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img_0610, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Windsor.

This man is the father to my child and the man I married... is there any comment necessary? Maybe just to add that it is one reason my life is full of laughter.

Tonight I was nursing Ian while putting him to bed and he is such a voracious eater. I could hear him slurping away and see his eyes close in pure bliss. I teared up remembering a story that Aaron had told me earlier in the week. It seems a vegan couple are charged with manslaughter because their six week old child starved to death. They were vegan and apparently thought it was a good idea that their child be vegan as well - to the point that they were only feeding it apple juice and soy milk. Ignorant idiots! Their child must have screamed with hunger for six weeks! I think this must be the worst crime I have ever heard of...

On a happier note. Aaron, Barb, Jeff, Brett and Jeneve came to visit this weekend! Ian and I got to spend most of a day with Jeneve while the rest of the folks went to see the Tigers lose and Aaron worked. She is such a peach! All three of us took a nap and it was so sweet to watch her and Ian play together. The next day all of us went to the Detroit Science Center. It was a good way to spend a rainy day instead of the trip to the Toledo Zoo like we had originally planned. By the end of the day I think all of us adults were a little sleepy. I have to say I'm glad I didn't have to drive to GR but only to Ann Arbor!

The next day Ian and I went to Domino Farm which is a petting farm only a couple of miles from our home. We had a great time and even got to go on a hay ride out to the fields to feed the cattle. Ian got licked by a cow! I thought this would scare him but he just took it all in. After his nap we took an afternoon swim. Another new experience for the little guy. He loved it. His legs were a kicking away and we even took a quick dunk under water without complaint. We both slept well that night! It was just so nice to spend a day without guilt that I should be doing laundry or homework or something. Very rejuvenating!

Socks!

img_0571, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Windsor.

I can't believe how fast Ian is growing. He sits up by himself and rolls over both ways, he got his first tooth on April 23rd, and he is now really close to crawling! He's such a great kid - a big charmer that has the girls cooing all around him, wherever we go. His grandpa, Doug and wife Lisa came to visit this past weekend. It was good to see them. Lisa is about 7 months pregnant with Ian's uncle. (Don't think about this too hard, Aaron and I both come from happily dysfunctional families.) The funniest moment came when I walked in the room to find Aaron giving his Dad advice about having a baby! Things have changed a lot in 30 years so I guess Doug needed a refresher course. Anyway I got to pawn off a lot of extra baby stuff that had been pawned off on me, so my closet is cleaner!

I started my job the Monday after graduation. I am working for a structural engineering firm in Ann Arbor called SDI. They are a smaller firm with two partners and five engineers and an intern (me!). I am helping out on a project called the Watermark which is a nine story, reinforced concrete, mixed use building with separate townhouses also on site. It's located on the shore of the Detroit river just north of the Ren Cen. Mostly I am plotting and organizing the output side of the process (plans). The project is just beginning so as we get further into it I will get a chance to do some design (I hope). I have also done some detailing of a couple of little jobs my first week there. It was a little intimidating that Paul (one of the partners) had me do some work, then have Andy (the other partner) seal and sign off on the drawings, then Fed Ex them to the client, and he was going to be out of the office so he didn't even check over my work! ARGH! They assume I know what I am doing! The responsibility of structural engineering is a little intimidating to me. If I screw up, at the minimum lots of money is lost and at the max, lots of lives are lost. This is why I am going to get my masters. Well, that and to be a licensed structural engineer, they are working on changing the requirements so that you have to have a masters. And also it means better job with more $$. I got my first paycheck yesterday, that was nice.

That's it for now - time to get some work done. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers that are in my life. I have so much more respect now that I have become one. Every mother deserves sainthood! What a testament to the love a mother has for her child that she doesn't kill them or go crazy in the first year! Ian even makes me smile at midnight, 1 am, and 3 am.

Graduation

4-28-07 029, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Windsor.

It's official. Well it was a couple of weekends ago. Actually it isn't at all until I finish my incomplete course. But anyway I got to graduate! This is me in the Big House at the top of the bleachers showing my pride. Go Blue! Bill Clinton spoke at our general commencement exercises. I was impressed. He wrote his speech while he sat there waiting for his turn and spoke very eloquently. Even my Mom, the staunch republican, thought he spoke well. The day was great. All my favorite people came (except for a couple I will excuse) and I finally got to walk across that stage. It has been a long time coming! Aaron thought they should write on my cake "It's about time".

The University wide commencement was in the morning and then I ran to North Campus to have lunch with the Secretary of the Navy. Not much to tell there, he seemed nice enough even if I didn't agree with him (I behaved myself). Then I ran to meet with the Dodges before the College of Engineering Commencement in the afternoon. One more commencement - this is the one where I got to actually walk across the stage and the Dean knocked my hat off giving me a big hug. Cool. Then we all headed back here for some mighty chow. It was a great day!

Busy - Will Blog Again Soon

Hi. I graduated and started working on the following Monday. So I am adjusting to waking up at 5:30 and working. I really like the job but we are also all struggling with a cold and some of us are teething so I will have a complete entry soon, but probably not this week. Take care all.

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