Just a little tease, really....

She's here!  The little dear made her arrival in the wee hours on Valentine's Day.  What a wonderful day for a birthday.   I haven't seen her yet, as traveling to Nantucket isn't just a matter of hopping into the car.  But Mum and I are planning a trip very soon.  I am just dying to hold that baby!   

 This little one is quite a bundle.  She weighed 9 lbs and 13 oz. Oy vay!  But, we aren't surprised.  Her father (my brother) is 6'3" and was the smallest of my 3 brothers at 10 lbs and 4.5 oz.  I was Mum's "little peanut" at 8 lbs 6.5 oz.  And her mother is 6' tall.  She also has a big sister who is almost my height at the age of 8 (or 9?).  We met Maman (she's French) and big sis Amélie at Christmas and absolutely fell in love.  My brother Jonathan is one lucky man.

And Knew Kniece?  Her name is Marie Rose.  With such a lovely name, I had to learn how to make bullion roses.  Now, I think I'll be putting them on everything I make for her.  Kind of a signature feature.  Dear sweet Marie Rose.  I can't show you the rest of the garment in the above pic - it still needs a finishing touch.  But I'll take pics before I send it off in the mail. (or deliver it in person, I hope.)
At Christmas time, I joked with Jonathan and Sandrine (Maman) that dear baby would look like me, because his baby pics and mine look so much alike, and wouldn't she be a lucky girl indeed to resemble such a pretty auntie.  (Tongue firmly planted in cheek, I assure you.)
A few days ago on the phone with my brother:
Me:  What does she look like?
Jon:  Ummm, I don't know... a baby?
Me:  Is she beautiful?
Jon: Well, yeah, of course.
Me:  Oh, so she does look just like me!
Jon:  (cracks up)
Sandrine:  (in background) She looks just like Amélie did.

 Speaking of Amélie, I have distinct recollections of the arrivals of my younger brothers, as I was age 7 and 10 on those 2 occasions.  I remember some kind lady making a point of talking with me and bringing me some sort of treat, so as not to fuss over the baby as if I didn't exist.  To be honest, I wasn't feeling overlooked, as my mother was careful to let me hold them and help her dress them, and even burp them after feedings.  I was captivated, to say the least.  Still, the gesture was not lost on me.  Such a lesson in thoughtfulness that I've never forgotten.

So the fingerless mitts above are for Amélie.  They're going to be my undoing however.  I had firmly determined not to be a fiber snob, but I found 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran at the GW for $0.99 ea.  (I have since found them on the website for $9.99 ea.!)  Knitting with this yarn made me want never to knit with anything else, alas...
I have them modeled on my hands, and believe me, this child's hands are almost as big.  I picked a ribbed pattern, so they'd be more "huggy", and she won't likely outgrow them.  I hope.  They may be a little too long as I got a little carried away before I realized that I'd misinterpreted the pattern.  (Which is by the way, Lush Fingerless Mitts, by Susan Mills, available free on Ravelry.)
Do you love my background fabric?  That little remnant was another GW find, and I am sure will make a little dress out of it for Marie Rose, and I may have to spring for some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in the same rosy shade as the mitts to make a little matching cardi to go with.  A little dress with a cream or ecru Peter Pan collar, piped.  Oh I wish I could smock the bodice, but I'm sure I don't have enough fabric (and I haven't learned smocking. yet.)
I was going to show a couple of other little projects I've photographed, but this post is getting long, so I'll save them for next time.  It'll be easier to post again, when I already have photos ready.

À bientôt!   
(translation:  see you soon, am I right, Lorrie?)