Numbers Game

As we begin the ninth month of this pregnancy, numbers have become prevalent in our daily discussions. 

Mama: You can take ONE more swim.
Thomas: No, TWO more swims.

Nearly everyone we encounter asks how much longer we have until Baby 2 joins us.  Thomas tells them that a baby is coming to live with us in July.  I tell them FIVE weeks.

Side view of Mama's belly while seasawing last week

Another (sort of) shot of the belly from one of our last outings, the 50 Yard Line Dinner at West Point

THIRTY ONE days left to make sure the house is ready to bring a child home to.  This means getting the sleeping arrangements in order, stocking up on tiny diapers, wipes, and formula, and preparing Thomas as well as we can for the arrival of his baby brother.  But of course, I need to take a little time to just put my feet up and relax.   Thomas helps with this.

"I take your flip flops off, Mama."

Putting them in the water

Or just trying them on?

Every SEVENTEEN years, the cicadas make their way out of the ground and infest our part of the country.  It's a fascinating life cycle they have.  Thomas is not phased by how humongous and heinous they are.  He methodically picks them up and places them in the yard waste barrel.

FOUR in there so far

Maybe it's because of the cicadas, but the nuts from the walnut tree in our side yard are falling early this year.  Thomas loves to pick up the little nuts and throw them down the hill so that Dad won't hit them with a mower.  "One, two, four, sex, evan, eighteen."  This is what Thomas' counting often looks like these days.  If we say, "One, two, three, four..." Thomas will say, "five, sex, evan, eight, nine, ten."  I'm not sure how in his mind, the counting works, but we do love listening to it and find ways, like counting nuts, to encourage it.

Gearing up

Giving up on weedeating to pick up nuts

Quick iced tea break

TWO o'clock.  That is what time most things happen, according to Thomas.  Probably because that is what time Elmo is playing ball with Zoe in a book that we have.  Whatever the reason, Mama's friends are coming for lunch at TWO o'clock and another day, we're going to a tea party with some friends at TWO o'clock.  Very rarely does anything actually happen at TWO since that usually falls within naptime.  But at FOUR o'clock on a wonderful afternoon, we had a tea party with some friends.

As I sit here thinking about how much this baby is moving and how large I feel, I wonder how many more times THREE of us will go to the playground.  We're just going to have to take it ONE weekend at a time.