Life in Thailand Right Now

First I simply must mention our weird wonderful March weather. It's very odd to have a cool March but we have, for the most part, and some days were even cold. But I haven't heard anyone complain. I'm hoping this means that we get one less month of hot season than usual.

I heard an elephant this morning when I was out with Jube. We were adding dirt to my flower pots when I heard it trumpet. I didn't actually think he sounded very happy and he trumpeted several times. I told Dru we should go find him but he wasn't in the mood to "have to try to see an elephant with a whole bunch of people crowded around and then have to pay 100 baht to feed it." So he said we should go to the elephant camp this Saturday. Shall I hold him to it?

Doctor's appointment coming up tomorrow night. Honestly, she's not going to like the looks of me. She's going to say that I'm too small and want another ultrasound. I'm not concerned about that because she said that with Jube, too. And he was sufficiently large at birth to impress her. And she'll give me an iron supplement and calcium, which I will gratefully accept. And I have something else I need to talk to her about. But the baby is very alive and kicking--so if she can make it through this pregnancy I will too.

I'm loving Thai study right now believe it or not. My teacher is having me read children's stories and study out of them. And there I get my conversation, grammar, and vocab study. And I like children's literature anyway. I discovered I much prefer the way the Thai language handles the story of the fox and the crow. Dru's studying again with Pii Ang too and I do believe he's feeling pretty good about his language study in general right now.

I sat in on part of Dru's Sunday School class last Sunday. His communication skills are improving and I'm proud of him. When I get big I'm going to be able to speak Thai as well as he does. (Sunday School is always a lot of work and a big day for him though. Big days for both of us actually. Not exactly a day of rest if you know what I mean.)

Jube is fussy often off and on as his teeth come in. I rejoice in his happy times and I guess he copes fairly well with his misery. He's a very social being and very mom dependent. And how do you know how to deal with anger and defiance when he's also teething half the time too? All stuff that feels bigger than me. I told Dru that I'm thankful that God loves our son even more than we do.

Jube's starting to say a LITTLE bit more and he understands more and more everyday. If nothing else, I think he'll start talking when the baby comes, just so he knows he'll be heard. I'm afraid that we're going to be dealing with some jealousy issues in a few months here--just because he thinks that I am his personal property, etc. Already thinking about ways to help with that hump when it comes.

We found an oldish iron/wood picnic table and chairs the other day. Dru tightened down the bolts on it and we still need to do some refinishing of the wood on it, but I'm loving eating out there and Jube and I spend time out there with my Bible and his story books. So nice! I feel rich, with my rickety old lawn furniture. :)

Oh, and my rose bush has 10 buds on it right now. That makes me happy and makes me wonder if I should even try growing anything else. How dumb is that? Most things die when I touch them--or greatly suffer. My potted plants suffer when I forget to water them. And they get root bound...I divided my fern a year ago and now it's time to do it again. Is it within my power to keep some marigolds and petunias alive this next couple of months?