July 22, 2006 - 12:13 AM.

God Bless Kirkland Cool

It's so hot here.

It's so hot that it's been well over 80 all afternoon *in the house.*

It's so hot that the only time my tiny son was *not* fussy today was when we were in air conditioning. That meant half an hour in Auntie's car, half an hour in our car, a little time in grocery stores, not fussing. But the only time he was truly *happy,* animated and laughing and giddy with relief, was the 20 minutes we spent wheeling him around, around, and around the giant cold crisper room at Costco, way in the far back corner of the store, just us and the lettuces and clouds of our breath, watching our little boy shed the heavy baggage of heat and bloom again in the cool, his little cheeks going a normal color and the sweat finally drying in his curls. "INN!" he yelled every time we passed the door, warning us not to leave his Arctic refuge. "Bak-YIN!" He had nothing to worry about with me; had other engagements not called, I would have kept him in there, lunching on samples of pizza and toast and soy smoothie, until we could be used to chill drinks.

Poor little overheated bubby.

Right now the stand fan is pressed up against the end of his crib, where he sleeps exhausted in a diaper and his Elmo t-shirt. Thank goodness for disposables, so we don't have to wake him in the night for a change after his wearing, toothy day. He even got a little bottomy heat rash and ran around for a few hours half-bare, like a little dustbowl baby.

Tomorrow, to the cool breeze and wading-pool glory that is the grandparents' house.

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