When Ellen told me last fall that a baby was on the way, I obviously knew I’d be busting out the ol’ hooks. But I didn’t know what exactly I would create — since Ellen is a quilter, crocheting a blanket seemed redundant. But I knew an idea would come eventually, and it did.

Behold: Big Chill Cat.

I finished him up just in time for the baby shower in May and Imogen Lete arrived in early June. Chill Cat (I forget what they named him) was pretty pumped.

He turned out a bit larger than I thought — and I didn’t intend to gift something large that would get in the way — but when I saw he was pretty much the exact same size as Imogen, I was pleased.

Buds.

These were taken against the back side of the quilt Ellen made — Ellen was pleased that Chill Cat complimented it so well.

When she was about a week and a half old, I got to meet her and I brought this little print I made. Imogen’s middle name “Lete” comes from a city in Nepal. As I recall, Ellen told me Paul was out exploring the world again as he does and his plan was to visit the city of Lete. Except when he got to the turn off, something had changed and he realized that he was ready to seek out the next phase of his life — partner/family — so he turned back and never actually went into the city.

Inspired by that story, their adventurous spirit and a teeny tiny little image I saw in a magazine, I made colorized mountains out of maps of their hometowns and put Lete in the middle.

Chill Cat feels the feels.

Cat nap.

Chillin’ in Emmy’s room before moving into his own crib. See what I did there?

Chill Cat knows parenthood is exhausting.

But he also knows it’s totally worth it. Congratulations and love to Ellen, Paul and Moge. <3

Pssst. Someone loves having another little sister.

Cat pattern