Is pregnancy brain, that state where intelligent women are reduced to tears over their lack of ability to remember anything, a state that like the "popping out" of the belly occurs sooner the more children you have? I know that some people claim pregnancy brain lasts at least 18 years, but I also know that between pregnancies I regain at least a modicum of my former coherentness.

I am beginning the second trimester -- I am 14 weeks and 5 days along for those of you keeping count -- and I have been to Michael's three times this week. My task on Monday was simple enough. Find four frames to fit one tulip painting by me, two silk Chinese things, and one poster advertising the home tour our house was on. Michael's has all their frames on sale this week, so now is the time to get this done. I came home with three frames not four and none of them fit anything.

Tuesday, I carefully measured and checked the web to figure out what size frames Michael's carried that suited the sizes of the items in question. I even made a list and put it in my pocket. I returned the frames I'd bought the day before and came home with four frames. Three of them were the correct sizes. The other one? Not so much -- unless I wanted it to have a 1/2-inch mat on the sides and a 3-inch mat on the top and bottom. I didn't even buy the size frame I'd written down.

Today I returned that mispurchased frame and came home with something else. I hope I don't have to do any more shopping for a while.