Meeting Mei Mei (Celina)

We just got back from our trip to Boston. I honestly hate road trips these days because it's so hard to travel with a baby. I still can't get use to calling her a toddler. I have a toddler who is very active and doesn't like to be strapped in and sitting in a car for 4 plus hours. Did I mention she doesn't like sleeping in a car? Luckily this trip went much smoother than the Christmas Trip that took over 8 hours in the snow storm. She was really good on this trip which lessened the stress levels. Most of the credit should go to Sesame Street and a portable DVD Player.The reason for this trip was to meet our niece, Celina. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law's (DH's brother) new baby girl arrived last month and they were celebrating her One Month. They call her Mei Mei, which means little sister in Mandarin. This is the second marriage for them both and my brother-in-law (DH's brother) already has a 11 yr old son and my new sister-in-law has a 11 yr old daughter in Taiwan. So, Celina is truly a little sister. Since we all speak Cantonese except for my sister-in-law, we would call her Mui Mui. But I have been trying to learn a few words in Mandarin.
Of course, I had to make a handmade gift for the little one. This is my 3rd time making the Quickie (5 Hour) Baby Sweater. I can't imagine making it in 5 hours and I am not a slow knitter. I did a variation on it to keep myself from getting bored. I omitted the lacey eyelet portion of the yoke and just made what the instructions called the Boy Version.I really love how this version looks. I also did garter stitch for the sleeve cuffs and the hem of the body instead of the ribbing. This can all be done in the round by putting the sleeve stitches on some scrap yarn and finishing the body first. Then go back to knit the sleeves withDPN's , seamless. On the night before I was leaving, I realized I didn't have the right color or right sized buttons for the cardigan. What's a girl to do at 11pm at night? I crocheted the buttons! It worked like a charm and it looks really cute, too.To add some interest to the knitting and some decoration, I added a heart on each side of the sweater fronts. Part of her Chinese name is the word, Heart, so I thought it was appropriate.Here she is wearing it at her One Month celebration dinner. It's too big, but my sister-in-law insisted on dressing her in everything I gave her, including the white outfit underneath.

Pattern: Quickie (5 Hour) Baby Sweater (free pattern)
Yarn: 174 yds of Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Dusty Rose
Needles: US 10½ / 6.5 mm
Mods: Knit the whole sweater in the round and used the boy version increases. Garter stitches for the sleeves and body hem. Made 2 button holes and crocheted the buttons using this tutorial. Added a heart motif on the fronts of the sweater.