It's a girlie!

Story Louise
8lbs. 8oz.
Chubby little chipmunk cheeks.

MATS

Halloween 2009

This summer we were talking about Halloween, and Cash blurted out, "I wanna be Mats!" (Translation: Max). Okay, I can do that. Sew a wolf suit. Done.

It took me about a month to realize that the film would be coming out just before Halloween (a film that I am avoiding until I get over my snobbery and give into my curiosity)--that we'd be over-stimulated with movie trailers, book store displays, and excited blog posts on the subject.

But by then Cash was too excited. For the past month we'd be paying for groceries or checking out library books, and he'd look at the employee and blurt out, "Mats suit!"

I found a vintage simplicity pattern at the thrift store to use as the basic shape--changed the zipper closure to velcro, added buttons, make-shift claws, unevenly long ears that made everyone think he was a bunny, etc. He had a little bag. The tail is my personal favorite.

But for the week leading up to Halloween he kept telling us he didn't want to wear the costume or trick-or-treat or get candy.

Well, great. Say goodbye to your last homemade costume, pal.

But when he saw that first group of trick-or-treaters come to the door, he immediately said, "Where's my tostume?" He was suited up and out the door in under 5 minutes. And gone for and hour and a half. No smiling or laughing or running. Just straight-faced, methodical trick-or-treating. Like it was his job.

He let loose once he got home.

Best Husband Ever!

Wanna know why I have that crazed look in my eye?
It's the bag.

Final Days

I've been taking advantage of my final pregnant days. Last weekend the boys left overnight to visit Wes's parents, so I spent the day doing whatever I wanted (plus laundry, dishes, etc). I browsed the bookshelves at Borders, had coffee with Clare, went to a thrift store, ate thai for lunch, rented a stupid movie. It was nice.

A few weeks ago I decided to put together a little gift bag to be opened post-baby. Is that weird? I went out and bought myself a few nice little gifts--fair isle gap socks (currently sold out online), lemony flutter from Lush, a big bar of Sea Vegetable Soap, some new underoos (I'll spare you having to see those), and I'm in the market for magazines and nail polish.

There's something delightful about being mildly indulgent once in awhile, right? I mean, socks, underwear, soap. . . those aren't even really indulgences. Necessities are more like it.

Can you tell I'm feeling a bit guilty?

In the interest of full disclosure, I also conned my husband into getting thai carryout tonight because I was too uncomfortable to cook. So sue me.


Side note:

My friend Tiffany took these photos of me while visiting a few weeks ago. Vanity-wise, they aren't my favorite photos of myself, but I love them for their candidness. Yes, my son is standing on a chair, stabbing a zucchini with a dinner knife, pretending that it's a tuba. Yes, I'm surfing the internet instead of playing with my kid. But these are our days together. And pretty soon they'll look quite different.

It's a Glow

I can cook. I just can't take a decent photograph to save my life. Trust me, it was yummy.
Sweet potato, chickpea, and spinach soup from Soup Kitchen

Let me tell ya, this late-stage pregnancy thing is doing wonders for me. Aches, nerve pain, contractions, and shortness of breath aside, I'm feeling relatively energized!

I've got a few guesses as to why: 1) the reappearance of caffeine in my diet 2) the blood builder pills that rescued me from my tired, anemic state or 3) all that misplaced nesting-related hysteria.

Since our house has been on the market since early Summer, it's already pretty clean and organized. I can't go on my usual "this place is disgusting" tirade. I haven't been able to set up a nursery due to said situation either. But, now we're down to the wire, and are getting ready to paint the guest room, buy and paint a dresser, and get the baby stuff out of storage.

Until then, all that energy is being spent in the kitchen and in the craft room. I've started making lists of Christmas gift ideas (don't hate me) and have been bookmarking knitting project ideas like mad (like this shawl). I've got a few projects on the needles (to be shown soon), a Halloween costume almost finished, and a lot of recipes behind me.

I've even been reading! Tender is the Night. Olive Kitteridge (completely beautiful). Columbine (highly recommend). I'm currently reading Democracy and am getting ready to start Wildflower.


I promise you, I'm not as caffeinated as I sound right now.

Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Spinach Soup
Ainsley Harriot in Soup Kitchen

1 onion, chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 tsp. cumin seeds
30 oz. chickpeas
2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 tsp. honey
1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
4-5 C vegetable stock, hot
bag of baby spinach

1. Cook onion, sweet potato, and garlic in olive oil until golden brown, 5 minutes.
2. Add cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Stir in chickpeas, tomatoes, honey, dijon. Cook 1-2 minutes, until tomatoes soften.
4. Stir in hot stock. Boil. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
5. Stir in spinach, cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper.

Found on Flickr: Christmas Inspiration (So, Sue Me)

All photos borrowed. Find links on my Flickr.

Something happened to me when this cool weather hit. This strong desire to knit, bake, cook, read, sew, make, etc. welled up in me. An overpowering need for new slippers arose.

And, yes, the dreaded case of Christmas cheer.

I've spent many nights this week poring over Fall and Winter holiday photos--looking for gift ideas, getting excited about all the festivities. Nevermind that Cash's Halloween costume is only about 25% finished. Forget about the fact that I'm having a baby in 5 weeks. Oh, and Thanksgiving. And my son's third birthday. All this goodness before Christmas. I promise I won't start playing the music until after the turkey's carved.

Weekly Update

Hat for a new baby. More info on flickr.

Handmade bloomers from vintage fabric. More info on my flickr.