It's Baby Time!

OK, it's not really baby time yet, but rather I'm within the period of uncomfortability and gestational viability that makes it seem like the baby should arrive any day.  In reality, we still have a month from yesterday until the due date (8/24).

 First pregnant shot taken in good ol' ND (April)

I haven't really posted much about the pregnancy along the way.  Partially because it would be just plain boring to report on kick counts and partially because I got teased by a friend for saying I "love, love, loved being a future mom" in this post back in April.  Turns out that friend was actually pregnant too and probably just jealous she couldn't let the cat out of the bag yet.  Parental obsession seems to manifest itself in different ways: I decided to blog it, she decided to buy a crib before her first trimester was over - I think we both have a problem holding in our excitement.

 Hiking (Effigy Mounds) not quite as fun as it used to be (May)

Photo Credit: Allan King

Anyway, things are going quite well for us.  We seem to be right on track with no apparent problems so far.  We haven't had (and probably won't have) an ultrasound since April.  The kid looked great back then, but we've given her enough time to sprout a few extra limbs and possibly some devil horns, so it'll be interesting to see what we actually get!

 Kid without tentacles (April)

I am starting to get a bit uncomfortable now and since my license to whine expires soon, I better take advantage of it.  People, the reason why pregnant ladies have such a bad reputation is because, well, we're in pain.  On most occasions, it's super-cool to be kicked from the inside out, but keep in mind that kicking includes surprisingly strong shots to the ribs and bladder.  I wouldn't be taking this kind of treatment from anyone else!  I really feel like I've had things pretty easy compared to some women, but the worst part for me is the lack of mobility.  Tying my shoes is very much a chore and I've actually had very pleasant conversations with 80-year-old women comparing our aches and pains.

 4th of July @ the Fort

Bottom line is I'm ready.  I'm ready to feel like myself again, I'm ready to see what this kid actually looks like, and I'm ready to get her out here and show her all of the amazing things I've found on this planet.  So, go ahead and tease me for being cheesy if you want, but when it's your turn, you'll understand.

Kansas Backyard Wildlife

I was entirely convinced that Kansas would be a pretty boring place to live, save the occasional rattlesnake that might show up in our backyard or the brown recluse spider in our shower.  Luckily, Larned is NOT prime rattlesnake territory (I haven't seen one yet) and after hours of research, I'm becoming less convinced that the spider in our shower was a brown recluse.

However, aside from the swarms of mosquitoes, it turns out we do have some exciting amphibians and birds here.  I enjoy seeing Nathan squirm as Kites fly overhead looking for sandwiches (see October 4th in this blog post).  There are a plethora of other birds that migrate over in the spring or summer including the rare whooping crane, so we're looking forward to them too. 

I have to give my uncle Tim credit for the best backyard find thusfar, though.  In our basement window well, he discovered what can only be described as a combination breeding ground and prison for toads!

There were dozens of toads (dozens!) in our window well, along with a thick, composting layer of leaves and garbage that only served as a hiding place for more toads.  Thinking they couldn't get out on their own, Tim and Nathan proceeded to release every toad they could.  They now live in our garden, yard, and probably all over Larned by now.

Assuming this wasn't an isolated incident, we checked the next window well.  It didn't have as many toads, but we found something even better: a large tiger salamander.

We left him alone, thinking he probably wanted to live there his entire life.  I hope he does, because I can't wait to show the new baby what we've got in the backyard. :)

July 4th

Despite the threat of rain all weekend, Larned Independence Day celebrations went on as planned - well, almost.  Fort Larned had another living history weekend complete with the Olde Time Fort Larned Band, watermelon, and potato sack races.

This guy's giving up after demonstrating one, measly time.

The town of Larned doesn't do anything on the 4th until 8:00pm, when the community gathers to hear the Fort Larned Band and buy treats from some of the local organizations trying to raise funds.  Then they have community fireworks. 

I'm not really sure why Larned puts on a fireworks show myself, as shooting off rockets from your yard is perfectly legal in Kansas.  A massive fireworks shop, sponsored by the local Assembly of God chapter (interesting!), shows up for about a week and people stock up as if there's going to be a nuclear holocaust and fireworks are necessary for your very survival.  Saturday night we watched our neighbor shoot off an amazing light show for about an hour.  It's the closest I've ever been to a fireworks show, and probably as close as I'd like to be, as I'm certain there are now some singed shingles on our roof.

So, Larned, finding it necessary to put on its own show, decided at 8:30pm that the threat of rain was too great, so instead of canceling the fireworks, they started them prematurely.  It turns out, fireworks in front of a dark rain cloud are just as good as fireworks at night.  Luckily, we could see the whole show from our driveway, so never had to brave the rains, mosquitoes, or "crowds" to see them.

Our View

My uncle Tim came to visit from Lincoln, NE Monday, so we went back out to the Fort.  Living history still abounding, we got to see this hot soldier in his dress uniform, crawled into an underground tunnel to view a well, and Tim was brave enough to get locked in the Fort's Sweatbox, which was used to punish soldiers who mouthed off to their superiors on hot days.

Nathan guarding the blockhouse

  Underground Well

Uncle Tim probably wondering if this is really a good idea

I definitely miss the pomp and circumstance of having a 4th of July parade, but I suppose I can't expect that much from a town who has lost 1/4 of its population since the 2000 census.  (We're now down to 3500 people.)  At least no one was injured by a rouge neighborhood firework.  I guess that qualifies as an excellent 4th of July!