The whole family (minus Wes) has been upstate since Wednesday, and we're going back tomorrow. I was only going to stay for a couple of days, but then was reminded that I had promised to watch a friend's daughter over the weekend. It's turned out really good, we're camped out at our friends' house. They actually also live with their mom, but she's very easy and is out of town for the week besides.

The girl we're hanging out with today is a year older than Aidan, but they get along really well. Their play is really funny - she goes to a Waldorf kindergaren, so there is a combination of super heroes-swords-guns and elements that I know come from the Waldorf influence - berry picking, a "trusty steed", magic wands and songs from her Three Kings Day play. They really adore each other, so it's a nice way to spend the day.

It's good to have a few days here with a home base too. Yesterday I called a local midwife that delivered a friend's child. I've been flummoxed by the fact that I can't do this legally here, and only just gave up on trying to find a Certified Nurse Midwife with hospital backup which NY State law says you have to have. All of the surrounding states, including Massachussettes and Connecticut, both which are very close to here, allow "direct entry" midwives.

I've been anticipating that finding any midwife at all who would be available on such short notice would involve a lot of calling and visiting and negotiating. I was thrilled yesterday when the first person that I called is available and could actually see me that afternoon. After talking to her a bit, I am excited to work with this kind of midwife, in spite of the damned law. It was so easy and she lives about 20 minutes from our house. She works with a group of midwives and she said that there are always two attending each birth so that one is always fresh and rested. I'll still have Medicaid, so if there is an emergency, I'll be covered. Resolving this is a huge relief and it was so much easier than I thought it would be.

I'm also appreciating our house more and more. Driving around, I see all of the kinds of places that people are living and it makes me realize how well this house suits us. I'm actually feeling a little silly about how dissatisfied I have felt about it. In so many ways, it is exactly what we wanted: it's modest, it's old, it's got good bones and most of the work that it needs is cosmetic. The high temperature here today is 10 degrees and when we woke up this morning it was minus 11F. It will be an easy house to keep warm.