One week in and I am still typing this thing. Saturday came with the expected fanfare of opening day. 8:00am and we were standing in an empty lot with several hundred softball and baseball players all ready to start the season. Long parade from nowhere to the field to listen to speeches and self serving back slapping from our great town politicians. The only good thing out of the speeches is that they were using a sound system borrowed from the NYC subway system so we couldn't understand a single thing they were spewing... I mean saying.. Weather was cold and rainy for the most part. Toots beat the traffic and used the "I'm not parking over there, I'm 8 month's pregnant" (She used the counter) She wrangled herself Rock Star parking amongst the privileged in town. I on the other hand had to park a timezone away and with the aide of my trusted Sherpa trekked to the staging area, where I assisted in herding cats... kids into groups.

No games today, due to weather... Little Guy went with a friend, Toots and Big Sis went to her shower.. so I have the kingdom to myself. Not like I will be able to relax too much... I have a truck full of Dot things that I have to unload, move and move again... I am sure wherever I place them will require one more move... Seems that Toots and her Sis share a common gene.. the someone might need it someday gene... There is something to be said for this gene... All the great stuff unloaded means less for buying... And yes eventually a need for more shelves... As I told my Sis-n-law.. Because of our ages, we are running out of people we know that will need this stuff... The only hope now is for a friend's kid to have a child that really is the only way it will move out of our basement in say 5- 10 years... and it will come back in time for Dot to take it with her when she moves out...

I would list some of these items but like the biblical basket from last post, I have no idea what most of the stuff is, what it does or even how to put it together. All I know is Dot has enough stuff, that will require her to get a basement when she moves out... That is if she also has inherited that gene... Funny thing about that gene, if I save something I'm called a junk collector... One never knows when they might need a seashell collection or rubber band ball...

In my solitude, I was sitting on the deck putting these word in place, watching the two hounds running in the yard... Dixie is digging holes deep enough that I think we could order Chinese food through... the other puff is sitting at my feet whining for god knows what reason...

Day started early for Toots, I think she gets up early to see what I have posted the night before... I laid in bed listening to her nesting... something is so wrong with cleaning at 6:00am, regardless of who is coming over. Nesting is great...I truly believe either bounty, hoover or Windex should start an add campaign... selling industrial sized products for the mother to be... The house looks great, everything in its place and shining... I am sure my footsteps in the carpet that was vacuumed just right will cause some discussion later...

kiddos were great this morning between the thrill of opening day and the shower they moved quickly. Both looked great in their uniforms.



After the morning festivities at the ball park, Big Sis came in all dressed up, ready for the shower...... and for the first time, she didn't look like a cute little girl.. she looked like like a young lady... Man we are in for some long nights.. she will break a lot of hearts... She was very proud of how she looked... watching her with her niece today gave me a good glimpse into the future of how Big Sis will be a big sister to Dot... Not that she isn't a big sister to Little guy, I just get the feeling watching her today that she will act differently with Dot.. I see her mothering more than slapping around... Little guy will be a proud big brother... protective...

Toots's friends throw an unbelievable shower for her... They are true friends!!!! I was summoned to the party because someone locked the keys in the truck. When I pulled into the driveway, I saw a massive pile of stuff... so I loaded... more stuff to go with the Sis-N-Law stuff... Toys, clothes, diapers, chairs, bags... loading the car I felt like I was lifting one of Toots packed bags, you know the one she packs for a short weekend.... It is safe to say Dot has enough clothes for her first few weeks that Toots won't have to wash anything ( which is probably a good thing since that nesting obsession stops soon after the baby makes her big arrival)... She has enough activity things that she won't be bored.. unless of course Toots decides to rotate them in and out over the next 10 - 15 years... Her friends and the friendship they share between each other was the best gift at the end of the day.. .( Yes I am buttering up some future babysitters..) Thank you .... for making Toots and the rest of our family and friends feel welcome...

As expected the night was a bust.... Big Sis ended back at her friends house to finish the sleep over she didn't get to do last night.. some folks are saints... Little Guy parked his butt across the street with his second family... Toots and the other RB chatted away... me I moved stuff and move more stuff..


So All in all it was a great day... Toots looked positively radiant today... Looking at the counter and looking at her one would think that the counter is wrong... She doesn't look like she is ready to give birth... she looks great... but than doesn't she always...



Thanks for hanging with me throughout the past week... keep those cards and letters coming in...



Good night