Monkeys Everywhere!

A local inflatable gym asked me if I would come up with a monkey toy to sell there, because a monkey is their logo. That's why I made the doll and finger puppet. As I'm trying to come up with the perfect monkey, I'm creating several prototypes. I think the finger puppet will be the way to go, but here's another one I made up just to see what it would look like.

I also visited my LYS (local yarn shop) to see what good yarn was all about and to seek inspiration. I want to try knitting again, because I really want to be good at knitting and crocheting, both. Well, I came home with a great project. As it is going to be part of Erica's and Raul's baby trousseau, I can not post here what it will be; I can, however, give a hint:

In other news, Gabriel wrote his own name today, unguided. I was in the kitchen and told him to write something on great-grandma's card so she would know whom it is from (surprise, Grandma Kranz, you are getting a card... just act surprised when you get it), and when I came back into the dining/craft room, he had written his own name! I have taken a photo and will post after she has gotten her card so I don't totally ruin the surprise, but I really wanted to share because this is a Big Deal for us!

Another G moment today: yesterday, I had found him in the bathroom dipping his hand into the toilet water (after he peed) because he had to "wash [his] belly," so today when he took too long in the bathroom I yelled up the stairs to check on him.
Me: "I just wanted to make sure you weren't drinking out of the toilet or something."
G: "Oh, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. I would never do that."