thrilled. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the socks. They're perfect. Maybe you could use some different sock yarn and make Julian and Daddy matching socks?? That way Julian won't feel left out. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not possible to treat kids the same since they all have different needs. Even if you try, they will perceive differences. You just do the best you can which I'm sure will be pretty darn good!
ReplyDeleteYou really can't do the same for both ALL the time ... but Samantha has the right idea for this event. Matching socks for Julian & Daddy. Otherwise, I bet he won't even notice. I'm 18 months older than my next sister & don't remember anything about who got what. Besides ... I ended out with 5 sister & 2 brothers after I was born. LOL, there was a LOT of sharing OR going without in our life. It's all in the individual personalities on who requires how much anyway. Just give them both lots of love and don't worry too much.
ReplyDeleteThe best advice I was given, upon expecting my second child (also named Julian, btw), was to remember that every child is born into a different family. Your #2 is entering a family that is quite a bit different than the one Julian found when he was born. The interaction between the two of them more than makes up for any extra time you only had the first time around. It'll be great!
ReplyDeleteyay!!!
ReplyDeleteBea-U-tiful socks in a ribbit-y color and lovely lovely pattern--can't imagine this yarn being any other, now that I see it!!
Love baby toes. 'Specially cute peek-y ones!!
Babies come with their own things and perceptions and it's possible that even if Jujube never got another home-mama-made thing, he would grow up well-adjusted and not hating lemondrop. He seems very nice and I think you should set your worries at the door for now. There will be time for that later!!! (mine are 18 and 13--trust me, I have more to worry about now!!!)
You should also check out the better than booties pattern from Interweave.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/web_projects/Better_Than_Bootie.pdf
The cable rib socks look similar to yours.
Julian will be a great helper when Lemon comes home. The will be inseparable (at least till school starts).
Wow, that is one cute kid. Sleeping kids are so angelic, aren't they? I love the socks. I'm sure you'll do just fine splitting attention between kids. You'll feel guilty no matter what. I think that's just a fact of life. :-(
ReplyDeleteI love the socks. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I doubt Julian will notice unless you point it out to him.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to start the cardigan for Merry. Thanks for inspiring me, unfortunatly, it is causing me to have Second Sock Syndrome. I'm not sure when I'll finish the 2nd one if I start the cardigan!
I imagine that Lemon Drop will be wearing many of Julian's hand me down knits. So really in fairness, it is good that he is starting out with his very own.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can make a special big brother something for Julian.
I love the picture of Julian's feet sticking out from the blanket ... that's priceless.
ReplyDeleteInsofar as worrying about being fair, I think you just have to take each moment as it comes. My daughter was 14 months old when the twins came and I did feel guilty at first knowing that not only would she not get the same amount of attention, but from there on in, none of them would get complete, undivided attention. But, as I say, I just continue to take it one day at a time and we do the best we possibly can. Many blessings to all of you.
I felt that way when I was pregnant with Jillian. However, when she arrived, it didn't seem like an issue anymore. Maybe things will change when she gets bigger but so far.....no problems.
ReplyDeleteP.S. My bloglines is not updating your feed. Is it just me, I wonder?
You'll be amazed at how your love grows for your second baby. And don't feel guilty, your oldest has something this new one won't - your undivided attention for this long. I guess it's kind of a half full, half empty thing. And as an only child, he's so fortunate to be having a sibling. He'll thrive and so will you all. Happy baby!
ReplyDeleteThe socks look totally great. I think you made the right decision on the pattern. And Lemondrop will love his socks and your concern that he is #2. Julian will always have the fact that he had you to himself for about 18 before his sib came along. All you can do is love, feed and care for the children. Do your best and they will know it.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of camera do you use? YOur pics are always yummy!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, your family, etc...So glad you are back to knitting lots again and blogging!
The keeping it even thing will never work so it is better not to try. Just love 'em! :-) My oldest is 25 and the youngest is going to be 14 months soon. He had the young mom with lots of energy and mistakes like trying to be perfect....Now John has old mommy but wiser i hope and more laid back! It all comes out even in the end! Hope they all love Jesus and make it to Heaven...the best goal.
Have a great day!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes with your new little lemon drop!
Oh, I made my first cable today! I am so happy! Making a sweater for John John.
He is so beautiful! I found a great pattern for baby socks from Interweave magazine Summer 2005? They were the only socks that would stay on my baby's massive feet. And as far as knitting for one baby and not the other, I knit all the time for my baby and don't do more than a hat and mittens every year for my oldest. He's low maintainence and I'm just not very inspired to knit for a 9 year old.
ReplyDeleteTake a deeeeeeeeeeep breath! You know, somehow it just all works out. If you get too wrapped up in "being fair" you'll go crazy. I agree with Jennifer's comment...you'll give each child 100%. In fact, I think it's very important that you help them learn that you love them unconditionally even if they didn't get the socks or the piece of candy or whatever. Sometimes I'll be out and see the perfect little something for one of the kids. I used to hunt around until I found cheap stuff for the other three kids so it would be fair. I finally realized that I couldn't keep that up! Everyone likes to have their little moment and if Elliot gets a new car (toy car!) then Claire may get a cool glittery notebook the next time, etc. I try to have it even out, but I keep that to myself. It's over the course of time that it becomes fair. You couldn't possibly tip the scales too much...you love both of your children completely! Juggling my time between the four kids is the hardest thing, so I try to do something with them all just one on one, but it's not anything major. Just sitting on the couch or looking at homework...sometimes something big (my oldest daughter and I did go to NYC together, but that wasn't an appropriate trip for the younger ones and it was her entire birthday present that year.) Guess what I'm trying to say is that they will grow to know how much you love them. Don't sweat the small stuff! (By the way, socks are "small stuff"!)
ReplyDeleteWow...that makes absolutely no sense. See what having four children does to a person!
love,
r
P.S...love the pics! Sweet feet.
ReplyDeletelove,
r
P.S.S.
ReplyDeleteJust read your post from 1/29.
"All you need is love".
(Sorry, I just saw "1964:The Tribute" last night.)
r
Those babies are cuter than the socks, well it's a toss up... now now did you make those buttons on your sidebar? I'm jealous...ciao
ReplyDeleteSorry to post again, I need a favour. None of the knitting books I have show me what LT is? It's in the Cable Twist Socks. I think American abreviations are different from Canadian. Help somebody...
ReplyDeletehttp://rositta-sheknitstoo.blogspot.com/
You really don't need to worry. I wondered how I was going to do the same thing (my boys are now 10 & 12), and God just gives you tons of love and affection for them--however many there are! We did go OUT of our way "spoiling" our oldest (he was 22 months at the time) around the time our youngest was born, so he wouldn't feel left out, and still feel special. We bought him presents from the new brother, special surprises in honor of him becoming a big brother, that I think he scarcely noticed there WAS another brother. They're now great friends-still bicker from time to time, but love to spend time together. Just try to relax and relish what blessings you've been given:).
ReplyDeleteLove the socks.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everyone else. Don't worry to much about making it even. Knitting for your kids can be a hard thing, especiaaly when they get older. You'll put your heart into an item they wold be adorable in. Try to get them to wear it after that first" just try it on" moment. I gave up, now they know that mommy knits to keep her sanity & if they get something out of it they are a little more gratefull(Not much they're 20, 15 & 10yo twins) but it's also a life lesson that too many of the don't learn...You can't always have everything you want. Enjoy them & give them all your love. That's not something that you have to worry about an uneven percentage of.
Tami in CT
oh Anny, those are some pretty sweet little feetsies!
ReplyDelete