Our sturdy boy

Gus had his 2 1/2 year physical today. He's 37.5" tall and 34 lbs. = 86% for height and 88% for weight. He is and always has been our sturdy kid. He's pacing to be over 6 feet tall, so we shall see. We will have a big, stocky boy and a short, petite little lady, or maybe he'll stop growing and she'll have a crazy growth spurt and she'll be the tall one. Who knows!

The weekend was swell. We had family in for Cleo's baptism. It was very nice, and she wore a lovely dress. I have no photos posted yet b/c I cannot find the camera cord...I've searched high and low for the thing and cannot locate it. Once I find it I'll post new photos from the weekend.

The weather this week is so lovely. It's awesome out today but I'm trying to keep the kids on somewhat of a nap sked, so I feel like I'm inside most of the time. Cleo is still napping right now (she kinda skipped her morning nap b/c of the doc appointment, so she's been sleeping since 1pm...and it's almost 4pm). I may need to get the little lady up soon so we can enjoy the sunshine.

More later!

Random bits

A drawing by our babysitter, Annie Harrigan (she's a visual arts education major at KU and just an all-around great artist). This is a drawing of Gus and our cat, Funny Face.

This past wknd was so fun. Saturday we visited Leah and Dan and met baby Ben. He is just so cute. He was so tiny, but bigger than Cleo was when she was born. It's weird how you forget how small they are when brand new. We then went to Megan and Blake's house for dinner (they also live in KC). We had such fun catching up, and I love their house! Gus and their 2-year old son, Oliver, became magical friends...almost like immediate BFF's. Megan and I would spy on them playing in Oliver's room, and they were doing "Ring Around the Rosie," taking hug breaks (so cute), and chasing each other through the house. They were in love, and Gus cried when we left . We need to get those boys together again soon. It was so nice to see them. I hadn't even met Charlotte (their baby girl, 10 months) yet, and she is beautiful. So pretty and has such bright eyes and cute pigtails. It was fun.

Sunday we went back to KC to our friend's Super Bowl party (Josh and Heidi). It was also very fun, my fave part being when Bruce Springsteen almost flew through the tv, crotch first, when sliding across the stage during his halftime performance. Too amazing for words, really. I ate way too much junk, though. Ugh.

I just took Cleo to her 6-month appt. today, even though she 6 1/2 months. She is still our short little nugget! She weighs 15 1/2 lbs. (33%) and is just under 25" long (12%). Her head is 16" (5%). Her doc still thinks she could go through a growth spurt sometime and end up being much longer, but right now she's kinda on the short side. Who knew. According to her weight, she's supposed to be taking in around 38 oz. of formula a day...ha! Whatevs...I'm lucky if I can get her to take in 26 oz. a day. The doc said as long as she's gaining weight and growing, he's not concerned. She's just not as fond of her food as most kids her age. My child? What? She did not get that from me...must be an Andy thing. But she's healthy and happy. Her right eye tear duct is still blocked, and the doc had no luck unblocking it (which is always a bummer b/c that process is no fun for her). We are going to take her to a pediatric eye specialist in about a month to have it fixed.

That's about it for now. Oh, I'm officially done nursing. I weaned her and was finished at almost exactly 6 months (about a week after). It did hurt more than I thought it might, even though we slowly weaned, but all is well now. I have gone through a bit of a mourning period, which surprised me. I've missed it more than I thought, but overall I'm glad I've stopped. Cleo was starting to become rather distracted and disinterested, and I was personally ready to stop pumping and nursing. So it's all good, and I made my goal!

ek

I'm Still Standing

Job update:

So we had a meeting with the KU Provost yesterday to find out where all the fine arts staff are being placed once the School of Fine Arts is no more (effective July 1).

Thankfully, I am going to have the same job in the reorganization, so I will be the Director of Communications for the new KU School of Music. I just keep my job but I get to focus on the new School of Music since the fine arts school will no longer exist. I get to keep my office and work with the same faculty and whatnot that I'm used to working with in music. I just won't work with the art and design folks anymore (art is moving into the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and design into the School of Architecture and Urban Planning). I'm excited b/c now I can really focus my energies on one school--the music school--so my marketing plan can be much more strategic. Before this I always felt like my efforts were spread way too thin b/c of all the folks I had to work for and b/c of budgetary limitations. I'm excited for the opportunities this presents, and I'm excited for the music faculty and students b/c they've wanted a separate School of Music for over 30 years now. This will be a fun opportunity for fundraising and marketing, and these two things will go hand in hand.

Some folks were moved into different areas and they did not take this news well. The meeting yesterday was pretty dramatic, so it's been kinda testy here at work. But overall I'm happy with the results and I'm very thankful that the Provost's Office really kept their word and retained everyone's positions. In this market depression that means so much. I wish people would think of that more often/keep things in perspective.

Anyhoodle, just an update on my job. Lots of work to be done!

ek

Baby Curry!

Leah and Dan had their baby boy last night (January 27). He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and his name is Benjamin Hadden Curry. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bea and Ben, I love it!

The Prestige vs. The Illusionist

So we were talking to our friend, Locke, about how much we liked the movie The Illusionist. We love getting recommendations from Locke b/c he is an online movie reviewer for Red Box. Locke said he liked it but highly suggested we watch The Prestige b/c he favored it over The Illusionist (they are both movies about 19th-century magicians). So, we watched The Prestige last night, and the verdict is in. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. So good. It stars Christian Bale (love him) and Hugh Jackman. Andy loved it, too, but, he thinks The Illusionist just barely beats out The Prestige. I disagree...loved both movies, but I think The Prestige wins. Andy wants me to add that the reason he prefers The Illusionist is that it's purely fiction, whereas The Prestige is more science fiction/fantasy. I don't want to give away any of the plot, so that's all I'll say about that.

Any thoughts? Any of you seen one or both? For the record I didn't think I'd like either movie (19th century magicians? Sounded like snoozers to me...and I was scared b/c The Illusionist had Jessica Biel in it b/c I really don't consider her much of an actress, but she wasn't bad), but they were both very good, and the plot twists were fabulous. And, I don't mean to toot my own horn (toot toot!), but I did figure out both plot twists at the very end. I made Andy pause The Prestige while I shouted out the ending...he was amazed at my genius. :) I don't think the movie was predictable at all, though. In fact, it took us a few twists and turns to figure it out.

Quick kids update: Gus is still talking up a storm, and our new favorite phrase is: "Oh my gosh!!!" He just started saying that yesterday and it's really funny. Miss Cleo jumped from 14 lbs. 3 oz. to 15 1/2 lbs. in just 2 weeks! That's what happens when she gets over the flu and starts eating like a champ. She has her 6-month appt. in a week or so, and she's getting over an ear infection now. We all have colds (except Andy, of course!), but nothing too bad.

Our camera is dead on batteries, so no photos as of late.

More later...

25 random things

So a Facebook friend of mine sent me this post and I then filled it out and sent it on to friends of mine. It's 25 random things about me. I thought it was fun (I'm a sucker for these things) so I thought I'd include it here as a post. I love learning random things about friends. I hope other Facebook friends do the same post!

1. I suffer from Ranidaphobia (fear of frogs). No joke.

2. I worked for a summer at the Clinton Parkway Hy-Vee at the meat and cheese "island" while attending KU. Don't eat the ham salad and I highly suggest staying away from the really cheap turkey, as well.

3. I dated a guy in high school (he was from Topeka) who I later found out was a self-proclaimed Satanist and he also stole cars for fun. I was aiming high with that one.

4. I pick up on song lyrics very quickly and have a great memory for them. I remember the most obscure lyrics and parts of random songs--it freaks my husband out. It's my gift to the world.

5. I shared a bedroom with my (5 years younger) sister until I was well into high school. That's what happens when you have 3 girls and only 2 bedrooms, and I was the middle child. Boo hoo.

6. I was a lifeguard for three summers in a row. I saved a kid once.

7. I saw a kid die in high school. He was playing basketball and my girls bb team was watching the game before we had to go into the locker room. He fell down and died on the court. I saw the EMS folks do a trachiotomy on him but it didn't work.

8. I LOVE to kareoke and sang "Magic Man" at my bachlorette party.

9. I have always yearned to learn to breakdance but have never had the chance. I would take a class even now.

10. I shoplifted for the first (and last) time from Casey's General Store in my hometown. I stuffed a pack of tan pantyhose down my shirt. I felt so guilty I never did it again. Catholic guilt, I tell ya.

11. I absolutely love squeezing candy bars until they explode in their wrappers. I know this is super weird, but it's really cathartic for me. My favorite one? Probably Reese's P.B. Cups.

12. I was a pretty darn good volleyball and softball player in high school. I hit 3 home runs (one of them a grand slam) in a game against our rival softball team, Osage City. I sucked big time at basketball, though.

13. I was also in four musicals in high school and was lead in two of them (Bye Bye Birdie and Lil' Abner). I loved acting and singing. Now when I think of it I get super embarrassed!

14. I had a senior photo taken with my drill team outfit and poms poms (awesome, I know). My hands were under my chin and the poms poms were next to my face. Oh, I also had a spiral perm at the time. The photo shop had it made into a huge poster to hang in the window and my parents still have it. It's absolute blackmail material.

15. I have no patience for riddles or puzzles. None.

16. When I was younger I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an actor on SNL.

17. My husband and I have a goal to own a second property someday to use as a vacation home. We have our eyes on Michigan (on the lake) or possibly Florida. If we hit bank someday (ha), we'd love to buy a condo in Chicago, too. One can dream.

18. I've never been to California. I have a handful of friends or relatives who live there, so I hope to visit someday soon.

19. I think Christopher Guest and David Sedaris are both gods.

20. I still have a crush on Gary Oldman.

21. I still love Pearl Jam. They were my first and will always be my last. I would love to meet Eddie Vedder someday (under normal circumstances...when I met him at a concert in Wichita and screamed like a child, well, that doesn't count).

22. I own close to 20 pairs of flip flops.

23. I met my husband at KJHK. I was his "boss"--I was Music Director at the time and he was on my music staff. So funny.

24. I quit a babysitting job in college by having a friend call in for me and leave a message on the main voice mail while we were extremely drunk (at 2am on Sunday morning...I was due to babysit that Sunday morning at 9am). My friend's message said that I had "personal issues" that I had to deal with. Then I ran into the coordinator for the church daycare at Dillon's on Mass Street about a week later and she was really concerned for me, so I had to fake having personal issues. Bad Erin.

25. These "getting to know you" lists are absolutely guilty pleasures of mine. Can you tell?

Flight of the Conchords is the bee's knees!

So Andy and I have the first disc of Season I of Flight of the Conchords and OH MY GOD IT'S AMAZING. After about 30 seconds of watching it I told Andy I honestly felt like the two dudes in it had created this show just for me. It's hysterical and I love the two dudes in it...love them. Andy and I were absolutely cracking up throughout, and although I know we would've been able to watch every episode tonight, we've decided to try to pace ourselves. We just watched two episodes tonight and we'll watch a couple more tomorrow. There are six on this disc, and there are a few more discs to complete Season I. I'm pretty sure Season II is just now coming out on HBO, so I'm going to follow this show as closely as I can (without actually having HBO!). Maybe we'll splurge and get HBO...I would honestly think about it just for this show! The songs are just too funny, and it's like a weird musical or something. God, where has this show been all my life? :)

Other than being blown away by the awesomeness that is Flight of the Conchords, I finally got Andy on Facebook! I've been rather smug about it because I knew he would love it once he gave in to the temptation. What's funny is that Dave Dierks (Andy's Dad) also started an account, and we had no idea he was even considering it!

The kids are good. Both have colds, but nothing too bad. Cleo is suffering from some weird face rash right now. I think it could be a "post viral rash." I remember Gus had one of these right after he had been sick, and it went away after a week or so. Cleo's rash resembles what Gus had, so I'm hopeful it will pass soon. She is truly so happy when she's in her Johnny Jump Up. She bounces around so much it almost scares me a bit even though I know it's safe. Gus is just talking so much these days. He's been pretty defiant, too, so that's been interesting to deal with. He makes us laugh so much. He looks out for Cleo, too. If she's unhappy gets very worried about her and runs to get one of us. He will give her kisses (on her head) pretty frequently, so that's fun. I think it will be super fun when they are old enough and big enough to actually play together.

That's it for now. Hope everyone is well!