Miscellaneous News

The stack of books we were using to prop up the broken slat under Caleb's bed:


The single 3 inch screw it took to hold the slat in place:


I am embarrassed to say how long we used the books compared to the 3 minutes it took to fix the bed. However, it is a lesson to me to think a little more about how to fix a problem before giving up to a unsatisfactory temporary repair. The books only worked until Caleb jumped on the bed! Plus they took up valuable storage room. Now that we are looking to have 3 sleeping in one room, we are planning to build a low trundle frame to hold a crib mattress. The kids have really been excited about the trundle, even though it isn't built yet. Our neighbor unexpectedly gave us a hand-me-down mattress, so we slid it under the bed to help us imagine what it will be like. Caleb likes to sleep on it and Annalise has happily moved to the twin bed.

Anyway, the trundle construction will probably be blog fodder for the future! I figure we'd better get with it, while I'm in the 2nd trimester and feeling creative and energetic.

Annalise's move to a regular bed has been completely undramatic. I have not had trouble with her getting out of bed and appearing downstairs or showing up at my bedside in the middle of the night (yet). I guess sharing a room with your brother makes a difference. She is still napping in the crib.

Potty training is in day 4 and is very much an uphill climb. The 2nd trimester energy is coming in handy there too!

I am considering posting belly pictures like I did with Annalise, but am not sure! For the record: yes, I am showing; no, I'm not maternity clothes material yet. Aaaaaand, I *think* I felt the baby move last night.

We have swung 180 degrees from unusually cold to unusually warm and humid (having to run the A/C). A lot of the trees look kind of yellow and all the hibiscus bushes look just awful. I am impressed with how hearty the palms are, they look ok. I read an article this week about how many native fish died during the cold snap, they meant wild fish, but even in our tank (still outside with a heater), we lost 4.

And I have a few funny mispronunciations to report:

From Annalise:

Nolie Bar - a potential snack (granola bar)
Shoe Pea - necessary to receive permission to leave the table (Excuse me, please)

From Caleb:

Missiondairies - people serving the church in Haiti (missionaries)
Regleeur - normal things (regular)

And my young sage very truly declared, "The whole wide world is a bird's bathroom." Yes it is my son, and any of you who were on the '07 Disney trip will remember I know that very well.