Humidity

I started freaking out a little bit at the beginning of this week, as it was my last week before I am "full term" and I am nowhere near finished with all the things I wanted to do before baby comes.  Also, the kids didn't have youchien Monday, Tuesday, OR Wednesday, so the time I wanted to be spending on my projects had to be spent at the park instead.  For some reason the kids don't like to watch me do research or sort through stacks of papers.  Weird!  

We went on some long walks in the morning, just to get outside.  Also, so I could pretend I have been exercising regularly my whole pregnancy . . .

Following the leader, the leader, the leader, we're following the leader wherever she may go!

There are cool rocks lining the sidewalk to the seawall that the kids like to climb on.  Vivi struck her best mermaid pose on one of them, so I told her to sing her mermaid song.  It went a little something like, "Whatever I have, whatever I can do!"  She likes pretending to be a "more-maid," and enjoys practicing her moremaid kicks at the pool as long as she is properly equipped with goggles and a life vest.  Swimming does not occur for Vivien without goggles and a life vest.  

It is really humid here!  I thought I was just hot and sweaty after our walks because I was walking and pushing the stroller, but when I went to get the kids out, they had pink cheeks and sweaty hair plastered all over their foreheads.

But they were happy to be outside.  And Vivien admirably exhibited her knowledge of road safety at the last crosswalk: "I don't want to step on the road otherwise I'm going to get dead."

On Thursday the kids went back to school, and I jumped at the chance to tackle the most time consuming project-to-be-completed-before-baby: a new bed for Vivien.  She has basically been sleeping on a pile of blankets in the closet since we kicked her out of her old bed and gave it to Rafe, and she has decided that she is tired of it.  We spent a good deal of my birthday driving all over Japan looking for a bed we liked, but we couldn't find one for a price we liked.  So!  I decided to make one.  I found some awesome plans on Ana White's DIY website, watched a lot of youtube videos and read a lot of articles to brush up on my woodworking skills, then drove over to Nafco to buy lumber.  I don't think I've ever purchased lumber without Dad.  It was a lot easier when my only job was to be pushed around on the cart and help load the wood into the car after Dad had figured out how much we would need and which pieces were good.  But, I managed!  The Japanese man who helped me load the wood into my car was not pleased at my idea for how to fit 12 ft 2x4's into my minivan.  He tied a plastic bag around the end sticking out the window.  I'm not really sure why.  To keep them together?  To draw attention to them?  Regardless, I made it to the Wood Hobby Shop on base without incident.  The guard at the gate said, "It looks like someone's about to have some fun!"

For $3 an hour, I can use all the tools at the Wood Hobby Shop on base, plus have the advice and help of the guys who work there.  But, the only time they are open while the kids are at school is 11-1 W-F (they are also open 4-8 W-F, a.k.a. dinner and bed time, then all day Saturday, but Drew had duty this last Saturday), so whenever I go I have to be as efficient as possible!  I spent my 11-1 time on Thursday measuring and cutting all the pieces for the bed with the radial arm saw and miter saw.  The shop workers helped me haul wood around and made sure I knew how to use all the equipment, then would just check in occasionally.  And also bring me a lemonade every hour.  I think I made them nervous.  Thursday night, Drew fed the kids dinner and put them to bed so I could go back to Nafco and pick up MORE lumber (because I had added incorrectly and one of the boards I picked had a big sneaky crack in it that I had missed), and then hurry back to the Wood Hobby Shop to figure out how to use the Kreg jig.  All the youtube videos I had watched were of a much newer model and no one at the Wood Hobby Shop knew how to use the one they have, so I had to spend about half an hour fiddling with pieces and the drill depth collar, trying to get it to do what I needed it to!  It turned out one of the pieces I needed was missing, so I had to improvise with a clamp.  It did the job, and I was able to get all the drilling done Thursday evening and Friday afternoon.  

JJ (one of the workers) asked if he could take a picture of me woodworking at 8 months pregnant to show to women when they come in and feel intimidated by all the manliness happening in there.

The Wood Hobby Shop has no air conditioning, so they open the windows to entice in whatever breezes are happening by, but it's really humid outside . . . so I am pretty much drenched with sweat within 5 minutes of arriving and have to keep pausing to clear my foggy safety glasses.

Drew took the kids again Friday night and my friend Kelly watched them for 2 hours on Saturday while Drew was on duty and . . . voila!  It looks like a bed!  I have to go back to Nafco and get more screws (I was 6 short.  Sad face) so I can attach the bottom supports along the back and far side, and also pick up some things to stain it.  I made a mistake, but all 3 of the guys who were around Saturday and helping me with the lifting and moving pronounced it safe to ignore, so I think I will not record it.  I'm 90% sure no one will find it.  There are of course other mistakes, but they are merely aesthetic so I don't feel bad about them.  First solo woodworking project!  I felt very validated as my helpers stood back with arms folded, admiring its good qualities.

Some funny things that have been said this week:

Vivien: "If you're not wearing underwear, then you don't have any underwear to wear!"  (Sound logic.)

Rafe: "I get my Schloopy Pack-pack on!"  (his Snoopy backpack)

Rafe any time anyone puts on shoes or picks up keys: "Can I come?!"

Vivien at dinner:  "I'll drink my water all gone so I can poop very hard!"  I think my hydration lectures are sinking in.

Talking back and forth during snack time the other day:
Vivien: "I want one!"
Rafe: "Me too!"
Vivien: "Me three!"
Rafe: "Me one!"

Walking in to the apartment building:
Vivien: "Hey Mom."
Me:  "Hmm?"
Vivien: "You look like a squishy marshmallow!"

Rafe recently has started pulling on Drew's arm halfway through dinner and repeating "I lay down," so he can recline while he dines.  Too bad Drew isn't left handed!

There's one more week of youchien before summer break, which means only one more week with the swimming pool.  They sent home some pictures for us.

As I said, swimming does not occur for Vivien without goggles.

Class picture in the pool.

Here's a picture from sacrament meeting.  Since I'm playing the piano I sit in the front row (less distance to waddle up to the front), but then the kids run back and forth between us all meeting long.  Drew has more lap to sit on, so he is the snuggling companion of choice.