The new normal
The news, if it’s news to you: a Blue Garter Baby is in the works. (Some of you are going to say right here, “Hah! All those baby knits! I knew it!” but it’s absolutely true that almost all of them are for babies other than my own. It’s babies galore this year.) I have reason to know that wee new lives are not sure things and so I’ve delayed announcing this one here, but our Minnow is blithely thumping me with tiny feet and fists at this very moment and we have seen on the ultrasound that it looks healthy as a horse in every particular at 20 weeks’ gestation… and at some point soon I’m going to have to model an adult-size garment here (I hope it will be Pas de Valse) and you’re going to notice that my midsection is not so svelte these days! In fact, let’s just get that last bit out of the way right now:
We finally snapped some documentary evidence last week after we’d hiked up Mt. Hebo in Tillamook County on a glorious day. (How I love Spring Break!) As the hiking would indicate, I’ve been entirely healthy. I seem to be one of those hateful women who suffers no ill effects whatsoever during early pregnancy, although I’m sure there are still plenty of delightful physical symptoms down the road that can’t be dodged. When people know you’re gravid they thoughtfully ask how you’re feeling, and I’ve had to confess to feeling remarkably normal. One friend who’s raised two children replied, “Well, this is the new normal.” And she’s right. There will be all kinds of new normal to adapt to, and I think I’ll try to remind myself of that at times when I find I’m struggling against the changes to my comfortable routines.
Minnow should make his or her appearance in the world around 11 August. (Nerdy knitter that I am, I’m hoping for two days early on Elizabeth Zimmermann’s centennial birthday, and since 8.9.10 in the American dating system appeals to my husband’s sense of number he’s promised that he’ll have me out running stairs in an effort to kick-start the labor.) The sex will be a surprise to everyone but Alison the ultrasound tech — she didn’t even record it in her report for my doctor. We’ll be getting a niece just a few weeks later, so I can channel any urges to knit adorable girl things in that direction while making sensible gender-neutral clothes for my own offspring.
This is it. Our lives will never be the same. But there’s no spice and little joy in too much of the same anyway, right?
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
yayayayayay! I knew already but was waiting for the BLOG to know. I WISH you lived closer…
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Oh Congratulations!!! So exciting!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Congratulations to you and your husband! What exciting news. I’m so glad you’re feeling well. You look beautiful!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Congratulations! That’s wonderful news. You look very well.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Very, very exciting news. I’m very happy for you and your husband. You’ll be a wonderful mother – and I hope that you are enjoying the gender neutral knitting. If I was doing it again, I think that a navy BSJ would come in very handy…
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Congratulations! Such happy news!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Hooray! You look absolutely wonderful! Can’t wait to meet the little minnow!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
A navy and white tomten would be sweet! Thank you for the fabulous news! A white lace shawl would be extremely useful for you, in case you get the urge!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Happy Happy Day!!!!! Congrads!!!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Congratulations from a faithful reader
Equally excited for you and your growing family as I am about cute little baby knits!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Congratulations! Best & Healthy wishes to you, Mr. Garter, & Minnow. Children are such fun!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Congratulations!!! Becoming a mom is crazy but it is also the most amazing journey you can imagine.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
HOOORAY!!! You look so beautiful. I was one of hateful women who felt normal too. Enjoy it and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about it. Enjoy every moment. I’m soooo happy for you. Fingers crossed for an EZ birthday.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Oh wow, congratulations!!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Hey, congratulations! We’re expecting too and at around the same time.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
How exciting for you and your husband – make sure you get out for some date nights right now! Hope you enjoy the next several months
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Delurking to say “Congratulations”! I’ve been following your blog for a while now – since I was first introduced to the Spiders about 4 years ago. Rightly or wrongly, I inferred some months ago that you had personal experience with – as you said, “wee new lives [that] are not sure things,” and I’ve been hoping to see this joyful announcement since then.
I wish you the best, and I look forward to seeing all the beautiful knits for the little one.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
congratulations!! that is so exciting, and that’s wonderful that you’re feeling so healthy and strong.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Oh my goodness, what exciting news! I’m so happy for you guys!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Um-hmmm. I had a feeling even though I knew you were knitting for other people. You look fabulous. Congratulations on the exciting news!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Congrats, Sarah! Such good news.
And my mother testifies that she felt BETTER pregnant than she did flying solo – lots of energy and drive to start and finish things. I hope the same goes for you!
Lots of love!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Congratulations! You look great. Have fun knitting for the wee little one. I’m going to be a first time grandmother the following month so will be knitting those gender neutral baby things right along with you. Hope all continues to go well.
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Many congrats! Expecting our first any day now. Been following with Spiders via Twitter and there are a couple of babes in the works back in NYC too!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
You make a beautiful, dare I say, radiant pregnant woman! I’m so, so heartglad for you. And kind of envious of the feeling good part!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Wonderful news! Best wishes to all three of you!
Posted: March 29th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Oh hooray! What wonderful news! Yes, the “new normal” is a very apt phrase; what joys you have in store for you. I hope you’ll continue to feel very normal and healthy throughout your pregnancy! xo
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Congratulations! What a lucky little one yours will be. Enjoy it!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 2:23 am
So great!!!!!! My daughter will be giving me my first grandbaby on or about Sept.27th.
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 3:00 am
Wonderful news! Continued blooming health, and happy little knitties.
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 3:18 am
Congratulations!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 3:21 am
Congratulations, enjoy those little kicks and tumbles!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 4:12 am
I am just so happy for you and Mr. G. I hope that the rest of the pregnancy go just as smoothly as the first half did! Hugs!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 5:03 am
Congrats!!!! And I’m happy that you’ve been healthy. I’m not jealous, since I’ve never been pregnant. If and when that happens though, I’m sure that’ll change!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 5:50 am
Congratulations!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Congratulations! Life just gets better with little ones – for many different reasons- and life gets harder – for many different reasons. *grin* But I must say my favorite accomplishment as a mom- so far *wink* all my kids knew how to take whip cream shots just after they turn one. (Ok, it was a total accident with the first, I had no idea she’d be able to get the lid off, guess it helps when you drop it on the pavement to break the seal!) And, well what one learns, you have to teach the others.
Best wishes to you all! 
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Congratulations Sarah! How exciting
You are very lucky to be feeling so well, and I hope you continue to feel well. I felt good throughout my pregnancy, so it does happen 
I wish we could contact Alison your ultrasound tech though, so she could tell us if we should knit wee dresses or manly cardigans…
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Congratulations to you both, Sarah – how wonderful. May all go swimmingly!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Congratulations!!! So glad you are healthy and feeling good. May your next adventure be a happy one!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Congratulations! I have just started knitting for our own #1, after waiting a superstitious first trimester to cast on. Eager to compare coming home outfits, or any baby outfits at all. Looking forward to an early September baby here– who knew I could have been in the running for EZ’s centennial if things had worked out a month earlier! Wondering if it will be possible to knit during early stages of labor. Guess we’ll both find out!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Congrats!!! That’s so exciting!!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Oh, how wonderful! My peanut is now a toddler… Parenthood is a challenge no one can imagine beforehand… It’s worth everything! And you will make great parents.
Here an answer to the knitting in early labor question: I have a labor sock… The nurses made fun of me…but knitting really helped me to relax. I will always keep it with peanut’s coming home outfit and the other dear things.
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Congratulations! The most profound and wonderful change you can make to your life, imho. Welcome to the delightful and challenging world of parenthood!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Life will not be the same, it will be worlds better!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Wonderful, wonderful, _wonderful_ news. Even as a parent of three of my own little beasties, I never get over the thrill of hearing about another family’s happy expectations.
Congratulations and best wishes for continued health and many years of happiness in experiencing your “new normal”!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 11:29 am
What a cute little bump! Filbert started kicking hello as I was reading… nothing to do with the fact that I’m also eating lunch, I’m sure.
He’s so energetic some days and seemingly lethargic others that I welcome every kick. Our U/S tech didn’t record his sex for the doctor either, so I suppose it’s standard practice.
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Such lovely news and you are looking great. Look forward to more bump pictures as the weeks go by. Big congratulations from England.
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Congratulations! You look so very happy.
alke from the Netherlands
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
What wonderful news! So excited for you.
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Congrats!!!!!
Posted: March 30th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Wow that’s fantastic! I’m so happy for you, I’ve kind of been waiting for you to say something of the kind. Minnow is such an awesome name (Iam inferring correctly aren’t I?) how did you come up with it?
Lots of love and good wishes from Australia.
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 5:54 am
Congratulations
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 8:11 am
Congratulations! That’s so exciting!
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 10:08 am
Congratulations! I have been reading your blog for about a year now and I thought this would be a good moment to delurk and wish you all the best for the rest of your pregnancy.
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 10:17 am
Yay!!! CONGRATS! You look beautiful. Stay healthy and I hope it all goes really well…I’m sure it will. How exciting!
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I am so very excited for you. Thanks for sharing! I needed good news.
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
aw, congrats! i must confess, in the midst of a knitting conversation the other day (actually i was oogling her stash) mia let slip about yours… even before she told me about hers! silly cousin. all the best to you guys – all three of you – and i can’t wait to see all the fun stuff you whip up to cloth him or her in!
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I’ll add my un-original but heartfelt congratulations along with everyone else. What lovely news – and a Leo too!
As a mom myself (with 5 children and step-children) I say a hearty ‘welcome’ and hang on for the ride of your life!!!
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 3:13 pm
that is wonderful news! Life won’t ever be the same, but it will be better! Our little girl is 2 and every day we can’t believe how fun she is and what she has brought to our lives. Congratulations!
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Congratulations! What wonderful news!
Posted: March 31st, 2010 at 7:25 pm
guess you know for sure it is just one minnow and not two, right? i did understand that the phenom skips a generation.
you look lovely and happy and healthy. take in the new normal…and the new normal…and…i am still loving it all as it reveals itself.
congrats!!!!!
Posted: April 1st, 2010 at 6:09 am
Yay!!! Congrats again Sarah! Ha ha, I said those same words, “new normal,” when I was leaning against the side of the shower, trying not to throw up–I’m glad your new normal has been much less icky!!! I can’t wait hear all about the arrival of your little one–I just wish you lived closer so all of these tiny babies-on-the-way could hang out together!
Posted: April 1st, 2010 at 9:25 am
a million congratulations!!!!
Posted: April 1st, 2010 at 2:51 pm
yay sarah!! i’m so glad for you that things are going along swimmingly! our babies will only be about a month apart from each other
that makes me super happy. congratulations again!!
Posted: April 2nd, 2010 at 9:23 am
Congratulations Sarah and mr G!
What wonderful news. I know I’m in danger of being sentimental, but it is a miracle – each and every time!
Enjoy your pregnancy, being fit is luckily pretty normal for many of us.
Posted: April 2nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
So very happy for you! You look lovely. I had blessedly easy pregnancies, too, and am still thankful for that privilege.
Posted: April 3rd, 2010 at 10:50 am
What great news! Congratulations!!! That baby’s going to be swathed in some of the earth’s most awesome blankets!
Posted: April 4th, 2010 at 10:08 am
So happy for you and your lovely baby bump. Congratulations!
Posted: April 4th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Congratulations! A Child is a bless!
Posted: April 4th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Foot massages always seem to bring on labour- especially the serious Asian ones, not the feel-good Western style. Just in case you REALLY want that day!
Posted: April 5th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Congratulations! I think it should be a Tour baby, but in any case, he or she will have the most important thing: a summer birthday. And two wonderful parents who will give him/her all the love and wonderful opportunities in life he/she deserves. Good for you for keeping the gender a surprise!
Posted: April 7th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Congratulations! This is wonderful news. (I would be keeping the gender a surprise myself, but I just have a bit of a pink aversion.)
Posted: April 10th, 2010 at 7:08 am
Congratulations! What a lucky baby! You look great!
Posted: April 12th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
I am so excited for you. You look beautiful. I never had any bad effects either and I had a single baby and a set of twins. When I started to feel heavy I just went swimming. Gravity is not so bad…in water.
Posted: June 21st, 2010 at 9:49 am
Oh my goodness! How am I just reading this? Congrats!!! You look glowing and healthy!