January 30, 2006
It's (definitely, absolutely, no question) a boy
We had the 20-week sonogram today. Everything looks great, and the baby continues to measure a week larger than his due date (which makes me wonder why they won't change the due date, but anyway...) We know for sure he's a boy because he flashed us. He's definitely one of us.
What a face, hunh?! I'm already madly in love with him.
January 27, 2006
Beware, ladies
...it's true, what your mother (okay, your grandmother) told you about how making out with boys and listening to the rock n' roll can get a girl into trouble:
January 25, 2006
Bored at work
Not that I don't have plenty to do, but it's late in the day and the energy has flagged and all I want to do is crawl under my desk and nap until it's time to go home. And once home, I will attempt to knit while napping.
What I learned today: Ruby red grapefruit juice is now too acidic for me. Tasted good at the time, but now I'm feeling a wee bit ill.
Listening to: The new Cat Power
Wondering: if anyone would notice if I slipped out early
Allowing myself: to check the home answering machine only once every hour and half to see if my agent called
Checking my email: every thirty seconds to see if my agent has written
Plotting: collaborative art projects with two very busy artists. My MFA friend Philip Kadish and his partner in art crime Josh Dorman have organized a collaboration project that pairs writers with visual artists and I'm taking part. I have two partners, because I wanted to work with a painter AND a photographer (separately. I'm greedy like that). And each of my partners is a very busy dad as well as a very busy artist. And one of them is a rock star about to go out on tour. (Yes, he's a brilliant guitarist. Did you know Tad is also a great photographer? Multi-talented, that boy.) These are not conditions friendly to art-makin', especially of the collaborative kind. And since I'm spending a lot of time on my pregnant ass thinking these days, I'm rarin' to go on these projects so...
Wishing, just for a day or two: for the ability to bend the universe to my benevolent whims
Failing that: I'd really like to have an oatmeal cookie right about now.
January 24, 2006
Yes, I love to knit. Love the process. Love to handle the yarn, to watch the project grow stitch by stitch... But it's also a real thrill to be the lucky recipient of knitwear made by someone else. I present, for your oohing and ahhing pleasure, two recent knitwear gifts I received.
From Billy's wonderful cousin Sarah (and my cousin now too. Great side benefit from marrying Billy is that I'm now related to her), these tiger stripe baby socks for the Kiddo-in-Progress:
And from Debi, a lovely lace scarf. I was the lucky winner of this beauty in the Give a Little giveaways. Sadie really loves it, but I'm keeping it for myself.
And speaking of the Give a Little prizes: Melanie, your socks are nearly done. Sorry for the delay! I donated a pair of handknit socks, custom knit for the winner, to the Give a Little drive, and Melanie was the winner. Funny, and fitting, that of all the hundreds of participants in that fundraiser Melanie should be the one I ended up knitting for. Why? Not only are we both currently knocked up, but we went to college together and lost touch after school only to reconnect via the knitting blogs all these years later. (Okay...ten years and change. That's not so many.) So I get to knit socks for someone I know, and can think fond thoughts of dorm hijinks as I knit them. Small world, hunh?
January 21, 2006
A new hat, just in time for a freakish warm spell
I finished my Lola Cap just in time for 60 degree weather. Not that I'm complaining... I know how these things go. No doubt we'll have a blizzard next week. And if we do, my head will be warm, toasty, and tasseled.
I used the Lola Cap pattern from Mission Falls, and Mission Falls 1824 Wool in the Thyme colorway. The pattern calls for three balls of yarn but I only needed two.
(No, pregnancy hasn't straightened out my curls. It's just been pulled back into a ponytail for too long. And man does it need to be dyed! I've got my doctor's okay but I only want to dye it once during the pregnancy, just to be safe, so I'm holding out as long as I can.)
January 17, 2006
The belly at 18 weeks
(plus sheep pajamas. Holiday gift from Billy.)
I wish I'd measured the wingspan of the dragonfly tattoo before the belly got started, because it's already stretching. Anyone want to venture a guess at what it's going to look like in the ninth month? I'm willing to delude myself into thinking the tattoo will snap back into shape after I have the baby. (yeah. I know.)
January 15, 2006
Things I learned today
1. Icy sidewalks, many blocks to walk, and a pregnant belly make for a nervous slow-walkin' Cari. Even in my super duper no slip boots. (Mine are red and orange. And were cheaper. Guess I ordered them at the right time! I wonder why the red and orange aren't in stock anymore in the full boot...)
2. I need a new winter hat. What I have is warm enough, but I'm bored with it. Been wearing the same hat for two years. Time to get moving on that Lola Cap. I'm ashamed to admit how long the yarn and pattern for this one have been set aside, waiting to be knit.
3. If one is, upon returning home from tea with a close friend and braving of icy sidewalks, forced to hole up in the bedroom because one's kitchen is being torn out and replaced with shiny new stuff by one's fabulous husband and friends of husband thus kicking up fetus-unfriendly dust, it's a very good thing to have the latest Constantines album loaded up on the iTunes.
4. I already knew that Japanese Weekend D&A (during and after) Jeans are the greatest maternity jeans in all the land. Today I learned that their maternity/nursing bras are the very greatest in the land as well. Picked one up today. I haven't been this comfortable in many weeks. Added bonus? Billy thinks the flip-up nursing cups are hot. Nursing bras are sexy. Who knew?
5. Wonderful things are planned for the new Hold Steady album, which is just now in the works. I've been sworn to secrecy, but trust me...very cool things will be happening on the next one. Due for an August release. (Woohoo!) And hey, all you Australians...they're heading your way on tour next month.
6. If forced to hole up in the bedroom while wonderful husband is renovating the house to make it baby safe, do order Chinese food. If you're as lucky as I am, the husband will of his own accord stop renovation work to arrange your Vegetarian General Tso's Chicken nicely on a plate for you and bring it to you with water and chopsticks etc. Chinese food tastes really good when eaten in bed. Even if greedy little dogs are watching your every bite with huge gluttonous eyes.
7. It's hard to knit in bed if there's a kitten in the room.
8. My iBook gets really damn hot when used for extended periods, so I really shouldn't rest it on my leg while I type.
And a bonus: What I learned yesterday: I have the very biggest 18-week belly in my prenatal yoga class. I'm showing as much as the 24-weekers.
January 10, 2006
The pattern for the Baby Yoda Sweater is all written up and ready for your knitting pleasure. Available here and in the sidebar.
Enjoy!
Meet the wonky robot
I needed a date to bring to a first-birthday party this past Sunday, and Billy was busy. What's a girl to do? Knit herself a date, of course.
His intarsia went a bit wonky once I stuffed him. I managed to straighten it out before the party, but of course not before the photo shoot. You'd think I'd have the hang of this blog photography thing by now. Apparently not.
Robot Date liked the one-year-old of the hour so very much that at the end of the party he decided to stay. Last I heard, he's taken up residence in the birthday boy's crib. (My friend Ernesto's son. I can't believe he's a year old already...)
The pattern, as you probably know, is from here. The yarn is the mighty Mission Falls 1824 Wool.
By the way, I'm writing up the pattern for the Baby Yoda sweater today and will post it very soon.
January 05, 2006
Admit it. You've been curious.
I talk about my fiction-writing on this blog, but I never share any of it, do I? Terrible of me. Well, I'm very happy to announce that you can now read one of my short stories online in the new issue of failbetter.
I hope you enjoy it!
January 03, 2006
It's (probably) a boy
We had the 16-week sonogram this morning and the tech said that she was 70% sure it's a boy in there. We'll get a clearer view at the 20-week sonogram. I've been having boy feelings all along, though, so...
Yes, we have a name picked out. We won't be posting the baby's name online at any time, ever, for any reason, before or after birth (for security and privacy reasons) so please kindly don't ask.
I hope everyone had a great New Year's. I'll write up that baby sweater pattern soon, and post it. Before this week is out, definitely.