Highlights of our Week:

Wednesday was Abby Day. Abby and I had a day out. We left after a bath and a meal for each of us and spent the day picking up things from friend's houses, shopping, and stopping in various places to eat. She was a total pleasure - sleeping whenever in the car, and charming everyone she saw. She got the most attention at Lowe's -- EVERYONE smiled at her there and she loved looking up at the things in the tall aisles from in her infant carrier. It was a nice day.

Friday was Jake Day. I spent the morning at Jake's school. There was a coffee chat for parents with the school director that I attended and then I observed Jake in his classroom from behind a one-way mirror for about an hour. He was working on a sawing "work," quite intensely, the whole time I watched him, until it was time for group. He was using a tiny safety saw to cut pieces of cardboard. He clearly loved it, and several of his friends came to sit across from him and watch or do their own work. The only time he got up was to get more cardboard and to continue working. When the lights flickered and it was time for group, he put the sawing work away carefully and then sat down and watched intensely while his teacher Amee sang songs, read stories about chickens (they have a long term project involving some incubators and some chicken eggs) and told stories. He did not sing, but he was clearly engaged.

He went out to the hallway to change out of his slippers and I heard him ask for help with his shoes. And when Amee called his name for lineup, he got up and grabbed his friend Stuart to come stand next to him. They filed outside for playground time and after about 5 minutes of chatting with his teacher's helper I went out to play too. He was so glad to see me! He screamed "Mommy!" and came running to give me a big hug. I played with him in the sandbox for about a half an hour and the interaction between the kids and me and him was the most interesting part of the visit. They talked to me incessantly, all wanting to tell me things about what they do there, where the bees are, how they dig for earthworms, what to do when the girls didn't want to play with them, etc. One little girl stared straight into my mouth and told me in a very puzzled voice that I had lost an adult tooth! (which is true!) They were wonderful kids, and Jake was very comfy there. On the way out, he showed me where he sits to wait for us before pick-up. It was a lovely visit. He observes a great deal, according to his teachers, but is absorbing a lot that way. And I could tell he's also made himself at home in a nice social circle there too.

Saturday was Family Day! And the four of us ventured out for the first time to a new place with a car full of supplies. We went to the Walton's Family museum in Schuyler for their spring festival. It was supposed to be 85 degrees so we were in shorts and Abby was in a bubble sundress but when we got there it had turned cold and rainy so the whole event had been moved inside and we loaded on our sweaters and blankets for A and strolled in through some huge puddles. Still, there was live music and food and lots of little rooms to visit and we had a nice time. Jake was exhausted and told us so and just as he fell asleep on the way home, Abby started to screech with hunger! We stopped to feed her and then stopped at the Eagles' Nest to feed us. A great time was had by all.

Today is Sunday and we are all tired.

Oh, and the other highlight this week is that both Duke and Columbia have contacted me about teaching for the year and someone else wants to incorporate me into a great new project. It is nice for the maternity-leave mommy's ego to know that I am still in demand for something other than feeding, changing and comforting!