Three weeks ago I started walking to work. My work is only about 3/4 miles from our house. Until about 2 months ago there were no sidewalks, but they've since put in a new 4 lane, so there are huge sidewalks. I love it. Some think I am crazy. I am in my 9th lunar month of pregnancy - huge - but now really is the best time to be getting some form of exercise.

Tonight on the way home, the weather was just perfect: slight breeze, sun peering through the clouds. I like to call those clouds 'hope clouds.' They're just magnificent. Too, there was a train changing direction. Its track goes through and tunnel beneath the new road and 100 yards or so up it goes past our apartment. It's part of home, but we don't see it, we only hear it, at home. Walking, I get to see where all the noises come from.

Judy, one of the officers at the bank asked where I was parked when I left the branch this afternoon. When I told her I was walking she almost begged me to let her give me a ride. But, honestly, it's so nice to walk. I'd rather. One of Mark's fellow teachers expressed her desire to see me drive rather than walk today. Is this the type of thing husbands shouldn't let their wives do? We've gotten a little criticism from a couple ministers before -- "Don't let her drive across country to see you," or "Don't let her drive home in the rain." Am I a crazy liberal?

As I crossed the street to enter our apartment complex, I saw someone literally drive from the Tyson Corporate parking lot (maybe a total of 3 football fields big), which is directly in front of our apts. Now, I don't know if he really lives in our apartments or if he was just getting mail. But if someone is just driving 100 yards, I find that a little pathetic.

I allot about 20 minute to walk to work. The home route is a little easier. I wish I would find better ways to get around. Surely, there is no need to drive to the grocery store...the closest one (though not the one I prefer) is only 1 1/2 miles from the apt. A bike could be an amazing resource. Maybe I'll get one. One with a basket and that can be latched up with a trailer for baby.

http://www.terra-tots.com/registries.html

...and one more thing

If anyone knows who got us the big kid car seat, do you mind passing on the tip? The packing list got lost in shipping, so we have absolutely no clue.

Thank you, David!

dwayne lives in saskatchewan province, canada

Amanda!! I think I might owe you an email. How are you doing? What's shaking?

Up here, summer is winding down. Now there is nothing left to look forward to. The signs of death and despair are all around. It creeps in bit by bit, as the morose brown edges of where life once existed in formerly verdant foliage march ever closer to the inward parts of the flora all around me, smothering and suffocating it to the very core. The inevitable desolation is irrevocably methodical, torturously slow and calculated. And before all life has gone out of the land, in a cruel twist of fate the elements will bury alive what little life remains beneath a white blanket of death.

So are you looking forward to the Feast? Where are you staying?

Anyway, have an awesome week!

update

Time is flying by so quickly. I honestly cannot keep up. I thought I was "caught up" with keeping in touch with people, I was wrong. There are so many people I really really want to talk to -- good conversations, the kind that reaffirm bonds. But it has been so insane around here. I think this week will be significantly more relaxed, so perhaps some catching up will happen.

Last Sunday we had a shower in Joplin. It was very nice. Katie, friend from college who currently abides in Chicago, flew in. And Sherril Rahe, who lives in Boulder, came into town also. Jake came down from KC and we all had a good time. The gifts, of course, are nice. But honestly, the company and support is a way more significant. Monday I spent in Tulsa taking the ladies back to the airport. Tulsa is dull. I wish we would have gone to Kids R Us. We don't have one in Fayetteville.

Wednesday we had our 2nd of 5 birthing classes. We covered the stages of labor, effacement, dialation & stations. We then watched a video on water birth. Apparently, it's huge in Russia. Who knew? Thursday we had another prenatal. The baby is growing right on schedule. We are really happy we did FAM to get pregnant because we are so much more confident about the due date. Not that we really have anything to fear anyway, but it is one thing we don't have to fear since we started out aware. So many women really are scared and have so many questions. The medical model of care simply does not comfort like the midwifery model. We are so happy to be going the natural, at-home route. As we contemplate our birth plan, we'll firm up how we'd like to see things go and everyone's role who will be present, Mark, Jennifer (lead midwife), Maria (midwife), mom & my 14 year old sister, Carly. Just about 8 more weeks.

I've been in touch with HR and have been gathering quotes on health and life insurance for me and the baby. It's not so bad. If we went through Mark's school instead of through an outside company, we'd be looking at and additional $500/month. Seriously? Yeah, seriously. Who assumed teachers got great benefits? Instead, we really are only looking at just a little over $200. I am also looking into ways to make money after the baby arrives. We're open to babysitting after 3 months. A co-worker friend whose wife stays home has her own sewing business and really supplements their income. Goal for me will be $400/month.

Friday we had Mr. Stafford & Mr. Marston (deacon in Fort Smith) over for dinner and the first ATLP (Advanced Leadership Training Program) session. The workload is equivalent to that of a college class. It gives him focus in study and it really is awesome material. The fact that the ministry wants to share church philosophy (if I can call it that...synonym: approach, thought process) and disseminate it to the rest of the church is so encouraging.

Tonight we went to a wedding for Matt & Kate, now, Akins. Adorable couple. Matt is a fellow Private Banking Specialist with me at Arvest. Mark and I danced. I LOVE dancing. The baby is kind of obstrusive and when the belly gets bumped the baby knows it.

Finally, I am happy to say I am dropping collostrum. For those of you who don't know, it's an easy Google search. I will spare the males. Basically, I am encouraged that our baby will be fully nourished and will receive lots of the antibodies it needs to grow healthfully. It means, too, that I am fully functional and capable. Yay.