Times have been a little strange since Elizabeth got back from Utah a couple of weeks ago. She has been "nesting" the whole time, except when she was too exhausted from sinus infections, ear infections, and bronchitis to move around. I've been quite impressed with her stamina and energy lately, though. She goes to bed early and then I stay up much too late reading. The next day, I feel tired and wonder how my wife, who is due to deliver a baby in less than a week, is able to clean the house, organize craft and entertainment bins for Sonora to have constructive stuff to do when Elizabeth is occupied with the newborn, cook and freeze dinners, and organize baby clothes and diapers. At the end of almost every day last week, I felt guilty when I realized I hadn't done very much to help Elizabeth. Sometimes I think I'm a pretty great husband, but lately, when I realize I've spent most of my time at home watching my very pregnant wife work, my positive image of myself is shattered. Today Elizabeth made a list of things for me to do that included fixing a couple of things around the house and washing the windows. I completed the major things on the list, made dinner, and spent a lot of time entertaining Sonora, while also at least sort of listening to all the sessions of conference. So, for one shining day, I felt like a good husband again. It won't last; my lazy side will win out. But it was nice having at least one day during which I didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. The nesting bug must be catching, if only temporary.

Spring is coming rather slowly to the Inland Northwest. It is supposed to snow throughout the night. A Dar Williams song says "February was so long that it lasted into March." This year, February is lasting until April. Our garden is mostly ready for planting, but this is definitely not planting weather. Unfortunately, I really want fresh garden produce right now; I want to make gallons and gallons of fresh salsa. Ripe tomatoes seem like an eternity away.

We've had a couple of visitors. Elizabeth's sister Vanessa came down with her kids from Spokane and also transported Elizabeth's sister Carrie and her son. I had fixed up the old hot tub that came with the house and the kids had fun in it. Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten the water chemistry part of it down yet and the water was pretty murky. The kids didn't mind, and I haven't gotten any reports of weird skin rashes, so nothing was lost, but I felt a little uncomfortable inviting our guests to enjoy our cloudy water. I've since gotten it right and Elizabeth, Sonora and I have been enjoying a clear hot tub.

Carrie and her son stayed for a couple of days. I think they were our first overnight visitors at our new house. There is something validating about having people come to see you. We live in a pretty out of the way place, so there will probably not be many people coming to visit. We got some good tractor (that's what we call our riding lawnmower) time in on a day that almost felt like spring.

Well, Elizabeth just walked out of the bedroom and said "Okay, I'm in labor," so I'd better go. We need to contact the midwife and give her time to drive the 75 miles from Spokane to get here before the baby arrives. Because of a mixture of sicknesses, a marriage, and people moving, virtually all of the people who otherwise might have been here for the birth or helped out afterward are not going to be around, but I think with all that nesting Elizabeth has done, she has prepared us pretty well.