That’s right, we learned the sex of the new baby (affectionately called “pickle”). Would you like to know? How about if I just tell you by not telling you. I’ll tell you by showing you a selection of goodies that I’d really like to buy for Pickle.

But
for
some
reason,
I
want
you
to
have
to
keep
reading
to
find
out.
Ok, enough of that. Enjoy.

We’ll start with this little number from Earth Groovz.

And these little cuties from Dog Gone Knitting.

Whales have always been known for their warming abilities, so Pickle will love these in the winter, from Luna.

And a little something to keep her noggin warm through the Maine winter, from Cite Fuzz.

While I’m at it, this one is for Dash.

Oh, I’ve been admiring the girl’s clothing sections ever since I found out I was pregnant with Dash. Not that I haven’t managed to find some good duds for him, but girls just have it so much easier. The selection is really amazing compared to the cargo pants and rugby shirts for boys.

So, little Pickle and I will be having far too much fun picking out clothes and accessories. And being one of very few girls in the family means she’s going to be spoiled with little dresses and skirts.

I say bring it on. Me and the Pickle? We’re ready.

Ok, well I planned this post for sometime early last week but we were blessed (?) with rain rain rain all week long and it literally put a damper on plans, blog and otherwise. Yuck. My garden is excessively happy though, making for some unusually large zucchinis. Pictures to come.

But for now, I’ll let the weather dictate this next bestest moment, which we’ll call, “dealing with what mother nature offers up.”

In between the rain showers, Dash learned the joys of keeping cool using just a garden hose and an old wash tub.

And on the rainy days, we find things to do indoors. Like trying on daddy’s mandolin for the first time and making surprisingly pretty music with it.

Looks like we have a beautiful sunny day ahead of us. Who knows what summer moment will come out of this one?

The amazing garden bounty from our very own tiny yard.

Interrupting this list of Bestest Summer Moments to insert a quick least bestest (worstest?) moment from today.

That would be the moment I nearly killed my beloved husband.

Coming home from a morning out at the thrift shop and picking up some more coffee at Zarra’s, I’m looking forward to getting in the house and making a little lunch. I’d already gone without a mid-morning snack which is very unlike my pregnant self. Translation: do not stand between me and the refridgerator. Or a burrito.

I start making sandwiches (one for each of us, i’m not THAT hungry) while Neil carries a sleeping Dash up to his room.

Lightbulb goes off in my head!

I made french onion dip yesterday and there’s a whole lot of it waiting for me in the fridge! I tore into the fridge, practically salivating (I didn’t say this story was pretty) at what I’d find.

And what did I find, you ask? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No bowl of dip. Not even a little. Depression and disbelief sets in as I scanned the counter. And what did I find there? Dirty dip bowl, scraped of all its goodness. Depression set in deeper and I dipped a toe in the lake of rage.

I walked quietly upstairs to where Neil is working, contemplating divorce. “I am so mad at you right now,” I seethed.

Bewildered and a little scared, Neil barely got to wonder why before I let him know exactly what I thought of what he did. Then he confessed that since it was trash day, he took it upon himself to go through the fridge and toss anything that looked like it’d been hanging around for a month or more. He thought I would love him for it. Most wives would.

Anger melting, I had to admit that if you didn’t know you were looking at french onion dip, you’d definitely think a bowl of yogurt had gone terribly wrong. And smelled terribly wrong.

So I get it. I do. And it turns out that love can survive a husband messing with his pregnant wife. But it doesn’t put the dip back in the bowl, now does it?

In summary, I will be home the rest of the afternoon. Please come by with dip.

Ok we’ve had some wiltingly (is that a word? no? too bad) hot weather around these parts lately and before I catch myself wishing for cooler weather, I feel like I should take a few minutes and honor this season which is ever so brief.

Bestest Moments of Summer :: 1.

Long meandering walks after dinner that end up at our favorite neighborhood ice cream (gelato) joint. Dash isn’t quite sure he trusts ice cream yet (so cold and so not biteable!) but he can down the cone itself pretty darn fast. That, he gets.