Okay, so it's a LITTLE early...

…I’ve started collecting Box Tops for Education. For those of you who don't know about this program, General Mills and parterning brands have these little coupons on the top of some of their products, and each Box Top coupon is worth 10¢ for a school. And this can really add up! Of course, most brands I buy aren't part of this program and I am not going to change my shopping habits for them, but I am on the lookout for them and *ahem* would love donations from my friends. If you start saving them for me, Sam will really appreciate it! (In about six years…)

:)

Knit Four, Crochet Three

Yay! I got seven knitting and crochet magazines from Freecycle. I had to go all the way to Edgemere to get them, but it was well worth it! I really liked the Knitscene... and of course the Interweave magazines. I'm working on a baby sweater and a beret... then maybe something from one of these. :)

Gone Baby Gone

While I'm updating, I should mention that I finally cut my hair and donated a good 10 - 12 inches to Locks of Love. It was a bit of a shock for a day or two, to look in the mirror and see someone with chin-length hair staring back, but I'm used to it now and (begrudgingly) agree with my mother that I look more put-together and adult.

I'd definitely do this again... although it may take a few years to get an extra foot of hair again!

Earth Hour!

Earth Hour 2009 is this Saturday at 8:30 PM. Turn off your lights for 60 minutes to show your concern for climate change! (I'm sure you can think of something fun to do in the dark for an hour...) It’s sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund: www.earthhourus.org

Hug a tree while you're at it!

Sam I Am... 17 Weeks Today

I looked up a few stats on my little one (who we are calling "Sam" rather than "it"):

• Sam's birthstone will be sapphire, which is supposed to bring physical and emotional balance. (Unless he or she sneaks into the world a few days early; then it will be peridot, like my mom.)
• His or her astrological sign will be Virgo (like my mom!). It's an earth element and is associated with the planet Mercury. I expect Sam will like routine, be a bit shy, and require little attention (okay, maybe not at first).
• The birth flower will be Aster. (Unless he or she sneaks in early, in August, then it will be Gladiolas.)
• Sam will be born in the Chinese Year of the Ox. (Which is compatible with mommy's sign... I'm a Snake!)
• Sam will start kindergarten in 2014, be old enough to drive a car in 2025, finish high school in 2027, and will graduate from college with the class of 2031, give or take a year.

How exciting!

*Sniffle*

I finally got my winter cold. It started with yuckiness in my throat, which made Matt suggest I go to Patient First, which I ignored. Then a runny nose, which made Matt suggest I go to Patient First, which I ignored. Last night, I woke up several times with difficulty breathing, and terrible congestion, which made Matt suggest I go to Patient First, which I ignored because I had stuff I HAD to do at work, which I was SURE could all be done before 1pm, and I'd take a half-day then either go to Patient First or ignore Matt's suggestion to do so, and flop in bed with a good book and a rotten kitten. But here it is, 4:30, and I'm still trying to push work through the creative department. I wanna go home!

On the other hand, Matt, Doug and Bob are going to the motorcycle show tomorrow, and I plan on spending the afternoon slurping on popsicles and tea and reading and knitting and watching old musicals. Which isn't the same as being able to breathe okay, but it's still pretty nice. :)

My first nurse's appointment: 1/14

Matt was so sweet to go with me to this. It was nothing, really. Their nurse is only in on Wednesdays, so they got us in as soon as they could to get my and Matt’s medical histories, go over some do’s and don’ts, tell me I REALLY ought to get a flu shot, and REALLY need to start exercising a little bit. (They asked whether I currently exercise and I said no. They said I need to exercise because at my height and weight, I should gain 30 pounds or fewer, and what I do gain will be hard to lose, so it helps if I do something mild to moderate three times a week, that won’t raise my core body temperature too much.)

Then they took urine and blood samples. The latter part took two nurses, one less sweater (thank goodness for the camisoles Mom got me!), a cold rag, some juice, a granola bar, and a good ten minutes. But one of the staff (I didn’t realize she’s not a nurse) remembered me from last time and made sure I had a place to lay down, and she did most of the work. They had a hard time finding a vein that works (they tied me up and tapped in three places before deciding where they MIGHT get blood), and then for whatever reason, it just doesn’t come OUT very well. So once they get in, they sit there for a long while waiting for it to trickle out. But my lady is the nicest thing ever, gentle and patient and sweet. I only have to do that part three or four more times. THANK GOD!

We see the doctor next Thursday. I can’t wait!! I really hope they do the Doppler so I can see a heartbeat. I just want PROOF that there is something living in there!

BTW, they loved Matt. Of course. When I was getting my blood drawn, they put him in the waiting room and when I started getting pale, they told me to think of that wonderful husband I had. How cute??