Lindsey, Shawn, Riley, & Adrian

Sid-tastic!

2012-01-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

I am so in love with this little girl! Enjoy the new pictures and her most recent stats:

Age: Three weeks already!
Weight: 7 lbs, 15 ounces
Height: 20 3/4 inches
Head 14 inches

Favorite Song: Sydney (I'll Come Running) by Brett Dennen
Favorite TV Show: Mad Men
Favorite Lap: Toss-up between Riley and Adrian
Favorite Activity: Sleeping and Stretching
New Year's Resolutions: Sleep longer at night and grow some hair! :)

Baby Sidney is Here!

2011-12-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday, at 8:02am, Sidney Alexis Harding joined our family! We are so happy to have her in our family, and we are so thankful for a healthy birth and recovery. It has been a whirlwind couple of days for sure. Here's the story of our little girl and her first five days:

1. My dad arrived at 5:10am the day of my c-section, five minutes before we had to leave for the hospital. Talk about timing!
2. We had Sid at St. Mary's. The family birthing center is beautiful, and our room was huge! They even call food service room service. So nice. And, we didn't have to move after the first day.
3. The surgery went great! I had an awesome team of doctors and nurses. The spinal went in smoothly, Shawn joined me, the curtain went up, and before we knew it, a persistent cry cut through the room. Sidney is our smallest newborn, coming in at 6lbs, 2 ozs, and a little over 19 inches long. We decided she's also our loudest newborn. Shawn went with her to the nursery while I was stitched up.
4. Sid joined us in the room not long after I returned to it. From the get-go, she has been a great nurser. I love the whole experience of pregnancy, giving birth, and then nursing a newborn. The whole process just fills me with so much awe and wonder.
5. Grandpa was Sidney's first visitor! He welcomed her with her very own Gund Christmas bear, flowers, a balloon, and a holiday sleeper from Grandma. We are so thankful and excited to have my dad here for Sidney's birth and help us out at home, too. Since we left the hospital, he and Shawn have been engaged in Operation Leaf Removal. Quite the process considering the size of our yard and the thick coverage of leaves. He's also been great with Riley and Adrian, and meal preparation. Plus, it was nice having some one on one time with dad while I was in the hospital. Thanks, Daddio! This week would not have been the same without you! You've got our vote for Grandpa of the year!!
6. Caroline also came up to visit and help us out. Since I haven't seen Caroline all semester, her trip was doubly exciting! She is awesome in hospital situations, and didn't seem to mind waking up several times at night to help with Sidney and even change a few diapers. She definitely spoils me and Riley, Adrian, and Sidney, too. It was great getting to catch up in person for a change. Her time here went by way too quickly, though. I miss her like crazy. Caroline, thanks for being an amazing best friend. Thanks for being a part of such a special time in my life. Thanks for celebrating with us. Thanks for your generosity and kindness. I could go on and on.
7. Highlights of our hospital stay include lots of HGTV, a special lunch for Shawn and I before we left, the nourishment room, walks to the Christmas tree, one game of Settlers, and lots and lots of cuddling with Sidney!
8. We came home on Saturday. The weekend was kind of crazy with everyone at home, but it was great to just be home.
9. On Wednesday, we'll leave for Virginia to see my family for the holidays. I cannot wait for everyone to meet Sidney, and see her proud and happy big brother and sister.
10. Sidney is definitely the best early Christmas present I have ever received. She is such a sweet and peaceful baby. Sometimes, she sounds like a squeak toy. Sometimes, she sort-of smiles. Sometimes, she tucks her legs under her and lifts her arms above her head in a triumphant-buddha pose. All the time, she's adorable. All the time, she's mine. It doesn't get any better than this.

My Pregnancy Profile...

2011-12-09T10:56:00.001-08:00

Before next Wednesday morning at 7:30am, I wanted to be sure to document some details about my third pregnancy. In some ways, it was the easiest of the three; in other ways, it was a lot harder to manage. I cannot believe we are five days away from meeting baby #3! What a wonderful early Christmas present! Sure, I'm a little nervous about starting the spring semester with three little ones, but I know we will make it work and figure it out and have so much fun along the way. The other day, it occurred to me to think how easy it was to manage two at once. I know it will take a little while before I am saying that about three, but it felt good to experience that moment and see the cyclical nature of child-raising. Before I turn this post into a set of paragraphs, here's a list that celebrates and explains and characterizes this pregnancy:

1. Due date: December 29th. C-section date: December 14th, 7:30am (because my fluid is low again, my doctors want me to deliver at around 38 weeks).
2. Weight gain at 37 weeks: 21 pounds.
3. 1st trimester woes: threw up once, then just all-day nausea and weird food moods.
4. 2nd trimester woes: some late summer ankle swelling, varicose and spider veins.
5. 3rd trimester woes: more fatigue, some muscle aches and nerve twinges, braxton hicks contractions every once in a while.
6. Cravings: Ranch dressing! That's probably been the big one this time around. So strange.
7. Aversions: None, really. I could even eat sweets and peanut butter the entire time.
8. Mood: Shawn says this has been my happiest and nicest pregnancy. I've had a couple of meltdown and anxiety attacks, but for the most part I've been really cheerful and mellow. Does that mean we are doomed?
9. Showing: I think it got hard to hide the belly in work clothes around 25 weeks.
10. Feeling baby move: Early this time! Around 17-8 weeks! That was awesome.
11. Favorite things about this pregnancy:
   *Talking to Riley and Adrian about it, not that Adrian has any clue really. Riley is getting really excited, though. She's convinced its a girl!
   *Showing my students that it is possible to have a job, take classes, and raise a family. Not that I want my freshmen tackling all that quite yet, but I think it is good for them to know that personal and family pursuits can be achieved simultaneously.
   *Watching my belly move and shift, feeling the baby move. This one is always among my favorites!
   *Not feeling as stressed. This time around, I really tried to just enjoy being pregnant, woes and all. I am so amazed and in awe of the whole miracle, and I am incredibly thankful that I was able to experience it again.
12. Funny moments: Riley using a fetal doppler to listen to her heartbeat.
13. Other big life changes: Moving to Athens, GA. Starting a Ph.D. program. Shawn starting a new job.
14. Hobbies and interests: Beyond the obvious of reading and writing...Pinterest, Netflix, Veggie Co-op, working out at the YMCA.
15. What I'm most looking forward to at this point: Holding our baby. Finding out girl or boy. Seeing how the kids react.

In five days, we become a family of five. Wow. Can't wait.

Semester One = Done: A Series of Lists to Celebrate

2011-12-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

Today was my last day of teaching for the semester! Last week, I had my last classes, too, so I am done on campus until January. I still have to grade portfolios in the next week, but I am really excited to see what my students have come up with. From the exhibits I've seen so far, some students have really gone all out. Should be fun to check out all of their hard work.

In looking back on this semester, here is what I have learned:

1. I love teaching college students.

2. I miss teaching high school students.

3. College freshmen and high school freshmen are very much alike.

4. Even if you put critical information on your syllabus, class calendar, announcement board, and share it in class, students will still ask about it.

5. No matter how many times you go over something in class and all students nod their understanding, at least one of them doesn't get it.

6. My students inspire me.

7. UGA students love their Dawgs, leggings, Chacos, Chic-Fil-A, and Northfaces.

8. Yes, I'm already looking forward to next semester, trying out a new syllabus, and meeting a new bunch of students.

So now that I have all this free-time to fill, here's another brief list of what I've been up to or in other words, channeling my inner domesticated diva:

1. Reading David Foster Wallace and his essay on cruising. Amazing.

2. Making two soups to freeze: cabbage and potato soup and roasted tomato soup (both recipes from Pinterest and my Veggie Fest board).

3. Making a pork roast for tomorrow.

4. Filling Riley's photo album with pictures from May through October.

5. Helping Riley make a winter book called Snowman, Snowman, What Do You See (another Pinterest Idea!)

6. Doctor's appointment.

7. Holiday shopping (online, of course).

8. Starting to pull out baby stuff (okay, so I've only dug out a couple of burp cloths so far...).

And finally, here's what I plan to get done besides grading in the next week:

1. Baby Shower at Shawn's School

2. Prepare and ship presents to friends (except Caroline...since she'll be up here in a week and a half!).

3. Finish crafty gifts for Alli, Claire, and Libby. Can't tell what this is yet, but I'm pretty excited about it.

4. Gifts for kids' teachers and my professors (I know what these will be, but I need to get them and drop them off).

5. Sign up for the Southern Miss. conference I will be presenting at in March.

6. Work on my latest creative writing project! This I am so excited about....will reveal later!

7. Read, read, read (more David Foster Wallace, Grub, New Grub Street, Remediation, and The Economics of Attention to name a few!).

8. Finish preparing for baby!

So basically, I've got a week for baby prep, holiday prep, and fiction! LOVE IT!

O, Christmas Tree, etc.

2011-12-04T18:30:00.001-08:00

This weekend was certainly a busy one! Since I've still got one more assignment for the semester, I'll give you the run-down in pictures and bullet points. Who am I kidding? I'd probably stick to the list-picture profile for the weekend even if I wasn't still in school mode...:)

1. Mommy-daughter movie date! Riley and I went to see Arthur Christmas yesterday. We wanted to do something special for Riley since the baby's arrival is rapidly approaching (t-minus ten days!). She chose Arthur Christmas, but we both thought that it was Arthur's Christmas, like a feature film starring Arthur, the cute animal friend with his own series? Nope, this was totally different. But it was a really enjoyable movie and perfect for getting into the holiday mode!

2. Which takes us to getting our Christmas tree. We chopped down our own Leyland Cyprus late Saturday. Well, Shawn and Riley did the hard work. Adrian and I just watched. Good times! The farm was right down the street from our house, and the tree looks beautiful. Now we just need to finish getting ornaments up.

3. Dinner at Five Guys and our first trip to Trader Joe's. Best time to grab a burger? How about at the start of the SEC championship game when Georgia is playing? We accounted for four of the six patrons in the place.

4. Homemade ornaments. This year, we all pitched in to make some salt dough ornaments. What a fun and easy holiday craft! They turned out really well, and Riley even let us know she wants to be an artist when she grows up.

5. Reading. Riley has been really into her library books recently. She's even got most of one book memorized, and she really enjoys "reading" it to us.

6. Monster Cookie. I found out today that a proposal I submitted for a conference was selected! I will be reading a short story at Southern Miss in March! So exciting! I got to enjoy my second monster cookie in two weeks.

7. Friday Night Lights. So in scanning Netflix for shows to watch once the baby comes, I realized I never watched the final season of FNL. Love, love, love this show, the cast, everything about it. I've been staying up way too late to watch it, but it is so worth it!

Okay, that about does it. Time to get back to my school work! Enjoy the pictures. More to come once we finish up the tree!

Thanksgiving in Tennessee

2011-11-28T18:46:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful holiday we had on the Cumberland Plateau! The week flew by, especially once Shawn returned, Brendan flew in, and Mom, Dad, and Claire drove down from Virginia. Man, do we know how to pack a lot into the time we had together. Here's a rundown of the fun we had and some pictures for your viewing delight:

1. Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner! Yum! Riley pretty much only ate strawberries since she wasn't feeling great, but the rest of us chowed down. Grandpa was in charge of Adrian, and I don't think that boy ever ate so much and stayed so clean. As much as I enjoy cooking, it was nice to have the whole day to relax and no dirty dishes. My favs from the meal were the stuffing, the potato salad, and the pumpkin brownies with cream cheese frosting. Soooo good!

2. Mini-golf. We basically had the 18-hole put-put to ourselves for three days. It was great. I got worse each time I played, but we all had a really good time. We declared Riley the golf queen, and Adrian is quite happy to have a club in his hand and something to wack at!

3. Settlers. Of course. This time, we even got Claire hooked. Shawn dominated, but the rest of us managed to score at least one win. Even Daddio.

4. Shopping. Yes, even though we had to drive forty minutes, Bren, Mom, Dad, and I still got up early to do some Black Friday shopping. I picked up a couple of gifts and a five dollar pair of leggings I desperately needed. Then, we all grabbed our peppermint hot cocoa drinks from Starbucks and headed back to the resort where Claire was just waking up...

5. S'mores and movies. Since we had a fireplace (and I LOVE fireplaces), we basically had a fire going nonstop. Good work, Shawn! And what is a fire with out some mallows, grams, and chocolate! We also watched a couple of good movies: Super 8, Due Date, and Horrible Bosses. Riley really loved the last one!

6. Just kidding...Riley was asleep when we watched all three.

7. Walks, craft fair, coffee, and pinterest (I think I converted everyone in my family...right guys?).

8. Best comment of the week: Riley - "Mommy, I want everything that I see on a commercial that's a toy." How happy am I that we don't have TV at home? Those commercials are dangerous and addicting!

9. Best game of the week: Riley and Adrian - Throw seven pillows into the pack and play and then jump in. Occasionally, fall off the side of the bed. Repeat (except for the falling off the bed part).

10. Best part of the condo after the fire place: The bathtub. Seriously, it was the size of both of our bathrooms combined!

11. Wildest adventure of the week: The Treehouse. Wait until you see the pictures. Craziness!

12. Best sign ever: The one we saw at the Treehouse. See last image posted here...

Alli and CE, we missed you! Mom, Dad, Brendan, and Claire - thanks for a great destination holiday vacation!! Loved, loved, loved spending time together and celebrating Thanksgiving with you! Miss you already!

Two Days, Two Kids...

2011-11-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

While Shawn drove up with us to start our vacation, he had to return to work for Monday and Tuesday. That left me with Riley and Adrian for two days. As much as I was looking forward to this time together, it has been more wonderful, tiring, and fun than I had imagined it would be.

Of course, the time wasn't without its frustration. Like rain. We are at a resort with more than five playgrounds, mini golf, and plenty of trails. Could we do any of that these past two days? Nope. So Monday we were all a little stir crazy. Tuesday we hit the road for a children's museum.

But overall, we had a blast! Both nights, we slept like babies. Both days, we laughed a ton, got a bunch of new bruises (will post videos of those later), cuddled, enjoyed fires and new shows, played puzzles and new games (like coaster Frisbee and pack-the-pack-n-play-with-pillows-and-dive-in), sang songs, clapped, mooed, swam in the bathtub many times, and ate way too many snacks!

And now we have Shawn returning, family arriving, and so much to be thankful for this coming Thursday. But right now, I am so happy to have this time with my two kiddos and so thankful for how much Riley and Adrian enrich my life.

Vacation, Here We Come!

2011-11-18T16:46:00.001-08:00

In the morning, we will head out for vacation! I've never had a full week off at this time of the year, and I totally wanted to take advantage of that, especially with the new baby's ETA at a month away (so exciting!!). So off to Tennessee we go! We are heading to a resort on the Cumberland Plateau, and I couldn't be more thrilled to spend a week with the kiddos, Shawn, my parents, Brendan, and Claire! We're bummed Alli and CE can't come, too, but we'll see them over Christmas break. Especially since we didn't go to Sewanee this past summer (so sad!), I am really glad to have a chance to enjoy some beautiful, relaxing countryside.

Before we go, a quick update:

1. Riley has been narrating in song recently. Love the spontaneous, creative ballads.

2. Adrian is in the throes of a needy and tantrum-heavy phase. Not that he doesn't have his fair share of smiles and hugs still, but he can get quite moody when he doesn't get his way or we can't read his mind. Fun times.

3. My classes meet once more, and I teach five more class meetings. And that's it! Semester one, done! It has been a great one, though. I've learned so much, and I am excited to do it all over again. Plus, I'll have a workshop in the spring! Wahoo!

4. Shawn broke his hockey stick playing in a league at the YMCA. And then he scored his first goal with a borrowed stick. Why he wants to buy his own stick is beyond me, especially since borrowed stick = scored goals, right? :)

5. I am obsessed with Pinterest!! So great!! Already, I've made one craft, two recipes, and found five gift ideas.

6. Adrian is starting to communicate more. He shakes his head furiously to mean no and he bounces excitedly when he means yes. He's been babbling a ton, and even tries to call to Riley and the cats, though usually it just comes out as "Ahhhh!" So cute.

I'll definitely have some pictures either on our trip or when we return!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post for weeks! But so much has been happening, and now I have some great new pics from Halloween to post. Here's a list of our latest adventures, and then a look at what we've been up to these past weeks, including a Babymoon, a trip to Gainesville, trick-or-treating, Halloween crafts, and school Halloween parties. Yes, yes, of course I am still studying like crazy, too. We've only got four and a half weeks to go in this semester. And of course that means final projects, papers, and portfolios - and, a new baby!!

1. My parents came down to visit so Shawn and I could check out Helen, GA and then enjoy a bed and breakfast at a beautiful lodge in the middle of nowhere. It was awesome! We had lunch a cute German bakery, walked around Octoberfest, then headed to our lodge for a tour and an afternoon snack, which included hot apple cider. After an afternoon of relaxation and then dinner, we enjoyed Earthquake cake for dessert at the lodge. So good! Breakfast the next morning was just as delicious, too. Seriously, all we did was rest and eat. Definitely the perfect babymoon.

2. Once we came home, I got to spend some time with just mom and dad in between studying and teaching. It was great getting to have some one-on-one time with both of my parents. A rare and wonderful treat in such a big family! I miss them so much now, but I am thankful for all of the time together.

3. Last weekend, we headed back down to Gainesville. We had dinner with the Natasha and Irene, and it was awesome to get all of the kids together and catch up for the night. I definitely have been missing my G-ville girlfriends!

4. We stayed with Julie and Carlos and their boys, and hung out all day Saturday, too. We had such a great time! Riley and Christian are adorable together, and Adrian tags along and tries to do everything the big kids do. We went trick-or-treating in Newberry until Adrian melted down and Riley fell asleep. Then we hit the road to return to GA.

5. On Halloween, I got to go to the kids' school for their Halloween parties! So much fun! The kids looked adorable in their costumes, and it was fun to see them interact with their friends and teachers. Good times!

6. School continues to go well. My students submit their third papers this week, and I give my second presentation in one of my classes. I've been submitting stories like crazy, too. Keep your fingers crossed that something will get published soon! I've had some really nice rejection letters and requests for more work, but I am looking forward to seeing another story of mine published online or in print.

7. I am almost 32 weeks already. So far, I still feel really good. I try to work out at least twice a week. I am measuring really small, but the baby is right on track. I am trying to savor as much of this pregnancy as I can: all the kicks, the growing belly, even the muscle aches and discomfort. It will be over before I know it! I might not enjoy how I look pregnant, but I really love being pregnant. The whole experience continues to amaze me!

A couple of pics and a quick update...

2011-10-02T19:33:00.001-07:00

1. Last weekend, we journeyed back to G-ville. Trip was great! We all had a ball, and it was awesome to see our friends, our old home, and Oak Hall.

2. Riley designed her own costume for Halloween this year: Butterfly Batgirl.

3. She's big into puzzles right now. She's mastered all of the ones we have at home!

4. She can pick up her baby brother. Funniest thing ever.

5. Adrian just had his fifteen month check-up. Boy, were his stats low: weight, 10th percentile (not even 22 lbs!); height 24th percentile (31.25 inches). But he looks healthy and eats well, so hopefully his growth spurt is coming.

6. He can sign "please" and "more." Love that he can communicate!

7. He got his top molars. He really wasn't miserable at all...just slept a lot.

8. I'm in the third trimester (already!). Apparently, though, I don't look all that pregnant...:) It is starting to get a bit harder to move, and I am starting to get a little nervous about having three children. More specifically, I'm nervous about how we are going to get out the door without Shawn's help (since he leaves for work at 6:15am). Nervousness aside, I am so excited to meet this little one. I love that we are being surprised again. I love feeling him or her move. I love thinking about getting out the little onesies and sleepers again. I love thinking about Riley and Adrian loving and caring for their new sibling. I love thinking about Shawn swaddling the new little one (Shawn loves to swaddle!).

At the same time, this time now is so sweet. The four of us have a blast together, whether at Moe's Monday or a grocery store or playing pretend or riding bikes. We are all adjusting to Athens, discovering new hobbies and places, establishing new habits, traditions, and interests. And it seems to have brought us all together. For that, I am endlessly thankful.

Pictures, Projects, and More...

2011-09-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

Where is September going? It has been way too long since I have blogged, but last weekend I collected 46 essays and spent 48 hours grading (not straight, but it felt like that sometimes). Then this week, has been busy catching up on reading, writing, and sleep. Plus, I had a Dr.'s for my 25 week check-up and glucose test, and my dad came to visit on Thursday! We had a great time! Grandpa went to school and read to both Riley and Adrian's classes. He was a hit! I just love seeing him interact with my kids and how much they adore him. He also dropped off a reclining chair and two twin beds for us, all of which will be much needed in December when #3 requires rocking and R and A start sharing a bedroom. Overall, we had a great day with Grandpa, and we are looking forward to their next visit in October.

Now, on for the more exciting stuff. Pictures! Check out some shots I've got of the kids and Shawn's recent project. What is that odd wood display, you ask? It's a home-made board for Settlers of Catan, an amazing board game. The board is made up of a bunch of smaller pieces, and ours had started moving and not wanting to stay together. Shawn's board holds everything really nicely and looks great, though it will look even better once he finishes it. If anyone is interested in their own Settlers board, let us know!

And finally, a list of kid updates:
1. Adrian just got his sixth tooth!
2. He can wave goodbye now and bring objects to people. He's getting good at dog-like behavior...:)
3. Riley has been big into camp-outs! Every Friday and Saturday night, Shawn, Riley, and I sleep-over in the family room. So much fun! Riley looks forward to it all week.
4. Riley has mastered riding her bike with training wheels! I don't even bother trying to run alongside anymore.

Adjustments and Achievements: A List

2011-08-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

1. We're having a....surprise!! I had my anatomy scan at almost 23 weeks today, but Shawn and I decided to be surprised this time around. Since the c-section will be scheduled and we have clothing galore, we thought a surprise would be kind of fun! (Okay, not sure how this fits into the list, but I had to share!)

2. Riley can spell and write her name! She just decided she wanted to learn this past weekend. Between that and her tech savvy-ness, calculus may only be a few years off. I kid, I kid.

3. Adrian got his fifth tooth. I may have mentioned that in a previous post...can't remember.

4. My weekly schedule has radically changed. Now, I go to campus Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I work for 2-3 hours in the mornings, teach for two, and then head home on Mon and Fri. Wednesday is Marathon Day. After I teach, I have back to back seminars. It is a long day, for sure, but I love it! Tuesdays and Thursdays are work days. I get to read and write and study all day long! Plus, I can wear shorts or leggings and a t-shirt. Oh, the academic life. How I love you!

5. Since Shawn is not coaching, we get to spend a lot more time with him in the evenings. We usually go pick the kids up together, and now that we are YMCA members, head to the Y for some bball and swimming.

6. With our 60 dollars/week for groceries, our meal selection has actually improved! I love the challenge of planning an exciting menu for less, and still stocking enough snacks and food to keep Riley satiated. Man, can that girl eat! At night, she'll tell us, "My stomach's starving." Cutest thing ever (and also a ploy to stay awake longer).

7. We just signed up for Bountiful Baskets. This concept is new to me, but I am very excited about it. For 15 dollars (which will bring my grocery budget down to 45 next week), we get a basket of fresh veggies and fruits Saturday morning. Can't wait to see the goodies we will get! So exciting!!

8. Adrian might be the next Larry Bird. Put him in a gym, and he lights up (and opens his mouth and lets his tongue hang out...so cute)!

9. As a result of my schedule change, I get more time with the kiddos in the morning. I love it. Today, we made yellow, red, green, and blue pancakes. An extra hour feels like an eternity, and it's enough time for play, breakfast, and getting ready.

10. Teaching college kids. I love this, too. I just introduced my first paper prompt on Monday, and the final draft will be due next Friday. The kids are sweet and fun so far (and hopefully learning). Freshmen are freshmen are freshmen...I miss my high school kids, but I am enjoying the 47 I have now and getting to focus on just writing with them.

New School Year Resolutions...

2011-08-16T06:33:00.001-07:00

I feel like this is a better time to set out some goals, especially this year with so much newness.

Here it goes. Feel free to laugh at my idealism. Or scoff at my plans. But hey, goals are goals. Reach for the stars, right?

1. Spend 60 dollars a week on groceries. (So far, so good...four weeks in!)
2. Sunday as laundry day.
3. Pass the Spanish for Reading Knowledge translation exam some time this semester.
4. Write a new story a month.
5. Submit stories like crazy and get at least one of my thesis stories published. (Okay, I'd really like all of them published...but I will start with one!).
6. Read a book a week (Yeah, it's time to start this up again...).
7. Teach and study like crazy (I know goals are supposed to be specific and concrete, but this one works for me.
8. Try something new in Athens with the family every month.
9. Despite the hustle and bustle, enjoy this pregnancy - all of the kicks, the growing belly, even the bumpy topography of my veiny legs. And enjoy Riley and Adrian - their smallness, the cuddles, the stories and games, the mornings and bedtime routines. By December, they will both be infinitely older. It just happens.
10. Make new friends and keep in touch with my old friends and, of course, my family.

It feels good to have a list out there. Time to get to work on it!

Riley @ Her Funniest!

2011-08-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday @ the park:

(Shawn is pushing Adrian on the swing and pretending to get kicked by Adrian's feet each time the swing swings forward...)

Riley: Daddy, you are so funny. (Giggle.) You are so funny. (More giggling.) You are so freaking funny! (Runs away to play elsewhere.)

Today in the car:

Shawn: "The duck on the bus goes, 'quack,' 'quack,' 'quack.'

Riley: "Daddy, there's no duck on the bus!"

Shawn: "The dog on the bus goes, 'bark,' 'bark,' 'bark.'

Riley: "Daddy, there's no dog on the bus!"

Shawn: (Tries again with one or two more animals.)

Riley: "Dad. Is this an animal bus? No. This is a people bus."

Shawn: "Oh, sorry, Riley."

Riley: "Did you learn your lesson?"

Okay, seriously, these two moments were laugh-out-loud funny. And I am so proud that my three year old can use rhetorical questions and sarcasm in conversation. I guess I should admit that I have been trying to get her to say 'freaking funny' since she started talking. I say it all the time. Guess it's time to dial it down... I guess I should also admit that I was laughing while typing about these two moments, especially the second one. The bus lines are just. so. funny.

A Low-Key Anniversary...

2011-08-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

This year, to celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary, Shawn and I kept it simple:

1. Castle park with the kids.
2. Two bike rides around the driveway with Riley.
3. A stop at UGA to check out my office, print syllabi, and hike from my parking lot to Park Hall. Fun times.
4. LOTS of Settlers of Catan! (4 games!!)
5. Outback for Dinner, take-out style. My fav way to eat out these days. And we paid with a gift card...even better!
6. Ice cream at DQ!

So we spent a grand total of 9 dollars on our anniversary this year, but had a priceless day.

Shawn, thank you for an amazing adventure every day of the past seven years. Love you, Babe!

2+1...Here We Come!

2011-08-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

In one sense, this post is long overdue. In another, I think the timing is just right. Actually, I was going to wait a bit longer, but I'm too excited. So here it goes...

We're having another baby!

Yes, on top of moving and starting a PhD program/new jobs - we are soon going to be outnumbered! I can't wait!

And while the timing is crazy, it's actually perfect for us. Right now, it looks like I will be having the baby right after I finish up my first semester. Cool, right? Best early Christmas present ever!

Let's start at the beginning...

1. Late April: Decided to take a pregnancy test. Only had one period after weaning Adrian from breastfeeding. So not expected! Riley and Adrian each took about a year of trying. This time, I had recently accepted UGA's acceptance offer and my weight was a bit on the low side. I didn't even think pregnancy was a possibility. I was wrong. I set out the positive test for Shawn to see when he got his breakfast.

Shawn: What does this mean?
Me: What do you think it means?

Shock. Dumbfounded shock. For both of us. But that soon evaporated - with the help of support from mentors, friends, and mom, and we were left with happiness and excitement.

2. May-early June: Threw up once. Then a few weeks of crazy fatigue and nausea. One night, I had to have a California roll. The next night, seafood salad. My tastes were weird and wild.

3. June: Found out I have two clotting disorders. Went to see a hemotologist. Worst doctor's office I've ever been to. Started taking four extra vitamins per day and Lovenox shots to the love handles. By the way, my sides look polka-dotted with bruises now! Oh, and my veins are gross this time around. Seriously, I have palpable green veins and splotches of purple all over the backs of my legs. Hot, that's what that is!

4. July: Since I was up in Athens for the month, I had to miss my appointment this month. Fortunately, my mom's best friend let me borrow her doppler so I could at least check the baby's heartbeat. Such a lovely, lovely sound! I'm pretty good at finding the little bugger now. First time, I probably scanned for over an hour.

5. August 3: Felt the baby move for the first time. Oh, I love this part of being pregnant. My favorite thing by far. Since then, I've felt little taps and pushes pretty regularly. I hit 19 weeks yesterday, and this is a good two weeks earlier than I've ever felt movement. Very exciting.

6. Other info: I am just starting to pop a bit. I think I have gained 6-7 pounds so far. We have names for a boy and a girl, and we still don't know if we are going to find out the gender or wait to be surprised. I am trying to nail down a new doctor up here. The process has been more complicated than I thought it would. Hopefully, I will get in for my anatomy scan in the next couple of weeks.

So there you have it! We are so thankful and thrilled for this blessing. For now, I am savoring this pregnancy: hearing the baby's heartbeat, feeling little kicks, knowing a baby is growing inside me. At the same time, I am savoring Riley and Adrian: watching them play and interact, seeing them grow and learn, hugging and holding them as much as I can. It all passes too quickly, doesn't it? So for now, I'm savoring.

And warming up my juggling skills.

Fun, fun, fun...

2011-07-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

So what do we do in Athens for fun? Here's the breakdown:

For me...
Grocery shopping on a budget. For the last two weeks, we've purchased a Sunday paper for coupons and store ads. Then, I make a list of our meals and what we need to buy at what stores. Finally, we all pile into the car to hit the stores. Today, we just did Target, Kroger's, and Publix. Man, I love shopping like this. Get in, get out. Only spend 60 dollars a week. So good.

For Riley...
1. Running around naked at home.
2. Running around period. We planned different race courses inside and out tonight, and she had a ball.
3. Singing, dancing, and putting on shows. See the umbrella number below.
4. Wearing her brother's clothes. Yes, they still fit her!

For Adrian...
1. Climbing in the refrigerator.
2. Chasing balloons.
3. Waking up early...

For Shawn...
Figuring out a way to play Settlers of Catan with two players (and occasionally Riley). Okay, so this one counts for me, too, but it's a little on the dorky side. We've played four rounds in two nights, and the third player (a composite of me, Riley, and Shawn) has won twice. Twice! Still, we have a good time!

Enjoy the pictures, videos, and our dorkiness! I'm off to bed. School starts tomorrow for Shawn, Riley, and Adrian. It's going to be an early, crazy morning.

Newness

2011-07-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it! We moved to Athens, GA! We could not have done it without the help of Natasha, Walmir, and our neighbor Craig in G-ville and my parents in Athens. A thousand thanks yous!! And now, we are basically moved into our new place, and our home is ready to be rented. Actually, I think Shawn said it looked nicer than it did when we moved in! All good things! As you can tell by the plethora of exclamation marks, all of this makes me incredibly excited. I cannot believe I am going to be going back to school and teaching college students. Everything is falling into place, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the opportunities we have and our amazing family. There is so much to catch up on, so (surprise, surprise) here comes the list. Enjoy the pictures of our new place, too.

1. In the past two weeks, the air conditioner has broken down twice! Twice. I like it hot, even really hot, but it was too much. Fortunately, our home-owner is great, and he is working on a long-term fix.
2. Riley has started swim lessons at the YMCA. She loves it, too. She's been working on her strokes, diving for rings, swimming through hoola hoops, and having a ball. We are so proud of our little fish. Her coach said she's never seen a kid hold their breath for as long as Riley can.
3. Next to us, there is a rooster and a herd of dogs (okay, four). While Shawn and my dad were moving the furniture in, two of the dogs welcomed themselves into the house, too, and started licking a sleeping Riley. They are sweet dogs, but a little overwhelming for our little ones. And the rooster starts crowing at around 5am. That's fun.
4. We've discovered some great playgrounds so far and a community pool right down the road. This weekend, we're going to check out a baby and kid fair and the farmer's market.

Okay, Adrian is waking up from his nap, so time to upload some pictures. More updates to follow!

**A couple quick notes about the pictures...the outside home and pool pictures are from Gainesville. I took the kids for a quick swim that final morning before we piled in the car to drive up to Athens. The inside home and pool pictures are from Athens. The shelves are my recent purchases from Ikea. Love, love, love them. And the Keurig machine was a going-away/graduation gift from Caroline. Best appliance ever!! Thanks, Caroline!

My Bachelorette Life

2011-07-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

For the last two weeks, I have been up in Athens by myself starting my apprenticeship while Shawn and the kids have been packing and playing in Gainesville. The weeks have flown by despite the fact that I felt like part of me was missing. Here's a closer look at what my life as a Bachelorette has been like:

1. Waking up to an alarm in the morning, not tears or squirmy children.
2. Studying Spanish (yes, I am teaching myself how to read Spanish) for hours on end.
3. Writing for hours at a time.
4. Reading three books.
5. Daily (and increasingly lengthening) phone convos with Riley. Man, that girl can chat! I loved getting a full report of her day. Most sentences ended with a mom tacked onto the end. At the end of the talk, I would hear her ask Shawn, "Is that all?" and then she would get back on and say, "That's all." Too cute.
6. A marathon to Ikea for organizational equipment for our new house. Shawn was probably glad it was just me. I looked at EVERYTHING!! But it would have been nice to have his help dragging two carts to the car. To get the bookshelves out of the car at home, I literally had to pull right up to the garage and slide them out.
7. Meals: We don't have a microwave yet, so lunch and dinner are either stovetop pastas or skillet food like hotdogs. It is WEIRD only preparing one meal for one person.
8. Dishes: I go through three bowls, a pot, a frying pan, and silverware. I soak them during the day. Then I wash them at night. What ease!
9. When I want to shower, I can!
10. Nights: I have to admit that nights are tough. I'm alone in a big house, a little ways out of town. Seriously, every sound set me on edge! And I couldn't get over it. Literally, every night I freaked myself out whenever the dishwasher rumbled or the air kicked on. Crazy!
11. I am starting to find my way around town. I have a new route to my parking lot, and I know where Target is! I even drove past the Panera the other day. Good stuff.
12. Oh, and I guess I didn't mention what my furnishings have been. Thanks to my parents, I have an uber-comfortable air mattresses, a butterfly chair, a snack table, a folding chair, and a huge beanbag. And that's it!

But here's the weekend plan. I'm driving back to G-ville tonight, we're packing up the truck tomorrow, and then all of us are coming up to Athens on Sunday. I can't wait!! It has been nice to get through nine chapters of Spanish, tens of thousands of words in various stories and story-starts, three books, and a plan for teaching in the fall. But I miss the little voices. I miss the hugs and holding. I miss running errands with Riley and visiting parks. I miss chasing Adrian around the house and watching him back down stairs. I have missed so much. And I can't wait to start our life in Athens as a family.

A picture update is coming!! Stay tuned!!

Netflix upping the price twice in a year? Really??

2011-07-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

I know I have weeks of catching up to do. So much has been happening. But before I do that (hopefully sometime later this week), I need to rant. While eating a bowl of Reese's Puffs for dessert and scanning the Drudge Report online, I clicked on a link to a link that revealed an unsettling circumstance. Netflix will be raising the price on the plan we currently have: one movie at-a-time and unlimited online. Right now, we play 9.99 for this plan. Starting in September, that price will jump six dollars a month.

Are you kidding me?

In January, Netflix informed us that our currently plan, three at-a-time and unlimited online, would see a price increase. We talked to a customer service rep. to see if loyalty meant anything, but apparently being customers since 2004 when Shawn and I got married didn't really matter.

And actually, I was happy with the chance. One movie at a time is far more feasible for our busy lives, and we started saving five dollars a month. A win-win.

Skip to today. Now if we want to keep our plan, we need to think about spending almost six dollars more a month. Fine, I realize that is not a lot of money. The thing is, the economy is in a fragile spot right now, our lives personally will be seeing a lot of flux in the coming months (more on that later), and stock in Netflix has been...SOARING. When Shawn wanted to buy the stock in 2006, it was a whopping 16 dollars a share. Needless to say, we didn't go for it. At the beginning of the year, we considered buying Netflix again when it was a meager 100 dollars a share. Still, we didn't.

Guess where it is at today?

I just checked for you: 291. 291. 291. 291.

So clearly the company and shareholders are doing well. But I wonder if they aren't doing too well. I mean, the world is in financial turmoil, our own country's economic recovery is stalling, and Netflix thinks this is the right time to up the price? Why? At least explain the rationale in the courtesy email I received at 2:35 this afternoon. I thought, maybe it won't apply to me since I have been a member since 2004, and prices have already increased this year. But sure enough when I checked my account (after clicking into a section for see membership terms and details), I see a notice about the upcoming price jump.

I have loved Netflix. I have praised it to my family and my friends. I have urged random people on the street and through Facebook that Netflix is better than TV. It's better than sliced bread. Netflix has brought me Prison Break and Michael Scofield, Weeds and Desperate Housewives, Bones and Jersey Shore. When I can't sleep at 4am, I flip through Netflix. When I should be reading or grading, I'm usually watching Netflix. Netflix taught Riley Spanish (well, through Dora...)!

But now this. I am seriously thinking of canceling my membership. I am seriously thinking about spending 7.99 to sign-up for Hulu Plus. Then, we can Red-Box three movies and still only be at our current expenditure for entertainment: ten bucks.

I don't think I have ever used my blog to rant like this until now. Boy, it feels good!

If you are members and the price hike affects you and you didn't know about it, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Grrrr Netflix. I realize if I cancel my membership, the point I am making is a minute one. They surely have billions of customers by now. But I will share my displeasure with family and friends, random jaywalkers and Facebook friends. Maybe I will write a rambling blog post about it. I may call customer service when the wait time dips below ten minutes to complain (though probably not).

For now, I will question the company's timing and its loyalty to its customers. I will be bitter. I will read tonight (and if I wake up at 4am).

Hulu, here we come? Maybe.

Best Pool Party Ever!

2011-06-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to Irene and Natasha for hosting an amazing going away party for us at the pool Saturday night. We had such a great time! It was awesome hanging out with our closest friends in Gainesville all together. We celebrated with hot dogs, hamburgers, homemade salsa, watermelon, and M&M's. Then, Caroline brought an amazing cake from The Flour Pot Bakery. Delicious!! Jan also brought a homemade German chocolate cake for Shawn (his favorite!!). Needless to say, we did not go away hungry!

On our way to the pool, it had looked like rain was headed for us. But we lucked out, and the evening was beautiful. The water was even warm, and almost everyone ended up swimming!

I am going to miss the Da Costas, Kings, Seguras, Purvises, and Jan so much. Thank you all for your friendship and love these past few years. From watching our children and celebrating their births and birthdays to game nights and park play-dates and girls' nights: my heart is so full of good friends and good times. Thank you. We love you!

Enjoy the pictures from the shindig, compliments of Riley!

CAMP HARDING

2011-06-24T10:38:00.001-07:00

What a fun-filled week we've had! Last Saturday, we sat down with Riley to plan a week of camp activities and outings as a family. We didn't always stick to the plan, but we did pack the time full of new adventures and great family memories. Here's the run-down:

Last Sunday: The Segura family invited us to spend some time with them at the resort they were vacationing at for a few days. It was awesome! The resort featured at least a dozen pools, a water slide, a bounce house, the beach, and a beautiful condo where we ate lunch. We had a blast spending Father's Day with such a sweet and wonderful family.

On the way home, Shawn wanted to stop at Dairy Queen and then Subway for his Father's Day dinner. And for such a great Dad, of course we stopped!

Monday: Morning outing: Park and then library. In the afternoon, I hit the doctor's while Shawn and the kids painted rocks and a piggy bank. In the evening, Riley went to Caroline's church for Vacation Bible School. She had a ball. And learned that God created her. Not me, not Shawn, not panda bears, not the sun: just her.

Tuesday: Movie morning! Riley and I grabbed some candy and headed to the movies to see The Tale of Despereaux. She lasted an hour, and it was great getting to see her face when she first saw how BIG the movie screen was. That, and she is too light to keep the seat down when she sits at the back. Too cute. In the afternoon, we played Hi, Ho, Cherrio! Riley's new favorite game. At night, back to Bible School before heading over to Caroline's house to watch the Bachelorette (DVRed, of course). Riley was a terrific addition to our girls' night of milkshakes and ABC television. As a side note, I cannot express how much I am going to miss my Monday (or in this case Tuesday) nights with Caroline. We've hung out for at least the last four seasons of the Bachelor/Bachelorette, a Dancing with the Stars season, and some Greys. Our time together has been a week highlight for the last two-three years. Mondays have never been dreaded because I knew I would get to hang out with Caroline. I am so thankful for that time together. I am so thankful for her as a friend.

Wednesday: Bowling! Riley had a ball bowling a full ten frames, and scoring a 57! Adrian just liked wondering around the empty alley. In the afternoon, Riley and I made a family treat: Pizza Freet (we used to make it with my great grandma; basically, it's fried dough topped with powdered sugar). Riley also made her very first pizza!

Thursday: We have been meaning to get Riley a bike this summer, so we decided to make our outing this morning to ToysRUs. Riley loves her new Princess bike and Dora helmet. Then, we all went to BJ's for lunch! After nap-time, we played more family games (Memory and Hungry, Hungry Hippos!) and painted a sun-catcher.

Friday: We ended the week with Water Day! We trekked up to Alachua to visit the sprinkler park. Riley had a ball darting among the sprinklers, and Adrian chilled around the outskirts until venturing forth into the water sprays. Afterwards, we headed to the park there, now dubbed Dinosaur park by Riley. Good times! This afternoon, we'll get our naps on, and practice bike-riding before heading to the last day of Vacation Bible School.

Whew! I just hope my kids have had as much fun as I have had! Enjoy the pictures!

Changes...

2011-06-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here we go!

So much is going on, and I have so much to post about. Our lives are full and about to be awash with change. And change is tough. On the one hand, I am thrilled about starting the next chapter of our lives in Athens, Georgia. I cannot wait to continue pursuing my dream to be a teacher and a writer at The University of Georgia while I work on my Ph.D. in Creative Writing and English. I am excited for new restaurants, new adventures, new parks, new experiences, new friends, new inspiration, and new memories. But at the same time, this change makes me sad. We've been in Gainesville for five years, and that is the longest I have lived in any one place since I was in elementary and middle school. Here, I have a great group of girl friends, a great school to work at, and Chinese and pizza places in a Publix plaza minutes from our neighborhood. We even have a pool across the street. The decision-making process was hard, and I felt distracted and bi-polar for a couple of weeks. But, I have an amazingly supportive husband, and we decided to go for it, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Now, my days in Gainesville are numbered. I start in Athens on July 1st. Shawn and the kids will be moving up to join me in the middle of July. Come fall, I will be teaching two sections of Freshman Composition and taking a couple of classes. Everything is coming together, and we are trying to make the most of our time left in Gainesville to hang out with friends and hit our favorite spots. Boxes litter our house, and the kids are having a ball playing with packing material. They build and tear down foam houses. Their worlds are about to be rocked, but I know change will be good for them, too. I learned so much moving around throughout my childhood, and I am excited for my children to have the same learning experiences.

In Athens, we already signed our lease on a beautiful home on 1.5 acres. I will post pictures later this summer. We've already found a school for the kids, too.

So the adventure is about to begin. I will miss my friends dearly and Gainesville, too. Hello, Athens, here we come!

PS Enjoy the new pictures on my blog, courtesy of Cristi Lopez Photography. I just got them today. She captures something special in Riley and Adrian. Her photos take my breath away.

All About Adrian

2011-05-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Adrian turned one. I cannot believe that last year at this time, I was in the hospital with my little man, Shawn, Alli, my dad, Riley, and visiting friends. What a blur this year has been. And how grateful I am for Adrian in my life! Riley was an easy baby, but Adrian is easier. He has a mellow disposition, his default demeanor is a smile or laugh, and he seems to be bursting with energy, especially now that he is mobile. He now has three teeth, can clap, wave, and gobbles down pretty much any food you put in front of him. Balls are his favorite toy at the moment, and he's got a pretty good arm for a lil guy. I love his exciting run to me when he hears my voice at daycare. I love, love picking him up out of his crib in the morning to cuddle and smile together. I love watching him chase after Riley and sometimes run away. I love the way his hair poofs and grows and grows and grows. He fits our family so well and adds so much to it. Adrian, I love you so much. Happy birthday, kid!

Friends, thanks for celebrating with us at the park yesterday. Riley was my big helper. She mixed the cake, helped me decorate it, and watched as I prepared the tomato, basil, and mozzarella skewers. What can I say? The girl loves her parties!

School of Letters Graduation

2011-05-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

A week and a half ago, I returned to the University of the South for my graduation. I now hold my MFA in Creative Writing from Sewanee's School of Letters. The weekend is among my all-time favorite weekends ever, and here's why:

1. Family. I was thrilled to be surrounded by Shawn, Riley, Adrian, Allison, CE, Claire, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma Toni, Aunt Marybeth, Uncle Scott, and Brendan (who was a surprise guest! He flew in Saturday morning! So cool!) What a crew! It was awesome to have so many family members around me to celebrate graduation and enjoy a weekend on the mountain. Thank you all for coming! It meant so much to me!

2. The School of Letters. It was great to see John Grammar, Meg Binnicker, and nine of my classmates. Yes, we, the SOL class of 2011, all stood out as the old ones among a sea of undergrads, but it was great to catch up with everyone and hear about the exciting changes in their lives (new jobs, new babies, etc.). And John and Meg are two individuals I admire so much. They are wonderful, warm-hearted people. I am so glad I had the chance to celebrate with them and thank them for everything these past five years. Our School of Letters party was an excellent way to cap off a great weekend.

3. Dinner at High Point. I think it was my second summer at Sewanee that I had dinner with a guest speaker and a group of speakers at High Point. I knew then that I wanted my graduation dinner to be there, and I cannot believe that dinner has already come and gone! But we had a great time! A three-hour meal filled with conversation, and laughs, and good food. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for an amazing celebratory dinner!

4. Sewanee Adventures. Though the weekend was short, I still had the chance to go to Stirlings, the bookstore, the Lemon Fair, and a new ice cream place in Sewanee. We also enjoyed fried pies and live music at the Smokehouse! I feel so whole and full when I am on the Domain. As we were driving up Friday night, I could feel my excitement grow. I told Shawn that Sewanee was my favorite place to be. I hope one day to get back there.

5. The ceremony. Sewanee's Commencement Ceremony is mostly in Latin. So cool! Shawn and Dad "walked" with me to receive my diploma and hood, while the rest of the gang watched the kids and the ceremony from big screen televisions. The speeches were solid, and I especially enjoyed the Vice Chancellor's parting words for the graduates. He talked about Memory and Hope, and how those forces work to make life meaningful. I also really enjoyed the hymns. Two interesting observations about Sewanee undergrads - they leave their robes open and they don't wear caps. All in all, the ceremony was beautiful, and I cannot express how great it felt to walk out among the cheering faculty proudly holding my diploma and wearing my MFA hood.

It is hard to believe I started Sewanee in a dorm room without any kids. My mom was the first to stay with me. We spend a week filled with walks to the Blue Chair, evenings rocking at the dorm, nights watching House, and adventures all over the area. What a great start! By the end of my time, I brought two children to the Domain, Shawn stayed the whole summer, family visited frequently, we had a weekly basketball game, I had read thousands of pages (a couple thousand in the last summer alone!), I had written nine stories and six major essays, and Sewanee felt like home. I am so fortunate to have such a supportive husband. Thanks, Babe, for making my dream possible.

These past five years have inspired, challenged, and fulfilled me. I am not only a better writer and reader and thinker now, but a better person. To my family, to Sewanee, to the School of Letters, to my peers, to my teachers (especially Ellen and Michael), thank you!

Now I have a thesis to publish and new adventures in the near, near future. Stay tuned...

Life with Little Ones

2011-05-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

We've been really busy, and pretty soon, I will update on our summer plans. For now, please enjoy the following pictures. These are just a few random shots from recent weeks and our trip to the beach for Mother's Day. I had to put a picture of sad Adrian on here because he is usually so happy. Oh, and Riley's scrunched face is her boy face.

This weekend, we had back to Sewanee for my graduation. Can't wait to get back to the domain.

Recent Happenings of Riley and Adrian

2011-05-04T10:29:00.001-07:00

Riley:

1. She can't wait to teach Adrian everything. We've made a list. So far, she wants to teach him how to cover his mouth when he coughs, how to say yes and no, and how to have manners.

2. She has been really into plants recently. She loves watering them and talking about what they need: dirt, water, sunlight, and singing.

3. Eating. I occasionally will get yelled at if I do not put enough food in her lunch. And when we get close to running out of something she enjoys, she is quick to remind us that we have to get more at the store. Fortunately, she also knows that most things we don't buy unless they are on sale.

4. Videos. She asks me to film her all the time! She tries to think of funny things to do and loves to sing with the camera on. It's awesome.

5. Circle time. She tries to get me and Adrian to sit in a circle with her for story-time. Adrian and I get reprimanded if we talk or laugh, though. "You need to be quiet or I'm not going to read this story to you, Mommy." Cracks me up.

6. She started calling me Mama again, and I love it. Of course she usually uses it when she wants something, but it is so cute. I thought those Mama days were behind her. So glad they are not!

Adrian:

1. Now he can stand up straight from a sit.

2. Finally, his second tooth came through!

3. This week, he's been gobbling down ham. We also started trying him on whole milk.

4. He loves to play in the little yard pool that we have. He climbs in and out, and usually that involves a face-first plunge into the dirt. Pictures to come! He is such a boy!

Really Walking Now...

2011-05-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

So last weekend marks Adrian's official jump into the walking world at 10 months and 3 weeks. Riley beat him by only a couple of weeks. It is so funny to see him make his way down the hallway by himself now. Enjoy the videos!

The Riley Show!

2011-04-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Singing Riley

2011-04-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

How to Ski with a Toddler...

2011-04-18T13:20:00.001-07:00

1. Rent super small boots and borrow lots of cold weather gear from friends with older children.

2. Tell toddler about the magic carpet and her special super-fast snow shoes.

3. Take toddler up the gondola to the top of the mountain.

4. Wear your second baby bundled in a bjorn on your chest.

5. Send your husband off to ski a blue with his buddy.

6. Have toddler melt down in the middle of the mountain.

7. Offer lunch and snacks and think about trying again with husband present.

8. Eat.

9. Re-bundle toddler and attempt to put skis back on her feet.

10. Watch sobbing child writhe in the snow.

11. Return to the gondola and travel down the mountain.

12. Take more pictures of toddler, now in a state of miserable calm.

13. Head to Starbucks for hot chocolate with a now happy toddler wearing shoes and upside down sunglasses.

14. Enjoy THIS aspect of skiing immensely.

15. Nod your head when toddler tells you she wants to try skiing again, but this time she promises she won't cry.

16. Esteem your daughter's resilience and plan to try again next year.

Yes, I'm a little behind with this post. I have a few major updates coming, but I wanted to make sure I posted about this experience. And get ready for some fun videos as soon as I figure out how to fix the orientation.

What a Weekend!

2011-04-10T05:56:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday, Allison came to town!

On Thursday, my parents arrived.

On Friday, CE came flew in, too.

Our house was packed, our days were full, and I could not have asked for a better weekend!

It was awesome having my family in town to celebrate Riley's birthday. Yeah, we put them to work around the yard, too, but we traded labor for milkshakes. It all worked out! Mom, Dad, Alli, and CE - thank you for all of your help and love! We had such a wonderful time and hope you did, too!

Here are some highlights of the trip!

1. Tour of the parks - we hit spinny park (where everything spins) on Thursday night for a picnic dinner. Hampstead Park on Friday for Riley's party with her school friends. And fish park on Saturday for a rousing game of whiffle ball and some playground play.

2. Riley's party. This year, Riley wanted a dino and lizards party - and, she wanted to invite her school friends. We had a great get-together with four of her class friends, played three awesome games, ate lots of cake and pizza and dino food (grapes, pretzels, and candy), and had a ball. Alli made an awesome dino cake, we had a dino egg hunt, played ring toss around the stegosaurus spikes, and popped balloons to find the little lizard and dino. So much fun. I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids. Good times.

3. Yard work. We filled 31 bags of leaves and piled sticks and branches taller than Riley. Our front yard and back yard look so much cleaner now. Shawn and I still have a lot of work to do, but, wow, the yard is looking good!

4. More Catan. Yes. Of course. We played Catan every night! I even won a game!!

Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Birthday, Riley!!

2011-04-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe my sweet, sweet girl is 3 today. More to come...

Trade a wood for a sheep?

2011-04-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

My new favorite/least favorite game: Settlers of Catan.

Shawn received this game as a Christmas present. You need at least three people to play, so we cannot just play by ourselves. We played a lot of the holidays, and we played a TON in Colorado. The game is simplistic and strategic, always changing, interactive, and completely entertaining. One round takes about an hour. The goal is to attain 10 victory points. You get build settlements and cities and roads. You can trade or choose not to trade. You can rob your friends and block off their resources. Oh, so much fun!

But, I am horrible! Seriously, I won once the entire week! I would love to retire and never play again, but I can't give it up. On my life list, I need to add "Become an Ultimate Settler of Catan," which would entail winning much, much more frequently.

The thing is, the game depends on dice rolling, and the probability gods HATE me. I think. That's the best explanation I can come up with at this point. I mean seriously...I position myself on 6 and 8...11 and 3 are rolled. I go for 5 and 4...and the game is all about 9 and 10. Grrrrr.

If you haven't played, you should! As far as strategy goes, I recommend Sheep land (position yourself to only receive sheep and then trade it in at the sheep port). This tactic has worked against me more than I care to admit (Thanks, Clay!).

Videos from CO

2011-04-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Enjoy these little moments of Riley at her best. Not sure why they are sideways, and not sure how to fix it. Good thing Riley is adorable at any angle. Love, love her pirate-ness!

First, an explanation and pictures...

2011-04-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Instead of one massive post about our adventures in Colorado, I'm going to tackle our trip in mini-series form. I'll start with pictures here, and then I will post about different aspects of the trip. Get ready for posts on Settlers of Catan, D&D, skiing with a toddler, and more! I'm excited to break it down. Hopefully, I will get through everything in time for Riley's third birthday, which is coming up on Thursday!

I will say we had a great time!! Riley and Adrian matured so much after a week of hanging out with older kids, and we all had a blast. Clay and Krista, thank you for everything! Connor and Amara, thanks for being so entertaining and helpful and cute! We miss you all already.

An Update from the Wild West with Bullets:

2011-03-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

Get it...wild west...bullets... 1. Adrian almost has a tooth! Yes, his first one is about to break the surface. 2. Adrian has probably walked 2o steps on his own (2-4 at a time...ending with a fall). 3. Because roads were rough today, we played Settlers of Catan ALL DAY. A solid seven rounds. I won one! Love this game!! 4. Checked out the Denver Natural History museum yesterday. Awesome stuff. Dinosaurs and moon rocks and more! 5. So far, we've had an awesome time hanging out with Clay and Krista and their two kids. Later this week, we are planning a ski day, a trip to Rocky Mt. National Park, the Zoo, an adult night out, and gaming galore! Oh, how I love spring break!

Spring Cleaning - Gadgets You Can Get Rid Of - NYTimes.com

2011-03-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Spring Cleaning - Gadgets You Can Get Rid Of - NYTimes.com

What do you think of this list of gadgets to keep and lose?

I still have a desktop - and so does my husband. But I am looking into buying a new ultraportable (think Lenova's Thinkpad...) and an iPad soon. Yes, I am definitely moving in this direction.

We still need Internet at home, as our phones are dumb (get it...not smart...).

Cable TV: haven't had it for years!

Camera and camcorder: still have them and use them and love them.

Thumb drive: I just email files!

I have an iPod Shuffle for working out. Never had an iPod, and now I probably never will!

Alarm clock: Nope, we use our phones!

GPS: Nope. I print directions from mapquest!

Books: Still reading the real deal. Maybe once I get my iPad, that will change...

Just cool to see the products we have now and the way technology has changed our lives in just a few short years. And it keeps getting faster. Crazy. Singularity, here we come!

Two Children on a Plane.

2011-03-25T06:06:00.001-07:00

Maybe not quite as exciting or scary as snakes on a plane, but tonight promises to be an adventure! We are taking the kids to visit friends in Denver for spring break. The last time we headed out West, Riley was turning one, and we met Alli and CE in Oregon at a resort there. I can't wait to see some mountains and hang out with our good friends, Clay and Krista. And this vacation is much needed after turning in my thesis on Monday. My plan is to start reading again (thanks, Irene, for the books!!).

I may be able to blog from Denver, but if not, I'll be back in about a week with stories and pictures!

Cheers!

Consignment Stock-up!

2011-03-24T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here's what I got for 15 dollars at a mega-consignment sale on Saturday:

7 pairs of shorts for Adrian

1 pair of pants

2 shirts

1 jacket

1 jumper

3 shirts for Riley

I was super pumped! The kids looked really nice all dudded out this morning.

Write a Collection of Short Stories. Check.

2011-03-21T05:18:00.001-07:00

Collection Title: The Milk Tree.

Last night, I stayed up until 3:00 to finish my creative thesis. Now I am one step closer to completing my MFA from Sewanee University's School of Letters. I read through the 144 page document in its entirety from 10 until 3, and now it has been sent to my advisor and I am done. For now. Hopefully, this body of work will be in print one day. That's the goal. But for now, I am just so happy it is written. 48,982 words. Over 200,000 characters.

In case you are wondering what a creative thesis is and what goes into it, here's some info:

In our School of Letters Catalogue, this is how the thesis is described:

"All M.F.A. students must complete a thesis. This is a substantial creative

manuscript: a novel or sustained nonfiction narrative, a collection of short stories

or essays, or a collection of poems. Length for the M.F.A. thesis may be anywhere

from 80 to 200 pages of prose or 40 to 50 pages of poetry.

Work on the thesis for either program may begin at any time after required

course work has been completed. The thesis is written under the supervision of an

advisor, chosen by the candidate, who may be any willing member of the School of

Letters faculty. As the project nears completion, a second reader will be appointed

by the Director of the School of Letters. When the thesis has been completed and

conditionally approved, the candidate for the degree will submit to a one-hour oral

examination conducted by the advisor and second reader."

In real life, that looks like this:

1-2 marathon writing sessions every weekend at Panera (literally, 4 hours!) from October to March.
Writing after school most days (1-2 hours). I gave up working out this year.
Writing before school (wake up - 5am) when I could wake up.
Writing at night (after the kids when to bed) when I could stay awake.
Writing A LOT on holidays (mini-break, Christmas break, Thanksgiving break). Panera was empty with out the UF students, and I would spend 5-7 hours writing there or at school.
Lots of coffee (at Panera and at school)!
Endless preoccupation with characters, their problems, their struggles, their successes, their conversations, and story titles.
Editing, revising, and cutting. I literally halved a story from its first submission to now.

And somehow, I got it done despite my adorable children, 80 students and a full workday, SGA events, family, friends, and GOLD. Family and friends, thank you for your support. Thank you, readers! Actually, writing a book is a lot like raising a child. It takes a village. It drained me. It exhilarated me. And even sleep-deprived, I loved every. single. second.

Say What?

2011-03-19T05:19:00.000-07:00

Last night -

Riley: I don't like to take baths.
Me: What about a shower?
Riley: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, nope.
Me: Then how are you going to get clean?
Riley: I can use a wipey!

The other night -

Riley picked up a stick on our walk. Then she proceeded to announce in her best announcer voice:

"Ladies and Genitals!"

This she repeated all the way home. Shawn and I could not stop laughing!

Bill on teacher pay, tenure goes to Gov. Scott

2011-03-18T10:32:00.001-07:00

Florida House lawmakers passed an overhaul of the way teachers are evaluated and paid | Gainesville.com

Will someone please explain this to me? Merit pay based on standardized test scores? Are you kidding me? Yes, our country needs more great teachers. Yes, the education system we have is flawed and falling behind.

This is not the fix.

I do think districts should have a way to get ineffective teachers out (or at least require them to work on their skills, lessons, etc.). But to base it on standardized tests is ridiculous. Test scores should not be the only measure. That puts too much weight on a test. Education is about so much more than that.

I am happy I teach at an independent school.

Birthday Plans and Baby Talk

2011-03-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

Robert Lane Greene on Language Sticklers

2011-03-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, I'm kind of obsessed with language. This is a really interesting article about the decline of language and the simultaneous rise of writing and literacy. As an English teacher, I struggle with teaching a generation of texters to speak and write well - and understand grammar and the mechanics of writing. It's not easy sometimes.

I am curious to see how technology will continue to influence and change our language. Even already, Google has morphed into a verb. iPod is like Band-aid, and represents all mini music playing devices. And don't even get me started on all of the abbreviations we have now as a result of online chatting and texting.

And while it can be frustrating, I do like that more people are reading and writing. I just hope they learn to write well because the connection between idea expression and thought is critical. Without language, how does an idea exist? How can you even think it? Ah, my mind is spinning...

Faces

2011-03-15T07:11:00.001-07:00

This weekend, Riley received a new backpack from some family friends, complete with a sleeping bag. It was the perfect present for her right now. She really wanted pictures with her new gear, so I asked her to show off her different faces. The next Zoolander.

Also this weekend, Adrian received his first battle scar. That is, he pulled himself up on Riley's baby stroller and poked himself in the eye with one handle. What a tough little man. He makes some funny faces, too.

Me and My Babies

2011-03-11T17:52:00.000-08:00

And a couple of quick stats, a story, and some pictures:

1. At his nine month appointment, Adrian weighed 18.5 pounds and measured 27 inches long. That means he is in the 16th percentile for weight and the 9th percentile for height. Yeah, he's a little guy.

2. Still, the boy has no teeth!

3. In one sitting, he can eat a whole banana and a handful of beans.

4. After I ran into our bed last night (literally), Riley comforted me. She said, "It's okay, Mommy. I have Band-aids for you. Come lay down, and I will read to you." Then she read me the story Go, Dog, Go. She probably had over half of the pages right. It was so exciting to see her think about what was happening on the pages and try to "read."

Enjoy the following pictures. Riley wanted to wear a dress to the park the other day when my mom was visiting. Here are her Marilyn Monroe shots! Oh, and a few from our muffin-baking adventure the other day.

Ten Days...

2011-03-10T07:11:00.001-08:00

That's all the time that remains until my thesis is due. Those nine days cannot pass quickly enough because I need my head to stop swarming with all these characters and their stories. Those nine days will pass entirely too quickly because I don't know if it will be ready. I mean, of course it will. I know I will put in the time to get my collection of eight stories to the best place I can get them. And I suppose after that, I just have to trust in my readers and my writing. Still, it scares me to be so close to finishing. I want this book to be publishable. I want these stories to be good. Meaningfully good. Beyond my children and the relationships in my life, this is the best thing I have ever created. And I am proud. And tired.

I don't really talk a lot about writing, and what writing means to me. For me, it just is. It's what I do for long hours on the weekend and at five o'clock in the morning and on nights when I can keep my eyes open past nine and after school when I used to work out or run errands. This year of writing and working on my collection of short stories has taught me so much about myself and writing and the world. It excites me and pains me. I see things differently because I write. I read differently. I teach differently. I probably love differently. I think it makes me a better friend, a better parent, a better teacher, and a better wife. Writing often feels like a confrontation, and every time I sit down to write and work through a word, a passage, a page, or a story, I think I grow a little.

I hope one day, my children will have the opportunity to follow their passions and their dreams. I hope they will learn to work hard and go after the success they desire. I hope they will learn to think creatively and deeply. And I hope they will know that success is not achieved in isolation. Without my thesis advisor, my writing teachers, my workshop peers, my readers (especially Shawn, my Dad, Brendan, and Jamie), all the authors I have read and admired, and support from my family and friends, I wouldn't be on the verge of finishing my collection. I completely understand why authors need a full page for acknowledgements. Throughout this whole process (working towards my MFA and writing my thesis), Shawn has been so supportive. He encourages me when I become self-conscious of my work. He watches the kids so I can work. I couldn't do this without him. Thanks, Babe.

When I was a kid, I dreamed about writing a book. Now I'm ten days away. The homestretch.

Yes, I Stalk Blogs

2011-03-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article in the New York Times online about Heather Armstrong, Queen Mommy Blogger. Wow. I didn't realize the blogging world was so affluent! I didn't realize it was so dramatic. I mistakenly assumed moms blogged the way I did - to keep in touch with friends and family and document the adventures of your little ones and your life.

That being said, the phenomenon of mommy blogs fascinates me. So much so that it is the topic of one of my stories for my thesis. I consider my blog stalking research. At the same time, I enjoy looking into the lives of others for reasons beyond my writing. I love reading about women finding out they are pregnant. I am overjoyed when I find out their babies are born and everyone is home, happy and healthy. I am devastated when I hear about an unexpected diagnosis of disease. I am sad when I read about women experiencing broken bones or broken spirits. My heart is lifted when birthdays are celebrated or babies take their first steps. I am curious about the time saving tips they have to share. I enjoy following other women follow their passions. I would like to be friends with some of them. Online, it's like a perpetual multimedia girls night. I'm happy and proud to be part of that party.

If you are stalking or lurking here, welcome!

Adrian Goes Mobile

2011-03-05T07:37:00.000-08:00

What we're up to...

2011-03-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

1. Shawn is in DC with his students this week. That means I'm tired. I have managed to get to school early every day, which is something. I eat dinner standing up and usually holding Adrian. Friday, please get here soon! Shawn, we miss you!
2. Strawberry shortcake with Caroline yesterday!
3. Park with Irene and Natasha today!
4. Thesis deadline (aka a complete, publishable draft of my collections of eight stories - March 21st. Yup. I'm a bit stressed. But it is coming along. I am getting better at self-editing and thinking through my stories. I cannot wait to have it finished, but I cannot imagine getting to that point either. So exciting.
5. End of the third nine weeks at school. Grading, grading, grading.
6. Riley reminded me that we couldn't buy blueberries because they weren't on sale.
7. Adrian started walking around the house with a walker.
8. I am almost two full weeks into Jillian Michael's thirty-day shred. I worked out six days last week, and already five this week. It feels so good to sweat a bit. Usually, my workout involves laundry and dishes. But I need more workouts. I feel better even after just 11 days. Now if only I could have Jillian's body...

A Riley Update!

2011-02-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

So an update on Riley is better suited to stories and pictures. Enjoy!

1. The other night, Riley worried about ants in the bed. Shawn was out, so she was sleeping over with me, but she did not want to get in the bed. So as I am brushing my teeth, she climbs up on our eight-inch headboard, and camps out. She was still there an hour later when Shawn came home despite a ton of coaching from me to "come down from there!" That's when she decides she is going to sleep on the headboard. And not even five minutes later, she was out!

2. In the car, I sometimes talk to other cars, so I can make it through a light or pull out of the school or just drive at a decent speed. The other day, I said, "C'mon...go, go, go" to the sedan in front of us, and Riley responded with "You need to be patient, Mommy. I always tell you, you need to be patient."

3. Riley went with me the other morning to buy a few bagel packs from Panera for my students who helped run GOLD this year. Now she's hooked! Yesterday morning, she wanted to go to Panera for a "milkshake and bagel" after gymnastics. Girl after my own heart. Who knew fondness for Panera was genetic? Her new fav is my current fav: whole grain bagel with butter. It was so nice getting to sit down just the two of us with our bagels and the smoothie we split to chat about the nice day and Adrian and gymnastics and school. I know how much I cherish those coffee shop outings with my parents, and I am so happy to start enjoying them with Riley.

4. When she talks about her friends at school, Riley commonly refers to her peers as students.

5. She has started to pull out books at home and ask the rest of us to sit down for circle time, so she can read to us. Future English teacher??

6. She is becoming so communicative. She comments on how beautiful the day is, tell us what she likes about her brother ("He's cute, except he gets my toys."), discusses plans for her birthday ("dinosaurs and lizards, and strawberry pizza and banana cake"), and shares what she is looking forward to about turning three ("I'll get a new car seat and be able to reach everything!").

7. She's proud that she can buckle the middle buckle of her car seat. She can color in between the lines. She knows how to operate a DVD player and dress herself. She hates getting her hair brushed, and I really hope that's a phase because her hair is getting so long and beautiful. She gives big hugs and kisses, and she is so gentle with her brother.

8. And except for some naps and nighttime, she is potty-trained!

An Adrian Update

2011-02-16T06:35:00.001-08:00

Favorite Foods -
Bananas
Peas
Toast
Cheerios
Sweet Potatoes

Favorite Noises to Make -
Ba-ba
Ga-ga
Ma-ma
Endless babbling
Occasional shrieks and screeches when he gets really excited

Favorite Moves -
Crawling all over the house (his hands make the cutest slapping noises on the tile)
Crawling right over to where Riley is!
Pulling himself up on our pant legs
Pulling himself up, period!

Favorite Objects to Put in His Mouth -
Wii remotes
Banana peels
Socks

Least Favorite Things -
Laying down for diaper changes
Getting put in his car seat
Baby food purees

Riley's update requires a few recent photos. Hopefully, I will have it up tonight.

GOLD: A Fourth Fantastic Event!

2011-02-13T15:47:00.001-08:00

Last night/this morning, we had GOLD at Oak Hall. GOLD stands for Girls Overnight Leadership Development. For more info, check my post from last February. I feel so strongly about this program. It is such a wonderful way of encouraging girls to be proud of themselves and develop their self-confidence. I went through GOLD as an eighth grader at North Allegheny, I brought the program to Jamestown High School with my twin sister when we were seniors, and now GOLD is at Oak Hall. What a journey! And yes, it is a lot of work. And yes, it is hard to stay up ALL NIGHT. But when I look around at a group of eighth grade, junior, and senior girls having a ball and confronting some major issues they may face in the coming years with poise and maturity, I am overwhelmed.

Seriously, someone give me a grant so I can bring GOLD to schools across the country! I would, in a heartbeat (and continue to write on the side, of course!). The transition between middle and high school is fragile, delicate - especially for girls. GOLD provides a bridge. I love being a part of that.

This year's highlights:
1. Zumba at midnight
2. Dance game on the wii
3. Crazy cookie decorating
4. Tie-dyed shirts
5. Spending time with an amazing group of young women!

New Car!!

2011-02-11T10:21:00.000-08:00

Tuesday: Shawn backs into a tree at school.

Wednesday: See if it is better to trade-in smashed vehicle for new car with a better interest rate and awesome financing deals. Riley loved climbing into all the vans and trucks and cars at the dealership. Cutest thing ever!

Thursday: Get a new 2011 Rav4, essentially for 13,000 dollars. Not too bad! And I love it! Silver and beautiful and clean!

PS I will start posting pictures again soon! Promise.

Ray Kurzweil: My New Obsession!

2011-02-03T05:21:00.000-08:00

Ray Kurzweil on how technology will transform us | Video on TED.com

Okay, so obsession might be a bit strong, but I do find this guy fascinating! He came to speak at UF a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't go (weeknight, two kids, not happening!). I am really bummed I missed hearing him speak in person. Last night, I watched him speak on TED, and I also caught a more recent presentation of his on youtube from an IBM conference in 2010. He's a futurist, and his predictions for technological advancements in my lifetime are unbelievable.

The next book I buy will most likely be his.

Here are his most recent titles to check out:

The Singularity is Near (2006)
Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever (2010)

In college, I read a book about paradigm shifts, and I am drawn to the concept in literature as well as in real life. In literature, paradigm shifts of sorts occur when writers have to reinstate meaning in language after traumatic events (like the Holocaust, slavery in America). So fascinating!

Just wanted to share.

Two things...

2011-01-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

1. Haircut! So totally spur of the moment, I booked a hair cut for tonight earlier today! I love it! I so needed something different, and this is perfect, a bit shorter, but not too short. Love how much better I feel about myself. So revitalizing!!

2. And more importantly, Adrian (we think) is totally saying "mama." At least, I am going to count it as his first word. The last couple of days, he will call mamamamamamama and crawl to me! So cutecutecutecute.

PS I was going to post a picture, but I look way too tired! Picture TBP (To be posted...).

Birthday Gifts Galore!

2011-01-24T05:39:00.001-08:00

1. Girls night out! Last Wednesday, I went out with six amazing women to celebrate my birthday at Sabore! What a great night! Thanks Caroline, Irene, Natasha, Julie, Generosa, and Codie for making my birthday so special! I have awesome friends. Seriously. Most of these ladies have seen me at my absolute worst (aka sobbing, crying, angry, venting...etc.), and I don't know what I would do without their support, encouragement, kindness, generosity, and love. Their friendship makes me a better friend, a better person.

2. An awesome journal from Caroline and two delicious chocolate bars and a Barnes and Noble gift card from Irene! Love, love, love.

3. Triple-layer carrot cake from Caroline. I think I have personally scarfed down half of it already! So good!

4. Sick! From Shawn. Spent the whole weekend in bed. Thanks, Babe. Love you, too!

5. Money towards my new ultraportable and iPad!! Thanks Shawn and Mom and Dad and Grandma Toni!! Eeeekk. That's me being excited about my upcoming purchases. Just waiting to check out this season's ultraportables (esp. Lenovo's Thinkpad coming out in February) and the second generation iPad.

6. Panera giftcard! Thanks Mom and Dad! Going to head to my favorite writing destination tonight for dinner and thesis work! Can't wait!

7. Bath and Body Works Giftcard. Thanks Aunt Barb! I am pumped to stock up on sweet smelling soaps and wall-flower refills! Wahoo!!

8. Facebook greetings! My wall was packed with birthday wishes! So exciting!!

9. Cards from Shawn and the kiddos. Thanks, Babe! The cards were adorable and so funny!!

10. Cards from Bren and Libby and Aunt Lynne. Thanks for the birthday greetings! Thanks for thinking of me!!

Wow. 28. Here's to another awesome year. Wouldn't mind this year bringing a published collection of short stories and a new baby...I'm just saying....:)

Upright!

2011-01-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

Another Milestone...

2011-01-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

For the first time (and hopefully the last), Riley stuck something up her nose!

A Cheerio.

Never a dull moment, eh?

Milestones

2011-01-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

1. Adrian started crawling over Christmas break.
2. He started pulling himself up into a stand this past week.
3. He got his first haircut.

Pictures of our stud will be coming soon. He's sleeping now...

Put a Rainbow in the Sky

2011-01-11T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here's my conversation with Riley on the way home today.

Riley: "We need to put a rainbow in the sky. First, we need our butterfly wings so we can flap our wings and put the rainbow in the sky. Then we can color it with my crayons."

Me: "Where are we going to get a rainbow."

Riley: "From the store. We need to get it from a new store. First we have to build the store. We'll have to buy a small rainbow."

Me: "Then we can use Daddy's air pump to blow it up."

Riley: "That's a good idea, Mommy. We'll buy a small rainbow and then we can pump it up with Daddy's pump. Then we can flap our butterfly wings and put it in the sky. We need to get sticky tape too so we can put it in the sky. Then we can color it with my crayons.

Me: "That sounds like a great plan, Riley."

Riley: "First, we'll buy a small rainbow and sticky tape. Then we have to put it in the sky. We'll need to build a butterfly so we can get our butterfly wings. Then we'll flap our wings so we can put the rainbow in the sky with sticky tape. Then we'll color it with my crayons. And you can help, and Daddy, and Adrian."

Me: "I like family projects."

Riley: "We need to put the rainbow in sky so it won't rain anymore."

Okay, how cute is that! And creative! Oh, and just prior to this conversation, I was grumbling about a car in front of me who was braking for a green light. So Riley says, "It's okay, Mommy. You just need to have patience." Seriously, she used patience appropriately in a sentence! I love this girl!

Pages...

2011-01-11T11:56:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I thought I would try to enhance my blog a bit for the New Year. I added a page on which you can ask me questions, and another page on which you can access my published stories. Pretty cool, huh? Now all I need is a new picture of me and Shawn! Yeah, the one of me in my swimsuit has been up for far too long!

This and That: A Week in Review

2011-01-09T17:51:00.001-08:00

Has it really just been a week since we returned home from our holiday trip to the North? Are we really 9 days into the New Year? Here's how we have filled that time...

1. Not feeling well...But fortunately, it was just me who was kinda sick and really, really tired. When I'm home, I don't really sleep all that much because I want to spend as much time as possible with my family. That means trying to get up with my parents in the am and staying awake with my siblings in the pm. And no naps. I think I was just spent after the holidays. My energy seems to be picking up now. Thank goodness. I want to enjoy these final two weeks of being 27!

2. Adrian tries toast! So the boy doesn't seem too fond of baby food. I've tried lots of it - yellow stuff, green stuff, orange stuff, fruit. He twists and turns and keeps his mouth sealed! But bitty pieces of toast he can shovel into his mouth - he loved it! So exciting! Messy, but exciting!

3. Adrian on the move. Adrian is too funny when it comes to movement. He does this pseudo-crawl thing that is part crawl, part bear scamper, part slither. He loves to roll into a sitting position, and he is starting to get really good at pulling himself into a stand. Uh, oh! :)

4. Riley and Adrian interacting. I am completely in awe of the whole sibling love thing. I mean, these kids LOVE each other. Riley gives kisses, sings Adrian to sleep, helps change his diapers, makes him laugh...and Adrian cannot get enough of Riley. If she is sitting on the floor, he wants to get to her. Whatever she has, he wants. If she's in the room, he cannot take his eyes off her. So cute.

5. Another thesis submission done! That means, just one more submission with new material before its time to turn the whole book around for a sixth and final submission before my second reader comes on board. I spent four hours at Panera writing this morning (okay, and eavesdropping...but that's what writers do!). I don't know where the time went. It felt so good to be in the zone!

6. Riley so into sports! This week, we've played basketball, soccer, basketball/soccer, and balloon volleyball. And we've run a couple of races. The girl sure plays hard!

7. Riley, the Boss. Already, she seems to be exerting leadership skills. She gave me three choices the other night (ride the car, ride the scooter, or sit on the bed). She orders Shawn to "Stay right here. You don't go anywhere." She tells him to "be nice to Mommy" (love that one!). She proposes a situation and then asks, "Is that a good deal?" And she even establishes an schedule: "after I eat my chicken, then I can have a Popsicle." I cannot believe how with it she is!

8. On the flip side, Riley and her emerging fears. Lately, she has been big on sounds. Usually, everything is okay as long as we explain every noise that surprises her, but she is really not a fan of Shawn's slingshot monkey and the screech it makes as it flies through the air.

7. A cleaner house. Okay, so it took a week, but I finally got my suitcase unpacked. And Shawn took down the tree. And we put away our Christmas decorations and new presents. And we did the laundry. And dishes. And straightened up a TON. Okay, so we still have some work on the bathrooms and our bedroom, but now that most of the house is clean, I feel like I can breathe again.

8. Internet research. Okay, so I am in the market for a new laptop. I would really like an ultraportable as my birthday and graduation gift from everyone in my family, and so I have been researching like mad online. I had my eye on a MAC, but now I'm thinking I might get a less expensive, more portable machine and also get an iPad. If anyone has an thoughts or opinions, I am all ears. I like the Toshiba Satellite T235 and the HP Pavilion dm1 as a couple of more reasonable machines. And basically, I just want my new laptop for writing and some Internet browsing and research. That means I need a GREAT keyboard, some memory, power, 13-inch screen, and less than 4 pounds. Not too much to ask, right?

9. Shawn: Coach of the Year! Three games this week: lost by one, won by one, and got crushed (of course, I take the kids to the crushing defeat!). It's been a busy week with a couple of close games. But Shawn loves it. We talk shop quite a bit and he plots strategies all the time. Hopefully this coming week he can get back on a winning streak.

10. So the plan with using a numbered list was to just hit the highlights, but I wrote a ton! But, this is a first draft, and I tend to be quite wordy in my first drafts (and sometimes second-tenth drafts!). The end.

Christmas 2010 in Photos and Bullet Points...

2011-01-04T16:13:00.001-08:00

1. FAYGO!!!
2. Meeting baby Emma and hanging out with Paul and Jamie. We love you guys! Mmmm...roasted red pepper sauce and tosquitoes!!
3. Adrian's Baptism.
4. Games Galore: Settlers of Catan, Name Game, Scrabble Flash, Dora Memory, UNO, Balderdash, and more, I'm sure...
5. Hot water dispenser (a feature in my parents' newly renovated kitchen. Love it!).
6. Date night! And this year, we invited Bren and Libby to join Alli, CE, Shawn, and I. Welcome to adult swim, Kiddos! :)
7. Adrian starting to crawl!
8. Playing in the snow with Riley.
9. Primanti's Bros with Uncle Rob and Aunt Judy.
10. Eat n' Park with the Fords.
11. NINJA WARRIOR!!
12. Sleeping in until 7:30...Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!
13. Children's museum with Riley and Adrian and the fam.
14. Girls' Day: tea plus shopping with Mom, Claire, and Alli. So much fun!!
15. Pedis with Allison and Claire.
16. Dinner discussion: what's the biggest problem in the world today. Bren's answer: hiphop, grinding, and not enough covered bridges. Best answer ever!
17. Grandpa's prime rib and ribs...yum!
18. CHRISTMAS!! I love how our family celebrates the holiday. All of us together all day...lots of laughs and thoughtful gifts and more laughs and snacks and sometimes a nap...:)
19. Coffee and breakfast runs to Panera! And a walk, too.
20. Puzzle-mania!
21. INSANITY! We go, girls!!
22. Potty-training 101: go, go, Grandpa and the money jar!
23. Gingerbread house-making with Riley and Alli...and the collapse of the gingerbread house ten minutes later.
24. Riley = coloring and paper-cutting frenzy!
25. I am so thankful for such a wonderful holiday and two weeks with friends and family. A big thanks to Mom and Dad for ushering in the Christmas spirit every year and keeping the magic of Christmas alive for all of us.

Oh, and of course, a Christmas recap wouldn't be complete without a big shout-out to my husband. Shawn drove all but 5 hours of our entire trip from FL to PA and back. Oh, and did I mention he splurged big-time and surprised me with a spa gift certificate for my stocking gift? Yeah, he blew the 20 dollar budget we had set. Best hubby ever! Our first Christmas with two kids. Craziness. And I love it. Every crazy, wonderful moment.

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

A Few of Our Favorite Things...

2010-12-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

1. Ipanema. Saturday night, we went to this Brazilian steakhouse for Shawn's 34th, yes 34th, birthday! It was an awesome date-night! Great food (mmmm...bottom sirloin...pineapple...bacon-wrapped anything!), great conversation and company, a great way to celebrate with Shawn.

2. Oreo Cookie Freakout. In my family, we used to make this dessert for birthdays all the time. This year, I made it for Shawn's. So good! I almost froze my fingers off while putting together the ice cream layer, and Riley had to tell me to "suck it up, Mommy," but it was worth it! Yum!!

3. Destroying coloring books. Okay, this one is all Riley's. The girl spent a solid 3+ hours cutting apart her Dora coloring book into shreds and pieces today, cover and all. No toys for Christmas, please...just coloring books for her to destroy. The activity kept her engaged and quiet all afternoon. She is only halfway through the book. And we have a snowfall of Dora paper scraps on the floor to show for it. Gotta love sustained toddler effort. I was so proud of her!

4. Christmas shopping. Yup, I'm done. And that's all I have to say about that!

5. Writing. Thesis submission four, here I come. Round two revisions, count me in! I spent a solid three hours at Panera today and made some great headway on a couple of stories. So exciting!

6. School. Done teaching for the semester. Just have to create exam answer keys, give the exam, read 81 essays, and grade the exams. Easy, right? But truth be told it's been a great year so far. The freshmen I teach this year are extraordinary. Seriously, I have awesome students, and I feel, perhaps more than ever, that what I am doing means something, that my teaching matters to these kids, to the world. That is such a good feeling!

7. Family. I cannot WAIT to head up to Virginia for our holiday pilgrimage after first visiting our friends in PA (and their new baby!!!). I miss my family, and we should have an entire week all together. That means lots of games, shopping, talking,laughing, baking, girls afternoon tea, coffee runs to Panera, and fun. I cannot wait.

8. Family. Shawn and I were talking on our way home from dinner yesterday,and I confessed that I was in love with our children. Like I told him, I knew that mothers love their kids, but I never realized that I would be so in love with mine. It thrills me to have these two cool pint-sizers to care for, hug, kiss, laugh with, talk to, learn with, learn from, cuddle with, and love. Riley told me tonight, "Mommy, we're so happy," and the giddiness in her voice so aptly echoes the giddiness I feel when I think about the blessings I have right now in my home: my wonderful husband and these little, extraordinary creatures I adore. She is so right. We are so happy.

Pictures of my babies...

2010-12-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Christi Lopez is a genius with a camera. She is one of my former students. We've been talking about doing a shoot with the kids since I just had Riley. Well, over Thanksgiving, we got together at the park. Riley wasn't super cooperative, but she got some awesome pictures!! I am so thrilled. Looking through them makes me so happy! Thanks, Christi!!

Here are some of my favorites!

What Riley Told Me Tonight...

2010-12-05T19:28:00.000-08:00

So I was singing to Riley this evening. I was making a holiday treat for my students while she was resting on the couch before going to bed. I got through "The Wind Beneath my Wings," and I was starting on my next number when she told me...

"Mommy, stop singing. You're hurting your ears."

Of course, I continued to sing, to which Riley responded...

"Mommy, stop singing. You're hurting your ears, and you are going to have to go to Time-out, which will be sad because then we won't be able to play."

I love this girl! She figured out cause and effect this weekend. And even though she's not a fan of my singing, I'm her biggest fan.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

Who: Just the four of us!
What (we ate): Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and mini-apple pies. Yum, yum! And for Riley, baby dino chicken nuggets. And for Adrian, just green beans.
Where: G-ville. We spent the weekend hanging out at home, going to parks, going shopping, writing at Panera, and playing some basketball at Oak Hall.

The Highlights:

1. Going Black Friday shopping and out to Panera for breakfast with both kids! Since Shawn was up late Thanksgiving night, I decided to take both kids along to Kohl's at around 7am for some shopping and then a stop at Panera for Riley's "bagel and muffin" and my coffee. It was awesome. I am hoping to train Riley to be my shopping buddy!

2. Riley started telling me, "You stay here and don't touch anyfing!" When I asked her where she got that phrase from, she said Aladdin. Yes, that's right. She is quoting movies.

3. Shawn and I seriously made a meal for a dozen people, not 2.65. We are still eating leftovers! But everything we made was delicious. I was really proud we were able to make such a tasty feast! Good work, hun!! Oh, and I was pretty pumped to try my friend Natasha's apple pie recipe. Soooo good!

4. Adrian turned six months old on Sunday. Hard to believe our little man already has a half year under his belt. He is still smiling like crazy and now he is so active: rolling, scooting, and trying to crawl. He's awesome!

5. I am so thankful for my incredible family (in Virginia and beyond), my wonderful friends, the chance to pursue my passions (writing and teaching), my twin sister, my husband, and my babies. This year, I feel my life coming together. At one point, I realized I was in it, and by it I mean raising kids, pursuing a career, living day to day and trying to soak it all up. How fast it happens. I am grateful for the opportunities I have right now to live the life I have and be surrounded by the people in my life. I am thankful to be happy, tired and happy.

Holiday Report...

2010-11-27T19:41:00.000-08:00

Tree is up in its stand.

700 lights are on.

All the ornaments we own, except for the cheesy ones Shawn vetoed, are on.

I am tired.

Especially since my deadline is two days away.

But I am happy to have spent the evening listening to Christmas music, feeding Adrian green beans, watching Riley's fascination with holiday decorations, and finishing the tree with Shawn after bedtimes for the little ones.

A great night.

More revisions and writing in the morning, when I can function again.

'Tis the season!

An Awesome Visit!

2010-11-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, my dad came down to visit and lend a hand while Shawn was away with his cross country team (2nd place at State!! Wahoo!!). We had an awesome time! Saturday was packed with gymnastics, breakfast at Panera, furniture shopping (for my dad), Christmas pictures outside, a trip to the park, some cleaning, and lots of writing and editing. Today was full of Christmas decorations and outdoor work, a cross country team party, playtime outside, some errands, and a yummy chipped ham and cheese lunch (among other things...). My dad is awesome with Riley and Adrian, and it was so wonderful to spend time together this weekend. Thanks for all of your help, Daddio, inside and outside the house. Especially with the microwave! I am so glad you were able to come down to see us. It meant so much to me! We love you!!

The Day's Highlights...

2010-11-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

1. Riley professed an urgent desire to "start the laundry" today. She compiled the dirty clothes from her room and Adrian's room, then dragged the bin to the garage. I started the water and added soap, and she took care of putting all of the clothes into the washer. How cool is that? Next week, we'll work on folding...
2. The lollipop graveyard. In our refrigerator, we have a bowl with a half dozen lollipops in it, open and stick-side up. Today, Riley spent about five minutes with a lollipop and then added it to the graveyard. She then asked to have another lollipop. Funniest thing ever.
3. Barbeque!! That's all I'm saying.
4. Date night. Pretty sure Shawn and I haven't been out sans kids for at least 5 months. So excited to head to the movies tonight!!

Happy Halloween!!

2010-10-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Pictures as promised...

2010-10-30T17:56:00.001-07:00

Happenings...

2010-10-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

It has been way too long since I posted, but so much has been going on. Here's the text-based recap. Pictures to follow...

1. Homecoming Week: which means CRAZINESS!! SGA was responsible for all activities, including a major prep rally, sweethearts, the dance, and games almost every day at school. The week was a blast, but I am exhausted. The highlight was probably school-wide musical chairs. It was so cool to see the students get so excited about playing and watch as the circle of 100 chairs was whittled down to one. Plus, it was my idea! :)

2. Second Thesis Submission: I turned in a beast of a story (well for me, anyways) on Monday. 43 pages. I had so much fun writing this one. I was playing around with voice and content, so we'll see how it goes. What's it about? Dinosaurs and breast milk...

3. Pre-Halloween: With Riley 2.5 now, holidays are so much fun to plan for and celebrate. This year, I decided to do something Halloweeny each weekend with her (and Adrian, too!). We painted a pumpkin and bought a costume together; we went to a farm for a hayride, pumpkin patch, and petting zoo with the King family; we made these spider cookies that were way too hard for her to make and almost way too hard for me to make, but fun and cute; we went to a trunk or treat and hayride at a local church (also with the King family!); and, of course, this coming weekend we are going trick-or-treating. I love having a reason to get all of my decorations out, too. I am hoping to get some good pictures of the kids in costumes this weekend, so I will be sure to post them!

4. Adrian has discovered his toes, and he is starting to sit-up a little bit more now. Hard to believe he is going to be five months old tomorrow. We think he is starting to teethe, but otherwise, he is still our super-smiley little guy! I love how he will look up at me and his whole face just lights up! Melts my heart every time. Riley wants to play with him more and more, and today she picked out his outfit. When he wakes up crying, she runs into his room to go talk to him. Cutest thing ever!

5. Or, the cutest thing ever might be cuddling with Riley before she goes to sleep at night. The other night, she spontaneously turned to me, gave me a kiss, and said, "I love you, Mommy." Of course, the next night, she brought her balloon sword into bed and started singing, "I poke Mommy in the face." Not sure about that one! Oh, and she told Shawn the other night to "Keep your hands to yourself." That was awesome!

Here's a list of her current likes and dislikes:

Likes: Cheese-its, the marshmallows from Lucky Charms, chicken nuggets, wearing socks, braids, rhyming , wearing her baby dino costume, sleeping in our bed, the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

Dislikes: Haunted houses (they had a little one at gymnastics that she was not a fan of), open doors in the house, going to bed/waking up.

I also just wanted to include a big shout-out to my brother Brendan. He's getting settled in the Big Apple with a sweet job and a cool Ikea-ized apartment with Libby. I am so proud of him! In my mind, he is always nine years old, and it is hard to believe he is on his own now, working and living in New York. I couldn't be happier for him. Libby is an awesome girl, and I am glad they found each other. I miss you, Brendino!!

Busy Weekend...

2010-10-03T15:48:00.001-07:00

In no particular order...

1. Adrian started rolling over every time he is put down for a nap/bedtime.
2. Riley picked out her Halloween costume. She's going to be a baby dino this year! And we completed a fall craft: pumpkin painting. Love the excitement kids add to holidays.
3. Our new oven and dishwasher came in. What an awesome face-lift for our kitchen. So exciting!
4. I wrote for 6 hours at Panera (and drank 5 cups of coffee!).
5. Riley convinced me to have a "sleepover" with her by saying in the most adorable voice ever: "Stay with me." At the same time, she wrapped her arms and legs around me. How could I say no?

Enjoy the picture recap!

An Update (that gets progressively sappy)...

2010-09-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go...

Adrian: Our little man just turned four months old this past week. His check-up is next Tuesday, so we can get his updated stats. So far, he has been an all-star baby. I really cannot remember a time when he didn't smile, and it warms my heart every time I see his eyes start to glow and the corners of his lips turn up. So adorable. Too bad I cannot make more people happy just by smiling at them. He is staying healthy so far, and the women at daycare think he is awesome. Of course, I cannot disagree there!

Riley: She is loving school now! Some days, we even have to ask for hugs before she heads off to play. Here's what she has learned so far: her ABC's, counting, all things farm related, and a bunch of new songs. My favorite is her extremely militant version of the Itsy Bitsy Spider. It gets aggressive! Seriously cracks me up. I practically beg her to sing it!! Right now, she's in a mama-mood big time. Last night, we had a sleepover in her bed and I am pretty sure I beat her falling asleep. When I come to pick her up from school, she shouts, "Mommy's here! My Mommy's here." Coolest thing ever.

Shawn: Teaching, coaching, and starting to work on a haunted house. Yup, he's the boring one in our family. Love you, babe!

Linz: I am four weeks into school, and finally starting to get into a pattern. Well, my school pattern is easy: teach, pump, teach, pump, teach, pump. The day goes by so fast! After school, I sneak in an hour of writing and then it is off to get the kids and then back to the school to get Shawn. Recently, I've had to settle for 25 push-ups and cleaning as my workouts in addition to pumping because I am too damn tired at the end of the day to even think about moving any more than I have to. And I try to steal another hour or two of writing before falling asleep at my computer, waking up to pump one more time, and finally going to bed. On the weekends, I try to nap, write in three-hour blocks at Panera (while drinking lots of coffee!), and do one extra thing around the house. The rest of the time is kid time!

These past four weeks have reaffirmed for me the three things I love: my family (and close friends), writing, and teaching. Seriously, I was giddy last Sunday at Panera with my laptop open and my mind in story-world. One thesis submission down, five to go. So exciting!

And I love my students, love making connections with them, love sharing my passion for reading and writing with them. Ninth and tenth graders are at such a cool point in their lives - and, I am thrilled to have the chance to be part of that and hopefully make the experience better.

And then there is my family. While I miss my parents and siblings and twin sister like crazy, I am so thankful for my husband and children who fill my everyday life with laughs and smiles and tickles and silly faces and bath time and story time and bubbles and bed-bouncing and hugs and nursery rhymes and little outfits and teamwork and love. I know there will come a day when I won't have to change the animal print sheets on the crib or soak a stained onesie or fill a sippy cup with water, and yet I hope that somehow this lasts - that the childhood my children know and experience will endure forever. And the reasons for this impossible hope are simple: Because it's not enough - these smiles and hugs and cuddly nights. Because I can't imagine a time when my babies will not fit in my arms as I rock them to sleep. Because when Adrian holds onto one of my fingers and Riley wraps her arms around me, I don't want them to let go.

More fun pictures...

2010-09-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

Great Grandpa Came to Visit...

2010-09-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my grandpa came up from Tampa to meet Adrian, hang out with Riley, swap stock quotes with Shawn, and treat us to Olive Garden. We had a wonderful time! Thanks for coming to see us. It was awesome hanging out. We love you!!

How to go back to work...

2010-09-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

1. Fly back into town at 10pm the night before.
2. Take kids to two different daycare/preschool places.
3. Pump three times at work in between classes.
4. Have make-up duty after-school.
5. Have husband's open house at night.

So now I am a bit tired and pumping again...

Here's to the start of another school year!

My Sleeping Babies...

2010-09-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

A Fresh, New Fall

2010-09-01T05:04:00.001-07:00

Here's the quick run-down:

Shawn: started teaching and coaching last week. He's also back to bowling, too.

Riley: started preschool last week and gymnastics again. Loves gymnastics, not such a fan of preschool yet. Her favorite part of the day is when we come pick her up! This week is better than last, so there is hope... Otherwise, she is awesome - talking more and more, helping out with her brother, and just being really cute.

Adrian: rolling over, just about sleeping through the night, enjoying time with Mommy during the day for one more week! What can I say? It has been great being home for some one on one time with my little man. I feel so much closer to him now! He is such a smiley, sweet baby, and now he is getting so big!

Me: last week of maternity leave, then back to school full time and thesis work. Really, my two weeks of maternity leave have been awesome for Adrian and I. And, I am looking forward to seeing my students and teaching again. Writing for my thesis is going well so far. My first deadline is at the end of the month! Wahoo! Oh, and I have still been rocking Insanity (just four days a week)! Let's see how long that lasts!

Okay, that's all for now! Enjoy the new pictures!!

2010-08-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

I have an amazing family. After a day at the beach together in Jacksonville, I feel so full - full of memories, smiles, laughs, stories, love, support, generosity, kindness, togetherness, joy, and inspiration. For a little less than a full day, our ever-growing family was together. We are a crowd now, two hotel suites full of bodies, and I couldn't be more happy, knowing I am part of such a fun and loving group of people. Sure, we have our looks, our disagreements, our tension, our political discord, but that keeps our time together real, at least entertaining. The day was fast - hotel check-in, lunch, beach, shower and rest, dinner, dessert and videos, sleep, and breakfast - but it was enough to make me realize how fortunate and lucky I am to have a family I am so proud of and so moved by.

I think one of the things that really struck me this time was how much my children are loved and cared for by my siblings and my parents. The bonds are so instant, inherent, undeniable - and, I almost want to cry when I see Riley picking shells on the beach with my dad and mom, my sisters holding Adrian in their safe arms, their smiling faces, my brother romping on the bed with Riley, playing like only an uncle and niece can. God, those are great sights. Powerful. Beautiful.

And all I can say is thank you. Mom, Dad, Allison, Brendan, Claire, CE, Shawn, Riley, and Adrian: thank you for a wonderful visit - and, more importantly - for filling my life, for being my support system, for being my friends, for showing my kids what an amazing thing family is, for loving me, for giving me that vital knowledge that I can be and do anything.

I miss you already.

Today is a great day!

2010-08-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Why? Because six years, ago, Shawn and I got married on this date and this day of the week. It is amazing the substance of six years: two kids, two homes, three cruises, six school years, four summers in Sewanee, countless movies, a trip to Oregon, endless rounds of blockus, scrabble, and Upwards, two marathons, and the commonness of daily life - dinners, baths, bedtimes - made special and new with Shawn and now Riley and Adrian in my life. I am one lucky, lucky girl.

Shawn, I couldn't ask for a better partner to create a family with, to go through life with. Each day is an adventure! Thank you.

Summer Adventures...

2010-08-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Well, we are back in Gainesville! It has been a summer of adventures, traveling with two kids from Florida to Sewanee to Virginia to Pittsburgh to Western Ohio to Virginia and finally back to Florida! We had a great time every step of the way, and I attribute that to two things:

1. My husband is awesome! Really. I am pretty sure most of the women in my program had a crush on him because he is such a great dad. Shawn was awesome with the kids, made dinner every night except for one in Sewanee, did all the laundry, and drove all summer long (except for the final two hours of the return ride to Gainesville). I am very lucky!

2. My kids are awesome! Really. Riley listens so well, helps out when she can, and loves her baby brother. She was terrific in the car and throughout our travels, adjusting to new situations with ease and hugging all of her new friends! She is growing up so fast. And Adrian, he is smiling all the time now. Such an easy-going, pleasant baby! He eats, sleeps, poops, and smiles. We couldn't ask for two better kids!

Enjoy the pictures of our adventures! I will probably do another photo update once I get some more pictures from my dad (aka Mr. Photographer-of-grandkids).

To everyone we saw on our adventures - thank you for an awesome summer!

Mom and dad: It was wonderful spending time with you on and off the Domain. More than ever, you are both my role models. You are both terrific grandparents. Thank you for everything! We love you!

Alli and CE: The fourth was awesome, as was our date night to Boylan's and Arches. So much fun!! We are already looking forward to our next one.

Brendino and Claire: Our week together was great! Name game and popcorn. That's all I'm saying...

Paul and Jamie: Thanks for being our home base! It was great spending time with you, and we cannot wait to meet your little girl!!

Clay and Krista, etc.: J&T's and the Children's Museum = fun!! Can't wait to hang out in Denver one of these days...

Uncle Rob and Aunt Judy and Paul: Thanks for a great lunch and even better company!!

Heather and family: We had a great time hanging out and venturing off to Whippee Dip! Allison is awesome! Thanks for having us!

The Fords: Our visit was too short! Thanks for the great food, great conversation, and all the laughs.

Seven weeks and counting...

2010-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

Seven weeks is unbelievable. In seven weeks, my baby boy has become an infant. In seven weeks, my little girl has become capable of dissertating and monologuing on just about anything. In seven weeks, we have journeyed to Sewanee for our final summer and have arrived almost at the end. A week from now, my last paper will be turned in, our packing will be almost complete, and I will be at once full of Sewanee's energy and magic and sad, so sad, to leave. For now, I will cling to what I have a week left to enjoy: my School of Letters friends, the Domain, Stirlings coffee, Shenanigan's porch, Lake Cheston, and all the places in between.

Okay, enough early morning sappy reflections while I wait for Adrian to wake up...enjoy the following pictures of Riley's wall of art, her bucket-head, and our rapidly-growing baby boy...

Second Story of the Summer...

2010-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

Another story of mine was recently published in Wilderness House Literary Review's summer issue. If you get a chance, check it out!

The story is called "Beyond the Field of Vision."

Thanks - and, enjoy!

Talkative Two-Year Old...

2010-07-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, can Riley talk! I mean, really talk. Like all the time. Shawn and I just look at each other and shake our heads. Here are some of the statements, questions, and words we are hearing these days...

1. That's enough! (usually after we put a handful of cereal into a cup for her to snack on.)
2. Chocolate milk.
3. I go buy gas...and snacks. (This is what she says while holding a credit card she has taken out of Shawn's wallet.)
4. I cold...I need dress. (This is usually quite dramatic...even with some mock shivering.)
5. Your show's over...my turn now. (her attempt to regain control of the TV to watch more Dora)
6. Six, seven, nine! (Riley's version of counting...she is not a fan of eight! We've tried!)
7. I don't like it vs. I want more. (her way of sharing her opinions on meals and different foods)
8. I push play! (doesn't matter what type of button: elevator, electronic door...)
9. Marshmallows (she cleaned out a box of Lucky Charms...)
10. I need band-aid. (though sometimes it comes out as headband...and she can even open the band-aid and put it on all by herself.)

Brothers and Sisters = Awesome Weekends!

2010-07-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

Brendan, Claire, Alli and CE joined us in Sewanee for the holiday weekend - and, we had a terrific weekend on the Domain, enjoying a Southern small town 4th of July. Sewanee sure knows how to do the Fourth of July right. We enjoyed a street fair, children's games, a barbecue lunch, kettle corn, funnel cakes, a parade, and fireworks. We strolled around campus and town with the double stroller, taking turns pushing the kids, shopping, and eating.

On Sunday, we spent a couple of hours at Lake Cheston.

At night, we played the name game and the movie version of the name game for hours - and, watched a couple of episodes of Prison Break, once the kids went to bed. Oh, and we snacked. And snacked. And snacked!

The weekend was full of funny moments, lots of laughs, very little school work (whoops), and just the sheer joy of all being together as a family. It is times like these when I want, more than anything, to have a big family, too. Yeah, sure it will cost a lot, but we'll find a way to make it worth, and it will be worth it in the end.

Thanks for a great weekend, Clairese, Brendino, CE, and Alli!! We love you guys, and miss you already!! I am so lucky to have brothers and sisters like you!!

Adrian's One Month Old!

2010-06-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow, that is. Still, it amazes me that this little guy has been with us for a whole month. In that time, so much has happened! We've finished our school years, journeyed to Sewanee, and already enjoyed two weeks of classes and life on the Domain. Our life is so much more full with Adrian in it! He is a wonderful baby, though at times he is wonderfully LOUD. Seriously, I did not realize that manly grunting and groaning started so young. He's smiling and laughing now, too. We've all started calling him little buddy and chico (I'm thinking this is because of watching Dora...). He's getting big, too. Already, we are up to size 1 diapers and some of his newborn gear is getting a little tight. This whole growing up fast thing...overrated.

Happy birthday, little boy! We love you!!

A Second Publication!

2010-06-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Great news! My story "A 21st Century Kind of Destiny" has been published online in the literary magazine Xenith.

Enjoy!!

Two Weeks Old Already??

2010-06-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

These first two weeks with Adrian have been a blur! We are so happy he is here! It amazes me how much you can love something so small, even when he wakes you up in the middle of the night and pees all over you. In honor of Adrian's two week birthday, here are 14 reflections/statistics of our time together so far:

1. He reminds me of a velociraptor because of the noises he makes.
2. Three times a day Shawn and Riley go swimming.
3. At least three times a day Riley watches Toy Story 2.
4. 44: number of episodes of Prison Break I have watched.
5. 1: number of times I have googled Wentworth Miller (star of Prison Break).
6. Adrian is one noisy newborn. He grunts up a storm!
7. Baby #2 doesn't seem nearly as bad as Baby #1. Never underestimate experience!
8. 0: number of naps Riley takes during the day now.
9. 3: packs of newborn diapers we have gone through so far!
10. I love how Adrian curls up on my chest to sleep sometimes. So sweet!
11. He is so small! I am fascinated by his tiny fingers and toes!
12. Riley is so big!! Where did my baby go??
13. Shawn is an awesome dad! I can always count on him for early morning diaper changes!!
14. Adrian is a great baby. I cannot imagine our family without him now. My hands are full, and my heart is overflowing!

He's Here!!

2010-05-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, May 28th, we welcomed Adrian Shawn Harding into the world, into our family, and into our hearts. My c-section was scheduled for noon. After a relaxing morning, we headed to the hospital to be prepped for surgery. The whole experience was incredible. The nurses were awesome, the spinal worked wonders, and by 1:43, we had our little boy! He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and he measured 18.5 inches long. He just needed to be observed for six hours, but after that, he came into our room and started nursing right away. He is a champ! I felt so much better this time around, too. I was out of bed around 6:30 and really starting to feel good by the next morning. We were even discharged a day early! Riley has done a great job as a big sister. She loves helping out with Baby Adrian, and she makes sure she keeps her own baby dolls swaddled now, too.

Allison and my dad came down from Virginia and spent the weekend with us. Allison got to stay overnight with me in the hospital, and though we should have been sleeping, it was nice chatting in the middle of the night like we used to do when we were kids. Dad and Allison both helped so much with Riley and getting us situated back at home before they needed to leave. It was awesome having them here with us to share this experience and meet Adrian. Allison, thanks for making me laugh so much I had to hold my stomach together! Dad, thanks for the awesome signs and balloon and trip to Target. Thanks for everything! We miss you already!!

A big thanks to Caroline, too, for spending most of Friday at the hospital with us. Shawn and I were both pretty tired and drained after the c-section, and Caroline kept Riley entertained. She also doubled as a nurse for a bit, too, helping me get out of bed and down to the nursery to see Adrian for the first time. Thanks, Caroline! You rock!

And thanks to all of our friends who called and came to visit us in the hospital!

We couldn't have asked for a better birthday weekend! What a special time to be surrounded by family and friends. I am so in love with our little man already. I love watching him sleep and stretch, and I cannot believe he is mine.

Enjoy the pictures!

Big Day Tomorrow!

2010-05-27T19:18:00.001-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe we will be adding a little boy to our family tomorrow. Really, I find pregnancy and motherhood to be such surreal experiences, filled with wonder and magic and so much joy. I cannot wait to start all over with a newborn, and I am thrilled for Riley to have a sibling. At the same time, it has been nice spending lots of quality time with Riley this week, cuddling on the couch, giggling while watching Buzz Lightyear before going to bed, and sharing lots of hugs and kisses. She is going to be a terrific Big Sister. I told Shawn that now it seems so manageable - working, playing and taking care of Riley, keeping up with the house, finding some leisure time, writing and reading. I know we will get back to that point again, but I am so looking forward to the craziness that comes along with a new baby. I love having someone to take care of, someone who needs me so much, and I cannot wait to give my love and care and time and attention to Adrian.

Okay, enough sentimental pregnancy ramblings! Time to play some Mario and count-down the hours. I just had my last meal (a delicious mini-apple pie from Natasha!! Yum!!), my bag is packed, and the room is ready. Baby...here we come!

What Riley's Been up to...

2010-05-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post some adorable Riley pictures. She is at such a fun age right now: a little crazy, a little mischievous, so active, and so much fun! Of course, I had to post some swimming pictures, since that is all she wants to do these days (and on the weekend, three times a day!).

The makeup pictures are from yesterday. Instead of taking a nap, she thought she would practice dolling herself up with my makeup. Even though in the end she ruined my mascara and concealer, I have to admit I was more amazed by what she accomplished and amused than anything. She knew to put the mascara on her eyes (and thankfully, none ended up in her eyes!). Too cute! Plus, I had an excuse to buy some new makeup!

This morning, we decided to make cookies before nap time. We made cut-out sugar cookies in the shapes of flowers and footprints. Plus, we added an R, M, and D for Riley, Mommy, and Daddy. Flour was everywhere, but Riley did an awesome job cutting out shapes and even trying to roll out the dough. And, she is the sprinkle queen!

Enjoy the pictures!!

Oh, and one more cute Riley story for now: We've been asking her what is in Mommy's belly to prep her for this coming Friday. Usually, she says baby right away. Last weekend, she thought it would be funny to say fries and then laugh like crazy. I told her that would be a lot of fries!

Let the Countdown Commence...

2010-05-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

So we've got some news! It looks like Baby Boy Harding will be here in two weeks or less! I am closing in on 36 weeks, but as of an ultrasound today, my fluid level was low and my placenta was looking old. Basically, I've just got to monitor movements for now,drink lots of fluids - and, next Thursday, have another ultrasound. In the meantime, my doctor is putting me on the schedule for sometimes around 37.5 and 38 weeks, so I should have a date tomorrow or early next week! Not gonna lie, the situation has me a little nervous, since it is kind of like what we went through with Riley, but my doctor is not worried at this point, so I am going to try to follow her lead. At the same time, I am so excited to meet our little guy!!

Good thing Shawn and I decided on a name: Adrian Shawn Harding.

My Amazing Mom!

2010-05-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

This past week, my mom came to visit. The goal of the visit was to spend time together, hang out with Riley, and nest like crazy! Boy, did we ever accomplish those goals. I am so fortunate to have a mom spend a week of her vacation time helping me getting ready for our little boy with some serious hard work. Mom, I cannot tell you how much the past week meant to me. I loved organizing and cleaning with you. We make such a good team. We also enjoyed some quality down-time at several G-ville restaurants and out on the back porch with our cups of tea. What a great, great week. Now, I am just sad that we live too far apart and cannot spend more weeks or weekends together. Someday...someday...:) I love you, Mom! I admire and respect you so much - your attitude, your work ethic, your generosity. I hope I can be just like you as a mom to Riley and her little brother. Thank you for all of your help and for visiting us this past week. Thank you for inspiring me!

I will have to post some pictures soon, but for now, enjoy these stats:

1. 5 bags of donation for Goodwill.
2. 9 bags of garbage.
3. 6 vacuum-sealed bags of Riley's clothes, bedding, and blankets.
4. 1 fixed vacuum cleaner.
5. Countless stains removed from Riley's baby clothes!
6. Tons of laundry!
7. 2+ hours spent at the pool with Riley.
8. 3 closets cleaned out and organized.
9. Only 1 trip to the mall. :(

Baby Shower Fun!

2010-05-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, Caroline and Irene organized a baby shower/sprinkle for me at Sisters restaurant. Thank you, ladies! What a lovely, lovely (and hot) lunch! I had so much fun hanging out with women I adore and talking about babies!! My mom was able to come down for the shower all the way from Virginia, which made the get-together that much more special! I received beautiful boy clothes and bibs, some awesome books, the bottle rack I have been drooling over (see Skip Hop.com), and great tips about taking care of a newborn boy. A big thank you to everyone for coming and for the wonderful gifts. It was great getting the chance to celebrate our baby boy's upcoming arrival with good friends and good food.

Monkey Riley!

2010-05-01T19:43:00.001-07:00

Girl loves her parks and gymnastics! Here are a few pictures of Riley in motion. She hung by herself from the monkey bars for 23 seconds in a row! And she's a big fan of her leotard now, too. Some nights, she even has to wear it to bed just because. Riley has pretty much mastered somersaults now, loves to jump, and can walk a balance beam forward and backwards by herself. I am so amazed at how fast kids pick up new tricks - and, how fearless they can be! Oh, to be 2 again...:)

Random Updates...

2010-04-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

1. Last Saturday, Riley went to the potty 7 times!
2. She started swimming lessons!
3. Shawn's heading to States for track and field this week with 5 kids!
4. Mom (Grandma) is coming to visit Saturday night!!
5. We now own a double stroller! I found a great deal on Craigslist and with a little TLC, it will be good to go. We took Riley and her baby doll on a walk tonight. Too cute!

I have some cute pictures of Riley from the park the other day, but uploading is challenging with her sitting on my lap. Ah, the suspense!

Rileyisms:
1. "C'mon. Let's go!" And very emphatically.
2. "First" and "Next"
3. "Pop-pop" (lollipop)