You're a good Mom ... an awesome Mom. :) The blanket looks fantastic.

I know what you mean about the wrist pain! My baby boy weighed almost 9 lbs when he was born and he had a big ol' heavy head I was always supporting! Now that he's almost 4 months he's holding his head up now, so the wrist pain has gone away, the back pain is another story :) The blanket looks great, kudos to you for knitting such a beautiful blanket with all the stuff going on!

You're such a great Mom! The blanket (and the other two, too!) are beautiful.

Be careful with those wrists! With my second child I did so much one-handed carrying that I ended up having to go to the local sport medicine clinic for injections and physical therapy for my tendinitis. If you think it's tough now, trying changing diapers with a hard brace on your wrist. If you remember to keep your thumb pressed up against your forefinger you will be much less likely to do what I did.

Congrats on the blankie, I've been checking in to see the seaming. :)

have you thought about investing in (or sewing, we know you're crafty, lol) a baby sling? it frees up your hands, supports baby's head, and lets you get on with life.

Yeah, this seaming looks really nice. Won't he be excited when he sees that on his bed! It sounds like you get a lot done for having a newborn, and I never put mine down for that first year, so I can relate to watching all of the "unnecessary" things going undone. =) Enjoy this time!

I had no idea there was such a thing as baby wrists, but it makes sense. And I suppose you can't even take ibuprofen right now, if you're nursing....

Hang in there! Maybe she'll start sleeping in her crib more during the day, as she gets a little bigger.... Or perhaps she'll start to be contented with sitting in a baby carrier/car seat thingy while awake? (One can only hope!)

Looking forward to seeing finished blankie, and I'm sure B is, too!

Great blankie and don't forget to take advantage of baby slings and pillows.

rest, ice, stretch and ibuprofen! Or wait, can you take that if you're breastfeeding? Maybe not? Well shoot, hang in there!!

Ouch! I feel your pain! Neither of my girls have tolerated a sling, they just wanted to be held. I hope you start getting a break soon.

Boy, you need a baby sling! I swear by the Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch. Popped my baby in it when we got home from the hospital, and he's still using it now to get his naps -- and he's almost 19 months old! It's probably the best-valued baby item I bought. (You can find them used and cheaper at the babywearer website: http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum -- make yourself a free account, then go to the buy&sell discussion area.)

Oh, how I hear you on the baby/wrist problem! To combat mine I got those really ugly wrsit braces from the drugstore and wore them when I slept. (THey are intended for carpal tunnel, I think)THey immobilize your wrists (so wearing them during the day is impossible) and the really help. You will notice the difference almost at one. They are marked for either left or right hand, so make sure you get one of each!

I second the baby sling. I used a (homemade) maya wrap and it supported my daughter's head wonderfully since she wanted to be held all the time. Hang in there! The blankets look great and my nieces are eagerly awaiting your Harry Potter knits book. :)

You should try some wrist braces... I was diagnosed with carpul tunnel when I was 22, but the braces really helped when I was knitting. Also patternworks.com has some wrist supporters that are elastic as compared to the plastic ones they sell at the drug stores... and I think they're only $20. They'd allow you to have flexability still so you can hold the lil one, but they'll provide additional support. Hope this helps!!

that's so sweet. now they all have new blankets. I have a brace a wear at night. I've sprained my right wrist several times over. I tend to sleep all curled up which does the wrist no favors. having it immobilized at night has helped a lot.

I have three kids and after the last one was born I sent my husband out for an errand of mercy - to procure a boppy! I always thought these were just extra equipment fluff, along the line of diaper wipe warmers, but virtually hands free nursing! It looks like you have a sling, but have you tried one of the wraps like the moby? There is something about the stretch, you hold the baby upright, closer to you, my daughter loved it.

Take care - and wrists? Accupuncture does wonders. Whew, that is all my "sage" advice for today.

I have three kids and after the last one was born I sent my husband out for an errand of mercy - to procure a boppy! I always thought these were just extra equipment fluff, along the line of diaper wipe warmers, but virtually hands free nursing! It looks like you have a sling, but have you tried one of the wraps like the moby? There is something about the stretch, you hold the baby upright, closer to you, my daughter loved it.

Take care - and wrists? Accupuncture does wonders. Whew, that is all my "sage" advice for today.

Get thee a Maya wrap (or homemade equivilent). I also used a looong piece of fabric to tie the baby to me-as a matter of fact if you want the long piece of fabric-12 yards, I'll send it to you. I believe I got the instructions from wearyourbaby.com or something like that. Helps a lot and keeps baby happy. Hang in there

Oh Alison! If your wrist pain starts to become so severe that it wakes you in the night, head to the doc to ask about deQuervain's tendonitis. It's more common than I realized, and it's particuarily prevelant after a pregnancy.

Oh, and the baby bells are cute as can be, just like your little girl!

If you can, get a didymos (http://didymos.de/english/index_e.htm) wrap. I love(d) mine for Sam and will definitely use it with Nr.2. Those are really fabulous if a little pricey, but I've now had mine for 7 years and you can't see it, and I carried Sam in it until he was about 3. They're machine washable and the dyes they use are "babysafe" so it doesn't matter if baby decides the cloth tastes yummie. They all come with instructions on different ways to wear them.

I have 3 kids and all of them lived in baby slings / frontpacks / backpacks (depoending on what stage they were at) until they were more mobile. The frontpack was especially great as we used it with baby facing us when they were tiny and the top folded down with the baby looking out as they got bigger, had more focus, and wanted to see everything.

There is nothing like seeing the dad with front pack on and a teeny tiny baby snuggled in it out doing the shopping together - he could have chatted up almost any mum in the supermarket *vbg*

The blankie looks lovely - well done Mum :) when you do the finishd photos can we see both sides? I'm planning on doing a threesome of snuggly blankets sometime soon and have been watching yours being made with great enjoyment and enjoyment. Cheery bye :)

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with "baby wrist." With my 2 month old, I'm down to knitting just a few rounds a day on socks. At least I'm getting paid back with smiles and coos now.

Your kids are lucky to have you as Mom - each with a new blanket in just a few months.

The blankie looks great! I'm glad all of the kiddos now have new blankies!! You know, if you ever have #4, you might have to knit 4 new blankets. I'm just sayin...

Awwww awesome blankie! I hope your wrists feel better, I remember from my little brother how heavy baby heads get!

I used to refer to that as carpal baby syndrome.

beautiful, beautiful work; on the blankets AND the children.
did I miss it somewhere on your blog? what yarn do you like best for childrens blankets?

The blanket looks beautiful! Take care of those wrists. Make the hubby massage them.

Isn't is amazing how much strain 8 lbs can put you our bodies? Enjoy her!

Yes, I had it too. There was something about my daughter--my MIL took care of her while my husband and I went away for 5 days and just that short a time caused wrist problens for her!
Looking forward to a B & blankie shot!
And love Errol!--What's the next sneak peek???

You're not alone. Visit my friend for a very similar story...
http://www.brofka-berends.net/knitting/2007/02/oh-things-we-take-for-granted.html

The wrist pain, I totally understand! I developed a ganglion cyst on my right wrist after my 3rd. I couldn't bend it back to do yoga or Pilates. The doc tried to suck out the liquid with a needle, but no go, it was hardened. I had to see a surgeon, he wanted to cut it out, with general anesthesia, but I refused, I was still nursing DS. It finally went away on its own, when DS was 18 months old. So, take care of it now, you don't want it to get bad like mine!

Printed out the pattern for those cute pants, my sis is pregnant with her first, and am planning a million things to knit.

I hadn't really thought about cradling the baby affecting the wrists. I'm sorry for your pain. I hope you heal quickly. I like your chosen seaming method. You have knit such lovely blankets.

I hope your wrists heal quickly (on their own). I had to have cortizone injections to help the pain in both wrists go away after my son was born. Ah, mother pains.

Would you mind making a post that shows all three of the new blankets? I love them all and would love to see them again.:)

I just love the blankie. I especially love the pattern on the blue section. Oh the days of having a newborn... :-)

gosh, r u telling me that when I next get pg I should invest in risk guards?
othewise, all I can say, enjoy this while it lasts...and did you get one of those kangaroo slings...they might offer some relif and suport for the head...also, I think she can start having some belly time when she's awake. on one of those cute play matresses.