Labor Day

I normally don't start with Trudy, but she had a moment this weekend.  Saturday night I saw a critter scurry into the corner of the garage so I immediately went to the hardware store.  I asked one guy about rodent traps, then his boss came over.  I was trying to explain Trudy.  If you know Trudy this exchange will not surprise you.

Worker: These traps will catch or at least poison the critter.
Boss: I think the best are the old fashioned traps. You bait it with a little peanut butter, then SNAP!
Worker: Those might not work for his cat.
Boss: You have a cat?  What's the problem?!
Me:  She's not a very smart cat, and would probably hurt herself in a standard trap.
Boss: Man, catching mice or rats or whatever is the ONLY reason I'd have a cat.

So, to sum up, not only does Trudy not catch furry invaders, but we have to take precautions with traps so that she doesn't hurt herself.  I ended up getting the high frequency plug ins to drive the rodents away, presumably to the neighbors' homes.

Anders had a successful first week of Kindergarten.  He still prefers the company of adults, however.  He's taken to saying "hi" to random adults when we are out.  In a more casual setting, like at the swimming pool tonight, he introduces not only himself but me.  So he was wearing his swim fins and goggles when he walked up the off duty lifeguard.
Anders: Hi!  What's your name?
Lifeguard: Paul.  What's your name?
Anders: Anders, and that's my daddy, his name is Jon.

So Anders has really come out of his shell, at least to adults.  He's also taken to sneaking a light on in his room and reading after his bedtime.
He called me a giant yesterday.
I don't think I've written here since we announced Anna's pregnancy.  Anders wants a brother named Anaranjado, Spanish for orange, his favorite color.  We like to call it Jellybean, but Anders also likes Rojo (Spanish for red) as a name. 

Anders likes to pretend he is either a baby bird or a cat. 
He has a really funny singing voice, which he can throw.  He can also fill up a room or a phone call with his singing voice.
I realize that if I continue this blog past February, then I'll have to change its name in fairness to child #2.  I might, however, be too exhausted to ever write here again after he or she is born.  Anna's birthday is tomorrow.  We are really immersed in our 30s now and I don't think we get to turn around and back out!  Ah well, it's not bad, just watch the local news, getting older comes with a real sense of accomplishment.
Happy Labor Day!  Happy Birthday!  I'd say Happy Fall, but by my calculations we are 53 days from what counts as fall down here.