Latest Project - Baby G's blanket

Work has been a bit slow lately and earlier this summer my best friend, Melissa Anne, told me that she and her hubby had started to officially try to make a baby. In mid/late July or so, I decided that I needed to start doing something productive with my time at home (besides cleaning & laundry), I decided to crochet a blanket for this future little one. Last time I tried to make a baby blanket was for my sister's baby, Lincoln, and it took me more than 11 months... Here's a picture of Lincoln and his blanket, isn't he just the cutest baby boy in the whole world? :) I just love him so much!

  So this time I decided to start early. I texted Melissa Anne.. she was slightly confused.

so I came up with this pattern for her: 

approx 12x12 inch squares in this checkered print to become about 3x4 feet.

Turns out that I must have had a 6th sense because she was indeed pregnant when I sent her that text! Melissa's last name starts with a 'G' so we call him/her "Baby G" :) We even made a pinterest account for Baby G (yes, we are pinterest addicts..) Anyway, she loved the pattern and this is where I am so far:

It's coming along much faster than Lincoln's blanket.. I think because I had to start over about 3 times.. it looked ridiculous those first 3 times but I think it turned out pretty great :) 

(It was my first crochet project ever, have to learn somehow, right??) 

Now, just the other day I received news that my good friend Stacy had a baby girl and what am I to do? Make a blanket for dear Baby Sophie! I am so excited to actually make a blanket that is not gender neutral. Though she will be receiving it pretty late, I decided to get a big head start on Baby G's blanket before I tackle this new pink one. My big sister (her name is Melissa as well, but I call her Melissa Kate) suggested trying a Chevron pattern for that one... I'm not sure I have the skills for such a different kind of stitch but I will give it a try. Here's the pattern I drew up and the yarn colors that Stacy picked. 

I think I am going to follow a YouTube video series for this one.. It's called Crochet Along: Grannie Ripple Part 1 - I think there's around 7 parts to her tutorial, it will be interesting trying something new but here goes!