After much haranguing from my husband, I am once again ready to post. Actually, I had plenty to say, but once school gets out, I start "projects". I love my summer projects. Here is what I have been doing.

I have not done anything in my garden.

I went to "math camp" for a week. This was at MSU and I learned about the 8th grade curriculum that I'll be teaching next year. This was good, I felt inspired at the time and there is lots that I could do before school...we'll see if that happens.

I cut, put up, and painted the trim around the doors downstairs.

I painted the AMH. It went from a hideous skin tone to a calm and lovely blue.

I cut, put up, and painted the baseboards in the basement.

I cut, put up, and painted the molding around the windows in the basement.

I assisted my husband with putting up the drop ceiling downstairs.

I cleaned out the guest bedroom. This entailed details like mopping under the bed. It looks great and is ready for guests (especially because we got a new mattress to replace the one affectionately called "the noodle").

I cleared out what will be the baby's room. THis was mostly teaching stuff and even some stuff from high school that I haven't known what to do with. Everything is now in boxes and in the attic. WE'll probably throw it all out in a few years.

I started painting the baby's room. Three walls are a light lime and the fourth (which curves into the ceiling) is a bright lime. OR will be. Haven't painted that yet. I plan on white trim and my sister suggested a turquoise for the cabinet doors. That seemed too much, but after running it into microsoft paint (a high tech design guide, indeed) it looks pretty good, so I think I'll try it.

I also found out the baby's gender :-) which Dave and I are not planning on sharing with others until the baby is here. THis is very difficult. Especially for a blabbermouth like me! It is kind of fun knowing, a little secret for us. But it is also sort of sad. You think about life with a little boy and life with a little girl and when you find out, well, you lose one of those. That probably sounds weird, but it is a little sad.

For the baby's room I still have to: Paint trim, paint the fourth wall/ceiling, paint dresser to turn into changing table, get a curtain rod, buy material for curtains and make them [this is where I need Susan's help with ideas], also get material and make a little thing for the bassinet, and put the crib together.

Other stuff on my list: Pack up non-maternity clothes to make room for the stuff that actually fits me, label Laura and Mary's clothes so I can get them back to the proper owner, actually work in my garden, prepare materials for teaching next year. That last one is a doozy- there is lots to do there.

I think I"m working harder now than when I "had a job". I worked froms 7:30 until 7:30 today. Not even a nap, which I usually manage about 45 min of per day. I haven't been exercising, so I hope just doing "stuff around the house" counts.

So, my apologies to friends who have checked for a post and have probably given up on me. I'll try to be better and I'll post some pictures.