A True PhD Candidate

That's what Ian is as of Friday, December 15th. I've been trying (*cough* nagging *cough*) to get him to blog about it... but alas, he has not. It couldn't be that he's too busy helping me take care of E (naw... really) or that he wanted to wind down a bit after the school term ended (who would have thunk it?). So, taking matters into my own hands (which I often do, hehehe), I'm letting everyone know Ian passed his oral exam and now is an official PhD Candidate. He also officially can work on his dissertation, even though in reality he has been working on it for a year already. Ok, maybe this very short announciary (made up my own word!) post will get Ian to post himself or at least comment on how the exam actually went, what he is looking forward to or how he feels about being a True PhD Candidate.

Just a few pictures

E resting on her boppy... ain't she cute?!?

E making some cute faces. See, she is our daughter ... silly as can be!

What A Difference Six Weeks Make

E has crossed over the six week mark... and OH, What A Difference!!

She is less fussy and less gassy. This change has been especially evident in the lack of bouncing and back-aching aerobics we have to do to either calm her or put her to sleep.

She is also more vocal in a non-crying way, smiles when awake and is generally alert and awake more. This has been fun in just the last couple days as we can "play" with her more and see her respond to us.

She also spits up less. Or maybe it just seems that way because it's not as projectile or chunky - I know, gross - but really this goes hand in hand with her bring less gassy. The added benefit is less mess and stink... and generally a much happier (and dryer) baby girl.

She sleeps for longer stretches of time at night. Yeah for sleep!! Of course, it's not consistent yet, so I shouldn't jinx it by saying she's doing great at sleeping at night.

And she eats less frequently (about every 2 and a halfish hours now) , which means I have more flexibility to get out and do stuff (or stay in and do stuff). Makes me almost want to express pump some breastmilk so that Ian and I can leave her with a sitter and go see a movie in the theatres. (hmmm.. I wonder if theatres charge for babies...) Maybe we'll explore that option over Christmas when we're with our families. I'm not quite comfortable with leaving miss E for too long with a sitter, just yet. Oh and we're not decided about giving her a bottle yet, either... just because she had some bad "eating" habits in the beginning and having had to give her a bottle to help her get rid of her jaundice made breastfeeding a bit more challenging - not to mention more painful to start of. So, we're not too eager to give her any bottles, just yet.

Days a Blur

The days have been blurring together ever since Thanksgiving. On that Thursday we made a late start to Pittsburgh (California, not Pennsylvania) to go to Ian's uncle's house for Thanksgiving dinner and time with Ian's side of the family. My parents were out of the country on a trip and so we didn't celebrate Thanksgiving with them on Thursday. Instead my siblings and grandmothers came up for a little time with E and dinner on Saturday. Overall, it was a pretty low key holiday. Really, we didn't even see or spend much time with either family... traveling and even short visits have become significantly harder and more tiring with our newest addition. We'll see how this works out for Christmas (which is also right around the corner). See how the days fly!

Then after that weekend, the week started... and pretty much everyday just ran into the next until today. I only left the house twice all of last week - once to visit a friend in a nearby town while doing some laundry and once with Ian to run a couple of errands (including groceries, like milk). I didn't even realize that it was December until Saturday came and went. Sigh. It is a bit disheartening to know that I've done "nothing" for the last couple of weeks and I'm afraid that as the days blur by without me realizing it I might inadvertently not be savoring this time with our little E (before she becomes an older E ). Mostly, I'm just exhausted (from lack of sleep, but also lethargy from the constant and unchanging scenery/pace). I keep seeing the calendar days move by in such a blur... that soon 2007 will be here and I still won't feel recouped from labor and taking care of E ... then I don't know what I'll do about work.

On a brighter note, as the days have been passing... Ian and I have seen some definite growth with E . We don't know exactly by how much (weight or length or size), but she's definitely chubbier and we swear she seems heavier. Her hair is getting longer too and she's developed a bit of baby acne. She is also a less gassy and generally less fussy (although that doesn't mean she doesn't have extremely fussy, gassy and spit up days). Oh and Miss E is also going for one long stretch of time at night without waking crying for food (usually about 5 hours - which for us translates into 3 or maybe even 4 hours of sleep in one stretch), and then back to smaller stretches (2 hours between feedings) for the rest of the night. This usually gives us a tiny bit more sleep... but also makes the smaller stretches harder. Now if only we could get her to consistently start her "night" (sleep) before midnight.

Ok.. now for a nap if I can.

Happy Turkey Day

Actually, Happy Thanksgiving Day! Even though technically nobody needs a special days to be thankful... Happy Thanksgiving (Turkey) Day anyways. (BTW, Turkey is great.. we should eat turkey all year round!! Can you tell I, gilda, am not a vegetarian?)

What the SillySpencers are Thankful for (the short list... otherwise this could be a very long list):

1. E ! And the very smooth pregnancy and delivery. It's amazing how we only found out about her "arrival" last January... and before the year is even over, she's here! AND not only that, but it's Thanksgiving and she is a day shy of being 4 weeks/a month old! Time sure does fly.

2. Ian's progress on his dissertation. He has a date for his oral exam (the official meeting/oral grilling he'll get before he gets the "green light" to work on his dissertation and he also becomes an official PhD Candidate).

3. Our health, our home and the provisions God has given us. This encompasses more than just the financial provisions (we seem to always have just enough for what we really need... even though on paper our money and living doesn't really work out); it includes also our great friends, community and family who have provided us with food, advice, encouragement, help and lots lots more! Thanks to all of you!!

4. And (sort of a repeat... but with a slight distinction), for Family and Friends. We have great supportive - and did we mention fun and silly - families (that are growing and growing - either by birth, marriage or "adoption" (ahem...Strogie)). And we have great friends that live nearby, friends that live in our "hometowns" and friends far off around the world. We love you all... and know that you love us too. Ain't it great?!?

Ok.. enough sap for the blog.. time to get everything ready (which is significantly more "things" with a new Spencer in tow) for some Thanksgiving shenanigans with family.