The Ultimate Homemade Living Project

My husband and I are the ultimate collaborators. With both of us working from home as we do, we see each other a lot. It never gets old. We consult and chat and scheme on everything, from what's for dinner, to friends, relationships, Project Runway looks, and what on earth is really happening on "Lost" (does anyone know, because I don't see how it could possibly get tidied up nicely in two weeks). We discuss fashion choices and new dinner plate options and weird interactions with folks at the grocery store. We're tight, super tight. He's got my back, always, and I've got his. We're permanently propping each other up, full of unconditional loving support.

And so, when we got a certain suspicion that a certain monumental event was building in our lives, we set about chatting about it. With cautious optimism, we starting reading, and researching, and consulting professionals. Today, I'd like to share with you that our suspicions are in fact completely true: we'll be adding to the English clan. "Nugget", as I've temporarily dubbed our little nudger, is due on the scene November 1st, an auspicious date as it's both my older brother's and a dear friend's birthday (although, no offense to All Saints Day, but I'd be thrilled if Nugget decided to permanently throw down on Halloween; is there any better birthday, really?).

I'm 15 1/2 weeks along. A visit to our nurse midwife today confirmed, for the third time, Nugget's strong and fast heartbeat (every time they put the sonogram on my belly in a quest to locate our squirmer, all I can imagine are synchronized swimming movies, a la Busby Berkeley). Nugget is a quick and agile glider, moving around and about as fast as fast can go.

I won't lie-it's been challenging so far. An indication of a strong fetus, Nugget has kept me almost constantly queasy, among other things. I've taken more naps than I've ever taken in my life. I've started eating turkey and chicken after over a decade-long hiatus. I've had heartburn and weird tastes in my mouth and a superhuman sense of smell and other things too delicate to discuss here. And I'll take more. Whatever Nugget's got, I'll take it, because hubs and I couldn't be more thrilled. We invited Nugget into our lives at the turn of the year and have been ready for it's arrival ever since.

And so, if I've been sluggish in my posts, or lagging in my social obligations, or just generally AWOL, now you know why. When you're cooking up another being, you need a few passes every now and then. I'm thrilled for all that's ahead. We're planning on having Nugget here, chez English. There will be dogs and cats and autumn breezes and a blazing wood stove when Nugget bids us welcome. There will be Halloween candy and maybe costumes and pumpkins and hard cider. There will be friends and grandparents and loads and loads of love.

For the author of the "Homemade Living" series, I'm ready to celebrate the birth of this project with flair, gusto, and open arms.

*Image from here.