Crazy Busy at 30 Weeks

Happy Birthday to my Gabby girl! She's 8 years old today. She was born 5 days before my wedding, and now she's a great big kid who reads books and plays soccer and has an amazing sense of comedic timing. I can hardly believe she's grown so much. I have a cousin who is 8 years older than me, and she was my rockstar growing up. I thought she was the coolest, and I wanted to be just like her. I'm sure my child will look up to my Godchild in the same way.

I am currently working like crazy on a poster for my boss to take to a meeting in early July, putting together our baby registry (how many freakin' kinds of carseat are there, anyway?!), and getting sketches done and buying paint for my crew on the musical this summer. We're going for an impressionist look, which is difficult to translate to a full size (25'x40') stage drop. Our individual brush strokes are going to be done with 9" rollers. I've done more preliminary sketches for this show than I have for any show in the past, and I now have 2 approved. TWO! That's it! It's been a challenge this year. Here's the first sketch I got approved-
It's the backstage area of the nightclub. Yes, I do appreciate the irony of painting a full stage backdrop of a backstage to hang in front of a backstage. The real backstage is painted flat black, though, precisely so it won't be visible. The painters are under strict orders not to allow the brick wall to slide downward on the stage right side. I'm blaming it on the belly getting in the way of my arm.

I'm doing none of the drop painting this year. It's good because I shouldn't be around that much paint for that much time anyway. It's also tough because I can't help get all these drops done to be hung in 10 days. I always hate not being able to pull my weight, even though I'm doing exactly what I signed up for- designing but no painting.

Speaking of my weight, we're officially retiring the belly picture outfit...... in favor of real maternity shirts. Much better. More when some of the crazy dies down!

Surprise Ultrasound

Here I thought we were done, and then we found out on Tuesday that we were going to get to see the baby again!

Still a little Thumbsucker!

And we got to see some cute 3D pictures. In real time, we got to watch the baby move... it moves just like a baby. I know that's to be expected, but it's still inside and little and stuff! So cute- we watched the tongue moving, and the mouth opening and closing, and lots of kicking and fidgeting.

I'm pretty sure the child has my nose.

First Baby Gift!

Catching up with what I've been doing

I finished the baby socks quite a while ago, but I kept blogging from work (over break, of course, Big Brother) and the pictures were on my computer at home. So here they are, in all their purpleness. They haven't been washed and blocked yet... or wait, has the right one (the first one) been washed? I can't remember now, but hopefully the slightly tighter leg in the second one (on the left) will loosen up. Please?

Franklin blogged recently about the guilty-feeling mother with whom he discussed knitting on the train one morning. She felt bad because she doesn't knit and her kids are clothed in all store-bought clothing. I have done the opposite. The only baby garments I have right now are those I've made. These socks are joined by the two sweaters I've knit: this one from last summer; and my citrus stripe sweater to which I haven't attached the sleeves yet because it keeps looking terrible. I think I might need to rip back a bit on the sleeves because they're too large at the top for the armholes or something. I'm getting a really thick join and I don't like the way it looks at all.

Anyway, the two sweaters and the wool socks aren't going to cut it for a baby born in late August or early September. I need to get my act together and get ready for this child! We've been trying to move, and we still are, but the job search is painfully slow. We've decided we're going to give ourselves until July 1. If we don't know that we're moving by then, then we're probably not moving until after the baby is born. We'll continue the job hunting, but we'll move into a different mode. We'll then be available by October 1, and we'll make plans to move then no matter what. We'll keep socking away savings, and we'll job hunt THERE. It's kind of hard to get many serious options when you're applying from across the country. We'll also then focus on getting our too-small apartment ready for the new arrival, which will combine well with packing, since we're going to need to make some freaking space!

I'm feeling better knowing that we have a plan (or a plan for a plan). I really want to start feathering my nest, registering for adorable little onesies and buying diapers and wipes and stuff. We haven't wanted to start all of that and then haul it all across the country a month later, but we're getting close now, and it's time to get ready.

The one where I brag about my husband

Today, I officially start my third trimester. And the high for Friday is supposed to be near 90F. I am so pumped.

Every week we have lunch with my favorite person, Nicole. She's been my classmate (only she's about to finsh her PhD- sucker!!), study partner, angry kickboxing pal, shoulder-to-cry-on and great friend for the past 6 years. It's going to be sad when we all jump ship and move on to the next thing, but we love them (her husband is the one who wanted to try on my Mom's Jaywalker... just the one...) and we'll keep in touch with them, I know. The thing is, she's busy, and sometimes stuff in the lab is unpredictable, and also maybe she can be a little forgetful, so we email every week to check that she's available for lunch.

Today, my internets hated me and my computer froze up so I had Carl email Nicole. This was his message:

Wednesday comes from the Germanic Woden's day. Woden is the same as the Norse god Odin. Also, I was wondering if you will be joining us for lunch today.

Is there any wonder why I love him? Just imagine that being read out loud, in a sleepy voice, kind of like Joel from MST3k. He makes me laugh like no one else. That, and I'm easily amused right now because I don't get enough blood to my brain anymore. Love y'all!