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Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Two months and counting until the new arrival. We've sort of picked out a name, although I'm not sure whether it's because we just got lucky and hit on the right one, or are too lazy to come up with acceptable alternate choices. Either way, I'm basically satisfied, although just a bit confused about whether we'll use the Spanish or English version of his name. We'll probably just call him "baby" for the first year anyway... Of course, Javier keeps coming up with "Remigio" and "Lafcadio" and other 'traditional' Spanish names. I think that the word 'traditional' in Spanish means, "even your great grandparents hated this name." But I haven't looked it up yet.
Just got back from our last official vacation before my Maternity leave commences. We spent four perfect days in Ft. Lauderdale. I know (now) that it's not the ideal place for a family, or a three-year old. People who've been there before tend to triangulate by asking how far X or Y is from Hooters. However, the price was definitely right, and we got a hotel that basically allowed us to stay within a 50 yard radius of our room. Beach pool beach beach eat sleep pool etc. We made the fatal error once of seeking outside entertainment. We went to the "Mall," which was essentially abandoned while it was being thoroughly rebuilt. Galen could not keep straight in his head whether the correct word for the place was "mall" or "bomb," but in either case he was unequivocal in his assessment. We didn't make the mistake of leaving the beach again, which resulted in a perfect time.
Following that, we flew directly to Connecticut to spend the weekend of the 4th in Norfolk. We stayed with John and Eve Thew at their "country estate" along with Bob, Jeri and the newest Eckel baby, Meghan Grace. John and Javier were thrilled to be around each other as fellow watercolorists, and spent their mornings in the garden painting multiple views of the house and barn and mountain. On Saturday we all gathered at Toby for a reunion of sorts. All the Eckels except Mike and his family were there. It was pretty incredible, and rather overwhelming if I don't say so myself. One startling thing I noticed is just how much the Eckel brothers are beginning to resemble each other. Another is just how many of us there are these days! Each of us is married with at least one, but more likely two kids. We're a large family -- and getting larger!
Now we're back at work, at least until my leave commences. Not that I'm counting the hours or anything (1,066.5). Actually I will be really happy when I can actually deliver this medicine-ball power-plant I'm carrying around. New York in the summertime is a FAR CRY from lovely breezy Santa Barbara, the site of my last pregnancy. Here I break into a sweat in anticipation of having to walk out of my front door. But I've realized that being hot doesn't make me cranky. It makes me itchy, which REALLY makes me cranky. I suppose there is something lucky about getting to experience the last two months of my pregnancy during 100+ summer in NYC. Right? I mean, Javier tries, with the game, "Cheer up, you could be in Bombay" sorts of pep talks guaranteed to get fruit and wood blocks thrown at his head. Actually, his real version of a pep talk is, "No complaints! You're uncomfortable because you're too fat." There is perhaps nothing more brutal than the hot itchy truth at precisely the wrong moment. Especially when I lack the energy to aim well enough to disable. So I just tell him he's bitter because his Y chromosome is shrinking and there's NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
posted by Dorothy 1:35 PM
