My work in progress, plus my new stitch

My husband took this picture for me. It's 10 panels for a 16-panel baby blanket, alternating in white and green. It's for Dave's cousin's new baby, due in March, I think.

What I really wanted to show was this:



I'm calling it a modified popcorn stitch. I came up with it myself, but if anyone has dibs on it, first, they can certainly provide the link... I've never written down crochet directions before, so here's my first attempt (please, be gentle):

ch desired # of stitches, plus whatever ch necessary to count as first dc. Dc 2 more in same ch. *Drop loop on hook. Go into top of ch 2 or ch 3 (whatever counted as first dc). Go into dropped loop and pull through. (does that even make sense??) Ch 1. Sc in next ch. Ch1. 3 dc in next ch. Continue from * until end.
Depending on whatever you ended with, ch 1 as a turning ch, then start with a sc. OR ch 2 or 3 to count as first dc, then dc 2x more in same st. Then continue pattern across.

Does that make sense at all? Anyway, it comes out like little lumps. I always do the 3 dc's in the sc, and the sc in the middle dc, so it alternates and evens out and comes out all pretty like.

If you understand that at all, congrats! Here's a picture of my sweet girl (who's finally starting to get better!) for your time:



It's blurry, but it's the best I could do. She wakes up if I use a flash.

Because Jenna has GERD

My almost-three-month-old daughter has GERD. Terrible, horrible reflux that rarely results in tons of spit up, but rather has her swallowing back stomach acid to the point that she cannot sleep anywhere other than totally upright (or leaning slightly forward) against me. Which means that much of my time is spent on our sofa, letting her sleep for as long as she can before stomach acid threatens to make its way up her throat, again.

There's only so much one can do online. Believe me. So I figured I would start crafting. I kept telling myself that I'd have to wait until Jenna was feeling better before I could do things like that, but I've learned how to have both hands fairly free, while still holding my little munchkin, so why not start, now?

It'll start with some crocheting, most likely, following simple patterns as I brush up on my skill-ness, progressing to knitting and cross-stitch, possibly even some embroidery, handsewing and scrapbooking. Whatever I can do while fairly stationary for most of the day while my little one catches up on her sleep, you can bet it'll be done. And if you can suggest anything else, and/or offer any constructive criticism about my projects, please don't hesitate to do so.