Talk About Vacation

I am notoriously a bad vacationer. It takes me almost the entire time to relax and defer my responsibilities. I am quite surprised, and pleased, that I have totally indulged during this vacation. I've blown of my ethics final for days and don't really feel guilty about it. I've decorated the house, but done no cleaning. I've played with the kids, had a West Wing marathon with Brian, the only thing I've cooked was for Thanksgiving, and I even took a 3 hour nap yesterday. Tomorrow's going to be a harsh reality putting the nose back to the grindstone, but it's only for 10 more days. Hopefully I can be just as relaxed and indulgent on my 1 month winter break from school. Good-bye stress monkey, hello sleepy sloth.

Make That 13!

I just got a birth announcement in the mail of a super-duper cute baby boy born to an old coworker. She always wanted to be a mom and now she has a girl and a boy. Congratulations go out to the growing family!

I dare you to be the first one to break the baby boy streak.

I double dog dare you.

Slacker, but Not Really

Wow, I didn't realize until today that my last post appeared twice. Why would it do such a thing when I clearly had nothing to say? Silly blog. (of course, I deleted the error, so you might just think I'm talking trash...but I'm not.)

I've had the worst head/chest cold that will not vacate the premises. That coupled with successfully getting school work done has left me little time or desire to post. To boost my spirits, I will off a bunch of school things you don't care about but I do: I've finished critiquing 7 papers for my Epidemiology class. Informative, but so glad I'm not a teacher. Finished up my arguments and rebuttals for my Ethics debate (to selectively reduce or not selectively reduce a pregnancy, that is the question). I have completed my handout/presentation for Psych. If you want a quick overview of resources available for postpartum depression in my town, I've got a handout for you. I am now down to four finals, one of which I should be working on right now. I'm dragging my feet because, seriously people, exams should not require references. I thought I was done writing papers this semester. A little fruit and fiber and hopefully I will be done with that exam by the weekend.

So, I guess I'm feeling accomplished. I see the end of the semester and don't feel like I will be burning the midnight oil to get it all done in time. Now I'm focusing on the fun holiday season. The gingerbread display is right around the corner, the Nutcracker ballet, Christmas music, tree-trimming, and maybe I'll even make a new stocking. The possibilities are endless.

This Is Me...

Having nothing to say.

I See the End

I am finally at a point in the semester when I feel like I've gotten all the tough stuff out of the way (all four paper are pooped) and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have 8 assignments left, many of which are pretty minor. Seriously, if it weren't for the papers, I don't think I would find nursing school stressful. I can cram for an exam and slap together a presentation in an evening. It's those blasted papers that leave me sobbing and lifeless.

At any rate, I am celebrating with a night out with friends on Saturday. Next week is Thanksgiving and I have the whole week "off". Sigh...

Happy Birthday Autumn

A trip down memory lane. Three years ago, I woke up at 4AM with contractions. No need to wake up the house quite so early, so I decided to squeeze in one more episode of ER that I had tivo-ed. Within two hours, I realized this was not going to be as liesurely as my first 19.5 hour labor. My midwife said I could relieve back labor if I got down on all fours and arched my back like a cat. Abigail thought this was a great game...mom is on all fours so that I can climb on her back..woo hoo. Still in mom mode, I try to convince Abigail to be a cat, too. Not so convincing. All the while, Brian is thinking he has time to do the dishes and take out the garbage. At any other time this would be awesome, but I seriously wanted to find a spot to labor closer to the hospital. Off to the in-laws who live a stones throw from the hospital. Again, I was barely five hours into labor, surely I had at least seven more to go, right? At the in-laws for all of 10 minutes before I realized the hospital is calling my name. Finally get to the hospital, hand off Abigail, cave and get the epidural only to find out I am fully dilated. At this point, the epidural is too effective and I have to wait for it to wear off to push. In no time flat, she was out and had a perfectly round head. Baby Autumn Sage.

Not a baby anymore. I can not believe Autumn is THREE!! She was so excited for her party that she woke up bouncing. We had a wonderful morning with friends and I'm constantly amazed at how independent she is getting.

I'm Three!

Girls Love Pretty Jewelry

Me on My Big Girl Bike

More big news. Abigial lost her first tooth this morning eating a piece of cinnamon bread.

The tooth fairy pillow I made her last week.

Before

After

Need I Say More

OBAMA

Pins and Needles and Puppy Dog Tails

Oh....my....god. Glued to the television, hoping VA goes blue. I suppose Brian is right. The only thing that really matters is the final score, but I can help but get my hopes up watching the blow-by-blow.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that all of my friends who were pregnant were expecting a boy. That wasn't entirely true, one is still a surprise (due any day). But now I am up to 12! The last twelve babies I've known to be born (or will be in the next few months) are boys. There isn't just something in the water, there is a specifically boy-creating-something in the water. So, if you are looking to have a baby boy, now's your chance.

Of course, what I should be doing is mountains of homework. Between psych clinicals (the demons are not for me), presentations, illness, surgeries, teacher workday, birthday party planning, tooth fairy pillow making, and distracting presidential polls....I am just trying to get through November. Wish me luck.

EDIT: It is a suprise no more-the official count is 12 boys. Surely we can fashion a team of some sort out of that.