Well, then.  Hello.  Thanks for waiting patiently for the last two weeks, and thanks for coming back.  What happened was, hubby was called out of town to tend to a sick friend for a little over a week, and he took the laptop with him so that he could work remotely during the days.  Since our desktop has recently been trying to contact Russia (bad desktop!) it’s been benched… which left me with no computer at home, and no way to blog unless I blogged from my iPhone, which is just a horrible, frustrating endeavor.  I had meant to write some posts ahead and bank them for the computer-free week (something I try to do anyway) but with a business trip for me and all the preparations for hubby’s departure, time got away from me and it didn’t happen, and what should have been business as usual turned into two weeks of near radio silence.  Sorry about that, and sorry that I couldn’t tell you more about what was going on – but I’m sure you understand.  For one thing, detailed information about our friend’s illness is not mine to share, and for another, I wasn’t about to announce to the entire internet that I was alone in the house with a small child for an extended period of time.  Anyway, our friend is on the mend, hubby is home, and I have my computer back, so posting and comment responses can now resume.

Although I haven’t been blogging, I’ve been busy-busy-busy.  I’ve got a lot to share in the upcoming weeks and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.  Here’s a quick update in list form:

1) Baby is growing bigger by the day, and he’s having a lot of fun playing around and kicking all over the place.  I also think he’s trying to introduce himself to me.  Hubby and I have a very short list of names that we can agree on, and I’ve had two dreams in a row about the baby with one name in particular – which happens to be the top contender anyway.  It seems to me that he’s putting in his vote, and the name feels more and more right by the day.  It wasn’t my top choice – hubby hates the name I really wanted for some reason – but it’s a name I love and I think the little guy is telling me that’s his name.  We’ll see, but I have a good feeling.

2) Other than dreaming up names, we’ve done next to nothing to get ready for the new arrival.  At 22 weeks pregnant, that’s not a huge issue, but given how early Peanut was born, I do want to get started.  The nursery-to-be is a complete train wreck, so cleaning it out and ordering some furniture is tops on the agenda for the next few weeks.

3) Now that I have my computer back, I finally have access to the knitting pattern I’d downloaded and saved for Peanut’s Weasley Christmas sweater, so at long last I’ve gotten started.  I’m using a snuggly, soft grey baby alpaca yarn I bought years ago at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival and I think it’s going to be a super cute sweater, if I can finish it in time for Christmas.  Last year I went down to the wire, and that was when I was a stay-at-home mom with a baby napping twice per day.  We’ll see how I do with this sweater, given that I’m back in the office and spending my spare time chasing an energetic toddler.  But I’m committed to making Peanut a handmade gift every year and I’m not about to miss the boat this Christmas.

4) Also on the knitting front, I have an idea for a baby blanket for Nugget.  I’m thinking diagonal blue and grey stripes in a thick, soft yarn.  Just have to find something thick enough that fits my specifications.  There is a super-soft bamboo yarn that Michael’s used to stock, so I may see if they still have it, and in the right colors.  But Peanut’s sweater takes priority.

5) My parents visited for a few days during hubby’s absence – both because they were planning to come for a visit anyway and so that I wouldn’t have to be on my own for such a huge stretch of time; I could have done it, plenty of moms do, but it was nice that I didn’t have to.  While they were here they made it their mission to get as much done around the house as possible.  My mom was an unpacking, organizing and cleaning machine, and my dad spent most of the weekend hauling boxes to the basement, hanging pictures and hooks around the house, and – the best! – installing a new guest bathroom toilet!  Considering a plumber tried to sucker us out of $700 for a toilet and installation, $150 for the toilet, and free labor a la Dad, went down very easy indeed.  I can’t even tell you how grateful I was to have my parents in town and for everything they did last weekend.  The house actually has gone from a sea of boxes that were stressing me out beyond belief, to a tidy and welcoming space.  We still have a lot to do, but at least I’m not overwhelmed and paralyzed anymore.

6) Oh, yeah, this: it’s snowed here twice already.  I consider this a personal affront by the weather gods.

Coming up this week: my October reading list, finally, on Wednesday, and a better-late-than-never Halloween recap on Friday.  And over the next few weeks I’ll have lots of fun stuff, including a few posts about running while pregnant, recaps of my fall travels to Maine and New York City, an update on my fall list, Thanksgiving festivities, and plenty of bookish goodness as always.  Thanks for staying tuned.