Most exciting, most spectacular, most phenomal. . .

So do I have your attention?
Good, because I don't anticipate this to be an all-too-interesting post, so at least the title was eye-catching.
So this week, aside from multiple visits to the hospital (we had a check-up this morning--John's eye is better but they still want to see us in another week), my most exciting event has been the acquisition of a newer, larger, shinier drying rack for our laundry. Whoah. I know that is too exciting to bear! But if you have been using your entire home as a clothesline, then the possibility to drying four loads of laundry on one rack is scintillating. . .
And yesterday I had a marathon of ironing. John and I have sworn off dry cleaning here because it is more than cost-prohibitive. No more are the $.79 (or $.59 or cheaper!) men's shirt deals you see on every corner in Pearland. We're talking at least 4 times the cost here--we took 12 items the first week we were here and it was over $100. I can think of thousands of baby things I could buy for $100. Well, maybe not, but you get my point.
So I decided that the savings from the dry cleaners was definitely worth my time! And I really like the starch spray smell. So clean, and, um, starchy.
If you'll permit a little rambling on here. . . I think some people are just born ironers. My mom is a really good ironer. And I think she even enjoys ironing from time to time. John is good at ironing. My college roommate was an ironing goddess. But I am a slow-starter when it comes to the iron. If I don't burn myself (the ironing board, the floor) with the iron, I consider it a success. It takes me a long time to get my roll going, but once I do, I really can crank out some good ironing. Can you tell that my life is not as interesting as you once imagined it to be?
Now I've been wondering of late if I should really scale back on letting out my newly-discovered inner domestic goddess. I mean, let's face it--I am not Martha Stewart. I do not decorate, or embellish, or even match my clothes most of the time. I cook simple meals and don't like to do the dishes (I really don't now what we do them by hand). But I have tapped into some previously unknown and unseen domestic acuity that has come out of nowhere. We'll see how long this keeps up once I have the baby. My guess is. . .well, can you measure negative time?
So, basically, I have tapped into some domestic vein. Wow, I sound sooo fascinating!

Other than my exciting drying rack, I finally got the good news from the Irish Department of Agriculture that they have given me permission to enter the country with the dogs. Basically, they have permission to enter into quarantine, and I'll have to do all the document juggling again when we all fly into Dublin to get them out of quarantine. If all goes well, they will only be in puppy lock-up for an hour or so. Then we're free to roam about the country. It's been a long journey and I'm ready for it to be over. After an hour on the phone with the ever-helpful (I'm not being sarcastic, they really are great) Continental Animal Desk, the dogs are booked and ready to go. We have been told millions of times by friends how difficult it is to travel with children. . . .try international dog travel!!! I'm so ready for them to be here!

But the good news is that I have booked tickets to return to Houston (and to return to Ireland again)! So as of 20 March I'll be on the loose back home. I'll be pestering people soon to make plans because (1) I know everyone is busy and if I don't get on your calendar in advance then I might not see you and (2) I have a kind of boring life and making plans gives me something to look forward to.
On the baby front, things are all going well. Baby K is super-active, especially at night. It's really cool to be able to feel the baby. Sometimes it really catches me off guard and my body kind of flips out. In trying to help John feel more connected to what feeling the baby is like, I always tell him it's like being thumped from the inside out. He suggested we watch the movie Alien so he would have a better connection. Men!
If you are a dude and interested in guy stuff, the Cork Admirals have posted their game schedule for the season. John is more than excited. I'm thrilled that the last three games are home games so I can just waddle over to them (regular season ends basically on my due date). And if they go into the playoffs. . .well, then that will just get interesting!
Hope everyone is having a great Friday. We have had the most glorious weather to date today! Of course, we are getting a lot more accustomed to the weather here. Today we hopped into the car--John in a short sleeved shirt and I in just a sweater--and there was still some ice on the car but we were perfectly warm. It didn't even make it to 50 degrees F today but we are fine. Now we are worried about what will happen when we move back to Texas and get back to the heat. . I guess we have a few years before we will even be close to moving back, so no worries!
Hopefully someone is planning to enjoy some margaritas and chips and salsa at happy hour today. . .have some for me!!!!