Baby sounds

A good friend recommended taking video to capture some of Johns expressions and sounds.  Here are two videos of John, one asleep, one wide awake.

Newborn Photos

We had our newborn photos this past week with Mandy Leonard's Photography. She did our birth photos and we will have some milestone photos with her throughout John's first year. John did great! No crying involved. 

First week

We survived our first week!  Here is what John has accomplished so far in his transition to the world.

John has figured out sleeping on Mom and Dad will get him anything in this world.

We've figured out the ring sling and have gone on several walks, out to eat, shopping, to the pediatrician, and nursed in public in it!

John also took his first nap in the co-sleeper while Mom and Dad enjoyed some kid-free time.  

Happy 1 week John!

John William New

John William New was born June18th at 4:29pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 13.8oz, measuring 20.75 inches long, with a head circumference of 14cm.  He is the love of our lives already.

Penny's Surgery

Many of us in Indiana were very happy to say “Goodbye July” in hopes of better August weather.  15 straight days above 90 was making it impossible to be outside.  But, for me, August was coming a little too quickly.  I was not ready to wrap up summer just yet.

We started the first week of August by getting Penny fixed.  She has already been in heat once, and I didn’t want to wait too long or I knew Dan and I would start to talk each other into letting her have puppies.  That is the last thing that we needed, even though we are both suckers for babies of all species.  So, I took Penny in August 4^th to FACE in Indy.  We were not about to take her to the horrible vet that did Daisy’s.  Penny was so excited to leave for work with me, but as soon as we got to the door of the clinic, she refused to enter.  So, I had to pick her up and carry her in.  All 50 lbs of her.  I think she knew immediately what was going on and decided to make it as difficult on me as possible.

I got her all checked in and we were waiting to be called back and Penny just kept shaking and hiding under my legs.  She’d never been away from both me and Daisy that long.  I just knew she’d be so scared.  But, they took her back with minimal trouble, and I was able to walk out without hearing her whine too much.  Ugg, it was so hard to leave her, especially knowing I wouldn’t be back for 8 hrs.

You better believe I was there the minute I could pick her up.  She looked so pathetic when they brought her out.  She did really good through the surgery, but she wouldn’t let any of the vet techs near her.  She would hide in the back of her kennel.  She didn’t even perk up when she saw me.  I think that was the first time I didn’t get a kiss or tail wag from her.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up a bit.  But, she walked to the car and jumped in the backseat on her own.  She slept most of the way home too.

I got her inside and made her a little bed downstairs.  She immediately went to sleep and didn’t move almost all night.  She didn’t even stir when the pizza guy came over.  There was no way I was making dinner with her looking like that.  She didn’t eat anything until the next morning.

The next day was my birthday, and I swear Penny knew it.  Penny woke me up with birthday kisses and tail wags.  Plus, she ate and drank no problem.  By the evening we were doing everything we could to keep her from running around.  She wanted to play so bad. 

After that, she recovered in no time and was back to her playful self.  The only thing she seems to have lost besides her fertility is her habit of chewing on the wood furniture.

Back Home again in Indiana

I was so excited to return home after Vermont.  I missed my bed, by bathroom, my husband, and my pups so bad.  Thankfully I have a husband who knows me so well.  He left work early on Friday, went home, picked up the pups, and drove all the way back to the airport to pick me up.

We got a lot of attention at the airport with the pups in the back of the jeep.  I was sooo happy to see Dan and the pups.  We definitely idled at the pickup area.  :)

I was actually very excited to not have any plans for a good 3 weeks.  I was ready for a schedule.  Unfortunately, I got a stressed induced ulcer in my eye.  Yes, it's as bad as it sounds.  Yes it hurt like hell.  I pretty much locked myself in my bedroom, in the dark for several days.  I was pretty pissed because I was looking forward to work.

Once healed up, I was a new person.  I trained.  Like, 4 or 5 days a week.  Hard core, running at least 2 miles, working the row machine, doing plyo circuits training.  The Warrior Dash was coming up quick and I had work to do.

Before I knew it, August was here.  I wasn't exactly looking forward to August.  Penny was scheduled to be fixed, my birthday was coming up, and that means summer is almost over. :(

 But, with the Warrior Dash planned, I was geared up to see what August had to bring us.

Vermont and Boston

We had such a great time in St. Louis, and I was really happy and sad to come home.  I was glad to sleep in my own bed, but less than a week after coming home, I was off to a work conference in Vermont.

Unfortunately Dan didn't have the vacation days to come out with me, and this was one of my first trips traveling alone since meeting Dan.  I wasn't very excited at all.  A 6 day work conference with 8 hours of speakers, a dorm room with no A/C and cafeteria food.  To say I was hesitant to go would be a HUGE understatement.

Vermont Academy Campus

Plus a whole week without Dan, the pups, and Buggs!

But, I packed up my bag with extra cute clothes, shoes, and as many luxuries (soft towels, ipod, kindle, ect) as I could think of, and headed out to fly to DC and onto Boston.

I was excited to see Boston.  As a sports fan, beach girl, and lover of architecture, I was pumped to visit. 

Administrators Office - AKA the Gingerbread House

After meeting up with my traveling companion, P, we headed out on the 2 1/2 hr car ride from Boston into Vermont.  It was a very pretty drive and P got to tell me about life living in Finland, Boston, and Cali.

My tiny dorm room

The dorm was a little better than I expected.  I didn't have a roommate.  The bathroom was horrible and the shower was just big enough for me to fit into.  At least there was warm water.  Unfortunately, there was very little cell phone coverage.  It did bring back memories from college, which was fun.

Good ol' college days pre-responsibilities

The conference it self was great.  It reminded me of what academia life is like.  I had been toying with the idea of getting my P.h.D. and I remembered why I didn't want to.  I met a lot of interesting people all the way from Greece, Germany, England, and from all over the US.

My dorm building

So, besides my boredom, it was a good time.

The Garden where my Celtics play!

We left early on Friday so we could spend a couple of hours in Boston before flying home.  I was in heaven!  I had the best hot lobster roll, got to see the Garden, and even walked through a Farmers Market.  I even found a small bakery and had a fantastic cupcake while waiting for my plane.

Drool...

We will definitely be vising Boston again and I have put it on my list of places I'd like to live.

DT Boston