Moaning, groaning, and general whinging

I like the word whinging better than whining.  I don't know if there is really a difference.  But I will freely admit doing both. This post will have very little to do with knitting, and I apologize for that.  I'll get back onto knitting topics soon.

First and foremost, I'm annoyed with my manicure and pedicure.  The pedicure smudged overnight, in spite of having had over 5 hours to dry between the time I got home and the time I went to bed.  That annoyed me a LOT.  I don't have any more pedicure coupons, so I'll have to find a friend to help me paint my toes some time in September.  Or I might just spring for a full price pedi.  :P  Call me vain, but I want pretty toes when everyone is standing by my lower half staring into my nether regions. Also, the shellac coating on my manicure?  Complete waste of money.  Started chipping on Saturday.  3 weeks?  Very funny!  3 days, maybe.  Didn't last any longer than a normal manicure.  Won't be doing that again.

It is general knowledge that the latter weeks of pregnancy are awkward and uncomfortable.  But no one really can put that into words.  Still, I'll try.  You know how you feel when you overstretch a muscle in the wrong direction?  When the muscle could possible still go, but you run out of skin to let it stretch further?  That's kind of how my stomach feels when Mouselette pushes her feet hard against my stomach.  And you know how you feel when someone sneaks up behind you and pokes you in the ribs?  That's definitely how it feels when Mouselette kicks me in the ribs.  Which she does often.  Especially when I am lying down.  It has caused me to jump on more that one occasion.  Sometimes, when she runs her foot along the side of my ribs, it tickles.  I'm extremely ticklish, and since she is most active around 1am-3am, I will admit to having woken up giggling from her ticklish antics.

Ps, that picture to the left?  That's Mouselette!  I looked and saw that I hadn't posted it yet.  This was taken several weeks ago.  It was the best money I've ever spent!  The opportunity to see her tiny face and perfect features was utterly priceless.  She looks like her daddy!  Of course, she can't help looking like her daddy.  I knew back in May that she would.  Her side profile was just H all over.  And that was in a black and white generic 2D scan.  But the lips?  I'm proud to say, that is my mouth!  Which may or may not be a good thing, since while I have a very pretty mouth, it is known to spout off without thinking on many an occasion. ;)

Tomorrow marks 8 months.  Tomorrow I will have precisely one month remaining...possibly less.  Maybe more.  More likely less than more.  I know it's wrong to expect this, since it sets up for potential disappointment, but I fully expect her to make an early debut.  My money is sometime between September 14-20.  I actually have appointments with the midwife on the 13th and 20th.  I have all my appointments booked between now and Mouselette's official due date at the full 40 weeks.  But since neither H nor I made it all the way to 40 weeks, I really expect Mouselette to follow suit.

H and I are physically ready for her.  We have the essentials.  We have a crib and change table (though not a mattress).  We have a bassinet and gliding rocking chair.  We have clothes.  We have at least some diapers (both cloth and disposable), and plenty of wipes.  My hospital bag is packed and ready to go.

What I don't have yet is this:
http://cascadeyarns.blogspot.com/2011/02/60-quick-baby-knits-preview-sheep-hat.html
I need to knit this hat.  It's the most adorable thing I've ever seen!!!

So in spite of having X million projects to complete and being quite over my head in deadlines and obligations, I think I'll go stash diving tomorrow to see if I can dig up the necessary wool to knit this...or something like it.  I don't really have the pattern, but I'm fairly certain I can wing it.  ;)

Busy days, busy months

I expect it will get busier as time goes on.

I've got roughly 5 weeks remaining in this pregnancy.  Little one has started to "engage", meaning she is facing properly down and her head is moving into my pelvis.  It hasn't quite locked into position yet, but she should be locked in place within the next week or so.  If you're curious, the answer is Yes.  It is every bit as uncomfortable as it sounds.

On the upside, I managed to get out for a lovely manicure and pedicure yesterday.  My feet desperately needed some love, as they are all dry and crackly and swollen and I haven't been able to reach to clip my toenails for a few weeks.  The foot massage did lovely things for the swelling in my ankles.  The manicure was really nice.  I decided to spring for a shellac coating on my nails, which should keep the polish from chipping and my nails from peeling for a few weeks.  Since my nails are prone to peeling, I considered it to be a good investment.

In other, absolutely non-pregnant related news, I've been busy doing many other things.

First, I got my proof back from Interweave for the pattern I submitted a few months ago.  They included a page of photographs.  I don't know if I am allowed to post them yet, since the publication isn't due out until November.  The pictures looked very professional.  Of course, that is to be expected, since it is a professional magazine.  Still, to see something you designed arranged in such a professional layout is quite thrilling.  It's a fairly significant milestone for me.  I feel like I am properly part of the design world.  My designs have left the electronic world and entered the world of paper and ink, settling themselves on the shelves of bookstores.  It's hard to describe how that feels.  Mostly, it feels amazing!

I have been working away at my book proposal and am just about to send it off.  This is a very exciting prospect for me.  I understand that it may not be accepted right away.  I have made peace with this understanding.  Still, I have a new confidence that I did not have before.

And finally, because I have been working so hard at this other project, I am excited to announce the release of Little Seasonals Autumn.

It took me some time to figure it out, but I've got a working design for the Winter edition.  The first pattern is written (albeit not proofed or tested yet).  The second is sketched.  They are going to be amazing, and I cannot wait to get them out.

This afternoon, I think I need to devote some time to a gentlemen's pattern that I started in January.  KnitPicks has been very patient waiting for their sample and I just need to get on and finish it.  Hopefully, if I work hard, I can get the sample done before the baby comes.

Wish me luck.