Adventures with Skunks, in Sparta, with Scupper, and Speedy

So here's the latest - and it's all over the place, but some of you (shocking!) actually follow this blog, so I figure I had better give some updates.

Mrs. Stripey
Yup. It was a "mrs." or a "miss" or a "ma'am" or whatever you'd prefer. The little skunk was finally caught by an able trapper who proclaimed that it was indeed a "she" and she was about ready to give birth to skunkettes. Luckily, that did not happen under our house, or otherwise, she would have been quite happily (and legally) there for another SIX weeks. However, since skunks sometimes have followers and friends, the trapper put another trap out and we caught ANOTHER ONE! Not sure whether it was a "she" or a "he" but nonetheless after two weeks, lots of skunk spray, fights with the landlord, three traps, and two skunks, we have been proclaimed skunk free. We hope Mrs. Stripey and her new brood are doing well somewhere else that is much better for them than our crawl space.

Sparta
The booming metropolis of Sparta, IL called us for a few days - well, actually, it was Steve's parents, but we had a lovely time. I was actually happy to feel 29 degree weather (but i guess that's knowing that we'd be back to 60-65 soon enough). Steve's mom and I made two baby slings - and they are pretty awesome! - and a nursing cover, so i can happily breastfeed in public with a handy apron/cover thingy. Found both the patterns online and splurged a bit on nice fabric, but still way cheaper than I could have bought them for - and the slings are sized perfectly - one for Steve (with cute fabric with dogs all over it) and one for me.

Steve also did a bit of housework - and i've put below my favorite shot of him in a pair of coveralls his mom found in the garage.

His dad also showed us his new replica rifle for re-enacting that they do (French and Indian War, if you will), and we were regalled with fabulous stories of the battlefield. Steve also enjoyed showing off the guns - and Mark - if you're reading - these pics are for you!

Last but not least, a Scupper saga
Not too much new to tell about our pup, save for the fact that when I picked him up this morning at the dog sitter's, i think he got bigger in 5 days. His aunt Liza spoiled him rotten when she was here visiting, so I include a photo of the two of them in their favorite spot. Now we just have to convince him that sitting on the sofa whenever he wants is not OUR favorite spot for him to be. Yah right. good luck.

Oh - and last but not least, you'll find the latest belly shot of me taken this weekend in Sparta. This one is at the end of 30 weeks. I've hit a new milestone - (over 30!) - and this week, I go see the midwives every two weeks, instead of every month, so you know it's getting close... the little countdown on this blog has us a bit shocked (is it really 60 days?) and I know Speedy is getting bigger and stronger when last night, as I lay in bed to read an article in my new cooking magazine, she kicked and the magazine when up in the air. Woosh. I think i felt her little foot digging into my ribs on the plane ride home. Is this what they mean when pregnant ladies all of a sudden "just want them out?" Oh dear - I can't have that just yet. One more dissertation chapter to write before she comes. ... seriously... i have to get one more, right?

Pics from the Baby Shower

It's a choice

Gotta give rapper M.I.A props for wearing this to the Grammy's on Sunday...

I need to look into more "evening wear" for these last few months of pregnancy, what do you think? ;)

THANK YOU!!!

From the bottom of Speedy's little tiny heart, from the bottom of Steve's very athletic and in shape heart, and from the bottom of my heart that is now pumping 1 extra liter of blood,

THANK YOU!!!!

Thank you to everyone who was so gracious in sending little Speedy (and of course, us) shower gifts. Let me tell you, this little girl is set for clothes until she's at least one year old... and she's is going to be SO CUTE. (at least the clothes will be). Thank you also for all the accessories and thoughtful choices. We have such a small house, but after organizing everything with my mom and aunt on Monday, it looks like things are going to fit for the mean time. And with the addition of a bassinet from Craigslist (thank you to those who contributed to the craigslist fund!) it looks like i can still put off getting a crib until we really need to... which means, at least for the moment, everything will fit in the baby's room/aimee's office. Woohoo.

The Stripey Family

So I shared this story with some family members on the email, but thought if anyone else is reading this blog (doubtful, but possibly) you might enjoy....

The Adventure of Mr. Stripey!!

So Thursday morning, Steve left the house around 6:30am to commute to work on his bike. He saw a little 12" black and white critter with a long bushy tail scurry under the oh-so protective boards (NOT!) that our crappy landlord had installed over the foundation hole entrance on the alley side of the house. He calls me at lunch to check in, and was like, guess what I saw going under the house this morning? Mr. Stripey. I'm like, oh dear. He means a skunk.

Now Steve has always thought skunks are cute. and you know, they kind of are... in their own special way.

however, Mr. Stripey decided to spray under the house on Friday night and we woke up at 3 am to a lovely odor emanating from (of Course) under our bedroom. Not the living room, but of course, under our bedroom.

So on Sunday, Steve moved the boards around to make it harder for Mr. Stripey to get back in, save for the fact that skunks are nocturnal, and we weren't sure if he was sleeping under there or what. Sunday night (Monday morning) at 2:30am, we hear this mix of a scurry, a angry hiss, and a low squeaking go from under our bed towards the front of the house. "it was outside" Steve says as we both bolt up in bed. "No, that was UNDER the house" i said. Argh. We lay there. Was Mr. Stripey getting into it with a neighborhood cat? Or was he really PISSED that he couldn't get out b/c Steve moved the boards?

So Steve gets out his "beat 'em up" police flashlight and puts on some clothes and tromps around the house to move the boards, just in case Mr. Stripey is a little pissed and is stuck. He came back to bed and Mr. Stripey rewarded us by shooting off another spray.

We slept with the window open in the bedroom even though it was 45.

Last night, i awoke again to this "tsk tsk tsk" sound - this time at 4am. And at 6:30 when Scupper whined to go out and pee, we heard the dead holly leaves rustling out along the alleyway. Steve throws clothes on and walks outside. There is Mr. Stripey pulling in leaves and whatever into the crawl space hole.

wait one minute... wait a sec, could it be? No?

YES! Maybe it's MRS Stripey?? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

So now we think maybe it's a "she" and "she" is building a nest. Great.

I have left repeated messages for the landlord and have two different human trappers on hand ready to be paid mucho bucks (not by us, i'm hoping) to get out Mrs. Stripey before she decides to have babies.

Steve thinks baby skunks would be cute.

Um. Sure.

Just not under my house.

Symbolic Items

So i'm sure in all the junk that I've read in my PhD program, there is probably some theory for why we attach feelings to certain items. There has been a carseat sitting in my office for a month now and every time I look at it, I have to remind myself that a baby is going to be sitting in there soon. And then I jump when I realize it's OUR baby.

But today Steve picked up a rocking chair that I found on Craigslist ($20! woohoo!!) and as I walked in the office to check email, I saw the rocking chair and immediately this feeling of matronly love came over me. Matron. Maybe it's because the chair looks so stately. But, Yes. That word specifically. Matron. It was like, holy crap, I will be sitting in that chair and be a MOTHER.

Eek. Am I ready to do that? I think I have a bit of Peter Pan syndrome.... (let's all sing "I won't grow up!")

Word to the wise...

Just a note, in case any of you are wondering -

pregnancy is not the time to try to introduce new vegetables and then try to put them into a creamy soup that you think is going to taste really good but you end up just pouring down the drain two weeks later and feel bad you spent all the money on the veggies.

ah well. said veggies? Turnips and parsnips. I've had parsnips before but mixed with turnips, not so much.

I happily ate a big bowl of baked ziti today however. Yes, at 10:45am. But who can go wrong with cheesy pasta goodness?