You have received a video e-card!

To our nephew and the bug's cousin, on the momentous occasion of his fourth birthday.  We wish we could be there with you to share cupcakes with sprinkles, and we can't wait until you visit in a couple of weeks.

Much love from all of us!

An unusual argument for arts education.

From the Boston Globe:

Using Art to Make Better Doctors

I found this particularly interesting because of its emphasis on how art from various periods can be used to teach observation skills that transfer well into other arenas.  I've heard a lot of arguments regarding how arts education helps students excel in other subjects, for example how music helps many students succeed in math, but this one was new to me.

The Zoo! The Zoo!

And on the nth day after the trip, lo and behold, there were zoo pictures. We went with some friends who were celebrating their two-year-old's birthday, and much merriment and enriching animal experiences were had by all.

Matt and the bug took turns feeding the lorakeets with nectar in one exhibit:






Bug also went on her first carousel ride, but all the pictures from that episode turned out too blurry to be useful for documentary footage. The flamingoes were also a point of interest:





The spider monkeys were probably the biggest hit, especially since their viewing area was in the shade. As the day got quite hot, we only covered about half the zoo and will have to return for a future visit. Thanks to Carolyn and Andrew for inviting us--it was a lot of fun!

Belly rubs and wedding rings.

As I approach the final month of pregnancy I can't help but notice that even complete strangers treat pregnant women as almost public property.

For example, I was walking past a group of facilities management workers on the way to my car the other day when one of them yelled, "Is it a boy or girl?"  "Boy," I yelled back, and all the men on the loading dock cheered.

This was a weird moment for several reasons.  One of which was: this didn't bug me at all. I felt proud. I felt like they were taking an interest in me and my baby.  This felt like a complete shift from my younger days of ignoring "hey, baby"-type comments from men in similar situations. (Honestly I could count those episodes on one hand but still, the parallel is interesting I think.) Second, because I now appear and dress old enough to be a "legitimate" mom, maybe I just don't really care as much what people I don't know think about me.  

I'm having some swelling of fingers and feet with the recent 90-degree-plus weather, so my wedding ring is now on a chain around my neck.  This still feels odd/ slightly naked, but much better than if I simply went without.  I guess I grew up in a small enough town that the first thing that people looked at after the belly of a pregnant lady was her wedding ring finger.  In reading a recent posting on Parenting magazine's forums I guess there are still many strangers in this world who feel perfectly free to make rude comments regarding a pregnant lady's marital status.  If that ever happened to me I'd be tempted to smile and say, "At least I'm keeping it--aren't you lucky someone kept you?"  

I have had strangers reach out and touch my belly but most people do ask permission first.  With friends and family it feels perfectly natural, but grandmotherly ladies in the grocery-store checkout lines do sometimes seem preternaturally happy on my behalf.  After having the bug, I know that people are not often as patient with mothers as they are with mothers-to-be.  It's as though, once the child comes out and gets slightly past babyhood, everyone turns into a critic.  I'm enjoying these remaining weeks of getting sweet good-luck-type comments before the worm turns and everyone wants to know why my baby isn't sleeping.

Because parenting takes more then 12 steps to recover.

A 15-step parental training program.

Number 10 was my favorite.  Now, if only I had found the goats beforehand...

A shout-out.

If you haven't heard of Dara Torres yet, check her out.

It's about time we had some Olympic heroines over the age of 20. :)  I can't wait for August to watch her swim.

7.5 months and ten answers.

And 1.5 to go.

If I were to make myself a t-shirt to communicate to the world for the next seven or so weeks, here are the top ten questions I'd answer on my chest so people could stop asking:

1.  Yes, I am often hot and uncomfortable these days (very perceptive!).

2. It's a boy.

3. August 15th.

4. We'll tell you his name once we meet him and see how he responds.

5. Slightly irritable and voluminous, but overall in good health.

7. Still at work.

8. Indefinitely, potentially, or possibly back to work in October depending on the job market.

9. She's looking forward to being a big sister.

10. No, we're probably not really ready, but what new parents ever are?