4 weeks + 2 days

friends
The Tadpole is getting bigger. She was four weeks old on Wednesday. I thought about posting--honestly, I did. But she's been very fussy this week. I think she may be having a growth spurt, but we'll find that out on Monday at Mommy Group or Wednesday at the One Month Checkup.

She has spent much of the week in her pouch sling (I have this one and another from this company that were gifted to me before the baby was born), which is good because it generally keeps her from screaming, but still allows me to do some things with my hands. Like type this post :) Or knit. Or, God help me, eat something. Her father is wondering if we shouldn't be calling her Roo instead.

I didn't realize that part of the reason women drop so much weight when breastfeeding is because the little tyrant does not want to be put down long enough so that Mommy can restock the stores, so to speak. I've lost about 30 pounds in the past four weeks, and ironically look better than I've looked in years. Well, except for the dark circles under my eyes. And the fact that I really need a haircut, but am not sure how to manage that with Baby. I was out of maternity clothes two weeks after the baby was born and am now finding that my pre-maternity pants are too big. However, I am reluctant to buy new pants because I'm not sure where exactly I'm going to end up.

The Beloved suggests more ice cream.

Anyway. The Tadpole continues to be lots of fun when she isn't channelling Mussolini. We try to go out somewhere every day--mostly because Mama needs O-U-T at some point or she becomes very squirrely. And we're finding that if Mama is happier, Tadpole is happier. Funny, that. Last week, we had lunch in an actual restaurant for the first time with Laura, who is a very brave soul. Laura was also the photographer for this outing, so we thank her hundreds of times over for the pictures.

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She also captured pictures of Baby's first yarn crawl. You can't start them too young...

Here we are at the Yarn Basket:

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And at Yarn for Ewe:

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As you can see, The Tadpole already charms people wherever she goes. According to her Grandma (my mother), I have been blessed with a child just like me--absolutely perfect and angelic when around other people, and saving up all nightmarish behaviour for her Daddy and me. Ah, parenthood.

But I forgive her. Seriously, how could you not forgive this face?

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Weekend roundup

Beloved
I meant to post a weekend roundup yesterday, but was a) too lazy; b) without photographs; and c) too lazy. I'm still without photographs, but felt as though I could post now and perhaps do a picture-heavy post later in the day. If I can train The Beloved to use the point-and-shoot camera, that is.

So, here's what I did this weekend:

1. Got a cholesterol test done. I know, I know, you're all jealous. It was a lot of fun. Particularly when the phlebotomist couldn't find a vein. After she stuck the needle into my arm. The bruising is highly attractive. I don't quite look like a junkie, but if I had waited another week or so, it would only have added to my Amy Winehouse Halloween Costume.

2. Visited my grandmother. Visited is a loose term. I sat with her for a while. My grandmother is not doing so well and when I saw her on Saturday, she was completely non-responsive. I believe they were going to stop the antibiotics and take her off of most--if not all--of the other equipment last night, but I haven't pulled it together enough to call my mother for the update. If you're a praying person and can stop to light a candle for her, I would be greatly appreciative.

3. Cut all of my hair off. Pictures would be helpful here, no? Alas, The Beloved was not able to manipulate my Canon Elph. Yeah, it's a point and shoot. He doesn't quite grasp that he needs to hold the button down until it clicks, and I just didn't have the patience to deal with him last night. I had taken a couple of pictures of myself with my camera phone, but, let's face it, they are of such craptastic quality that I can't in good conscience (and in complete sobriety) post them on the internet. Hopefully, tonight, we will find that the husbeast can, in fact, be trained.

Anyway. I'm happy with the haircut. It's a good change, it looks good, and it's easy for me to style and manage and stuff. The Beloved thinks I look like River Phoenix as the young Indiana Jones. What a charmer!

4. Looked at wedding rings. Yeah. Never thought I'd have to do this again, but about two weeks ago I developed a severe case of eczema on the ring finger of my left hand. It still hasn't cleared up all the way. I moved my wedding ring to my right hand and began to grow a nice little spot of itchy pain between my ring finger and my pinkie finger. My rings are now on a chain around my neck--I feel like I'm in high school.

Now, I know that it may not be an allergy to the ring itself--as my auntie says, it is probably an allergy to the soap that gets under the ring when I wash my hands. Or it's contact dermatitis aggravated by the band being too tight (it's not) or too wide (possible--it is on the wider side, particularly when I wear it with my engagement ring). But that doesn't explain why I don't have a problem when I wear silver rings--I have one with a wide band that I wear on my right hand that has never caused a problem. And I have never been able to wear gold in my piercings--ears or nose--without having a painful reaction. I don't know if it's the gold, or if I'm just really sensitive to the other metals they use in creating the alloy, but, let me tell you, the possibility of being allergic to my wedding ring really sucks. If the eczema on my left hand ever finishes clearing up, I'll give the ring another go before I call the doctor for some tests. Then, the search for a solution begins.

I went to the jewelry store to ask about having the inside of the ring plated or coated with something--rhodium, I think (I read about this online and wanted to see how much it would cost and how often I'd have to have it done in order to wear my wedding and engagement rings--both gold--without this fun little reaction) and no one seemed interested in talking about that. They were really interested in showing me all of their platinum rings. Platinum, after all, is nearly hypoallergenic. And, after all, "you're worth it." The Beloved is not so sure about that. Fortunately for him, I'm not scouting diamonds as well. We watched Blood Diamond on the HBO preview a couple of weeks ago, and, let me tell you, it really turns you off of wanting a nice big rock on your finger if you're thinking your money is going to arm ten year old boys and support genocide in African nations.

When I first bitched about this over Sunday coffee a couple of weeks ago (the owie finger, not the genocide thing), my father was the one who suggested putting the ring on a chain. "After all," he said, "You've got the husband. What else do you need?" And he's right. Except that after wearing a ring on that finger for seven years (five married, two engaged), I feel naked without it. I don't care if we get a plain silver band--I just hate looking down and seeing nothing there....well, except for the red band of dry, irritated skin, that is.

5. Went out for Teppanyaki with The Beloved. He had never been before. There's something really fun about watching someone play with knives and fire whilst preparing your meal. Plus, the food was quite tasty.

6. Indulged in retail therapy. No, I probably didn't need the Vera Bradley bag. But it was sooooo pretty. Besides, my auntie commented on the hugeness and overstuffed-ness of my everyday handbag, which made me feel bad. This is much better. Too small to overstuff.

7. Celebrated Baby Brother's 20th birthday. How the hell did he get to be 20? No one asked my permission on this one. I'm not sure how I feel about it. How can he be 20? Wasn't it just the other day that he was in love with Libby and chasing her around in full Power Rangers regalia? Or dressed as a purple dinosaur? Anyway. The official date is today--the Baby is now 20 years old. I think I need a lie down.

8. Worked on Conwy. Yeah. Remember that sock? I'm about halfway done with the foot on sock #2. The end is in sight.

9. Ordered yarn for the Romantic Hand Knits-along. I'll be knitting "A Room With a View" and I'll be knitting it in the colors used in the book. (Saisquoi receives a C- for creativity and thinking outside the box, I know.) I thought about doing the sweater in brown with white lace, but thought I'd look too much like a pilgrim. Plus, I like blue. I look good in blue. And I'm trying really hard to wear more colors. I've fallen into another gray/black/brown/ecru rut.

So, there you have it. Sort of busy. Busy enough that Sunday night found The Beloved and I watching Children of Men on the Cinemax free preview wondering where the weekend went. And why we keep picking such "feel good" films to watch.

Rationalization

baby things
I love rationalizing. I can rationalize just about anything--particularly if it's fiber-related.

Last week I heard some rather disturbing news at work. It seems there was an attempted break-in at some point during the previous weekend. You can see where someone tried to force the door on my side of the building. Apparently they also tried another door and failed. I'm currently working as a consultant for a religious library. The library is located in a building owned by the New Hampshire Conference, UCC and shared by that organization, my library, and the NH Bible Society and the NH Council of Churches. That's right--the once-and-future thieves tried to break into church offices. We assume the miscreants were either kids with vandalism on their deviant minds, or individuals trying to make off with the computers and other other office equipment.

As a consultant, I can more or less make up my own hours. The Library Board likes me to be consistent so that I can help patrons as well as catalog their collection, but, as an independent contractor, I've got some leeway. My hours had been Wednesday evenings and all day on Friday, but those hours left me alone in the building for long stretches of time (during the week, the UCC staff leaves at 4:30 and they close the office at 2:30 on Fridays during the summer). This has never been a problem in the past because...well...it's a church office in New Hampshire. I always felt safe. Now? Not so much. So, on Friday when the UCC ladies checked out for the afternoon, I decided to do the same. That meant I had time after work to check out the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester--about half an hour down the road. I had to go. There was no sense in staying at the office waiting for burglars, and I was saving money by going from work and then home rather than making a special trip on Saturday. Besides, I was no longer worried about going to my interview naked, since I had picked out an outfit on Thursday [Marianne: the clothes came from my favorite boutique--Marshalls.]

So, off I went to Manchester. And I high-tailed it to the Grafton Fibers booth. I did look at other things, but I was really a woman on a mission. I wanted this fiber. And, I think we can all agree that it was more than worth the trip. I picked up two batts (3.5-4 ounces each) in this gorgeous coral colorway. Don't ask what they're going to become; I haven't got the faintest idea. It will be yarn. And I will knit something from the yarn. But, truth be told, I'm not confident enough in my spinning to tackle it just yet. And since I haven't actually ever thought out a project from fiber selection to spinning to knitting and all, I really haven't got a clue. But that doesn't change the fact that this here corriedale is about the prettiest stuff I've ever seen and I do hope to do it justice.

I also picked up some absolutely darling buttons. They've got little bears on them! Remember the Haiku sweater I was knitting, well, months ago before I got bored with it and set it aside? The one we're not currently talking about? Well, the child for whom I originally started it will now be too big to wear it by the time I'm done. So I'll have to knit something else for her. But Baby K, the recipient of the English Mesh Lace Christening Shawl, is still small enough that the sweater will fit her--eventually. Woo-hoo! Anyway. The sweater was going to need buttons eventually and I think that these will work just fine. The buttons are handmade ceramic, made in South Africa, and were purchased from AffectionKnit. They are also machine washable (yippee!) so long as the garment is turned inside out. Yes, the buttons cost more than the yarn did for the sweater (particularly since the yarn came to me from my sister's stash so I didn't actually buy it at all), but they are just too cute for words.

Anyhow. I'm glad I went. I could easily have spent more money, but since I'm currently underemployed I'm trying not to do that if I can help it. Sometimes it's very hard. The only thing I didn't buy that I'm regretting now is a Lexie Barnes knitting bag. They are so cool and they were marked way down for the event. But, I had a hard time choosing which style I really wanted, and, truth be told, I need a new bag like I need a hole in my head. But....they are soooo cool. And I'd use it. I know I would. Still--I promised myself no new bags until I had effectively dealt with the closet full of bags I no longer use. Sigh.

All in all it's been a good weekend. Except that I seem to have misplaced the keys to my moped. Which means it's time to do some picking up to see if I can't locate them under one of the many piles of crap that have taken over each and every room of my house. So I'm off to clean and tidy...and then perhaps go shoe shopping, because I haven't figured that part of my interview outfit out yet. Granted, I need shoes like I need another bag, but....

Crisis averted.

shopping
Well, maybe. I took what seemed to be the consensus and went shopping early and now have an outfit for my interview next week. No shoes yet--but I've still got time to worry about that. Here's what I've got--beige ankle-length linen skirt and blue short sleeved linen/eyelet blouse. Nice and conservative. Good librarian gear. I really like the blouse. What I don't like is my current figure. So, I've lost weight from around my middle and my rear but not from, erm, up top. In fact, they seem to be getting bigger. So, while I'm now happily wearing a size 10 skirt, the buttons were popping on the size large blouse. Apparently, my chest needs about a 2XL, even though the rest hangs something awful. So I did something I never thought I would do. Ever. I bought a Minimizer Bra. It was terribly distressing. But I now fit into a large blouse. And the buttons don't gap.

The Beloved, naturally, is calling me on all my whinging. "I bet when you were young, you would have killed to have large..." Yeah. This is called be careful what you wish for because it just may come to pass. God help me should I ever become pregnant. I probably won't be able to stand up straight.

It is a pretty blouse, though. The eyelets and the collar and the color... it all works for me. I think it will be just fine on Wednesday. Provided I can find adequate shoes. Naturally, I also have a backup. It's bright, screaming pink with three-quarter sleeves. Also linen. Also quite nice. I'll wear it if it's cold. Or if I decide against showing my arms.

I also picked up a non-interview shirt for fun. Because it was too cool to pass up. It has skulls on it. I'm thinking of wearing it to work tomorrow. And maybe, just maybe, to the Knit and Crochet Show. You see, I figure if I can get out of work early enough (the rest of the office closes at 2:30 and I may just head out with them), I can go over to Manchester from Concord before going home, thus saving gas. And maybe, just maybe, I can squeeze out enough money for something pretty from Grafton Fibers. Yippee!

Just Call Me The Bag Lady

Beloved
Several weeks ago I ordered a couple of bags from Heather over at LuluBelle Custom Handbags. Well, they have arrived! I couldn't be happier with them. Behold, the Little Lulu:

And inside:

And the Lauren:

And inside:

The handbags are handmade. Select your own exterior and interior fabrics, choose from fabric or bamboo handles, choose between snap and ribbon closures. The products are gorgeous. I'm very, very happy with my purchases and will likely buy more of her stuff in the future. In fact, the Lauren will be coming to Chicago with me. Did you see the pockets on the inside? It's a nice, roomy bag that will comfortably hold my wallet, sunglasses, iPod, camera, the guidebook, the gallon-sized plastic bag for hand lotion and lip gloss, a novel or magazine for myself, one for The Beloved, his XM radio/MP3 player, and a partridge in a pear tree. Oh--and this:

The GoKnit Pouch which I bought over at Scout's Swag. She has awesome color choices and wicked fast shipping. Now my sock will be safe and I won't have to worry about runaway yarn on the airplane! Anyway, since Lauren is so roomy, I don't think I'll need a separate carry-on for the flight. Which is good, because I never have enough room with a carry-on and a purse. I'll pack another carry-on bag in our checked baggage in case we (hopefully) go shopping and buy stuff on vacation and need something in which to transport our loot back to New Hampshire.

Anyway. Here's some food for thought: Why does vacation begin with the Spanish word for cow? That deep thought is brought to you care of The Beloved. Enjoy.

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