I’ll admit it.

Staying at home with Evelyn is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

Every day I am grateful that I get to stay home with this little girl and focus more on my family, home, and things that I never seemed to be able to do when I was teaching full time and constantly stressed out.

After we had Evelyn, it seemed like everyone else started to be expecting. We sort of came between waves. Example: At church, about a year before we got knocked up, it seemed like half of the ladies were expecting/having babies! Then, Friday, I went to a baby shower and in a room of twenty people, I’d say 7 of them were expecting. Evelyn doesn’t have too many buddies her age yet, but I’m not too worried about it.

Anyways, for the latest round of babies, and on our tightened budget, I’ve been experimenting with my new-found love of yarn to give our friends meaningful and thoughtful gifts that don’t break the bank.

First up: more converse shoes for a little boy who should be arriving near the end of April in his parents’ school colors!

Old gold and blue for this little one. His mom seemed pretty happy with them at the shower, and I think they turned out even better than the cyan blue ones that I made for Evelyn.

Next, for the other mom who was at the joint shower the other night, I didn’t want to make two of the exact same thing. So I tried another pattern I found online for a baby cocoon that looks like a little football.

I will admit, I am not crazy with how this one turned out. I don’t know if it was the instructions or what, but I just wasn’t madly in love with the final product. And it’s a LOT of long, boring rows. I did add my own flare by adding a rim of dark red/maroon for the parents’ school colors as well, but there is definitely a lot I would change if I were to do it again. In fact, who wants me to make them one so I have motivation to improve? (just kidding.)

Last, but not least, for a little one that was born earlier this week, I made the boy version of the I’m Topsy Turvy Crochet Infant boot. I really like how they turned out… but they are so tiny! Was my sweet Evelyn ever really that tiny to fit into this size of little boot? Good heavens.

 

Again, we have school colors on display with my own little addition of the burnt orange stripe.

How cute are they? I love making this baby stuff, and it’s getting easier every time I do a pattern.

Y’all, I have some other EVEN BETTER projects in the works. Since they are gifts that I haven’t been able to give to the recipients yet, and those recipients MIGHT chance upon my blog, I can’t share them yet. But I am REALLY excited about them and can’t wait to show them off to you all!