Delayed

Everything's delayed lately. Including this blog.

This morning I was delayed in getting to work because of some tummy issues with Anna. Tonight we'll be delayed in delivering her to my mom in Austin because we're waiting till tomorrow while watching what the bad weather might do on our MS150 bike route from Houston to Austin Saturday. I am hearing that the MS150 start might get delayed, too because of the weather.

I'm super delayed in getting out the photos that are backed up on my camera. I am still delaying the Renal study guide that should have been posted last week but I forgot. My TV shows are delayed: still only time to watch one night per week and so I've picked Hell's Kitchen (isn't he fun when he spits in your face while yelling?) and Ghost Hunters. Although occasionally I can sneak in 30 min of Paranormal State sometime during the week.

Lately I'm totally bummed my life is flying by like this. SLOW DOWN, ALREADY PLEASE? If it keeps going this fast, Anna will start high school and I will be OLD. I LIKE being in my early 30's. Can we slow down a bit and enjoy it, please?

I can't wait for class to end. Only 2 more lectures and I will be FREE again in the evenings! No more creation of lecture notes. I will teach in the fall, but the lectures will be done. Amen to that.

I hope my plane to Albany next week isn't delayed. I am super excited to having been invited to a Women In Science and Technology event at SUNY Albany. I was supposed to give my usual keynote address but now the time has been cut down to only a panel discussion. I prefer the panel discussion anyway...less blah blah of hearing myself talk and more actual interaction and Q&A from the students.

Last night we decided not to take a break in class so we could get out early. I talked for 2 hours straight and by the end I was confusing myself. Tripping over my own words. Next time, I'll take a break before I become useless (or a very funny circus act).

Here's what Anna's been up to:
Anna is such a big girl now. She's talking so much and saying such funny stuff I wish I could write it all down everytime. It's seriously a running commentary and she says everything she's thinking. It surprises me more and more everyday. Seriously. She's a little kid now.

I took off work good Friday to get the house ready for our annual crawfish boil and thought I’d have my hands full with her (bc she was home too) but no way. She just helped me clean or played with her toys or watched TV or busied herself. It was SUPER AMAZING. I couldn’t even believe it. She was just chilling out. I remember this time in 07 I was praying to get to TWO and now we have TWO and she’s so cool. She’s super sweet and is talking sentences like: “No ma’m, daddy! Don’t do that!” “We do not hit our friends!” “No, bird, don’t eat my French fry!” When I ask her where her X is, she’ll say “around the corner” or “this way” and point. She gives me running commentary of her day and of stories she makes up or whatever else (how to make grits). She knows my first and last name, hers, and Paul’s first and last name!! This weekend I was in the kitchen and she goes: “Mom?” (not mommy so much anymore, isn’t that weird?) I said “yes?” and looked at her. She started dancing and singing: “I Like to move it move it!” And she ran around to family members singing that over and over! WTH? I was rolling. The girl says stuff that makes me laugh so hard. I wish I could write it all down every time.

When we pass NASA on the way to/from school, she says “Hi NASA!” She knows the NASA emblem anywhere.

She has to pour her own milk, stir her food, whatever like that. If we do it for her, she gets mad! She copies everything I do, which is super sweet.

As for discipline we’re having to use Time Out sometimes and it works really well with her for now. She usually gets it for throwing things or not doing what I ask. She’ll cry on the chair for the entire 2 min, then say sorry and totally comply

She’s been off the paci at school (even for naps) for months and off the paci in the car for about a month (that’s a big deal for us). She gets the paci for sleep at home but I am super OK with that. Everyone needs a way to unwind at the end of the day.

Her top 2 year molars are slowly coming through and some days it bothers her more than others. We still have to use tactics to get her to let us brush her teeth, though! Lately she lets us brush hers while she brushes Pooh bear’s or Paul's. For months I had to hold her down on the bed and force it. It kinda broke my heart a little the other day when she brought Pooh bear over to the bed to lay him down and brush his teeth! Oops!!!

She’s doing well at school. When I go to pick her up she doesn’t want to leave! She’s great at drop offs too. She likes her friends and tells me all about them everyday. This morning she told me she wanted to go to chapel (at school). I asked her if they sang songs in chapel and she said yes and went into a score of "Jesus loves me". I've gotten to watch her on the playground, and it's fabulous. Today when I dropped her off, her class was already on the playground. Her friend Emory came and grabbed her by the hand and they giggled and took off to go play. It was disgustingly cute.

Girls are fabulous. Toddler girls are super cool.