Due Date

Caterpillar found. Caught. Released.




Josh's favorite game used to be "baby kitty," now he prefers "ferocious baby kitty." Lucky for me (the mother kitty) ferocious baby kitty is pretty gentle and agreeable. I don't think he knows what ferocious means.


We started our morning at Amethyst Brook conservation area in Amherst. I sat on a rock and visualized my cervix. Matt and the boys built a dam. It was a gorgeous day with bright sunlight glinting off the water.

Promised swimming at War Memorial pool did not occur because the water was being treated today. We had a picnic lunch there in a shady spot. We found out that Mill River was definitely open. Ben took it upon himself to inform the other bathing suited-up families that we were going there and they were welcome to come also. Josh chanted, Mill Mill Mill all the way to the car.

We had a great time there. Ben's swimming skills are really coming along. Josh has always been very hesitant & cautious around the water but seems to be getting much more comfortable.

The kids napped in the car (parked in a nice shady spot) while Matt and I sat by the river in Hadley and read the paper. When they woke up we took a little stroll on the dike and saw a couple of boats. We all went to the doctor's office for my prenatal appointment. No changes. Still pregnant, still healthy. I'll go back Monday or Tuesday.

Off to Home Depot to get a couple of things we've been needing for the house. The kids were really good at the store. What a blessing that it is finally possible (not necessarily easy, but possible) to get a basic shopping trip done as a family. The big incentive to having good behavior was an opportunity to "ride" the floor model lawnmowers. Ben's favorite had a canopy. We went to Big Y to pick up the strawberries that we left there the other day, then went to the Plains School Playground. It's not one of our regular haunts, but it's a nice playground and we like to stop there when we are down that way.

By the time we came home and the kids had a pear, it was waaaaay past bedtime. I was feeling so hot and tired that I lay down while Matt put the kids to bed. That was over an hour ago and I haven't heard a peep.