Later Aligator, uh, I mean, fish

Funny and Rain are alive and well-- and back at Wal Mart. It turns out (after several trips to Pet Co.) that Abby thinks fish are stinky and not very exciting. I think she's right. That was a very quick, remarkably painless, first pet experience. We're not going to try pets again until Abby is older.

Warmness

This morning as Abby snuggled next to me (her usual routine after waking up in her room), she put her sweet little hands on my face and said quietly, "Momma, I love your warmness." She warms my heart more than she'll ever know.

Questions for the doc.

This morning as Abby got ready for school, she and I talked about how her daddy was going to his check-up at the doctor. She always wonders about getting shots, but I explained that daddy wouldn't be getting a shot; he would be having a little blood drawn for routine tests. The following conversation ensued:

A: Will they put the blood back?
G: No, daddy's body will make more.
A: How?
G: I don't know exactly how. I bet Dr. O would know. (Dr. O is her pediatric doc.)
A: When I get my four year old check-up, I'm gonna ask Dr. O how you make more blood. And how do my bones grow?
G: Those are great questions.

I walked down the hall and about 10 seconds later Abby calls out to me:

A: Momma, I'm gonna forget my questions. Will you tell me them when we get to Dr. O's? Tell me in the elevator when we're going up. DON'T tell me when we're already in the door.

I think Abby wants to make sure SHE asks the questions and that Dr. O KNOWS they are not her momma's questions.

Funny and Rain

Abby came home with two lovely goldfish last night-- her first pets! She named them Funny and Rain. She has decided that Funny (all orange) is a boy, and Rain (white with orange dots, including "lipstick" markings) is a girl. I'd include a picture, but I've exceeded my uploading limit for the month on Flickr. Abby wanted to bring a drawing of her fish to school today, so I drew a picture. It did not meet her approval:

A: Mom, those look like mad fish.
G: Look, they have smiles.
A: But they look like angry smiles. That fish is angry following the other one.

Seriously, I don't know what she was talking about. They seemed like happy looking fish, poorly drawn, yes, but happy. Matthew gave it a try and was successful. He is a fine artist-- even with discriminating, picky, (dare I say it) fickle judges.

Abby sailing!

Abby sailing!
Originally uploaded by gennabby.

Abby's first sailing adventure was eventful. The winds were up-- 25-35 mph-- and that made for some hefty waves. I felt fairly comfortable, but Matthew and Abby were turning green. Finally, Abby looked up at me and said: "Momma, I'm going to frow up." She meant it. I told her to hold it until we found her a bowl. Looking back, I see how ridiculous a request this was; holding it is not something most adults could have done in this situation. Well, my obedient girl held it until the precise moment we procured a bowl. Dad's cereal bowl. Sorry Pop.

Our second sailing trip was much more calm, and Abby had no seasickness at all.

To Hawaii and Back Again

Abby in Kailua
Originally uploaded by gennabby.

I hardly know how to catch up on our adventures after three weeks or so. We went to Honolulu for 6 wonderful, WARM days! I presented my first conference paper, which went swimmingly. Actually, Abby did swim while I gave my talk, but the talk was well received and I had fun giving it. Matthew and my dad were there to cheer me on (along with a friend of mine, Tiffany, from Davis). While in Hawaii we visited Kailua Beach, Pearl Harbor (and the "Mighty MO", a.k.a. the U.S.S. Missouri), the North Shore, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We went sailing twice, walked around downtown, saw lots of fish and other lovely creatures, and ate the most amazing food. Our tour guides/hosts, dad and Claudia, spoiled us rotten. We had mai tais at the Chart House, scallops, ahi, steak, shrimp, calamari, and more at several wonderful restaurants (and on board dad and Claudia's boat, "Maluhia"). Abby stayed the night on the boat one night and LOVED it; however, I'm afraid Claudia didn't get a wink of sleep. You see, Abby kicks and sleeps stretched out like a starfish.We flew home to California on Abby's 4th birthday (Jan 16th). We are buried in work again, but we have very fond memories and some delicious Kona coffee to keep us going in the dreary Davis rainy season.

a hallmark moment?

While visiting at my mom's house over Christmas, Abby got it into her head to lick me-- a fairly normal thing for a kid to do, I guess.

A: I licked mommy!
Mia (Gen's mom): Really, what does she taste like?

Abby looks at me, licks my arm to find out the answer and exclaims:

A: FUR!

mental haze

It is Friday night, 11:07 to be exact. My eyes are so tired from reading for hours, but moreover, from trying to wade through and decode pages and pages of literary criticism. Abby is having a hard time sleeping tonight. She's singing cheerfully: "You better not cry, you better not pout...Santa Claus is watching..oh for goodness, goodness sake" (to the tune of S.Claus is coming to town). Now, you try hearing that over and over on a loop while attempting to absorb phrases like this one: "I suggest that tropological language clothes, and therefore makes physical, a body that does not signify outside the realm of rhetorical interpellation" (Madhavi Menon, from "Wanton Words: Rhetoric and Sexuality on English Renaissance Drama" p.23). Whatever happened to going to the movies on a Friday night? Why am I doing this grad school thing again? Catch me in the morning after 5 hours of sleep and some coffee, and I'll be able to answer that question for you. I think.

jobs

Great news: Matthew was offered a research assistantship for this Winter! He will be working for renowned economic historian, Peter Lindert. Funny enough, Matthew will be able to use some of his German language skills as some of the data is in German. I can report that he will be running regressions and analyzing data. Don't ask me how that is done; I have no idea. Anyway, the job offer is a welcome and encouraging one. I'm so proud! Meanwhile, I am teaching Expository Writing (again). I'll pretty much be teaching the same class for the rest of the year (and probably next year too). This quarter's bunch of students seems very enthusiastic.

A New Year

I can't say that I am sorry to see 2005 end. There were many wonderful joys, but this year also brought stunningly painful times. We said goodbye to Genna's Grandma Mildred (dad's mom) and Uncle Steve (dad's brother), and we prayed with our dear friends the Maynors as Brian fought cancer and finally went home to be with the Lord. I still lose my breath and cry when I read updates on the boys and Brian's wife, Susan. Within a small circle of close friends and family there have been weddings and divorces, births and miscarriages. After such a starkly ambivalent year, we are longing for peace, for tender quiet moments in which to wipe away tears and be reassured of our firm foundation.

Welcome, 2006. I know the numbers mean nothing, but it still feels nice to be reminded of renewal and fresh starts. I'm realizing more and more how strangely present the past feels, or perhaps, how we are such works in progress (as Rev. Scott Bridges reminded Matthew and I moments before prouncing us man and wife). I feel hopeful that no matter how "happy" this new year is (or isn't), we will learn, grow, change, and live each day knowing that we are loved and provided for.