working hard

Last week Timothy started his first Summer job.  He's 14 so he's finally old enough to have a job.  earlier this year, I do believe it was still Winter, he came home from school and mentioned that he would like to have a job this Summer and that Pioneer company had applications up at the school for kids who were interested in working for a few weeks.  I was a tad bit surprised that he wanted to do this kind of work but I enthusiastically said Yes.   I would love for him to have a job this summer to start figuring out how the work world operates.
He's usually so bored so I was also eager for him to have something to do to keep him occupied.
he got a call a few days before his orientation day.  because of our heat wave, the corn grew very tall very fast and they needed kids out there as soon as possible.  but there was a small problem.  the lack of rain in our area has kept the corn from pollinating all at the same time!  they still needed kids to do the work, but they just didn't have enough work to have them out in the field from 8am - 4pm.  they were getting done by noon all week and weekend.  this week they finally have had full days.

he got his first paycheck today, and I must say 'not too shabby' for being half days last week.

Timothy gets home and doesn't complain about how hard it is and it was so hot, etc etc. but instead he's said that he's been liking it.
even though it has been warm, Timothy is used to the weather and temperatures already.  he told me on the first day of work (a day that was 25 degrees cooler than it had been the entire week before) they went through the orientation and then had the kids in the field for 1 hour before having them go home.  three kids had to go sit in the shade and try not to pass out.  Timothy was confused.  He's a hardy kid.  :)
this last weekend he was telling me about how a couple of the kids in his field group were goofing off and they've been warned more than once to get back to work.  their group leader even used Timothy as an example.  He's always keeping busy, he's bagging the ears efficiently and tightly.  he's doing a great job!
He's been very responsible and I'm very very proud of him.

Finally put on a show for Daddy

usually I feel baby movements much earlier in pregnancy than the "books" say I'm supposed to.  please, don't tell me those books know better... I know exactly what it is I'm feeling when a baby is kicking me.

before the ultrasound last month I had already figured out that the placenta was anterior because by 19 weeks I hadn't felt a single twitch.  then when I finally did it was quite low and very small kicks.
about 3 weeks ago I finally felt a kick strong enough to be felt from outside of my belly.
then a week later another strong enough to feel with my hand.  so I called for Tim to come and feel and of course, as soon as he had his hand on my belly the baby stopped kicking.
then about a week ago another, and again, as soon as Tim's hand was in place, the baby sensed his presence and stopped moving.

FINALLY tonight, after being kicked nearer to my pelvic bones and just at my sides, the baby has turned and has their feet right up in my ribs kicking to beat that band!  I could feel it, but didn't expect to feel anything from the outside.  Umm, I just saw my entire belly jiggle!!!  hey!  if baby is making my belly move then I must be able to feel that one with my hand.
I called Tim over, trying very hard not to move for fear that baby would then move and it would be all over.  I gently placed Tim's hand on the top of my belly and WHAM.  for almost 10 minutes he sat there with his hand on the baby's kicking foot and I sat as still as possible so I didn't shift the baby out of that position.
a wonderful moment.  6 babies and this just never gets old.