One of my favorite Christmas memories

It always makes me smile...

Bummer-ish Birthday

My birthday was less than exciting. I guess that's what happens when Matt's out of town and very little else happens. The happy caveat for me was being taken to lunch by Brian, Ann and Stephanie. Still the diappointment was there, I have to admit. I was a little bummed out that there was no sign on my door (as usually occurs for birthdays in my department). Then again, I haven't had a sign on my door since BB left. There were no treats brought in my honor. And, while I didn't expect anything special for me, the fact that banners have been placed on doors this week makes me a little sad.
Dinner consisted of yummy take-home Chinese with my baby and then off to bed. I realize it wasn't a major birthday, but a solo birthday wasn't a desire either. I think it would have been better had I known that Matt was auditioning having advanced. Oh, well. If that's the worst thing that happens, I'm in pretty good shape.

So now...

I've had a lot of things going on in my mind. With Matt's recent trip to DC for the Air Force Band audition, I prepared myself to move and start yet another chapter of our lives. Since that didn't work, I feel like I'm rewinding a little and trying to figure out when and if we'll be making plans like that again. He wants to put all of his energy into his recital and get that out of the way and then go from there. In the mean time, my future has been on my mind a lot. I'm not sure what I'll be doing next, but I think that I'd really like to teach. In fact, when I saw a job opening last week in LA, I didn't just skim over the requirements and press delete, I actually read it and have given it some serious thought. My only personal limitations are that I don't think I've had enough teaching experience. The only problem is, I don't really have any avenue for gaining that experience and thus begins my internal dialogue. I'm still trying to figure out the whole PhD thing: what I want to do and if I want to go through with it. I think taking this class this semester will help me have a better idea of whether this is something I want to persue now or wait a while longer. With Matt not knowing what he's going to do or where he's going to do it, I feel like I should continue to think it through.

Bring on the fam!

I am so, so, so, so, so excited for our Christmas travels!! I have been counting down the days until we get to leave. I am excited for the drive, the food and the hugs. Yeah, the presents will be nice, I guess, but I just want my family.
I get a little "girl time" tomorrow with Molly before we have Matt's concert and then the travels begin. I hope the roads stay clear and our travel goes quickly (and that my patience holds out until we do get there).

Update

I haven't written in forever, yet I feel like I've had so much going on in my head that I wanted to write about. I'm completely smitten with my girl, which I guess any mother should be. The transition back to work has been challenging at times, but has gotten better. There are still a few frustrations that I thought would be gone when students left, but they have managed to stick around and make me a little more nuts than I should let them. Still, they'll be over soon enough...I hope. I am excited that I get to see my girl every day and that makes it easier for me to do the full-time gig. Time is really flying by for me. It's hard to believe that a year ago today Matt and I found out Neala was coming. It seems like it wasn't that long ago.
Now I have a list in my head of things I can do one-handed and/or while holding/feeding a baby:
1. send an email
2. browse the internet (with my toes, actually)
3. brush my hair
4. brush my teeth (spitting out the toothpaste without hitting her is the hard part)
5. slice a tomato
6. make sandwich out of aforementioned tomato
7. make a bottle (formula or factory)
8. carve a pumpkin
I know there are more, but that's all I can remember for now. I'm sure I'll update this list as time goes by.
The two of us travelled to St. Louis. I knew it was going to be a test of either stupidity or craziness. Luckily for me, it was the latter. She rode the whole way without any fussiness and was a huge hit with all the ladies in attendance and got lots of love. Even the employees in the hotel restaurant wanted to take turns holding her. Not such a bad thing when they only option is a buffet. I haven't been able to add that to my list of one-handed tricks...yet.
My brain has stopped functioning. Time for bed (yes, it's early).
Blessings to you all!
gin