study break

Ok, all Emelia is for me today is a study break!! Thankfully, she was a precious (albeit stinky) flower for her Auntie and Uncle so I got some good stuff done.
Since then? eh, we'll see when I take the two exams. E is currently all about the toes...


This I wanted to post yesterday but the file got all wonky...isn't she cute all swaddled?

and see the lower right? Queenie Kudra takes over!

arrrrrrrgh (now with pics)

First things first, politics.
*This lady sums it up nicely (thanks Cookie for the linkie to kmkat, and thanks kmkat for the goods)

* there's this delight.

*and finally, for fun, you can do this.

In more personal news, I was feeling pretty confident yesterday that I was going to be able to get a lot done this weekend. Emelia was in a good mood, sleepy but cute, we went to the store, and I got myself some dinner on as Darrell had to work late again.
going forward? (this is her new expression, biting lips)

checks blindspot

moving?

mm hit something

dangit, why can't I go forward? these hands mock me!!! (baby, I know how you feel)

Today, I wake up, and maybe it's from watching McCain and Obama spar last night, but I'm feeling pretty shitty. Gorgeous day, E and her Daddy slept well, and my back is only slightly wonky. Had a few nightmares about what will happen to our country if the unthinkable happens and McCain/Palin gain the seat...pretty nasty to contemplate. I don't care what your politics are, it must be recognized that such incompetence and lying is not going to help to recover us nationally nor internationally.
Now, regardless of this looming mess, the multitude of crap on my plate is feeling overwhelming.

I will succeed. I know this. But it sucks sometimes. I'd rather be at a nice cafe in Madrid or a lovely bed and breakfast in Tuscany. Darrell and I have agreed that when I am done and waiting for my board results, we'll take a break and go on a little jaunt. It's a nice carrot on my stick.

dance!

Here they go, and me without my softshoes!

too short

that was Friday night. Now it's just me and Miss E, while Darrell works. I should, of course, be studying.

invasion

The Grandparents are here! Have been, since Friday night. E is just super duper happy, out yesterday and today with the Grands, and I'm doing schoolwork. Ugh. Such gorgeous weather, probably the last of the season, and I'm inside trying to do searches and getting lost in circular reasoning. JOY.
In the meantime, E has learned something new! She's crawling!! Not the right direction, but who am I to judge? So now she's able to amuse herself a wee bit, by scooting. While the videos are cute, it's actually hard to see the movement itself due to her cracking herself up the whole time. I put here two so you can sense the idea...apologies for my excited voice-overs. I have to quit that so the focus is on Miss E!


What was the coolest about their visit was the date Darrell and I had last night. Met him after work and we went to A Mano, Italian restaurant that is run by our pals from Bin36...so saw Chef Capudizzle, Craig-Sheet-Pans-DiFanzo, Brian-o-exalted-wine-god, and a few others. Good times. I finally felt full for a few hours! The darn tapeworm, aka "nursing", has kept me in starvation mode. We'll see what a new synthroid script (lower as of Thursday) will do for that and my sunny disposition. Hormones. Wacky things.
ok, back to MOHO...

here I go again

It's a countdown. See the four uneaten fingers? That's how many more days until Gram and Grampa come save her!

I was talking to my mom during this, and I think E was trying to talk her way over the airwaves. Like StarTrek or something. That's my girl, defying reality. Loudly. And while multitasking, grabbing her feet and yowling at the cats directly (not sure who was mocking who).

so cool

But why are there not more women like her? Go watch the video to see what I'm talkin bout (click here)

so as a reflection on my moment 5 months ago, Thanks Debi (and Gaye)!

ok, for the Grandparents in the house...this is from two whole days ago


Today was a good one, mostly, until about noon when my separation from baby hormones hit. It hits me at different times, and not every day.
This past weekend was good as I followed some suggestions from my developmental therapist friend in class, Laura. She has recommended that I try to change the way we react when Emelia screams and fusses. So I did. For three days, I cooed, giggled, snuggled, laughed, and bounced her around when she would scream. Surprisingly, this worked. For the weekend anyway!! I'm hoping it continues to work, as it's a lot more fun for both of us than getting upset.
D and I have talked about it, and we'll see how the approach begins to make some changes in his days with her. Wish us the best. Next up, I think I'll follow Laura's other idea and get this book.

School is beginning to have a pattern. Don't get me wrong, I am full of freak out and stress, but it's turned into a dull roar. Like standing next to a waterfall and after a while, you still can't hear well but the roar is not really in your consciousness. That. I'm screaming, but on the inside. Like I tell Emelia, when she's enjoying filling our ears with piercing noises that are supposed to be emitting joy, use your inside voice.

another national holiday

My my, what a busy week for my blog. Must be all the coursework looming over my head that makes me want to run and just take another look into maybe posting a pretty picture or two.

perhaps.

Well, whatever it is, Emelia just hasn't stopped being cute yet. Today is her Grandaddio's birthday, and here's a movie we took last night (in one of the outfits he bought her the day she was born, a la Gap)


She really needs to work on having something to say. The little orange light on the camera is becoming a familiar thing to her, and she needs to start babbling at it!

Today apparently was the anti of this picture-

as E was not fun and sun for her Daddy today. Not like I was having fun in class, nonono, but for as wonderful as the weather was, she just didn't feel up to the challenge to have some fun. Now, she's sleeping on my lap while I ponder the deep thoughts associated with "language and thinking processes" for my Research And Associated Worry class.
Can't wait until it becomes a source of joy. I expect a lot from this program, and the suffering for our little family and separation anxiety from it better be worth it. I want to write about something else. Like knitting. Or fly-fishing. Or going to the zoo, baking a peach pie, playing WoW....I have a list around here somewhere. Boy, December 12th can't arrive soon enough!!

guess what today is?

As I heard it on NPR today,
HAPPY GRANDPARENTS' DAY!!
(personally, that seems to be everyday, but whatev)


Love,
Emelia

determination

She will not be thwarted! Those hands are totally getting in that mouth somehow!!

If E can do this feat, then I can totally do school. Helps that I have so much love, support, and sheer stubbornness.

Wonder how that factors into Emelia's hand-swallowing-chore?

ah yes, wipe, rinse, repeat/try again. Dammit.

or she's going to try to eat her own face....maybe it's time to start solids?! ... and the following is action-packed for Grandaddio!

uh oh I did a "meme"

I got caught in a meme. Blame Cookie. (I always do)

1. My uncle once threw me in the pool. I was little and it was hilarious, I'm sure.

2. Never in my life will I learn to not procrastinate.

3. When I was five, I was still kinda afraid of water.

4. High school was a fun time, but I'm glad it's over.

5. I will never vote Republican.

6. Once I met my knitting and blogging friends, I found another community of support and fun.

7. There’s this boy I know who married me and made me secure.

8. Once, at a bar, I had a roommate do the splits on the bar. She also liked to do roundoffs going home.

9. By noon, I am already behind on my to-do lists.

10. Last night, I made dinner, fed Emelia, and tried to study.

11. If only I had better time-management skills.

12. Next time I go to church will be never unless it's a wedding/funeral.

13. What worries me most is losing my loved ones.

14. When I turn my head left I see Darrell's junk.

15. When I turn my head right I see outside and the trees. I often look that way to guess the weather coming in.

16. You know I’m lying when I say that I'll be on time. I try!

17. What I miss most about the Eighties was turned-up collars. They were funny.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be the narrator.

19. By this time next year, Emelia will still be surprising me, I'll be halfway done with school, and hopefully have a better clue.

20. A better name for me would be just my last name. It seems to work.

21. I have a hard time understanding how people can be so inconsiderate of others.

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll not be sane. This is it, I tell ya!

23. You know I like you if I say so.

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: my family for being there.

25. Take my advice: drink more water and get massages. Take your vitamins, too.

26. My ideal breakfast is more savory than sweet. Usually. Don't forget the coffee and the idyllic view.

27. A song I love but do not have is: quite a few. I forget.

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you try to keep it simple, see the architecture tour, get a massage (see a theme?), and meet me for dinner.

29. Why won’t people try to park better?

30. If you spend a night at my house, you will have to deal with Emelia. Sometimes this is easy. The cats, however, will be by to sniff your face somewhere around 3am.

31. I’d stop my wedding for a drink. Then finish it. However, already married so no worries.

32. The world could do without people who are inconsiderate.

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than the belly of a hungry lion. Ew? on both.

34. My favorite blondie is Bleen!

35. Paper clips are more useful than some people I know (stole this one from Cookie)

36. If I do anything well, it's care a lot about my friends and family.

37. I can’t help but have nightmares when I'm stressed.

38. I usually cry because I worry too much and love a lot.

39. My advice to my nephew/niece: don't have any, but I'll count my cousin's kids: Listen to everything we tell you about Grandma Mary. She totally rocked.

40. And by the way, I need to get back to work.

boing!

ME is learning how to dance and sing, just practicing for her Grampa's birthday next week.



Mostly, she wails on in a story-telling type voice. Her expressions are hilarious and oddly sincere. Hopefully, she will amuse herself and/or nap today so I can get more (always more until Dec 12) homework done!