Thursday, December 13, 2007

A flakey sock pattern

Socks five and six: check! A cute little pair of simple fair isle baby socks I designed for my little Lolo. I call these flakey baby socks and you can get the pattern free here.

I knit these with leftover stash from my peace baby sweater (Knit Picks Swish Superwas in Aloe and Bare, less than half a ball of each). They fit my new crawler perfectly ;0)

That's right, he's officially on the move since yesterday and I am so happy for him! Now because I've been down that road before, I know that this is going to have a huge impact on my ability to sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time while he's awake...but I'm still thrilled because my baby can totally do it and I can tell how excited and proud he is by that twinkle in his eye and I can't help but be totally elated with him. How I heart that little guy ;0)

Here are a few pics of him enjoying his first cookie (Farley cereal cookies - yum!). That was a few weeks ago already, he's now moved on to the Mum-Mum rice cookies which he totally goes gaga for. Literally ;0)

So what's the sock situation you wonder? Well, the flakey's are December 5 and 6. And I did knit a pair of boot socks for Julian on December 7 and 8. But since then...nada! But let's not get crazy, I can totally catch up tomorrow right after I finish sleeves, redo hems and block the boys Christmas sweaters. During naptime! It's not good...but did you happen to catch that the boys Christmas sweaters are almost done! That means I may indeed have a chance in hell of knitting 24 socks, 2 toddler sweaters, 3-4 pairs of mittens and a Joseph by Christmas day!


There's a few wild cards in the mix now though. Lolo's crawling is a huge curve ball. He still pretty much stays in his designated area (LOL!) but having been there before I know it won't be long until he's running a muck and one can't get any productive knitting done with a little one running a muck!

The other wild card this week? My poor little Julian has the sniffles and a congested chest. It's his first cold and he's so confused about it. He cries every time he sneezes because it hurts in his chest and tries to explain through the tears that "it happened again."


I didn't have the heart to tell him it would probably get worse before it gets better and that it would happen again and again for a week! Though I did get a humidifier up in his room and as a special treat, gave him a little porcelain tea set I had bought and stashed for just an occasion such as this.

We got in our fleece jammies, put on some christmas tunes and sat on the floor in his room playing tea party for hours. He loved it and it served as a great distraction. Plus I think the humidifier helped a lot too.

Is there anything else I can do to help? Anyone got a secret remedy? So far, it's just a runny nose and sniffles with some chest action when he breathes in through his mouth or sneezes.

Poor little guy...

31 comments:

  1. Oh, poor little Julian! Colds make ME want to cry, and I know what they are1 I hope he's all better soon.

    Congrats to Lolo on learning to crawl! And thanks very much for the socky patter!

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  2. I'm simply amazed he made it to 2 years old without ever getting a cold! I don't have lots of great advice, I'm afraid. Lots of cuddling, drinking plenty of fluids, tylenol if he gets a fever or headache, and avoid those OTC cough and congestion medicines, since they're considered unsafe now...but you probably know all those things.

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  3. Anonymous2:52 a.m.

    i tried to download your cute star sock pattern, but got error messages. i'll try again later--i added it to my queue on ravelry.

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  4. The only other thin I can add, is a little of the vick's vapor rub (or whichever brand you have in Canada) on his chest will give him a nice cooling and vapor sensation that may also distract him from how crummy he feels...

    Your knits are gorgeous as always.. I really enjoy reading your blog...

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  5. Those socks are sooo cute, and so is your little boy too! Thank you for the sockpattern. A Merry Christmas to you - regards from Norway.

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  6. Instead of the vicks vapor rub we use a vicks waterless vaporizer (http://www.vicks.com/vaporizers-info.php - third thing on that page) that puts the menthol in the air. Then you don't have to rub anything on their skin. It makes a ton of difference for our chest-cold prone kids with sensitive skin.

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  7. Anonymous8:26 a.m.

    I used a nasal syringe for both my babies with great success before they were able to properly blow for themselves because as you say, they would get upset by the discomfort and annoyance of the congestion and the runny nose. It also helped them sleep and I think I had to give them fewer drugs as a result as well.

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  8. Beautiful knits, as always! A small spoonful of honey (1/2 a tsp) can make a huge difference, especially in a bit of hot water if he'll drink it that way.

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  9. Poor babe! I've found that a mixture of Eucalyptus oil in Olive oil rubbed on their chests and feet really helps my little ones. Hope he gets feeling better soon!
    Love the socks and the cookie face!

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  10. Get out the Vicks Vaporub. Put it on his chest and back. He won't like it, but he'll be able to breathe (and so will everyone else around him).

    Love the socks. You're getting a lot more knitting done than I did (do), but I had my two at once. They are now 3 and are excited about getting socks soon.

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  11. Logan is absolutely adorable with the cookie. While I miss those days with my boys, I don't miss toddler colds. It truly is so hard to see your little ones sick. I adore the "Weasleyesque" sweaters. Perfect.

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  12. I third (or fourth?) the Vick's. When I was a kid my mom always rubbed our chests and back and then touched a little on our nose and now I do it for my little one. I've also used those salt water sprays for the nose, and I give them a little extra liquid vitamin C.

    Thanks for the sock pattern, it's adorable!

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  13. Poor Julian! When I had a chest cold, my mom used to make me a mustard plaster. It was basically 1 t. of dry mustard, 3 t. of flour and a little water to make a paste. Spread it about 2-3" sq.inside a paper lunch bag, wrap it in a tea towel and lay it on his chest for about 15 min. It really warms things up and loosens any mucas (sp?) in the chest.
    Your Lolo is adorable! What gorgeous eyes!

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  14. Ha! I was just coming over here to say Vicks, but lots have beat me to it. I hated it when I was a kid, because they only made the thick, goopy, oily kind, but once I discovered the vapo-rub cream I've never been without it.

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  15. I second the Vicks waterless vaporizer. I'm using one at night for my son, who also has a cold, and it really seems to help him breathe easier.

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  16. I agree with everyone else, your knits are lovely and Vicks does the trick. My son likes the little inhaler you stick up your nose, but he's eleven. I always stashed little toys and activities for the kids when they were sick or on long journeys. I highly reccomend it.

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  17. Anonymous3:50 p.m.

    There's a recipe in Food that Really Schmecks (anyone? Kitchener Mennonite cookbook? no?) that's something like one cup of water, two tablespoons of lemon juice and a tablespoon of honey heated in a saucepan. I always make it for my husband when he's sick. The lemon disinfects and the honey soothes.

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  18. Ahhhh! Those first colds are the worst, aren't they? When our kids are down we use the humidifier, lots of fluids (I usually bribe the kids with juice, which they don't get a lot of), and a little tylenol when the fever kicks in. We usually wear our jammies, enjoy a movie on the couch with blankies and popcorn. Doing something fun and special can help ease things and take their minds off feeling yucky.

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  19. Poor Julian!!! I hope he gets better pretty soon...
    I also tried to download your pattern and got an error as well.... It is SO cute... really like your blog...
    happy knitting
    paty
    brazil

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  20. Those socks are beautiful!

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  21. Yay for crawling! He is so much a mix of you and your hubby...it's unbelievable!

    p.s. the socks are adorable. I don't have any cold remedies though...

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  22. Thanks for sharing the pattern! The socks are so adorable. Love the pictures of the babies. I hope the colds vanish!

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  23. Anonymous10:25 a.m.

    I'm in love with your pattern !
    thanks for sharing.

    good luck with the cold (for the stuffy nose I like to put few drops of eucalyptus oil in a bowl of very hot water in the bedroom..)

    Karen a Toronto
    www.no2108.canalblog.com

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  24. Poor Julian. Try rubbing Vicks into his chest. I remember how much it helped me when I was little and of course my son. My son was 2 when he had his 1st cold also. Nursing babies are lucky to have lots of antibodies to fight off colds for the first few years. But they're fair game like everyone else after that.

    Love the little Cookie Face also!!

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  25. In addition to all the other endorsements of Vicks, I'll just say that if your lovey can't tolerate Vicks ointment on his chest, I would put some eucalyptus oil in his bath. That's what I used to do for my children--They would sit and play in the lovely steam and it worked quite well to loosen up their sinus and chest congestion. I hope your boy is well soon! (Oh, and your knitting is just lovely!)

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  26. Anonymous9:12 p.m.

    I hope he is feeling really better soon....I would use some steam in the bathroom with some eucalyptus radiata essential oil (I am studying holistic health!) They would both help him to breathe freely. Take a nice book in with you! Way to go Lolo! I miss that age so very much. My boys are now 13 and 15.

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  27. I'm in love with your socks. Practical, yet beautiful, and at the same time, festive! Lydia

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  28. Anonymous8:31 a.m.

    I've used eucalypetus oil in a cup of hot water placed next to a tub, (NOT in the tub), close the door to the bathroom and let the warm bath run. Build up some steam and let him relax for a bit.

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  29. Anonymous11:44 a.m.

    As someone said, "it's amazing that this is Julian's first cold". I actually swear by Olbas oil - it smells better. I would never put any of these directly on a babies skin (they can burn)but on a piece of flannel against the skin.
    There was a big hoo-ha a few years back about Vicks being dangerous - I'm not sure how or what the outcome of this was. Most of these substances (Vicks, eucalyptus, don't know about Olbas)are poisonous if ingested, but they are also known to be good, well practised remedies.
    My own 12 year old daughter is off school today with sore throat, cough and slight fever. I should be off to yoga in half an hour but have decided 'not'. She knows I would be going there, but it doesn't matter how old they are, somehow I just have to be here for her when she wakes up. She's going to be angry that we didn't wake her up for school as it is.
    Lots of fluids, steam, hugs and moderate amounts of fresh air help, but it really just has to take it's course.
    Good Luck.
    Janet MF up in Yellowknife

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  30. Me too, I say Vicks. Our humidifier also has a little spot to put the Vicks there too. It really does the trick while they are sleeping.

    My kids would fight the nose sucking thingee but it was such a great thing when they could finally breathe.

    The only other thing I would say is to watch out for ear infections. My chicklings always followed a cold with ear problems (the youngest getting tubes when he was 18 months).

    Love the socks and the pics. Brought a smile to my face!

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