Wknd pics

Dinner at CPK in the mall Friday night

Bouncy house to celebrate the return of a friend from school

Playing in the house

Drinking warm milk out of a real mug - getting ready for hot cocoa in CO at Christmas 

Swimming with Dada

Getting good at floating

So tired, fell asleep with my mouth open

38!

You guys, I'm 38 today! How crazy is that?
This past year is the year that I just came into myself, if that means anything. I've become a lot more confident with myself and my career. I went to three different meetings, and the last two were really phenomenal. The last one was a last minute one where my PI couldn't attend and I went instead. I decided, "Fuck it" and I talked to everyone at that meeting. I talked to the big folks, and I talked to the little folks. I gave a talk and I felt relaxed and excited, not nervous and intimidated. I went to workshops and asked questions. I met people for coffee. I just felt so much more comfortable in my own skin. I got a ton of community support and it makes me feel like I can actually pull off this whole academic job pursuit thing.
I guest lectured in a Dev Bio class at SFSU. It was awesome. I loved every minute of it. And I made a great friend/colleague in the process.
I submitted my first paper as a postdoc. It's currently under review.
Professionally, I feel good. Positive.
Personally, we got to visit CO and see my in laws, which was awesome. I've been able to go see my parents and they've come up here to help with D's birthday party. I had a 2 year old birthday party at my house! D keeps growing and being the most amazing kid. And I wish Alex would sometimes calm down and be less worried about our future, but I have to love how concerned he is about taking care of us. I do wish we had more date nights, but I think it's par for the course with a 2 year old. Altogether, I have to say I'm incredibly content. I'm happy with where I am. There are a number of things I still want to work on, but that's OK. That's what life is all about. And I can't wait to see where I go!
Happy Birthday to me!

Random Schnippets

• D counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 6
• D says, "Shall we?" a lot. As in., "Shall we play with toys, mama"
• D wakes up about 5:30am or 6am every morning and he calls for me. I get him, bring him into our bed, and we snuggle. Sometimes he goes back to sleep (like this morning) for another 2 hours. 
• It has been very cold lately. As in, we wake up and it's about 50 degrees in our house. IN THE HOUSE. CA clearly has no idea how to build homes that actually hold in the heat. 
• My birthday is on Monday. 

You guys should totally watch this

My baby is 2 wknd pics

Me and my bud on his birthday morning

Having cupcakes at school

Opening presents

New vacuum is the best!

Rainbow spaghetti 

Birthday cupcakes

The aftermath 

Tuckered out

Goofin with grandpa 

Showing grandma the house at swimming lessons

Swimming with Dada

Riding Dada's big bike

Walking the wow wow

I hope you dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance, 
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. 

Dance....I hope you dance. 
I hope you dance....I hope you dance. 
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.. 
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along 
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

Want to see some pictures?

Because that's all I got - I'm home with tonsillitis- awesome!

This is my baby playing with flour & water - now how to remove it is another question...

This is me & my kid sick - yuck

Turns out, D likes French fries with ketchup, just like his mama

Big tractor!

Early morning bed head

Hammock swings are the best

Feeding the chickens

Asleep on the couch at Grandma's

Too big for a doll buggy

Hanging out with Grandma

Doing important work with friends

Busy working kids