Monday, April 24, 2006

Power tools and babies?

Boy, I've been really sporadic around here, haven't I? I actually have been really busy in a crafty, if not yarn-affiliated, way. Last weekend, we invested in some quality power tools. I am now the proud owner of my very own table saw:
Why, you ask? Well, I've always had dreams about simple wood projects that I wanted to make. Headboards, benches, bookcases, etc. And now I can do it, without bugging my dad to bring down his tools from San Jose! First up, the storage bench from Handmade Modern, the fab DIY book from Todd Oldham. We cut all the wood last week, and on Sunday, I sanded the pieces and ironed the wood veneer to the visible edges. Yes, I said ironed. Bizarre, I know, but you use your home iron to apply the thin veneer, which is backed with a heat-activated glue. Fun, but my right elbow is screaming right now.

And, I also finished my first crafty item since Figgy's arrival on the scene. Well, started and finished in about an hour, but still, I actually finished a project, which is something to crow about. I strung a necklace Saturday night using large light green quartz beads with tiny pearls, silver beads and little purple stone (which kind i have no idea) disks. Hurrah! Accomplishment!

And a baby update: I just hit 15 weeks on Saturday (how time flies!), so here is the update. No new fruit...
At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form. And if you have an ultrasound, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or girl! (Don't be disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down the gender depends somewhat on how clear the picture is and the position of your baby during the ultrasound; he may be curled or turned in such a way as to keep you in suspense.)

My next appointment is this Wednesday, so while I'm not expecting a find out the gender yet, I am hopeful that I'll be told that I'm managing my sodium well and that Figgy is doing fine. Fingers crossed!