Something that I tell people who are about to experience a "First" is that they should live every moment. Usually it's regarding a first pregnancy.
There are many Firsts in life. First love, first kiss. First (and hopefully only) marriage. First time to buy a home, a car, a computer. First pregnancy, labor, delivery, child. Every first should be savored because it will never be your first time again. Another love, or kiss or car or home or child is always fun and wonderful and exciting and thrilling but it will never ever be your First again.
Emeline and Lila Pearl got a new wagon for Christmas from their Gammy (Jeff's mother). The first time Lila Pearl layed eyes on that wagon she said "I get in it! I get in it!" Sweet moment. That was Christmas day. Today we're having a beautiful warm day for January in Kansas (it happens) so Daddy took Emeline and Lila Pearl for their maiden voyage in the new wagon. No, this doesn't mean it has replaced our trusty red stroller.... but they were very excited to try out the wagon for the First Time. They took a ride to "Squishy Squares Park" as we like to call it - and everyone around here knows which one we mean when they learn what we call it. The park has recycled rubber tiles as the "floor", which are squishy squares. So the name. I didn't go with them to Squishy Squares Park but I did take pictures of them on their way out.
The knitters among you might notice that Emeline is wearing a hand knit sweater/jacket that you haven't seen before. That would be a First for me. My First finished object knit from a pattern, that is. About 13 years ago. I could knit and purl but wanted a project that would teach me something new. I picked up a "learn to knit" Leisure Arts booklet and decided I would knit this sweater. Project cost was a very important factor for me so I used what was available and affordable to me - Red Heart yarn (less than $5 total), book (about $4), needles including cable needles (probably not more than a total of $6). Low cost for a few weeks of entertainment. Being a new knitter and just learning to increase, decrease, and cable - I was a concentration maniac. Nobody could interrupt me for pointless things (except Benny and Katie who were babies) because I was CONCENTRATING!! Woooo.... my poor ex husband. Why did he bother me with unimportant questions when I was knitting? He learned quick after I attacked him like a rabid dog a few times that it was a bad idea to interrupt me when I was knitting after the babies went to bed. That was MY time! ha So I finished this beautiful hooded sweater, sewed in the zipper (I was much more confident with the sewing machine than the knitting needles) and it became my First Finished Object. There was no fanfare. No pictures. No internet. No Ravelry. It now has a few pills that I pull off now and then, and the things fits Emeline to a T. Just perfect. All of my kids have worn it through the years and I'm sure Lila Pearl will too. Or maybe I'll make her a new one. With wool yarn. I do still have the pattern book and it's even still sold new today.
Everybody have a wonderful rest of your weekend and I'm looking forward to my next few posts - WLC and the Letter A! :)
Very nice sweater!
Posted by: trek | January 06, 2008 at 05:46 PM
What wonderful firsts!
No...don't make a new one - it needs to pass down through all of the kids. :)
p.s. I just knit up the Soot yarn this weekend - lovely - just posted to the blog.
Posted by: Amy Artisan | January 06, 2008 at 07:40 PM
That's a great sweater and I think it's wonderful that all your children have worn it.
Posted by: Carole | January 06, 2008 at 07:52 PM
I love that sweater! And the color matches the wagon perfectly. There is a request over here for a sweater with a zipper, which will be a first for me! Yikes. The girls are beautiful as always.
Posted by: KT | January 06, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Emeline's sweater was the 1st thing I noticed in the picture! Ok, well after her beautiful smile. :-)
What an ambitious mama you were - increasing, decreasing, cables AND a zipper! And the sweater looks pretty fantastic on the 3rd child no less. (assuming Benny didn't wear it)
It's so nice to see your little ones! They're always delightful to read about.
btw - sometimes 1st marriages are overrated ;-)
actually over the summer I heard a girl refer to her husband of 5 months as her first husband.
Doesn't sound hopeful does it?
Posted by: Miss Scarlett | January 07, 2008 at 02:30 AM
OOh - what a fab sweater. Love the color and the smiles. Great job.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 07, 2008 at 05:30 AM
all your snows gone :(
Love the sweater, the red is a great colour on miss E.
Posted by: Kelly | January 07, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Great pics, story and lovely story of a first wagon!
Posted by: LizzieK8 | January 07, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Red Heart doesn't get much glory, but I think it's a great yarn. Not as nice to work with as wool, of course, but it's a workhorse. Look how well, it's held up all these years! I just don't think you can wear it out. Love this sweater!
Posted by: Wool Winder | January 07, 2008 at 08:53 AM
That's a great first sweater! It's so nice to see you back here in Blogland.
Posted by: margene | January 07, 2008 at 08:58 AM