A Photo of "The Underbelly", From "The Underbelly"....

Yeah, that pic will come later... Here's some more of those pics... Somehow they just lie hiding. Then after I think I'm done accounting for all lost pics and planned layouts from 2005, they come out of hiding. Last night I got to re-organize, again, that dreaded post-bound album, and make room for more layouts... I took it apart...

Here's that "underbelly"... much credit goes to Jaclyn for helping me with the title of my post tonight... While thoughts are on "the belly", the Doctor's today...

No cute pics of Peyton's little chubby face... she is head down, face down... "locked and loaded, ready to go", as Doctor Bierer would say... The back of her head is darling!!! She is 6 pounds.

The strep test, woo hooo! (Sarcastic.) It had better come back negative!

The exam... oh, the exam... "the fun" part of it:

1 1/2 centimeters

50%

We're getting ready.

And he asked if I've been having any contractions?!?

I told him that this Sunday would be great! I don't have to do sharing time... It would make a great birthday gift... He looked at me sideways, I had to tell him that I was really kidding. He said, "Good. Happy Birthday, and you get to wait at least two more weeks." I really am fine with that. I am not miserable... yet... We're in line for the VBAC.

Here's a blessing: Jaclyn watched the girls while I went. I think that might be the last time for her... My girls have issues with Cade. He really isn't any trouble, they just aren't used to such concentrated boy-ness. He is especially good at teasing. He knows when they don't like him dong something, and he persists until they are miserable. Then he says, and signs, "Sorry". Then he tries to give hugs... they usually aren't well received. Lynn is the craziest... she claims she'll never go back because he's "so mean". We love you Cade! Especially me, "Bop-Bop"!

Nesting... I did take the crib apart, cleaned every last piece of it, raised the mattress, and washed everything in that nursery that is machine washable. Not to mention Lysol-ing everything else, throwing away all cloth non-machine washable toys (RSV paranoia), you know, just cleaning. I did wash ALL of the sheets in the house... So Murphy's Law states that everyone should either wet the bed or throw up tonight... hopefully not both... or more...

Another blessing for the day: A neighbor stopped to help us this morning.

Let me explain...

Our street is not know for being the most friendly or helpful. People usually run into their house as fast as they can, and nobody really talks to anybody else. I think it can be considered a pretty un-friendly street. For example: I have personally shoveled sidewalks and driveways for my neighbors on both sides and even past them. Our neighbor, who makes appearances only when he's mowing, smoking, watering, or snow-blowing, likes to stop, right at the property line. Nice. And I was concerned when I hadn't seen him for days and thought he was dead inside his house... There are days though, I have to mention, that he does feel generous...

Then there's Phil, he lives three doors down, and on Christmas Eve, he came, cleared the walks and our driveway. See, few and far between.

So when Merrill got stuck, backing-out of the driveway this morning, I figured we were going to have a long morning. I put on Merrill's shoes, because I know they fit, and they are easy to get on, threw on my coat and a beanie, grabbed us some gloves, and went out to try to help him. He was stuck good. With all the snow we have gotten lately, the driveway isn't as wide and it's piled-up high on both sides of the entrance. You have to get a straight shot or else...

Merrill was already digging, I went to get another shovel. Then, our neighbor from across the street, who I usually only see when he comes out to swear at and chase his dog, and sometimes at church, stops and helps. He helped to clear out where the truck and gotten stuck, and helped to push it back up the driveway so Mer could get the straight shot out. So nice! How was I going to do that???

I do wonder if we should have moved over to Cedar Lane when we had the chance... I personally know some awfully nice people over there... ;)