self portrait tuesday

how can i possibly only be 24 weeks?

the partial self

gracie, blowing bubbles at the children's museum-

lately i've been feeling less like "the whole self" and a lot more like "my partial self"
sick, tired, achey, crampy, bloody, icky-
not used to having so much to complain about!
little joey is struggling into the world for sure.
this week was an adventure that i'm glad to report is over-
the good things...a wonderful glass of wine at the wedding-
two whole boxes of gorgeous, brand-new pottery with an old wedding card signed "keep on swinging!"-
birthday lasagna already made for my dad this afternoon-
a garden full of tomatoes-
a fridge full of groceries-
lots of bonding time with crystal and collin-
getting closer to my stress-free time at the end of september-
closer to the fall-
free yarn!-

there's lots more i have to be greatful for! oh, i almost forgot...coconut chip ice cream...

congrats and thank you's

congrats to a dear friend getting married tonight, although she'll never read this
pumping myself up for reading in a big old church tonight...long walk up to the microphone and altar-
hoping i don't have a contraction while i'm saying "love is gentle, love is kind..."

things seem to be better here on all fronts. no more bleeding, and grace's foot is officially not fractured. thank you to everyone for all the kinds thoughts and words and worries and inquiries, even if you haven't gotten a prompt response. you are all amazing.

xo

updates

art show, our front porch...grace's new favorite past-time...right now she's looking over my shoulder saying "mumma, is that my art show? is that my art show? oh i'm all excited!"

anyway, trying to stay positive. today was crazy, still waiting for xray results. i'm spotting and tired and have no energy to be a good mom. not drinking enough. trying to keep this quote, from www.andreascher.com, in my mind-

"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate. That's my philosophy."-Thornton Wilder

thanks for the vibes, peeps.

tiny timmers

taken at an ice cream shop near our house...i probably laughed harder than i should have at the time-

anyway, thank you crystal for taking care of me today even though i was all over the place, contracting, and on the phone our whole visit-

my doc's appt. went fine...joey's great, etc. grace, however, is being seen at 2:15p for a possible broken foot, and for anyone who knows me, you know it's got to be serious if i'm actually taking grace to the doctor, not to mention taking her on the same day that we've already been to the doctor. hi. i'm absolutely insane today. please hope that grace doesn't need a little tiny tim cast. that might break my heart.

also, thank you emily for my birthday surprise in the mail! i haven't been that excited in a while- "babies" by gyo fujikawa! yeah! you're the best.

self portrait tuesday

here's me, 23 weeks preggo...huge and getting huger-
modeling a mystery xmas gift-
sitting in my new favorite chair in my new favorite sitting spot on the front porch

trying to stay positive and in awe of the pregnancy, despite what kevin and i like to call my neverending "toni braxton hicks" contractions...
i've had the song
UNBREAK MY HEART!...SAY YOU'LL LOVE ME AGAIN!
stuck in my head, much to my horror.

9am tomorrow, going in for a checkup to see if this baby is trying to bust out or what. everyone keep yo' fingers crossed.

xo

blackberry harvest

here's part of my blackberry birthday harvest...totally sour and wonderfully delicious-

also, anyone out there know how to make gorgeous necklaces like this...
www.frecklewonder.com
or anyone wanna be my sugardaddy/sugarmomma and buy me one? xo

by the light of grace

love this picture...grace looks surrounded by a heavenly glow.

anywho, long crazy weekend so far filled with good food and lots of debriefing and friends and family, the usual fare around here. ate about 100 clams (i'm not kidding) yesterday and steph's shower in rhode island on the water. ate lobster filled with strange red substance that may or may not have been either eggs or lobster periodness or something else i don't want to talk about. grace has truly been a shining wonder this weekend...and i've been doing lots of staring at her wondering how i made such an amazing human being.

i haven't been giving joey enough water this weekend and he is punishing me with less-than-normal kicks. i need to work better on this.

for all you trolls out there, "necklace of kisses" by francesca lia block is a magical troll gem of a book, completely worth spending one night's worth of reading on...
and now i'm working on "the hobbit", mainly just to hear john snicker in bed at me at night when i open it.

xo

i love myself some curry

isn't this green curry dish gorgeous? my boo made it for emily and tabitha and i. thanks again, boo! too bad i had to eat it with a gallon of cottage cheese because i'm too much of a pussbag to stomach the hottiness of it.

when's the next time you're making me dinner, boo? i be-serve it, especially since it is my berfday coming out now, too.

schlumpface

to all of you loved ones out there
who i owe a phone call
email
hug
response of some kind to
i promise i will get back to you soon
i've been in a bit of a schlump
and i'm in the process of trying to pull myself out

reading "fairy tales and fables" illustrated by the glorious gyo fujikawa...
trying to make sense of my bad feelings and schlumpiness

my new obsession once we start making money here at gilbert central will be trying to bid on gyo fujikawa books on ebay...i've only got my one that until tonight sat underneath my dvd player in our bedroom

so again
i'm sorry
i'll be back

tiny rock child

we've been virtually TV-free here at the gilbert home for almost three weeks now
grace is happier and more inquisitive than i've ever seen her before

adios television!

more 'nuff said...

Latoya Jackson has a twin
and that twin is a drag queen at Jacques in Boston

when you're pregnant...

and all your friends are getting married
and you're off to bachelorette parties every weekend
and everyone is partaking in the festivities, like doing yummy shots called "chocolate cake"

you may or may not be stuck amusing yourself
taking pictures

of yourself

doing shots of blue cheese

(notice the buffalo chicken grease on the "shot glass")

sleepy self portrait tuesday (or wednesday morning...)

here at the gilbert household...

it's been pies, more pies, and pesto...boiling pots of water and salads of herbs and tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden. i love harvesting in the garden, especially with the little one in tow, her little green pail and yellow shovel helping mama dig up the goods.

off this weekend to bridal festivities...looking forward to girl time and silly activities. hope i can keep up with the pack!

check out my girlie and my pink lemonade

flickr
angrychicken
pink lemonade submissions

looking for fall

as much as we've been parking it up lately, i can't wait until the fall-
pumpkins, cooler weather, coffee...all my favorite things-
today's weather is such a tease!

my blueberry baby

'round here
it's been lots and lots of blueberries

my favorite peeps

i am obsessed with pie

here's a shot of johnny's celtic blueberry pie, handpicked and handmade after a day on grandmama's homestead- and a shot of boo's KK pie, also handpicked and handmade. yummy days of pie for breakfast. off to pick more this afternoon!