It's 7:30 and quiet except for the wind whistling around the house. We've been sleeping with the windows open this week, and I'm considering making a night-time raid on our neighbors' wind chimes. I know they're soothing and wonderful... if they're your own, and it's not blowing hard all night.

We have a busy weekend ahead. This afternoon is a birthday party for 2-yr old Alex, and we're going both to celebrate with him and so that his older sister has someone to play with and boss around (Otto is amenable to being bossed around by cute brunettes).

Last night I asked Otto what a good birthday present would be for another little boy like him, and he said "cars!" So Matchbox cars it is.

Tomorrow morning we're off to see Thomas the Tank Engine in REAL LIFE at Greenfield Village. The weather promises to be ugly, but that doesn't stop true train fans like us. We'll probably spend an hour in the round house anyway. And maybe if it rains the lines will be short so that we can get a snapshot with Sir Topham Hatt.

Otto is a language machine lately. He's getting kudos at school for being so "verbal." Jon and I just smile and nod, since we've known all along that he was fine, not behind on the developmental curve the way they worried. But it is fun to have conversations with him and listen to him chatter. And we're having to watch what we say, since he's now a word sponge and will repeat everything.

The other night he met me at the door with a pen and a pad of paper, asked me to follow him to the living room, and proceeded to write his name for me. His Os are a little shaky and his ts a little loopy, but he can indeed spell his name out loud and write the letters that make it up. Yay for short names! I think he's good with the alphabet in general -- he loves his flashcards -- and I've started pointing out words as we read his favorite books. Sharing reading with him is such fun for me, and I'm just thankful he enjoys it.

The baby continues to kick me and grow bigger, and I'm having more and more trouble getting comfortable in bed at night. Or at my desk during the day. Or in my car. You get the picture... Next week we start every-other-week appointments, and not long after that it'll be weekly. I've been looking at refresher birthing classes but haven't found anything good yet, and am wondering if it's really necessary anyway. Need to start practicing the relaxation exercises for hypnobirthing, though.

What with the birthday parties and trips to see Thomas and books to read, getting ready just doesn't feel as urgent as it did when I had Otto. And every day he's here as proof that we've done it before -- maybe not beautifully, but competently enough. Thanks to him, we know that what this baby will really need upon arrival isn't a perfect nursery or new gear. She'll just need us.