02:
Halloween is always a big deal in our house. My parents get over 5,000 kids knocking at the door so we really get into the festivities. My mother is really the glue that holds the holiday together. each year she lets Emi choose who she wants to be for Halloween. She’s been “Boo” from Monster’s Inc, “Fish out of Water” from Chicken Little, and now “Max” from Where the Wild Things Are. This year’s costume was spot on. Emi really took to the character as she was already really into the book and recently saw the movie.
Julian and I played it a little more low key and went as the big bad wolf and a little lamb.
29:
I’m super excited to be testing out some new gear. Right out of the gate we bought a wrap sling. I absolutely loved the idea of having Julian close and having my hands free. This is especially important considering Emi’s now a non stop dancing machine. After purchasing one for $70 and opening the package we found out it was merely a five yard piece of jersey fabric. There are a few catches. The manufactured sling has surged edges. This is not a necessary feature. If you’ve ever owned an American Apparel scarf you’ll know fine knit jersey does not run when cut. An important aspect of the fabric construction is stretch. In order to get a snug fit the jersey needs some elasticity in both directions. To make my own I headed to Joanne Fabrics with my monthly 40% off coupon in hand. I found a great black double knit (stretchy) jersey with some thickness for $14.99 per yard. Five and a half yards came out to about $82 and the 40% off brought it down to $50 plus tax. As a total bonus most jersey is 60″wide, so you’ll get two slings from one $55 cut of fabric. This way when the baby spits up on your black sling you can swap it out while it’s washing.
10:
Giving birth to our second baby was an incredibly emotional experience. Knowing what to expect and having the desire to take time and enjoy my labor really contributed to this positivity. We took birth prep classes with Leah Miller and did Yoga at Silver Lake Yoga. These were both key to our preparation for this big day.
Our Birth
I was able to recognize that early labor was setting in Friday September 4th. By mid day Saturday the 5th, which was my due date, I was having very uncomfortable contractions. I was still able to got out to lunch and make it down to The Pump Station to buy a few last second supplies. As a sort of celebratory dinner, Alex and I took my parents and my siblings out for Sushi at Usui. Through dinner I was able to pause periodically while mild contractions waved in and out.
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15:
Being pregnant always makes me want to knit and crochet. I’ve vowed to finish my projects this time. I recently got the urge to make a rag doll of sorts. I always liked the idea of little dolls that just hang when you hold them by the arm. I went ahead with a sort of wing it kind of attitude. This doll is chrochet and is made entirely from scrap yarn rolls from other projects. So much fun to make.
With winter well on its way I hope I have time to work on some cozy projects like this crochet helmet my mom made for Emi last Christmas. Maybe well even get it together to put a few up on Etsy this year. Lets cross our fingers.
06:
My husband Alex and a very pregnant me, Toshi Jones
With just four weeks until baby Jones number two is scheduled to arrive, I’m exited to begin work on The Knitted Nest. It seemed appropriate to begin my new blog amidst all of the nesting going on in our home. For me nesting has taken on new meaning. Sure it means being prepared when baby arrives. But instead of stocking up on modern conveniences, I’m drawn to plan for a return to basics. I’m compelled to do it like my grandma might have done. This means cloth diapers, nursing in lieu of formula, I even aim to make my own baby food.
While my grandmother didn’t worry about all of the different kinds of plastic she brought into her home, I, on the other hand, have become consumed. I can’t be sure that all of this stuff is harmful, but if it is I’m better off limiting our families contact as much as possible.
Emi, who will be four in September
As a work at home mom in Los Angeles, I can’t begin to compare my day to day with that of my grandmother, who raised 6 kids in heart of Los Angeles. Still my metropolitan challenges hold merit. Apartment living, lack of green space, poor quality schools, we see it all. Like many of the decisions we face each day, these too require a great deal of research, some of which I hope to share.
I’m optimistic that taking on new challenges the second time around will prove a success. However, I need to be realistic about how difficult some of my goals might be to achieve. I won’t be heart broken if someday I breakdown and buy a pack of disposable diapers. As with all challenges getting started will be the hardest part.
Me, Toshi Jones
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