Rockin' & Rollin'

The first week of school brought a lot of smiles and tales. I enjoyed hearing all about the excitement of Emma's days on our walks home. Well, I walked - she rode her scooter about 15 paces ahead of me while shouting out all the fun activities of the day. I love the way her eyes light up as she sings a song to me that she learned in class, or shares something else that just happened to be her favorite part of the day. Her happiness is priceless. I'm hoping that week two, and every week of this school year brings the same level of joy.

Over the weekend we received Emma's standardized test scores in the mail from her old school. Last year was her first year taking the test, and her class spent a lot of time preparing with practice assignments. I guess it all payed off because she did great! She placed in the Advanced level in Language Arts, and the higher end of the Proficient level in Math, surpassing the California standard in both. With math being one of her favorite subjects, I was a little surprised to see that this wasn't the category where she had an advanced score, but hey, 24 points shy of advanced, in standardized testing terms, ain't half bad.

I finished up my first set of homework problems over the weekend, and might I dare say, I enjoyed sitting in the middle of my bed, surrounded by pascal's triangle, inductive & deductive reasoning, universal/sub/proper & improper sets, integers, cardinal numbers and a notebook of notes. It just all kind of flowed - stress free. Let's all hope that this contentment continues as I move into future homework sets and exams! Just three more months to go and I'm home free!

I hope that everyone had a wonderfully, labor-free, weekend!

A Day of Firsts

Today marks the two hundred and second post here in this space, and the very first day of 3rd grade, at a brand new school, for Emma. I gotta say, its looking mighty good. Based on the warm welcome alone, I want to strongly believe that this year is going to rock. I got a great vibe from parents and staff this morning as I made my way around the auditorium, looking over PTA information and after-school classes. I even ran into a few mommy friends. Turns out, there will be more familiar faces around campus than we'd both originally thought. 30 more minutes of learning to go, and then I get to hear all about her big first day! I'm anticipating hearing all about her reunion with an old friend who she'll be sharing a class with this year. Looks like I'd better brace myself for all of those future playdate requests!

Back to school means back to the days of having an empty house for a few hours. As I reflected on this earlier today, I realized that its actually been a while. I used my alone time wisely by making a little welcome-home-from-your-day-of-firsts gift for my big girl.

This will be perfect for tomorrow morning's walk to school!

Back to School

It's been two years since my mini-me and I strutted our stuff across the stage. A collective sense of achievement for many years of hard work and sacrifice. I was part of the "one more class" club, while others belonged to the "one more paper/final/requirement/God WHY would you curse me with a 35 page thesis?" club. I had every intention of closing out my undergrad career the following Summer. I enrolled, went through the first week, and painfully came to the conclusion that without the needed resources (ie: textbook, tutor) my success in the class was gonna be virtually non-existent. Fast forward three Fall semesters and here I am, at the end of week one of my one last class. And guess what? Now is the right time.

The week leading up to the first day kept winding down to more anxiety ridden moments. The realization sank in that I would soon be expected to perform in a subject that I haven't explored for nine years! I'd petitioned to bypass any possibility of having to be assessed, because even a simple math assessment test after nine years of lazy computations is simply terrifying. And after day one I started to think that maybe a repeat, a refresher course would have been worth another semester's delay. Boy was day two a game changer! Without any immediate memory of algebra or the $200 latest addition required textbook, I was able to hang onto every notation the professor made and became more confident that being left alone to fend for myself with just a few equations and 20 unanswered problems wasn't a death sentence after all. I even traded a few pages of a good book for two example problems on the bus ride home! And it was then that I remembered why I used to love math.

Fall Projects

The breeze is turning a little brisk outside, and back to school is right around the corner. We intend to be ready! Now that the clothes shopping is all done, its time to start thinking about cute accessories. We're doing scarves, hats, headbands, and hair bows around here. I finished up another circle scarf, this time in eggplant. Thought this was a beautiful warm color for Fall, and a little something special for all of my purple lovers out there.

Available for purchase at Baby Squares

I have more fun Fall colors in the works. Now that I'll be heading back to class, I think I might be sure to make one of these for myself!

Patiently Waiting

$12.00

$4.87

$16.50

Because a girl can never have too many cute things. I am so in love with The Children's Place. I have been since Emma was a baby. They have the greatest deals, and some really fun pieces in their collections. And what's even better is that they put their new lines out ahead of season, and have steals during the seasons. So, for example, their Fall line was released during summer, and now that school is back in session they are practically giving away their Back to School styles.

15% off everything in stores when you spend $40 or more *no coupon necessary*
Plus 25% off the Fall collection

I ordered the above items and a few others from the Children's Place website. If you're looking for cuteness on a budget, The Children's Place is a fabulous place to stay in style without breaking the bank.

Kicking the Second Week of School off with Box Braids

Since our days will be starting early and ending reasonably late, and I will be starting work next weekend, I figure that now would be a great time for box braids. We can easily dress them up with beads and barrettes, do something different with the front sections, and even gather them into cornrows later. Also, washing and conditioning will be effortless. It took us about 4 hours to complete, although it doesn't really seem like there are that many braids here. As Cassadie of Natural Selection pointed out, the time that it takes to complete a style like this is totally worth it!

As for me, looks like I'm growing my hair. I have a TWA by accident really. I had planned to hold off until the beginning of next year, but as always, the curls grow, I fall in love, and the rest is nappy history. I love to run my fingers through my curls. I love the way they feel. I love twirling them around my fingers. I just love everything about my strands. I like the waves, I love being nearly bald, but I LOVE my curls. So, I haven't gotten a haircut, and I don't think I will. I think I might be ready to catch up to Emma. I have a good 3 months of grown going here, taking into account the fact that the haircut before last involved tapering the back and sides.


I'm working with a line that I don't like (square instead of round), but its cool. I'll just have to school the barber I'm working with, because if you don't voice what you want, and demonstrate it either by walking them through or showing pictures, there is a very good chance you could come up out of the barber chair ready to swing. I like this guy, so I don't wanna have to administer any punches to the throat. I am so very particular about how my hair is lined because of my damaged sides. So far, this guy hasn't gotten it exactly the way I like it, with this time being way off course. But, a little more coaxing should do the trick.

First Day of Second Grade

Well. Its official. My baby girl is now a second grader. Where is the time going? I mean, seriously. Each new year brings a new and exciting experience for the both of us. I get to see her settle into a new routine, get to know a new educator, make new friends and reconnect with old ones. She gets to broaden her world view, formulate new stories to share with me, and create new memories.

Considering the fact that Emma's new teacher put all of us parents out of the classroom, promptly at the start of class time, I'm guessing that the days of standing in the background, as a silent observer, snapping candid photos is over. None of that going down in second grade. The excitement (for me) was over as soon as it began. I had to wait until the end of business to find out what the first day of second grade was like. I am seeing great things ahead though. I am liking the direction that her new teacher wants to take things already.


Any firsts for you or your children this week?

Getting Ready for Fall

Thanks to Art of Crochet by Teresa, I was finally able to track down a slouch/beret/tam hat pattern that uses the granny stitch. I think these are the cutest hats no matter what stitch is being used, and they tend to look great on everyone, especially when worn pushed back on the head, revealing the front sections of the hair. I have wanted to own one of these hats ever since they became popular, but never had the money whenever I was face to face with one, or never thought about them when my pockets weren't so empty. Now I don't have to want, I can just make!

Because Fall is right around the corner, and so is back to school, I decided to get a jump start on Emma's cold weather gear. Like I said before, I could get lucky enough to draw some interests from her classmates and its just so much more special to wear something made with love! I had some Bubble Gum pink baby yarn left over, so that's what I used for her hat. I want to make a matching granny square scarf, or perhaps a neck warmer if I can find a granny stitch pattern.


I don't know if these hats will become a part of the shop. I'm still playing around with them, and selfishly liking the fact that I am trying new things that may or may not become official items. I've already seen so much that can be done with these hats. Multiple colors, flower attachments, you name it. As the cold air arrives I'll become more ambitious. I can't deny that I really enjoy making these hats, just as much as I like making the Newborn Slumber Hats. Although these hats are not officially a part of the Baby Squares collection, if you're interested in one for yourself or a child, just leave a comment and let me know, or send me an email.

babysquares@gmail.com