Monday, September 17, 2012

Oh Baby!

I don't think I've posted anything about this yet (especially when I last posted here I was only about 3 weeks pregnant), but we're having a baby!  (This should not come as a surprise to the two people who read this blog.  Just thought I'd throw it out there). 

So anyway, Saturday was my baby shower and I am completely overwhelmed by people's generosity, not only in their beautiful and thoughtful gifts, but in sharing their time with me on the most gorgeous Saturday we've had in a long time. 



Amy and Lynn were the perfect hosts.

 Amy peeking out the door to supervise.  (Also, doesn't this picture remind you of this one from our wedding?)

Lynn, Lynn's mom Grandma Irene (our baby's honorary great-grandma) and me. 

I didn't see the RSVP list, so I wasn't sure who was coming, and as the guests began arriving (and arriving and arriving...) I couldn't believe how many had come from far away to spend the day with me.  For example:
Toohey, Jen and Kim: northern Ohio; Bri: a few towns over; Kate: Virginia; (me, Amy); Lexy: Chicago
How cool is that??

I was also reminded how blessed I am in family: aside from my real mom (who didn't make it into any of these pictures because she was taking them... oops), I counted no fewer than eight "moms" who were role models and mentors to me growing up, and who I now count as friends.  My own grandmas have passed away, but I had four "grandmas"  in attendance (two great aunts, one of my great aunt's best friends of 50+ years who might as well be a great aunt and Amy's grandma who might as well be my grandma, too). 

This baby is one lucky little guy or gal to be coming into a world so full of love.



And on that note, my hormones and I need to go find a box of tissues.  Love you all.

Friday, March 16, 2012

*cue happy dance*


I PASSED!

General exams are over and I'm officially ABD. Let the general merriment and celebration commence.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Walentines Day



I've developed the annoying habit of replacing V's with W's, as in wegetables, wiolins, and Walentines Day. I'm not quite sure why that is or where it came from, but there it is. So, whether or not you celebrate Valentines Day, I wish you a wery, wery happy Walentines Day from me and my walentine to you and yours.

*I'm in the trenches of finishing preparation for my general exams, grading students' midterms and papers and generally acting like a responsible student. Maybe someday I'll be a responsible blogger, too, but probably not quite yet.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Printed Words

Another year flown by. I can't help but think I'm missing some books below (I could've sworn I read more than that!), but I can't think of any off-hand. Oh well. Printed words, 2011:

Pigs in Heaven, Barbara Kingsolver
The Woods,
Harlan Coben
The Falls
, Joyce Carol Oates
Beatrice and Virgil
, Yann Martel
Keeping Watch
, Laurie R. King
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana
, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
The Heretic's Daughter,
Kathleen Kent
Riptide
, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Game
, Laurie R. King
Justice Hall, Laurie R. King
Organic Farming, Peter V. Fossel
Through the Looking Glass
, Lewis Carroll
The Art of the Commonplace, Wendell Berry
Knockemstiff, Donald Ray Pollock
The Holy Thief, William Ryan
The Dirty Life
, Kristin Kimball
The People of the Mist, Henry Rider Haggard
The American Frugal Housewife
, Lydia Maria Francis Child
Stories of a Woman Homesteader, Elinore Pruitt Stewart
AfterAge, Yvonne Navarro
State of Siege, Michael Wallace
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
A Game of Thrones
, George R.R. Martin
Mockingjay
, Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
, Ken Kesey
The Hunger Games
, Suzanne Collins
The Screwtape Letters
, C.S. Lewis
The Naked Gardener
, L B Gschwandtner
The Swan Thieves
, Elizabeth Kostova