Susue has been called for a Grand Jury next week. I'm in total denial that this could affect my life. It could be up to 3 months. I'm hoping that her connections to the juvenile court will get her sent home. I'm only obligated to pay her for 3 days, and I could probably find a college student for whatever time I need, but I don't want to. I told her to buy a really big gold cross and act all obnoxious.

We'll see.

Whitney comes home tomorrow!! I haven't seen that baby in six long months!

Apparently last night there was a lobster in the crib. 430 am, and it was a crisis. So no going back in the crib. Thank heavens the a/c was op e rational but still, there really isn't room in that bed for the 4 of us, 2 growing by leaps and bounds.

This morning we talked about dreams and how it's not real.

Man alive was it hot this weekend. Spent altogether too much time in Debbie's inflatable pool. Was a bit better about wearing the sunscreen but still not good enough.

The farm was really wonderful. Truly wonderful. G-man loved holding baby birdies, feeding the goat a bottle, all of it. We washed our hands about ninteen times and I think that we've come out bacteria-free. The only bad thing at all this weekend was the stupid ticket for driving through a yellow light with a white license plate, in NH. Meanies. I'd have to go to Jaffrey to contest it. Because I have a sitter and/or vacation time to do so. Ugh.

"It was red when you saw it, and red when you drove through it."

Here is the boy feeding a baby goat.


And last night, we inherited an air conditioner - the standalone one. Sooo much better a sleeping night.

This little girl is now super twitchy. All the time, from little flutters to genuine jabs. She likes my affinity for chocolate.

And I'm fairly certain that I'm at least as excited about this farm trip as Nino. I have to stop on the way home tonight to get some picnic lunch supplies. It's supposed to be mid 80s. That's the part I'm least looking forward to - the smell of warm chicken guano. Hopefully we'll mostly be outside.

Nino has been asking to "go to the farm and hold a baby bird". So I have found a farm that will do just that. One Friday we're going. It's about 80 miles away, but we can work naps into the trip. I have a feeling that holding chicks is not PC any more - I think it was more common when we were little. Not to mention that his friend Noah and family will probably meet us there. He's going to be in heaven. And if there are baby animals "having momma milk" he might just pass out. I love that it's so easy and fun.

Great weekend. Friday I turned 30. Yow! Got hubby to take me for steak (yahoo for pregnancy mandated "protein"). Went into the North End for some super pastries. Still eating those. Then picked up Julie at the airport. Birthday party (and cake!!) showed up Saturday afternoon which was fun. Saturday night had a weird not-hungry-until-it-was-too-late experience, so we had pizza after driving all over creation. Fun to watch the peeps at the Hampton Boardwalk, but none of us were in the mood for Fry-Doe so we ended up at home again. Yesterday Fathers day with my dad and father of my kiddos.

Then, last night, after the airport, Nino was asking for "jooooooooo-weee" the whole way home, at least until he fell asleep. And this morning, he wondered "where that girl go?" He wants to go to her house and visit. I said okay.

And last night hubby finally agreed that this child will be Eleanora or Rosa, with him leaning toward the latter, myself the former. I will work on that one.

I'm so sorry my sweet angel boy. Your irritabililty, I should have known, was related to both ears being wildly infected. Thank you for just *saying* "momma, my ears hurt" when I was too dense to link it to your 4 am waking. You seem so much better after just two doses of the pink goop.

Additionally, at the grocery store waiting for the Rx, I bought two cartons of breyers on sale. No sooner was it in the freezer than we lost power for 9 hours. I don't even want to look. I'm so sad. Meat, chicken, soup, meh. Ice cream. No.

So between studying for my exam (which was Monday), nervous pre-ultrasound, yesterday, and thunderstorms Monday night, I needed sleep. Badly. And who decides he's going to cry, really cry, in the middle of the night until he's in our bed? Then, when he's in our bed, sleep all over me?

I love you boy, but I'm pooped. Tonight we rest.

Well, today we found out that we're having a little girl!! I'm so excited. Everything was perfect. Just seeing that little person, with all the right parts, it was amazing.

On a not as good note, my blood pressure was up. It's too early for that. Now I just have to be super careful and hope we can get things under control.

Man do I hate being sick. Especially when caring for a two year old. Doesn't he know that yesterday I would have been thrilled to watch Fire Trucks three times in a row with him on my lap? And being pregnant, not being able to do what I really want to do - take a big pill and zonk out. I've convinced myself that I feel better today. Oprah and the couch help with that. Thank God for Su-sue taking G even when I'm just at home sick.

Last night we had a few "small in this universe" moments. We took dinner out to the beach and folded the van seats down. There were sand drifts, just like snow drifts, all over the roads and parking lots. 6-18" drifts in parking spaces. We're talking a ways from the ocean too. And we hopped out for a second and got pummeled by the rain, sand, salty air. It was wild.

Then on the way home, in the Evil Empire Walmart, lost power. It was *dark* for a few seconds, before the emergency lighting came up. Scary place to be, as that place ups my blood pressure anyway. I was ready to ditch but we needed our ivy plugs.

It was a nor'easter, we had twigs and branches all over the yard. So then hubby decides that Nino should sleep with us. Which was fine until I had about 6" of bed space. And I'm the pregnant one. So I scooped up the boy and back in his crib he went. And last night they were both sleep-talkers. No wonder I'm pooped.

And on a *very* exciting note, it seems John's Ted will be home Saturday. I'm so excited for them. Although he'll be taking time off at work so I'll be picking up some . . .

Friday was a lot of fun. Portsmouth Children's Museum was a perfect place for a 2 year old playdate. Nino loved dressing up like a lobsterman. The only bummer is, I set the camera up to download and then deleted. The download didn't work. :o(

Then we went for fish with Martha and Josh. Really fun. Nino loved fried haddock. He ate *tons* of it. It was good to see them, just hang out, chitchat, eat ice cream.

Saturday was Kristine's wedding. We got lost and entirely missed the ceremony. Everyone was beautiful, beautiful location, kind of yucky weather, but fortunately it didn't matter. Got to see some people I haven't seen since college. Nice trip back, Nino had fun with the grandfolks.

Yesterday church - only two more sundays left with Roger. And then Nino took a good nap. And I'm trying to get on a study schedule.

We also had a bit of a name chitchat, and although Leila has been added to the list, it seems Eleanora is the current frontrunner for a girl. Which I'm thrilled about. It's my fave on the list, and although it's not hubby's fave, he likes it best with the last name. Woohoo!

I had this very vivid dream last night where we bought a new house. It was a 50 year old cape on the most amazing site. Several acres of meadow, with lots of old stone walls and things in it. The house was a nice, generous, rambling place, with tons of space. But it hadn't been lived in in several years, so it was incredibly dirty. I remember being so excited that all it needed was a good wash. Also, in the dream, I was hugely pregnant with a girl, but had two boys - about 5 and 2. Nino must have been the other one, and the little one was definitely a brother - just a bit different in looks. Maybe my body already knows my child forecast?

Well, my appointment to find out the girl or boyness of this bub was supposed to be tomorrow. But they rescheduled me for *three weeks* further away. Ugh. At least by then things should be crystal-clear.

My appointment friday was fun, Nino and hubby were there, and he wanted to "hear mommas baby" and don't think he understood that's what it was.

And we had lots of nap issues. Lots. Why this child won't sleep for me is beyond me. He gets irritable at 2 pm and if he doesn't sleep, he's irritable for the rest of the day. Occasionally I can get him to sleep and our day is so much better. Infinitely better. Su-sue can usually get him to sleep. Makes me feel second-rate.

"momma, is any poop coming out of my hole?"

Is that the funniest thing you've heard in ages?

I go back and forth daily on the gender thing. May 17 can not come soon enough.

I'd love a girl. I kind of have my heart set on a girl. Our perfect little family. And Nino is so insistent that he's having a sister, sometimes I forget that we don't actually know. I want a girl to put pigtails on and dress in purple tutus. I want a daughter.

But then again, my son is perfection. If I could have him ten times over, I would. I have loved every second with his blue clad tractor loving self.

Which brings me to the other concern. How will I ever have a child this perfect again? How will I have enough time, energy, love for the new baby and my son? How can he lose his status as my one and only?

Funny things the boy now does or says:

"I see" or even funnier "mm. I see"
"sort of" like in "that sort of look like daddy car"
"really bad" as in "I haffa go potty really bad"

He cracks me up to no end.

I'm hungry. Always hungry. Better than a few weeks back.

And today I called the midwife to see if I can get my ultrasound scheduled, and they're taking me in two weeks from today! Wow!

So my neighbor called last night and her son has Fifth Disease. Ugh. And all I could do was read online, which is a bad idea. I don't need to read phrases like "spontaneous abortion". But my mom's pretty sure I've already had it, the midwives weren't that concerned, and will take blood at my next visit. I was at least hoping to come in for a little heartbeat check. I have to say, that's not a sound I mind hearing too much.

A good weekend, overall. Beautiful weather. Saturday was B's wedding, and we had a lovely time. She looked amazing, and seemed to have fun. SIL brought Nino to the reception, and he melted down. It was late, there were more people than he'd seen at once . . . we got our cake to go and skedaddled. We spent the night there (where none of us slept well), but the next morning got to have brunch with the newlyweds and all. I just adore H, he's so perfect for her. And Nino got to come to that, and be a superstar. Yesterday, another beautiful day, drove home, and caught up on laundry. We saw Fever Pitch (fun), went to bed early, we all slept like logs. Another beautiful day, but that I'm back at work. ;o)

Oh! And I got my pass letter for general structures. That just leaves one more exam until I can say Architect. Woohoo.

Here I am with the bride. I look kind of pregnant in this picture. Yikes!