I’m a slacker!
Ok, ok, I’m updating, I’m updating!
As far as moving goes, our household goods go out in August so they can get to where we’re going in time for the baby. We are still fighting the uphill battle on getting 3 bedrooms instead of 2.
We were in the market for a new van but a couple from our church saved us from that. Which also saves me from having to go back to work right away once we move. We will soon be owners of a very loved 2000 Honda Odessey. The price they were going for was 5k, but they went down to 4k plus however much the tuneup costs. By next week the van should be ours.
No, we still do not know the gender of the baby. You cannot believe how many people have been asking me this. I’ll be 14 weeks this Sunday. Maybe, we will know next month. That’s a big maybe. Otherwise, July will be when we find out. Long wait, I know, but it is worth it.
In other news, my sister has grey hair now. I shouldn’t laugh, but I am. 
*hugs*
~Jen
The Spa in Mainz-Kastel
I won a free hot stone massage from the newspaper here not too long ago. Yesterday, I decided to cash in that gift certificate and get my free massage! First deterrent from there was that there was only one person working there. Sure there was a nice lil’ “in session” sign, but one guy was waiting around for an hour and he finally gave up. When it was finally my turn, I went to the room and got down to my skivvies. I was freezing in there. The thermostat was set to 24 Celcius. Plus I literally had to climb onto the table it was set so high. Those of you that know me, know that I am tall. I can’t imagine itty bitty people trying to get on that thing. The massage therapist comes back in and starts his massaging while this strange syntesized style of nature music plays in the background…not at all relaxing. He then decides to try and make small talk. C’mon guy, I only get a half hour, I am a tired and pregnant mommy, let me friggen doze off! The oil he used was cold as well and I keep thinking to myself, “when are the hot stones going to be put on me? I’d love to be warm.” About 20 minutes in, after my back, arms, and legs have been massaged do the stones even get put on. They cooled off rather quickly. I had them on the bottoms of my feet, back of my knee, and middle of my thigh. By the time he reached my thighs, the ones on my feet were cold. Then up to my back where four were placed on my spine and then one right on the back of my neck, focing my face further into the lil’ hole in the chair that they give you to breathe. At that point I was alone in the room, but I could hear cars drive by, people shouting, the massage therapist go to the bathroom, blow his nose, etc. Not to mention that several times during the massage he had to leave to tend to customers waiting or a phone ringing. With all that, I was glad it was free.
Don’t think I am being ungreatful here. Back in November we went on a cruise and I had a GREAT hot stone massage there. When a stone cooled off, she put a fresh hot one on to replace it. I literally melted into that table. I do know what a proper one feels like. There was also soothing music playing very quietly, aroma therapy in the form of burning oil and then the scented oil also being put on my skin. That oil was also warm, the temp in the room there was perfect, the therapist didn’t feel the need to talk to me. It made for a very pleasurable experience.
Now, this spa in Mainz-Kastel also offers other services like mani’s and pedi’s. I have no idea how those are. I just know that this particular hot stone massage was sub-par. Be leary before you slap down 33 Euros for half an hour of what you expect to be bliss. Sure, he was working alone and was doing what he could to keep the business going, but when people come to relax and pay to relax, that is what they should get. There should -always- be two people that work there.
*hugs*
~Jen
Words and understanding
John is understanding more and more every day now. He gets excited when his diaper is changed because he goes to throw it away himself. He also lifts himself up to help us get his diaper under him. Lately, he’s been a big fan of helping clean the house. The most amazing thing I think he’s doing now is learning at least one new word a day! I’m not kidding. Just today he has tried saying duck, dinosaur (Elmo’s World topic of the day today), turtle, and baby. They come out as “duh”, “na” (said it everytime a dinosaur was shown. I thought he was saying no at first until I watched the screen with him. When it was the b-day cake he said nothing, but soon as dinos were on it “na”), “durdle”, “bahbee”. When the counting happens on Sesame Street he’ll say Doo and Dee for two and three. Now he also says bye bye to Elmo when he says goodbye. He also tries to say the letters of the alphabet. He likes a, d, e, i, r and s the most. These letters spew out when watching Sesame Street or Wheel of Fortune. I was honestly suprised at his attempt to say baby today. Most of the time he says “Mama” when I ask where is the baby when we are reading a book with a baby in it. We told him a couple of months ago that Mama has a baby growing in her tummy. So he’s been associating baby and mama since then. I’m just tickled that he is learning so much and so fast! By far, the most adorable thing he does is steal my slippers, put them on, take his “brief case” (emptied out First Aid kit with toys in it), go to the hall door and say “I love you. Bye bye.”. Then he shuts the door and runs off to his room like he’s going to work.
*hugs*
~Jen
