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Newborns in need, www.newbornsinneed.org, is a great charity and one we donate to monthly. We go to the monthly meeting hosted by our local chapter where we get the chance to talk, share and learn with other like minded people and try to make a difference in the lives of the babies, siblings, and parents of preemie children. 

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This month we donated several stuffed animals for the siblings, 2 hats for the babies in different sizes (all fashionable if I say so myself) a crocheted blanket and several sewn blankets and scent pads. 

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NIN needs blankets of all sizes (shapes too I guess) so we did several different sizes and different materials from cloth to fleece to homespun crochet. I imagine the cloth touching the sweet babies' delicate skin, if it isn't soft enough then it won't make it in the pile. 

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Here are some crochet hats. I want them to be fashionable but also soft. We only use super soft yarn or baby yarn. I like the thickness of the sport weight baby yarn but only if it is very soft. Caron Simply Soft is my favorite but I've been branching out to Bernat lately as well. I prefer neutral colors because anyone can wear them but NIN will happily take any color. 

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Here is a close up of the scent pads. They are actually a bit small but they will serve their purpose. It helps the baby have the sent of mommy or daddy while they are away. Its a scary world for a little preemie and having a scent pad nearby helps them to be calmer and more at peace. 

If you are looking for a charity to help may I suggest Newborns in Need. It is surprising, and saddening, to know how many preemies there are just in your local area. Find your branch today and help out. 

 
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Are you in the military, know anyone who is? Whether you are or not I am sure you can imagine how heart wrenching it is to not be able to be home for the birth of your child. Be they first born or fifth a birth is a special time, indescribable feelings overwhelm mommies and daddies alike. Help those daddies who are out in the field and unable to come home to be with mommy and baby in those special and precious first moment.  

http://www.blanketsfordeployeddaddies.com/?q=node/4

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This is not a non-profit as of yet, but they are working on it. Even though they are not officially non-profit (meaning not a tax write-off) this is still a great charity. Having been in the military, my husband having been in the military, my dad having been in the military, my grandpa having been in the military, my uncle having been in the military, my aunt having been in the military most of my friends having been in the military.... well you get the point. I have a lot of military in my background. As such I firmly support our troops in any way that I can and a blanket seems a sweet (and easy) way to do it. 

They only accept at least 50% cotton yarn so that it is soft and cuddly, washable and most importantly holds scent well. 

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These blankets are not for the daddies so much as from the daddies. The idea is that the blanket will hold the scent of the daddy so that the baby will feel daddy is close even though he is far away. Daddy get the blanket, keeps it close to get his scent on it and sends it home to welcome and warm baby. When daddy finally gets home baby will already be familiar with the scent and be more welcoming and less scared. 

My favorite part of the site is the Hear from our Families. Reading the stories and seeing the cute babies really makes you feel special and warm inside. 

If you want to send a blanket, at least 50% cotton and size 14”x20” mail it to: 

Blankets for Deployed Daddies
3591 Boardwalk Cir
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129


Please consider helping out these families with your donation. 
 
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Hey everyone, Kristina here.
My husband, the kids and I went to visit my in-laws for New Years. We were there for a whole week. A whole week of no cleaning or cooking! Woohoo. We had a late Christmas party too, we all got to open presents and have a Christmas Turkey. How neat, 2 Christmases in one year.... sorta. We didn't do much for New Years. We watched the ball drop but that was it. No fireworks or anything this year. So sad. What did you guys do for Christmas and New years?

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Any resolutions this year? I'm a bit of a recluse, a hermit, so my resolution is to get out there and meet people and do... stuff. I don't know what yet. Any ideas?

Well anyway, since I had a whole week of no cooking or cleaning I had some spare time on my hands. Admittedly much of it was spent chasing my 3year old around the house to keep him from breaking anything.

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But I did get some crocheting done! I had 4 little left over skeins of simply soft with me so I decided to pump out some NIN preemie hats before the January meeting. I tried to make each one unique and beautiful. I used several techniques but my favorite is FPDC and BPDC as you can see  by all the ridges in many of the hats. I also did some sc in BLO so there was a fun spiral running down it to keep it from being boring. I used up all my Simply Soft yarn so hopefully the babies will be happy with all the hats I made this month.

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