Life thus far

Grad school has yet to kill me. Since we're only two and half-ish weeks into the experiment, I'm sure you're glad to hear it. I think, at this point, I'm still feeling generous and serving, as well as harboring drastically low expectations. In fact, the only thing that's bumming me out so far is that Phillip is reading some REALLY interesting books (The Design of Every Day Things, doesn't that sound FASCINATING? Anyone?) and mulling over mind-stretchy ideas in class and MAYBE just PERHAPS this is the kind of program I might have been interested in. If I were, say, a younger single gal with Career Ambitions. As it stands, grad school remains a project for a future life. 

But we're doing well, I think. For example, this week Phillip is working late (and by late I mean, 10 or 11 if things go well, the next morning if they don't) tonight and Thursday night. Combine that with his Friday class and I am single parenting quite a bit more than I am used to. Ordinarily I would be Displeased with this situation and passive-aggressively making that known, but I don't know, things seem okay. I actually think it's easier because of the second kid. I mean, the second kid is more work, but I am infinitely less stressed about schedules and routines and consistency the second time around, and that makes me more flexible in general. I really think this is true. Molly is as annoying about the nap transition as her brother was, but I? Am the Picture of Nonchalance when it comes to that stupid morning nap. "Oh well" can be heard in my house about a thousand percent more than when there was just one kid living here. So I plan our days to the gills, or I don't. I keep my options open or I march us through town on a giant errand running day. I can do whatever, and tonight I made the entire afternoon and evening rush by when I decided the summer clothes weren't going to sort and box themselves, and my perfect kiddos played BY THEMSELVES while I performed that most irritating of baby tasks. Maybe they DID get the cooperation memo I sent out two and half-ish weeks ago. 

Anyway, "things are fine!" makes for a pretty dull blog post, doesn't it? Not that I'm COMPLAINING but I just don't have a lot to share these days. The kids are still rotten sleepers, though unpredictably rotten, and the unpredictableness has just BECOME predictable, so that's boring too. We are averaging about one potty usage per week (tonight! when I totally thought I was being conned out of bedtime, but then no! he actually used the potty! and it "looks like a snake!" I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST WROTE THAT.) and I've been living on Weight Watcher's vanilla yogurt and granola bars because no one is around to insist on dinner with protein, I've reacquainted myself with Yellow Tail Shiraz, I'm feeling a little down on Mad Men lately, and last night I sat my sister down and forced her into making the rest of the biggish decisions for her wedding. I have a spreadsheet and it needs to be FILLED IN. Do not mess with the SPREADSHEET. And I haven't forgotten about OFFICE pictures, HONEST. I just need Phillip to hang a picture or two and then I will do the big anticlimactic reveal. I SWEAR.

So, uh, later? We'll talk? Anything new with YOU? (No really, tell me, I want to know, I have a LOT of time to sit at the computer these next couple of nights!)

Comments

[Annie]

I'm sure the grad school thing will take you through a variety of seasons, but getting off to a good start will probably be key in how you handle those seasons. Sounds like you guys are in a good place. Praying for you during all of this. :-)

[Marisol]

I'm in my last year in grad school and it's been very stressful. Getting my theisis committee together, writing my thesis, taking my final classes AND planning my wedding is stressing me out to NO END!!! Oh yeah, I'm also on a diet. So yeah, grad school has sucked the life out of me. But I'm not married, I don't have any children, mortgage or any of those grown up things. So, I really shouldn't complain. I tip my hat off to Philip and to you because grad school is not only hard on the student but as well as for their loved ones.
Hang in there!!!

[Carrie]

Ah, grad school memories. Actually, no, I don't have any. Because I blocked it out. Because I don't want to think about how I spent 2 years of my life studying and in labs and doing research and now change poopy diapers for a living. Good times.

Lizzie said she's inviting you for tomorrow- sorry I didn't think of it myself. But I have two small people who are simultaneously teething and tag-teaming nap time, and you know what that does for one's brain. Come hang out with us, please!!!

Hope Phillip makes it home early tonight.

[Holly]

Everytime someone I know goes back to school I get insanely jealous! The books all sound so interesting. Then I try and remind myself how much work it is when you still have a full time job and I sigh with relief that I can read whatever I want at night (or maybe watch The Hills...whatever!)

Glad the transition is going smoothly.

[Jess]

Yogurt HAS protein. Not a ton but a fair amount. So, I say you're good, dinner-wise.

[HereWeGoAJen]

Let's see. It is still MASSIVELY HOT here and I feel like I am drowning when I go outside. My friend is coming to visit me next week and I am Super Excited. She's bringing her twins too, so that will be Super Exciting for all the babies involved. I made chocolate chip cookies last night and discovered that the William-Sonoma chocolate chip cookie recipe is superior to the Better Homes and Gardens recipe.

[kris]

Well, I guess if you are really bored...
Potty training stinks. I am temporarily giving up on that one.
I am freaking out about kid number two, who isn't due till March. (but your post just gave me a little glimmer of hope)
My husband has been sick for 2 weeks and gets to come home and take naps, but when I was sick for 3 months I did not get time off during the days due to kid #1.
ok. I feel a little better.
Hope that little venting session was ok...
oh, and that book you mentioned acutally does sound interesting...

[Manda]

Now that I'm reading this I have decided two things: I am going to MISS all my time where I can Do What I Choose and Eat Yogurt For Dinner AND I need a second baby to mellow me out. Meh.

[maggie]

Good luck with the transition. Sounds like it's going well! My husband works a lot too...at least it makes us miss them more. Ha! Question for you...my baby is 4 months old and I'm losing my hair in small clumps now. Yikes! Any advice on that? I kind of remember you mentioning that you had that happen. When does it stop?!

[Shannon]

Here at Big University World it is suppose to snow this weekend. Always fun, the first snow! Husband is almost half way through year 2 of a 2-year-with-an-option-for-a-3rd-year post-doc fellowship, and over the last week or so we're come to the realization that it's probably time for us to move on. Meaning move, start afresh at a new place with a new job. The job openings that his is looking at are really good, and come with $$$ that (OMG) opens up the window of me being a SAHM. Wow.... Life changing, I tell you. :) But I am happy.

[Charlotte]

Well, I just got back from about three months in Argentina, have decided that even if I could wile away my days I would rather not, operation: employment was quite successful and it appears that I'm moving to the U.K. next year. I feel as if I owe you an email. A big one. After I catch some sleep and plow through Mad Men. Scout's honor.

I am obsessed with spreadsheets. Obsessed.

[Lisa]

Staying busy is the ONLY way I survive those single parent nights. I have two coming up in a row (which is rare for me, and hard, and how do you do it?), so I've pulled out all the hospital records and baby pictures for sorting and piling just to keep myself busy. I do the summer clothes sorting whenever I have a clingy kiddo because she likes to try on a few things while I'm boxing the rest, keeping her occupied. It works.

[Christiana]

So, a 2nd baby actually mellows you? Good to know!

For my own "what's new?" answers, check out my blog! :) I just posted a new post on exactly that subject!

[Shelby]

I'm really glad to hear it's going well so far! "Worried" is probably too strong a word, but I was worried about this transition for you!

So our Ministry Fair was a success. All weekend I thought about what yours must be like. This was our first time planning the whole thing, and it feels good to have it behind us now.

I'm still pondering starting a blog, if for no other reason than to keep everyone who's interested up to date on the fertility stuff. I'm hung up on blog hosts, though . . .

[Sonetka]

I love the Design of Everyday Things! My husband had to get it for an undergrad course and ended up keeping it because he liked it so much, even though most of his old textbooks are long gone, and he bugged me to read it so much that I finally did and thought it was great. Every now and then, as I struggle to get through some lame, poorly-marked public doorway, I think "It probably won a prize."

What's new with me? Seriously? What's new with us is that we're moving to Seattle. My husband got a job there and we have to be there by mid-November. I am freaking out and packing and freaking out because I'm not packing enough and have about 8 million vital documents to round up and haven't done it yet. I've been wondering about writing to you and asking for neighbourhood/church recommendations, and then thought that might seem a little odd. But since you asked, here it is :).

[Veronica]

My husband will finally be done with his two-year Masters program in December, and I cannot WAIT!! I think HIM going through grad school was harder on me than when *I* went to grad school ... and we don't even have kids!! You are a saint! For realsies. :)