all alone again

M's parents left this morning. It feels strange that they aren't just out for the day! I think that we got to know each other better this time than ever before, so I'm sad to see them leave. Of course, it will be nice to SIT for a while! I have been a busy busy bee for the last two weeks. I believe that they were pleased at how much effort I put into cooking and planning and doing things at home for them. They bought me a cute little necklace to thank me--it was very sweet, especially, because it's a coral tulip on a gold chain. I had mentioned, while looking at pictures from Valentine's Day, that I really like tulips, so that's what M bought me. M had mentioned that I have jewelry in most of the interesting gems and that I like slightly unusual stuff, so they put some thought in it... very sweet.

Evelyn, poor child, is worn out. She slept late today, and was still asleep when we woke her up to see Farfar and Farmor off. She napped badly yesterday, as we weren't home most of the day. We went to Three Chimney's horse farm and took a tour, followed by a very late lunch and then a little jaunt around an almost deserted game farm. Apparently rain keeps people indoors! Huh. It didn't rain at the game farm, but it came down pretty good on us at the horse farm. I wouldn't have minded quite so much except for my sweet sweet baby in the sling. It was really neat. Even though I live in the middle of a state internationally known for its horses, I knew almost nothing about the horse farm industry. Of course, yesterday was just an overview of one part of one farm, but it was very neat. They're booked up through November, and then again for April (I'm not sure if they cancel the tours in the winter or if they just don't have bookings then) but M managed to get us into the tour by name dropping. You know. "My parents are here from SWEDEN." I guess that's more country-dropping than name dropping, but whatever. People will go out of their way for you if you're visiting from that far away. I would like to take my niece back sometime. They bring out stallions for you to look at, including Smarty Jones, who almost won the Triple Crown a few years ago. They also tell you (if you ask) about what stud fees are for any of the stallions... I think she said Smarty Jones is about a hundred thousand dollars. One of them was a hundred fifty, some of them were less. I think the lowest I heard was about thirty thousand. There is a LOT of money in the horse industry. I should post pictures after we transfer them. It was really cool. These were like no stables I'd ever seen, I'll just put it that way. M's parents ride a lot so it was a perfect thing to take them to.

Speaking of slings--which I guess I wasn't--I have been carrying her lately in the sling that I'm borrowing from carrieb lately, because it's easy to get her in there so she's facing out towards the world. I also bought M a Baby Björn this week, and it should arrive soon, probably today. Used from someone on the diaper sewing board I'm hanging out on these days.. fifteen dollars including shipping. I was taken away by the bargain shopping aspect of it. ;) I have heard from more dedicated babywearers that the Björn is not so good, but M has wanted to try one of that style. I think he thinks that the two slings we have are more girly, and difficult to put on. I hope he likes it. Mommy is doing all the babywearing when we go out and Mommy gets tired too! ;) Luckily, she really loves her stroller, so we can alternate depending on where we're going and what kind of mood she's in. Going out is gradually getting easier, thank goodness. Knock on wood.