conversations with invisible pigs and sheep

Yesterday was Jim’s school Halloween parade and party.

Saturday — two coats of paint on the ceiling, one coat on the trim. Sunday — second trim coat, first wall coat. We’re all happy with the color. While it’s darker than we’ve been going for in the rest of the house, this room gets the most light.

There won’t be more painting until Friday, at the earliest, since I’ll be at school with Jim today, and he doesn’t have school Wednesday. But it looks like tomorrow could be a good day to work on the dresser again — this is something I can do with Jim outside with me. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and getting anxious.

I also finished the alphabet baby blanket I’ve been working on. It’s been quite a pain, but I got the second half and the finishing done in less than a month, after starting it several months ago. It needs to be washed, and by then, maybe the baby sweater will be done too — it just needs one sleeve and buttons. I’m still waiting for the buttons for Jim’s sweater; I got it all seamed and finished except for those buttons.

This weekend marks 28 weeks / 7 months. 12 weeks / 3 months to go.

Yesterday I sanded and stained Jim’s new dresser (first coat, two to go). Jim was very good, staying out of the garage and playing in the driveway with toys and chalk. Later we went to IKEA and got curtains, a mobile, and some pictures for the room. Also, a year after we did Jim’s room in dragons, IKEA came out with dragon curtains to match his bedspread. So we got those too, and a magnet board for the kitchen, to hang Jim’s school crafts on. The fridge just isn’t big enough.

This morning, I got the second coat of primer up in the baby’s room. With the good weather ahead for this week, and Dad working days, I should be able to finish it up this week. (Dad working days means Jim can watch video just a few steps away from me, instead of two floors away, which I’m not too excited about trying, since he’s been quite the mischief maker lately.)

It took a couple videos for Jim, but yesterday I got the all of the baby’s room primed, including the trim and two coats on the ceiling. I picked up the paint for the walls before starting, it’s a blueish green called Celtic Gray. It’s actually a shade darker than what we have in the half-bath, but I think with all the light that the baby’s room gets, it will be good.

I think we’re taking a painting break today, and I’m going to work on Jim’s new dresser.

The only knitting progress has been on Jim’s winter hat, but if I get a break today, I’m going to work on the sleeves of the baby sweater.

I was cleaning up the flash card on the camera, and came across these two random photos:

Rocket Puppy:

Sleeping Family:

This weekend we actually made progress in getting the baby’s room ready for baby. As in, all the stuff and furniture is out of the room. It’s been cleaned (including the windows) and right now, the second coat of spackle is drying. When the room transitioned from Jim’s room to Dad’s office (then my office), we never made any attempts to fix the damage we did with all his stuff, we just covered over it with pictures, shelves, desks, etc. So, lots of spackle.

The plan was to paint with the leftover kitchen paint (the first color, not the final color). But we must have used it all, because I can’t find it. And it looks like the paint didn’t hold up well in the garage anyway. So, I have to pick a new color, and it looks like the color I picked is the same color that the kitchen is painted now. But, I can’t find the old paint can, so I’ll never really know.

The rain this week will slow us down even more, because it looks like I won’t be painting until Thursday. But, the rainy time will give me time for the other projects I’ve got going, mostly baby knitting. I finished the body of the sweater last night, and have find some more yarn to do the sleeves. I have one arm of Jim’s sweater seamed, and am halfway done the other arm. I still have to find a new project to take to next week’s doctor’s appointment, since the baby cardigan is past portability stage now.

Just got an email letting me know it will take two weeks to get the buttons for Jim’s sweater. Booo!

After two days of being utterly exhausted, I woke up today with enough energy to get working on the ongoing projects of the household. More boxes have been packed in my office, enough so that the desk is pretty much clear. Now I have to get those boxes out so I can continue taking stuff off the walls. With two cool sunny days ahead for this weekend, I’m hoping to get the room painted, even if the trim doesn’t get done right away. Last week I picked up a new ceiling fan, with a light, and a set of animal drawer knobs for the dresser. I have to get another set to have enough.

I started sewing up Jim’s denim sweater today, finishing the collar, and getting halfway through on sleeve. I ordered the buttons too, so if I keep going, I should have the thing finished before they get here. I got yellow ducky buttons for the baby sweater I’m working on. I just have a few rows on the body of that, and then the sleeves. The yarn for Jim’s winter hat came today, so I have that to work on as well.

Had my 26-week appointment today. Got to hear the baby’s heartbeat, nice and strong. Now I start going every two weeks, with the next appointment a super-appointment with lab work, shots, and a regular apointment all rolled together.

Jim has officially stopped napping. He’ll fall asleep in the car, on a long ride in the late afternoon, but I’ve given up trying for the afternoon nap. Which means I don’t get to nap either, although I took a little nap while he played on his computer this morning.

After my appointment, I took a trip to the fabric superstore, and finally got some fabric to recover the glider cushions. Aside from the striped fabric, there is hardly any gender-neutral home dec fabric that has green in it. I decided on polka dots that are aqua, sea green, and a medium blue on a chocolate background.