At 9m+1d...

Someone...


Finally...


Has a tooth popping through.

Take that, agoraphobia!

A few weeks ago, we received a community education catalogue in the mail. I browsed through it much as I do the Posh Tots catalogue, decorating my imaginary world with experiences I had no intention of actually partaking of.

I said to my husband, "I think I'd like to take this American Sign Language class." "That's a great idea," he said. Of course, what he meant was, "Great, you can do that right after we finish building the Pirate Hideaway Treehouse."

I called my mom and said, "I'm thinking about taking an ASL class this summer." "Oh, I wish you would!" she said. What she meant was, "Oh, I wish you would! But I know you're never going to, my little hermit."

A few days later, I signed up for the class.

"I signed up for that class," I told my husband. "Seriously? You really signed up for the class?" he responded, astonished.

"I signed up for that class," I told my mom. "Seriously? You really signed up for the class?" she responded, astonished.

Three weeks later, I pulled up in front of the college. I whipped out my phone and called my mom, who was at my house watching the baby. "What the heck am I doing here? I don't like people! What possessed me to volunteer to leave my house and talk to people?" I shrieked.

After a brief panic attack in the parking lot over which door to walk in, and 4 or 5 panicked prayers asking that I just not embarrass myself, enter I did. And the class? Was great.

I used the old "just fake it" method of socialization from high school and walked right in and struck up a conversation with the only other woman already in the room (did I mention I showed up 1/2 hour early "just in case"?). I told her how it was my first time leaving my daughter home, and yes, she is 9 months old. We talked about why we each signed up for the class. We greeted the others as they walked in. I joked with the girl who sat next to me, and we shared a high-five over a super-correct answer. I even went up to the front to fingerspell my name when the instructor asked for volunteers.

It was a really fun night. I got to spend some time talking to adults, Margaret acclimated well to having a babysitter, I'm a bit closer to learning a language that really interests me, and, best of all, I conquered a really huge phobia all by myself. And I get to do it all over again for the next six weeks!

Craft Day

I'm finally feeling recovered enough from a lousy infection I had last week to get some stuff done around the house. After getting the bills and errands and laundry and cleaning caught up, today was free for crafting.

I never have the focus to stick with one project at a time, so I worked on:

a cute little tunic for Margaret made from Alexander Henry's Apples and Pears. I made a dress for myself out of this fabric a few years ago using a vintage 60s shift dress pattern, and I still have yards left over. I got bored of the tunic when my bobbin jammed making the button holes, so I moved on to:

a felt board. I wanted it to be multi-functional as the kids grow, so I made the board on the back of a white board. I just cut the felt to size, glued it on the back, and attached a complementary trim to hide the edges. I like the size, as I think it'll be small enough to use in the car or at church, but large enough to hold a whole story's worth of figures. I've been printing out templates for felt stories and games, but I moved on when I ran out of paper in the printer. Much more fun to work on:

a pacifier clip. I've been looking online for a pacifier clip I really like for ages. Most of the ones that appeal to me stylistically don't offer the security of knowing they're made from non-toxic materials. I'm betting this thing is going to spend a lot of time in someone's mouth. The Haba ones are safe (and pricey!), but I don't like the cartoonish look. So I decided to just go ahead and make my own.

I bought some unfinished wood beads and dyed them with fruit juice and crushed blackberries. I like the mottled, sort of organic, way they turned out. I bought some soft hemp cord to string them on, as well as a badge clip to attach the thing to Meg's clothes.

I'm waiting for the beads to dry right now, then I'm going to wash them really well to make sure the color is set. Maybe I'll even finish a project today!

For your patience, a few of Margaret's recent antics:

On picture day, waiting for the photographer to come.

I was working at the computer while Margaret played on the bed. When a link unexpectedly started playing music, I looked over to see a rather astonished Margaret.

This is what happens when you leave the laundry a little to close to a very helpful girl.

New shoes!

This morning, I was lazing in bed with Margaret. I realized it was nearing her nap time when I looked down and saw this.