Moving (again)

After months of searching, we have finally found a new apartment. It meets Tina's basic criteria:

- closer to Mike's work

- downstairs

- washer/dryer hookups

- green space nearby

It also has some bonus features, like:

- DISHWASHER!!!!!

- More space!

- perilously close to a major, international airport!

- POOL on site!

- 2 bathrooms!

Yes, each of those qualities required an exclamation mark.

Zeke checks out a box

The big move is on September 25th. This move will be better than the last because we won't have a less-than-4-week-old baby, we got the biggest stinkin' Uhaul that they offer, and we're not moving a fridge, washer or dryer. Even though there is significant benefit to moving as often as we do ("purging" and "downsizing" are terms that we embrace), I'm hoping that we stay in this new place for two solid years. It would be the longest tenancy of our marriage.

Announcement Time!

We have a few announcements, but the first is: It's a Boy! We went for an ultrasound, and the results are that we will be having a healthy boy around January 25th, confirming our previous estimate. All fingers and toes are there, everything looks good, and we got a pretty good shot of his junk to prove the sex.

Pictures for you:

His foot

His junk

You can find a few more here.

In other news, Zeke went to nursery for the first time last week. He cried for about 45 minutes before I took pity on the nice volunteers who run the show and went in to be with him. He was fine once I was in there, although he didn't know the routine yet.

We made him wear his nice suit for this one:

And when we try to take away Pooh Bear and Binky for a nice picture?

From this, we learn that HappyZeke = SadZeke + PoohBear .

But he did color a nice picture for us. We document it here so we can throw it away, like we will with all of his weekly coloring gifts. Not because we won't appreciate the gifts, just because we're heartless.

Finally, Tina is beginning to show signs of feeling less nauseas nausaeaous sick. We won't visit any buffets for a few more weeks, but she looks forward to not hurling.

Look for updates on name voting, now that we know it's a boy. And, of course, feel free to add your suggestions [Previous post].

Words

Zeke talks! Okay, well, he's been babbling for several months now but I've recently decided to just assign meanings to the noises he makes. And everyone knows that talking is just that - noise with meaning. So here is one of Zeke's latest "words": Cookie

Firetruck

Today I'm going to make myself a badge that says, "Village Idiot". Then I'm going to make up lots of "Village Idiot" badges and take them over to the CityByTheBeach Fire Department, so they can hand out these badges to people like myself.

This morning, Zeke and I went to Albertsons to get some milk. I got out of the car, keys in hand, and opened up Zeke's door. He was crying - fake crying - and I said, "Where did Happy Zeke go? I thought I brought Happy Zeke to the store? I know, I'll shut the door and when I open it again, I'll find Happy Zeke!"

This little speech made him stop crying so I decided to keep playing the game. I set my purse on the floor behind his car seat, pressed the "lock" button my my keys, tossed them into my purse and shut the door.

As soon as I heard the door shut I realized what had just happened. I ran into Albertsons.

"Help! Help! I locked my baby in the car! Help!"

Thank goodness it was early and there were loads of Albertsons people hanging out at the front, avoiding re-shelving duties. Someone said, "Do you have triple -A?" (we don't) and someone else said, "Would you like to call the person who has the spare set of keys?"

I explained that the spare set of keys were in OtherBeachCity at work, and at least an hour away. The manager decided that he was going to call 911.

And that's how I became the Village Idiot, crying next to my car (and my baby) while the Fire Department jimmied open the front door.

Zeke was fine, and he cashed in on mommy's guilt and got a balloon and chocolate milk.