Seven weeks and counting...

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...

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...

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!

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!

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!

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

Enjoy!!

Two Weeks Old Already??

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!