Animals and Exploring

Since we've arrived there's been a large collection of stuffed animals on display in the student center. It's quite a large and varied collection that someone now dead had donated. Well, along with other changes on campus the animals were recently moved to a storage room in the basement, no more to be admired. John was on the crew that moved them all, and the last to get moved was a huge elk that was, apparently, quite difficult to get down the stairs into the basement. Then John came home sneezing, so we figured he must be allergic to elk hair.... or maybe just dust.

Last week we took Baby M to the Art Museum, which is free and has a children's playroom. It's too hot and uncomfortable for me to take M out much at this stage, and we both get a little housebound. She enjoyed getting out, and it's fun to see her explore. She walked around the art displays, which made a few people nervous, but she's too short to reach anything anyway. Then this week John took her to the children's museum- of course she loved that too. We are glad we get to spend some special time with Baby M before another sibling comes along.

Not much more time before that happens, either. We're slowly knocking out my to-do list, which takes a while because John has all the big chores on the list and he's away working already! I am thankful that our upstairs air conditioning got fixed, but it's the strangest thing- some evenings now there's a strong smell of what seems to be cooking food, just upstairs, just evenings. I keep telling John it's kimchi from the neighbors next door. I don't like it!

Outings, and Braxton Hicks

When you don't go out much everything is exciting. Then the days we do go out are so tiring it feels like it should be the weekend already...

Yesterday we went out. First off was the chiropractor. The most exciting thing there was the man doing a foot detox bath in the office waiting room, which Baby M wanted to touch, and the violent flushing of the toilet in the restroom, which baby M thought was terrifying.

Next was the post office. The most exciting thing there was a ten year old screaming and flailing on the floor. Baby M was appalled.

Lastly we used our free treat at chikfila to get a peach tea-lemonade. However, I failed to notice that it was sweet tea- in fact, it was so sweet as to be undrinkable. It was insanely sweet; even John said so. Never getting that again!

Today was Cow Appreciation day at chikfila, so we went back for our free sandwiches. Baby M wore a black and white dress, which she hates, and refused to wear her crocheted hat with ears. And then didn't eat her sandwich anyway, so John did. And that was that.

Seven months along and not much to say

Here we are well into the third trimester and I'm dragging. With this second pregnancy I'm beginning to feel like those old people who are always saying they can't wait to get to heaven and have a glorified body. I'm too tired to do much beyond the necessary, so there's not much to say here.

The past week we all went to the chiropractor to watch John get adjusted. Margaret didn't behave. Afterwards while we were waiting for John to put everything back into his pockets, the doctor was making small talk. He asked if Margaret was our first child. I thought that was kind of a weird question because I am seven months pregnant, but yes, Margaret is our first. Then he asked, how old is she, seven months? Again, I'm thinking, that's a weird question... I'm clearly pregnant... but in real life I just said she was petite and no, she's one. Plus some.

Then at the 4th of July event a lady asked, when are you due, December? I'm hoping she meant to say September...

I also went to high tea at the Dallas botanical gardens. It was fairly expensive, at $50 per person. Probably the first time I've paid for a three course tea and the most I'll ever pay, hopefully. Our waiter was a rather shaky, older black man named Nelson, which added to the ambiance except for that he spilled hot tea on one of our party. The food was all good but not stellar, the room was nice but not amazing, and mostly I think all the ladies in our party who went were just glad for a special treat of getting away and being served.

The gardens were beautiful and well-maintained. If it hadn't been so hot we would have enjoyed walking around more; but as it was we all wilted pretty fast. And if it wasn't an hour away I would consider going back when it cools down. But it is so we probably won't.