The Biggest Loser - Month #1

This month I did moderately well at achieving my goals.

We joined a gym and went faithfully to work out every day... until we got the virus. The virus lasted three weeks. Now we're in the midst of the stress of coming finals, deadlines, papers, etc, and we haven't been to the gym in a week. But hopefully things will look up after April 16 (when my students' finals are done).

Despite the virus and the stress, I managed to lose 10 pounds. So, I am doing something right. Yay, me!

Baby Love

Nothing in the world compares with the joy of motherhood. Watching a person that you created discover the world in all its glory for the first time is the biggest thrill. I cannot even describe the emotion that swells up in me every time she reaches out for me, or snuggles me with her soggy baby kisses, or laughs at something I have done.

For the first several months, it was hard to even grasp that she was mine. The birth was so difficult, we almost lost her, and then the recovery from surgery was so hard on my body. I was exhausted all the time. I saw life through a haze and all my emotions were blunt and blurry. And life was anything but simple. We moved, school began with all its craziness, I was thrust into a very demanding role while my muscle floor was still numb and healing and had to learn music with vision problems and sing with vocal problems... and then audition season, the Christmas season, taking over for a full-time faculty member, Ryan's impending graduation and final paperwork... you get the idea.

And then one morning I went in to get her, and she smiled that humongous smile of hers and reached up to me, and I knew that she was mine. And I melted from the crown of my head all the way down to my toes. And everything that I had been through was worth it for that one priceless moment of feeling her arms go around my neck as I scooped her out of the crib.

Sick

Sorry we have been horrible about blogging the past two weeks. We are all sick as dogs over here. It's a para-influenza virus, and it has swept through the in-laws, Ryan, Hannah and me. Everyone had slightly different symptoms within the same family of yuckies. Ryan was feverish, Mom Smith was sneezing, I feel like I have mono and strep, and Hannah has been fussy and congested. It's so hard for me as a parent to see Hannah struggling with her first sickness. I think it's because she's so sweet and can't talk to tell us what is wrong or how to fix it. She has been super snuggly and needing attention, and that we can give. Although it is difficult to be attentive when I feel so awful...

Hannah: More Pictures!

It has been a while since I posted pictures of our cute little bug. She seems to grow visibly every day. I find myself wondering what she will discover today.

Yesterday Hannah discovered the cat. When I say discovered, I mean she followed him (with her eyes) around the room whenever he entered, exited, or moved. This is a new behavior. So now we are teaching her about kitties and what they say. She thinks this is great fun.

Here's a photo strip of fun faces from this past month.