We've been home from Wisconsin for a good week now. Matthew left for Mexico/Toledo a couple of days after we got back, so it's just me and Thomas. The weather down here is back to hot and muggy and in the mid-90s. It's hard to believe we were just wearing long sleeves, long pants and even jackets up there! A few of the things we did in our Wisconsin life came back down to Florida with us. When we were up in Wisconsin, we gave Thomas his baths in the big bathtub which went pretty well, so when we came home, I started giving him baths in the big bathtub down here. There's lots of space for his toys and he seems to enjoy having enough space to lie on his tummy, though I do need to watch and make sure he's not drinking his bathwater while he's down there. It gets pretty soapy because he loves it when I copy Mom's trick of blowing millions of bubbles out of a soapy washcloth. He can say "bubble" pretty clearly now! Also, after eating raw beans out of their garden, Thomas has become more adventurous with raw foods. I have started buying a small box of produce weekly from a local, mostly organic food co-op because I miss the fresh tasty veggies from Mom and Dad's garden and their farmer's market, and Thomas readily eats the raw green peppers and cucumbers now. He's also developed an attachment to his red sneakers (from Katie) that he wore while we visited Mom and Dad. This morning it was hot and muggy, so I presented him with his blue sandals and said, "ok, Thomas, put on your shoes please." He looked around his feet, around the entryway, in the shoe rack, opened the door and looked in the hallway and said, "De? De? (Red? Red?)" I finally pulled his shoes out of the diaper bag and said, "Thomas, do you mean these shoes?" and a huge smile broke out over his face and he chuckled. So he's been wearing them for the past few days, even in this heat!
Thomas' favorite book for the past two weeks has been Kapai's New Mates by Uncle Anzac. It's three stories in verse about a (flightless) kiwi named Kapai having adventures in New Zealand. Many times I've read all three stories back to back before naptime, then again before bedtime, so I know them pretty well now. One day we heard a helicopter make a few passes above our house, and Thomas cupped his hand to his ear and looked at me questioningly. I said, "That's a helicopter, Thomas. Remember Kapai? 'A shiny helicopter came racing through the sky/"C'mon, Kapai!" shouted Doc. "It's time you learned to fly!" ' " I quoted. He gave me a big grin, then ran into his room, brought the book to me and pointed to the picture of the helicopter! Incidentally, once we were also looking at a picture of a kiwifruit in one of his picture dictionaries, and he pointed at the picture, then pointed at the Kapai book. "Yes, Thomas! They are both kiwis!" I was so proud! And here in the picture of Thomas sitting under the table, he has the book open in front of him and he's showing me where his "puku" (stomach) is. He can also wave "Kia ora" (hello/goodbye). We'll keep his kiwi roots strong, thanks to Lloyd and Anne and everyone else over there!
Incidentally, I have finally told Thomas that there is a baby growing in Mommy's tummy. He can say, "baby" and seems interested in all the babies I point out to him as we're out and about. I just had another check-up and now am on a bi-weekly schedule to see the doctor... or is that bi-monthly? Or is it "once a fortnight" for you Kiwis? The doctor says everything is fine, but I should keep an eye on this cough that I picked up. Fortunately it's going away and I feel much better so I won't need any antibiotics. Getting a bit more tired these days, and it is hard to keep cool! The restless legs are back at night, but I'm trying a new calcium-magnesium supplement so hopefully my legs will stay put while I sleep. I'm at 33 weeks now, so it's going to be between 5 and 7 more weeks until The Arrival! Hmm, that's not much time! Better get cracking on ... everything! This is probably my last two weeks of "alone-time with Thomas" before Matthew and then Mom and Dad come for the winter, so I had best make the most of it!
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