Amelia

Baby Jacob (almost a year old).

( Eating, while being eaten by, a shark. )

The beginning and the end of last week were great!

Monday night I went to a concert with bayleaf, trixie, R., C., and bayleaf's roommate whose name I'm blanking on. It was a nice, chill evening. We had delicious plates of meat at Red, Hot, and Blue, then headed to the university. An Berlin opened and was okay (although whenever they talked they seemed very sweet). All American Rejects were phenomenally entertaining, especially the lead singer with his sparkly, writhing, tight-pants-clad, audience-insulting, self. The sound was bad for Taking Back Sunday and it was getting late for a school night so we didn't stay through the set. It was really nice to go out.

We're not seeing my family next week so Friday I drove down to VA to my sister's. It was great to see her and spend lots of time with Jacob. At 8 months he's zipping around crawling, and walking while holding on to things (coffee table, someone's leg, pushable pooh bear train). He's so happy! Lots of smiles and giggles all the time. He gets a little whiny when he's hungry or tired, but then you feed him and he's right back to Mr. Social. We figure it's from Dave's side of the family. Melissa brought Jacob in to wake me up both mornings and it's lovely to be woken up by this happy, smiley baby trying to eat your face snuggle with you.

We hung out and ran errands. It's more fun to do them together, and a little easier for Melissa because I could entertain the baby while she did things like get measured for a bridesmaid dress. I found curtains for the guest bedroom at Target. They're not *exactly* what I wanted, but close, and reasonably priced. They're also lined which is nice since we're not heating that room right now to save money. Dave cooked dinner both nights, it was a really nice, relaxing trip.

We're having Thanksgiving at uschickens's and I'm really excited! The food sounds like it's going to be epic and D. is making his MIL's baklava.

I vacillate between:
-we're spending so much money OMG *hyperventilate*, and
-much of this stuff is necessary and some of it is a good deal and will likely save us money in the long run this is why we got some help with closing costs, and
-fuck the budget I really want that super expensive coffee table

Things done:
1. have picked out paint colors and purchased most of the paint (living room = mission tile FTW)
2. taping is progressing, I've done lots of the lower stuff, D. will do the higher stuff
3. we continue to take boxes of books over, a few at a time, we're hiding them in the closet away from the paint
4. have purchased expensive white chair for me, splurge item, it is so comfy and gorgeous, the money was justified by buying the floor model which was 25% off
5. have ordered two matching chairs for livingroom. Ordering custom upholstery made me feel more like an adult than buying the house. This took 4-5 trips to the store this week as well as multiple sets of swatches, and lots of discussion. Came down to two both were good, but mine looked better with the room colors (Denis's had cooler tones). This means if the chairs look horrible it's my fault. Also custom = nonreturnable. I don't understand why the swatches all can't be on the computer so I can see an image of them applied to the chair shape I want. Upholstery buying fail. On the up side there was a sale so custom upholstery actually cost less than the regular price of the chair with its standard upholstery (which I find deeply ugly). It will take 3-4 months to arrive so final verdict TBD.
6. Have electricians coming next week to fix wonky outlets and run wires so we have overhead lights in the rooms (no one in 50 years wanted overhead lights in their bedrooms or livingroom?)
7. Have chimney person coming next week
8. White chair delivery people coming next week

to do:
1. prime, paint, paint, paint
2. OMG move
3. decide on, purchase, and install(?) light fixtures
4. decide on, purchase, make?, and install window stuff (curtains, or at least blinds for now)
5. backyard stuff: have someone (Raoul perhaps) look at dead tree, rake yard, clean gutters, regrade dirt under deck (this sounds like tons of fun now that it's cold)
6. car stuff: I got a ticket in DC Wed. since the DC registration ran out Monday, took it to be inspected in MD, it failed and they didn't have the part, guy is supposed to call me today when the part is in, it's 1:30 and no part yet, I'm feeling like it might not happen today. Spending more money :( register car, get driver's licenses
7. make first mortgage payment

To brighten your Friday, a nephew Jacob pic:
( cute fall babies are cute )

We had a great weekend with everyone! Friday we drove to Mt. Vernon, OH to stay with my cousins on my mother's side, to see Patrick (3) and new baby Joslin (8 weeks?). Melissa, Dave, and Jacob also stayed the night and my parents came down to visit for the evening. We had dinner, toured the backyard, and celebrated my dad's birthday.

Saturday morning after Jason's homemade cinnamon rolls (omg does everyone else's husband in my family cook except mine?) we drove to Athens OH to see my dad's side of the family. It was a joint celebration of my cousin Jon who is graduating from college and my cousin Dan who is graduating from highschool. Jon is a fine arts major (ceramics) so we got see his senior show. His work is really interesting and I'm curious to see how it develops during his artist's program in Appomatox VA next fall. We got to see almost all of the family and it was very busy but lovely. When it got overwhelming I went and hung out with my sister mother who was minding the baby in a quieter room. (I commandeered Jacob at my cousin's, but my mother totally took him over on Saturday.)

We spent Saturday night at my aunt's house in Columbus (D. was pissed we had to drive north again) and drove back Sunday.

It was intensely social which was exhausting, but so nice to see people for celebratory reasons (the last two times I saw the Ohio part of the family were for my grandparents' funerals). Also babies!!!

( some baby pics! )

Yesterday I finished my grading and drove down to my sister's. My mom flew down as well so we all spent mother's day together. Today is my sister's first day back to work after her maternity leave (she only got 6 weeks at 60% pay, my brother-in-law got one week). So mom and I are on baby duty. Luckily Jacob will take the bottle from "grandma" (my sister's breastfeeding). I've already been peed on and we spent some quality time looking at his mobile and the picture in the livingroom and the lamp. Right now mom is napping on the couch snuggled up with the baby and Lucky (one of the dogs). It's very sweet :)

Sunday I got up early and presented my paper at the conference. It went well and I got some nice feedback even though most of the Q&A period was focused on the other three papers that were all about Latin America (I was the odd man out). Left about 2pm and started the drive home from Cambridge. It was uneventful, but exhausting.

Monday got up, taught, came home and napped, then drove almost 4 hours to my sister's. Last night and today hung out with my sister, BIL, mom, and baby Jacob!!! He is only a few days old and a bundle of cute!!! Drove back to DC tonight and I'm a little sick of the car, let me tell you.

Tomorrow is more teaching and massive errand-running, then Thursday leaving for MJ!

My sister had her baby!!!! Tonight around 7pm Jacob was born. He's just over 7 pounds and healthy and perfect. My sister and BIL are doing well. I talked to my sister and mom over skype and saw the baby! So cute. At some point there will be pictures!

I'm in Cambridge at a comparative lit. conference. Sunday I'm giving my paper.
( Details about my trip, mostly food )