Cold Spaghetti

After two years of not wearing my beloved wedding band and engagement ring, I decided to break down and re-size them. As with most things, I approached this rationally. I know that the body prepares for labor by supplying progesterone and prolactin to relax things… so stuff is wider post-baby. Accordingly, my shoe size went from a regular/narrow 7-7 1/2 to an 8 wide. There are some shirts I’ll never be able to button again. So I felt it reasonable that my ring size would go up as well and felt that it was time.

Good heavens. I went from a 4 3/4 ring size to 6 3/4 !!! Wow.

After asking around, I brought my rings to the place everyone thinks of as “the best” jeweler in town, Adler’s. Not a great experience. I should have known I wasn’t going to feel good about the experience when they didn’t fall over themselves gushing about the set: the engagement ring was Paul’s grandmother’s and is a one-of-a-kind, self-styled piece that is totally stunning. I told the staff all about the ring, how important it was to not only me by to our family, and how I brought it to them because I thought it would get the best care and attention. The results? Disappointing! I ended up bringing back my engagement ring to complain (the splice of gold they added was visible and rough in the shaft!) Also, the delicate edging made by Faith Capone of Capone’s Jewelry in Blacksburg, VA when she sized them down for me was rubbed off (I wish I could have brought them to Faith, she was incredible). And finally, the rings are a bit too big (turns out I’m more of a 6 1/2.)

All that aside, I picked them up today. I’m still not completely pleased with the results, but will wait before doing anything else to them. The bottom line is that they are beautiful and I can’t stop glancing at them flashing on my finger! It is cool to have rings again!

Inside view. We took this picture seconds after Paul put in the last screw… we were so excited we couldn’t help ourselves. The white trim is the only thing painted in the room (hence the fuzzy looking edges). We haven’t decided what color to paint the room yet (nor have we mustered up the energy to tackle the 12-foot ceilings and install the crown) — but we definitely want to paint over the dirty beige oil paint that now covers everything.

Our first afternoon with shutters was amazing. The temperature was much lower in the front room — not having that incredibly strong sun in the front room made a huge difference! Great job Paul!

I was eager to see what they looked like outside. In this picture, Paul is still working on them (you can see him in the right side window).

Will ate a huge bowl of oatmeal this morning. So after breakfast, we asked: “Will, how did you put all that oatmeal in your belly?!” This conversation involved a lot of Will peeking under his shirt to see his belly. Here is he showing us his “Oatmeal Belly.”

My Mom (Granna) came this weekend to help us through a very busy time.

Paul has been working lots of hours so he won’t have to use so much vacation time next week. (We leave Tuesday for Michigan, where I have a conference. From there, we leave Friday morning for DC, to attend Kevin and Amy’s (Paul’s sister) wedding in Fredricksburg, Virginia.

So, Mom and I have spent a lot of time this weekend preparing for the trip. Finding clothes, figuring out what Will, Paul, and I are going to wear, making sure things fit everyone, etc. Never in a thousand years would I have thought this would take so much effort! Mom even gave me a crash course in make-up (I haven’t bought anything besides mascara and powder in over 5 years.)

And in the middle of all of this, I am still trying to finish up classes! I may get by with only one incomplete (Econometrics — difficult data analysis/Stata/regression class)… if I can finish and turn in a paper for another class (Nutrition Analysis). I’m doing my best and must give myself kudos considering I’ve finished two other classes on time after being out for three weeks, but there is still a lot to do and my days of all nighters are long gone. Two incompletes could be the reality… darn that pneumonia bacteria!!

Me and Will, swinging on the porch, Saturday May 14th

… Look! I have a bucket on my head!

Paul takes pictures of Will and I at play. Here, Will is trying to eat a smaller, red bucket, while I put the bigger, orange bucket on his head.

Crazy bucket-head playtime with me!