Domino Farm

We went to Domino Farm yesterday with Doug, Lisa and little Jonah. Ian had his first pony ride! He thought it was great. He thought the whole farm was great. I love the way Ian is so curious about his world and he has little fear of new things. Actually, Mom would like it if he had a little more fear - so he didn't think surfing on the rocking horse, playing in traffic and climbing all over everything wasn't so much fun.


It's been a big week for him so he was up constantly last night needing to touch base with Mom. Must be dreams of pony rides and feeding cows. I think he gets his sensitive disposition in regards to sleep from me because even though I was up all night with him I was also awake at 6:00 thinking about everything that we need to get done in the next four days. So much packing and preparing. And admittedly I am a little nervous of starting this new life, making new friends, moving my family to a new city, finding day care that is a safe and friendly environment for Ian... all those things that keep me up at night or wake me up in the morning. But I guess the plus side is that I get these few moments of peace when I can write in my blog and drink coffee and otherwise play on the laptop without someone begging to press the buttons.

We will miss having Domino Farm only a mile away... I guess the next time Ian will be feeding and petting cows it will be at Lincoln Park Zoo!

Graduation Day

Today I graduate with my MSE (masters of science engineering). I don't know whether it is right or wrong but I am feeling pretty proud of myself. Going to college has been the hardest thing I have ever done. It has taken me 7 years to get here, along the way I have gotten married, bought a house, been unable to sell said house and had a baby. During that time I have managed to keep an undergrad GPA of 3.94 (out of 4) and a graduate GPA of 7.14 (out of 9) at one of the top 5 engineering colleges in the United States. So forgive me if I ring my bell a little.

We had a BBQ last night and my friends from school brought me a UM hard hat that they had all signed with well wishes, they also got me a embossed leather UM folder, coffee cup and pencils to stock my new office. I was touched. We had a lot of fun and there was TONS of food. One of my friends is from Greece and her two sisters were visiting - on the Greek calender, yesterday was Good Friday so they brought us traditional Greek Easter yummies. Mmmmm....

Aaron's Dad and his wife and little boy are coming to visit today as well as my parents. This is good because we have soooo many leftovers so we are hoping they will come in time for lunch. I will walk in the College of Engineering graduation at 3pm where I think Maria and Maya will also be joining us. We will all retire back here for more yummy food (not leftovers!) afterwards.

There are big black clouds rolling over the sunrise - I think it is about to T-Storm.

Groggy, Slightly Damp Morning

Ian was up at 5:30 this morning. I got him back to sleep by 6:30 but then couldn't get myself back to sleep. Aaron had his last day at Zingerman's yesterday. He was done at 9 and then all of his coworkers took him to the bar for a grand send off. He got to bed about 2:30 last night so I'm letting him sleep in (and maybe sleep it off).

We have a big weekend. Today we are having my friends from school and Aaron's friends from work over for a BBQ. It's looking like the weather might just clear for a few hours this afternoon and evening and it's supposed to be a nice warm upper 70's kinda day. Rather nice of the weather to cooperate with my plans. Tomorrow is graduation. I decided that I was going to walk at the College of Engineering ceremony. As much as last year was just too much... attending both the University and my College's ceremonies, lunch with the Sec of Navy and a meeting with my benefactors... I didn't get to spend much time with my family and I was exhausted by the end of the day! So this year I was hesitant to do anything but I don't want to let the end of my school career go by without any note. So I'll do the College ceremony and we'll have dinner afterwards.

There was a big stink at UM about the University wide ceremony because the Big House is under construction (yes, they're expanding!) and the administration planned on having the ceremony at EMU's stadium. The students pitched a fit and so they are cramming a metric butt load of students, friends and family onto the Central Campus diag.

Ian's awake and playing with the mouse so before he messes everything up I gotta go.

Another Beautiful Morning

So much blogging! Y'all are going to get spoiled and then I'll go to work. I was going to say 'back to work' and realized that it doesn't apply. I am going to work for the first time. Well... I guess technically I have worked before in my life... It does seem strange that I, who have lived in the underground of life for all of my previous existence, will be joining the 9 to 5 set. I mean that showing up to work on the 21st floor of a high rise to sit in front of a computer in a cubicle is not anything like showing up to a load in of a concert or other performance. I hope I will have the stamina for the mundane. I'm sure the paycheck will go a long way towards job satisfaction. Anyway, I do think that I will be working for a company that will offer me continual challenges. It's not like I will be designing Walmarts.

The weather in Ann Arbor has been just gorgeous these last days - more like June than April. Ian and I had to come in yesterday because I noticed he was getting a little sun. We'll have to start slathering on the sunscreen before we go out to play. I hope he has Aaron's coloring eventually. Unfortunately, it doesn't look to going to hold through graduation this weekend. At least I have no plans on going to the big all university ceremony which is being held on the diag because the Big House is under construction.

Aaron now has only two days of work left. (I'm keeping a count down for him.) We still have most of our packing to do but next week it is all of what we will be doing. Yesterday I spent some time going through all of my tools and getting rid of more than half. I had a total of four tool bags, boxes and buckets. So many things were duplicates or specific to stagecraft or just stuff I don't use much. I did keep my plumb bob though. What girl could live without one?? Aaron and I have seriously gleaned through our belongings and gotten rid of a lot of miscellaneous 'stuff' we really don't use or need. We have also made a policy that if it is broken, torn, burnt or otherwise in disrepair, it is not making the trip. Now that we will have income, I want sheets that don't have holes in them. Is it too much to ask??

Today's list of things to do includes: getting passport photos for Ian and I (I have to update with my new name), getting Aaron a replacement copy of his social security card, stopping by the Salvation Army with another load, going to the reproductive endocrinology clinic to sign some paperwork, and a stop at the grocery store. After all this and a bit of packing or napping while Ian naps, I will go over to a friends house for a going away party/dinner for me at 4:30. Tuesdays are one of Aaron's days off so it's good to run these kind of errands with both of us. That way one person can watch Ian while the other takes care of business. Sometimes keeping a toddler from running off can be difficult. I went to the bank the other day and they had the front door open - I tried to write a check and deposit it and Ian took off running. He made it out the front door and almost to the street before I caught him. Luckily the people in line behind me were more amused that impatient. I am beginning to understand the leash concept.

Dalai Lama

Yesterday we went to hear the Dalai Lama speak on sustainability. It was great. I was really impressed by his humility. He first says he was asked to speak on sustainability and goes on to say that he doesn't know this English word and is not an expert. He wore a sport visor to keep the glare of the stage lights out of his eyes and looked like a little yoda up there in his chair. He talked some about environmentalism but in the greater context of compassion. He liken our use of resources to someone burning the furniture in his own home to keep warm. It was sometimes difficult to hear because we were in the way back seats and I would like to find a transcript - when I do I will post it here.

It is another beautiful morning and I am enjoying the peaceful time I get before everyone wakes up. Ian woke up three times last night but Aaron took care of it twice and I took the big nurse a thon in the middle. I'm not sure what is going on with him. He again was so upset last night when I went in to him that it took me a long time to get him calm enough to nurse. He has his 18 month check up on Wednesday so I will ask the doc what she thinks.

Ian turned 18 months yesterday. It's hard to believe he is half way to 2 years! He is growing up so fast.

Rough Night

Last night was a long one. For whatever reason, Ian was waking every hour or so and when Aaron would try to go and comfort him, he would get so upset that we couldn't get him 'down' from it. He would be crying so hard that nothing could or would comfort him. He wouldn't let me nurse him or comfort him until we distracted him in some way. Long long long night. And he seems in perfect physical condition so I don't know what is going on but I sure hope it was just an anomaly!

Aaron has three days of work left - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. He's getting excited.

We are going to hear the Dalai Lama speak today. He is giving a lecture at UM on sustainability for Earth Day. I am looking forward to it. It seems like one of those 'once in a lifetime' opportunities. The University gave out a lot of tickets for free to students so I picked a couple up for Aaron and I. Matt and Maria are also going and Layale and Brian too. We are meeting with Matt and Maria before the event and going together while her cousin, Juli, watches Maya and Ian. Then afterward we are going over to their place for some dinner and conversation.

Aaron and I were thinking of 11am to pack the truck on Friday, May 2. So all of you that read this in Ann Arbor please feel free to come and help in the effort. It's hard to believe it has snuck up so fast. I was so focused on finishing school that I wasn't thinking about anything else. Now I realize how soon we are moving. It's exciting!

Don't Forget the BABY!

Good Morning and welcome back to the blog. I think I was just addressing myself. How crazy are you if not only do you talk to yourself in public - and answer - all under the guise of talking to your toddler, but you now find yourself talking to yourself on your blog... don't mention that I am also referring to myself in the third person. Ahh... I am embracing my insanity today. It doesn't matter. I am done with school!! I will graduate next week with my masters in engineering! I feel an incredible lightness of being. It doesn't hurt any that it is a beautiful spring day in Michigan and the trees are bursting their buds and life is ooh so good. The house is asleep and I am enjoying that peaceful time I get in the morning to just sit and drink my coffee without anyone tugging on my leg. I sleep so soundly last night. My mind wasn't working on any engineering problems while I lay there, I was just sleeping. And coughing. We are all still suffering the nastiest cold we could find in Ann Arbor (thanks Aaron!).

So... next stop Oak Park. We have started packing and as you can see Ian is a big help. He is growing up so fast. I think it is time to start potty training. He will occasionally grab his diaper and grunt his little uh uh sound. I think he is trying to tell me something. Once we get settled in the new place we will go buy him a little potty and see how it goes. I think he is ready for a big boy bed too! We went to Ikea with Mary when she visited a couple of weekends ago and he was so excited by the little beds! Yesterday he stood at the dishwasher and handed me the clean dishes one at a time so I could put them away. So helpful. It was a little slow to put away one spoon at a time but worth it to let him help and see him smile. We went and got his second haircut yesterday - I can't believe how fast it grows and how fast he is growing.

I am really going to try to enjoy this break I have between school and work and spend lots of time playing with Ian. I have such a tendency to feeling that something or another just has to get done and so I do that rather than take Ian outside or to the park. But we have plenty of time to pack and I just love the springtime so no excuses...

Ian and I took a little quality time last night sitting on the porch. As I watched him play I couldn't help wondering what he will be when he grows up... chef, engineer, or plumber!

WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!

Bored

I'm sitting in the computer lab waiting for an analysis to complete. I run it - it takes 5-30 minutes to process, I wait, I wait, I find out it doesn't work...

rinse repeat

Moo, Baa, La La La

Ian has recently mastered the ability to moo. He also does a fine imitation of a sheep and a cat. It's the cutest thing to hear him meow when the cat does. This comes from his love of a book called "Moo, Baa, La La La" - it's his current favorite but really he has a whole bunch of favorites, that one just tops the list. I love that he can't get enough of books. I certainly got what I asked for with that one. He has entered the age where his parents are teaching him cute party tricks. Ok maybe that started with the first "Ian, roll over."

The little guy is suffering with a bit of a cold right now. Aaron had it bad last week and I was almost thinking that Ian and I were going to escape the plague but he started with maybe body aches, maybe sore throat on Thursday night. I just know that he couldn't sleep and then Sat he developed the fever and runny nose. Poor little guy.

I am just ecstatic to be beginning my last full week of classes tomorrow!

10 MORE DAYS

No More Blogging for Awhile

Just to let everyone know that our home computer died - good thing I am going to work soon cause our gear is breaking down at an alarming rate! So I won't be blogging again for a couple of weeks while I finish my schoolin'. After that I will be bringing home the laptop and will be back in business. So really I probably wouldn't be doing a lot of bloggin' anyway since I am slammed with work right now.