Resort--I mean, apartment--Living

As you know, it has been at least 100 degrees for about 2 weeks here. Typical temps are 104 with a heat index of 110 and higher. Yesterday, Rebecca and I waited for Molly's school to be out in our un-airconditioned 13-yr-old Volvo and the car thermometer went up to 118. (Dad graciously switched cars with me until Peter returns to town with the air-conditioned mini-van, so that was the last time we'll have to do that!) All this to say, I am very grateful for the pool at our apartment complex.

It has been an adjustment cramming ourselves and our stuff into less square footage and when Baby 3 arrives, I am sure this will seem even more crammed. But we have a lovely pool, with a waterfall/fountain and a kiddie pool and overall shallow depth that makes for some fun family times. We have been in it pretty much every single day since we moved in, with Nana and Daddy and Mommy and cousins Caroline & Hallie and their friend Emma. This not only gets us out of the smallish apartment, but out of the grotesque heat. Rebecca has a swimsuit with a built-in floaty that allows her more freedom. Molly loves the "noodle" and can swim out to the waterfall unencumbered. My big ol' pregnant whale-like self loves to feel light and airy at least once a day! We also have tennis courts right outside our door, and Dad and Pete played last week. It kinda feels like we live in a resort.

There are some negatives to apartment living--no yard, so Quincy must be walked frequently; smaller space; no equity being built by living here; never quite feeling like the place is truly clean (example: kids' bathtub wasn't draining all that well and Peter fished a HUGE clump of who-knows-what out of it which was truly disgusting). However, in addition to pool and tennis, we have a car wash on-site and no one has to mow the lawn. There's a huge dog-walking area for Quincy with trees and little stations with baggies to keep the place clean. When there's a leaky kitchen faucet that we can't--or don't want to--fix, we call someone else who does it for free and without much waiting!

I can do this for a few months!