I’m not sure that anyone in our house counts as trigger-happy, but we have taken more photos than our blog would suggest recently. So, time to post some backlog. Here are two photos of Katherine enjoying her Nova Scotia grandmother and uncle (she fell for Nelson very quickly):
And one of Katherine sleeping:
Katherine turns three months old on Friday. She is wonderful, no question about it. But after three months of only a tiny bit of school time, it’s time for me to jump back into work. And what work:
– I’m teaching a new course this fall, one that I proposed rather ambitiously to a prize committee and now need to live up to. This is the kind of class I’d like to craft over the course of several years, rather than just a few months!
– Dissertation. ‘Nuff said.
– Job application. Yes, it starts in July already. It looks like it’s going to be quite a lot of work for a very, very, very slim chance at a job. Our placement officers said that current predictions have it that only 1/3 the usual number of jobs will be offered this year. And English was never a very good market to begin with!
So it begins.
Erin
We’re enjoying hearing good news from all around us. Two good friends are recently engaged and another just got married over the holiday weekend. In our church, Katherine was just the first in what appears to be a bit of a baby boom: four babies between April and June! And we just learned of another baby that will arrive next January. So nice to take part in the happiness of others!
Erin
And twenty-five children (guess where all the Penners come from). And now online. Read about my great-great-grandfather, Peter Penner, here.
Sydney
. . . that when people say “I love him/her dearly” it’s always followed by a “but”?
Over the last couple of months we’ve gotten a lot of compliments on our “fat” baby. Don’t let our teasing about her double-chin and multiple arm folds fool you: yes, we’re pleased. She’s grown incredibly fast! The upside is that we know she has the ounces she needs to weather a temporary illness or *gasp* an entire night of sleep without fear of starvation. The downside is that she may be a bit slow in some of those early motor skills because she has more weight to be lifting. Let the weight-training begin!
Erin
Apologies for the lack of pictures recently. We’ll be working to remedy that, and I’ll try to get some short videos posted (mostly for the grandparents, so don’t think it’s because I think Katherine is the first baby to coo or smile).
I think her hair might be starting to curl. Or rather, I think the hair that’s growing in now is inclined to curl. Difficult to tell curl from bed-head, but so be it.
She giggled for the first time yesterday. Sydney was bouncing her up and down on his stomach (this girl is into movement, and the more vigorous the better) and she let out a peal of giggles as she grinned. Of course, she won’t cooperate for the camera when I try to recreate this (sorry, grandparents!), but we’ll keep trying.
She’s cute, she’s engaging, and she changes a little each day. Even when she’s sleeping I now find myself watching her–rather than using the opportunity to get some work done! Sigh.
Erin
In reporting Gov. Palin’s resignation, MSN says that she desires to “‘affect positive change’ from outside government.” The NYTimes reports her as saying, “We know we can effect positive change outside of government.” So which is it: “affect” or “effect”?
Erin
“Do you think Katherine’s getting a bit of a flat spot on this side of her head? Should we make sure to lay her down on the other side for awhile?”
“No, I don’t. And if she were, it would keep her from wanting to shave her head when she’s older.”
We’re safely home, where Arwyn is writhing and nipping in ecstasy, Katherine is alternately cooing and fussing (after staring at the cat in fascination for five solid minutes), and Sydney and I are trying to get our house and heads back in order. After the recent succession of baby, conferences, and travel, we’re completely out of it!
Erin
Alan Schmierer