Got it!

So Friday I called about the gallery job and they are officially offering me the position! It's an 11 month appointment (I think July is off) and 20 hrs/wk with salary and full benefits. Hours are flexible. Can even do *some* work from home. WOW!! Perfect mom job!

15 month musings

Back from Sam's 15 month doctor appointment!

I canceled my class today because my regular baby sitter AND backup baby sitter were not available. Meg was out of town and my friend's daughter caught a stomach flu (or maybe it was something she ate) so it didn't sound like a good idea to bring Sam over there. So -- day off. I feel weird canceling class but I guess this is what happens some times. I'm sure the students are happy to have a day off. And I guess I am too ;-)

So this morning, Sam went to the doctor. Everything is great! 24 lbs, 8 oz. 32 1/2 inches tall (though I'm pretty sure that's not right -- I'm pretty sure he's shorter than that), Head Circumference 48.5 cm. Head is consistent in the percentiles, weight is now around the 50th percentile, and height spiked up to something like 75 but I'm pretty sure it's inflated and it seems every fraction of an inch means a lot in the land of percentiles. I got some good info about diet and nutrition, even if I've already heard it a million times.

BUT there was one concern... Sam is not yet talking. No first words. He has said "bye" for ages, so maybe that counts? But other than that, nada. Not mama, not dada. He has made lots of different sounds, da, ga, ba, ma, la, etc and sometimes links them together, but not consistently and not often to communicate. Usually his verbal communication is: "ga?" sometimes "ga? GA??". He sometimes seems like he's going or trying to say "dog" or "ball", but nothing really identifiable yet. So, doc seemed a little worried.

HOWEVER, he is signing up a storm! He knows signs for: baby, water, bath, eat, hungry, sleep, ball, play, apple, dog, cookie, and is learning to sign for help. He learned "apple" in one day. He understands SO much. When asked, he can show me where his head, toes, belly, ear, and nose are. He can find my nose and my ear. He can look behind when I ask him to. He can find the light when asked. He can hand me a toy when I ask. He will sit down when I ask. He will find his Dad, the dogs, the guitar -- just so many things. So he clearly has receptive language down and he's even expressive, just not spoken yet. It will come. Our doctor thinks so too. She really didn't express this as a big worry. Just said that "normally" children are speaking at this point, so if he doesn't have first words by 18 months, she might refer us to specialists who can offer suggestions and just make sure everything is ok. Both the doc & I are pretty sure those first words will come by then anyway.

In other updates:
I might have the gallery job after all. I got a call on it but it wasn't like "we're offering you the job" it was more like "we WANT to offer you the job" and I am expecting to hear back from them. I think I'll follow up with them later today or tomorrow. Weird.

We had a lovely visit with my Aunt Sally!

I'm too busy. Aaron is too busy. I feel like my work is suffering in all areas. But we're surviving. It's only temporary. I'm enjoying teaching, just prep for lecture class takes FOREVER. I have some great drawing students this term.

These days with Sam are the best. I LOVE this age. He is so much fun. Though I miss the days of him sleeping in my arms, we have so much fun playing together. He loves books now. He has favorites. Picks them off the shelf and brings them to us or takes them to the bed or couch for us to read to him. He is learning to get off the furniture "feet first". He is funny. Has a great sense of humor. Loves to play all sorts of games. Is really into blocks. Loves kicking and throwing balls. LOVES to be chased by his pull toys. LOVES cell phones and electronic gadgets. He's neat. Every night Aaron and I comment to each other about how fortunate we are and how great life seems now that we have Sam. Even though we're too tired and overworked, our little guy makes it all worthwhile.

Fall

It is autumn! So nice! Weather is cool (sometimes cold) trees are changing, leaves are falling, we get to wear long sleeves. It feels nice.

I didn't get a call on Friday about the job, so that sounds like a big ol' no. I was pretty down on Friday but bounced right back on Saturday and am feeling ok about the rejection.

I am still super busy bouncing from one job to the next, but all in all they are going fine and I'm thankful that I'm only working full time until December. I seriously feel bad for working parents. It's hard to feel so divided from my son. I am not away from home THAT much, but I am away a significant part of each day and when I am home I usually have job stuff on my mind and my attention feels diverted. It's a terrible feeling. But I'm so grateful that I have more than a few hours each day hanging out with Sam. I really couldn't imagine getting off at 5 only to put him to bed at 8:00. So I'm glad I didn't get that full time library job. And I'm glad I didn't get the professor job in Indy. And I sorta think this job stuff is all working out the way it should. So maybe getting the gallery job wouldn't have been the right thing either. Who knows.

And finally: Some very fun autumn pics of the growing TODDLER!

Stuff

Let's see. I'm still crazy busy. I'm working full time, really, with my three part-time jobs. Aaron is full time too, with school and teaching 1/2 time. We're so lucky Meg is next door and we can pay her to watch Sam. Even so, we basically constantly trade off all day long as one goes to work and the other watches Sam. This is not the ideal situation. I think I'm happier working outside of the home, but I'm not happier working THIS MUCH outside of the home. I'm exhausted. There is no time to catch up on sleep. When I'm with Sam my mind is split and I'm worried about keeping up with work. The dishes pile up, the dog fur piles up. Things are not ideal. But it's temporary.

On the plus side, I am liking teaching more. Community college is offering it's own unique challenges but I like it. My drawing classes at the university are going great, despite a few awkward demos here and there. The job at the library is good but a little awkward, since I'm not there much and it's a new position both for me and for the library. But I like it. I interviewed for yet another job last week. It's the part time gallery coordinator position at the art school. The one I applied for last year but didn't even get a call on. Well there are new people in charge and I learned some tricks about how to get the resume through HR so I did actually manage an interview. It went well and I think I stand a chance, but I no longer attempt to predict whether an offer will come. It's definitely as likely not to as it is to and I am trying not to think about it too much. The problem is it's a 20 hr/wk job with benefits and the month of July is off so in my head it starts to sound like the ideal solution. But in reality I know the department and I know the job and it is never like you picture in your head. So who knows. It's a national posting and I was the first of three candidates interviewed so I am certainly not expecting an offer. I should hear at the end of the week. If I don't get it, it's fine. I have the library job year-round and I will most likely be able to pick up an adjunct class at one of the schools.

Sam is doing great. He's so smart. So funny. Does new cool things everyday. He can now sign for: ball, hungry, baby, bath, dad, play...he has his own signs for dog (sticking his tongue way out and panting) and I'm sure some other things too. He now likes to dip back in the tub during bath time, with his head in the water. He seems to love how that feels, lying in the tub. He kicks his leg like he's swimming on his back. The water is of course very shallow and I'm holding him the whole time, but he seems to just love this sensation and it's so cute to watch him. He also likes it when I blow bubbles with the soap. Bath time is lots of fun for Sam. He seems to also like the change in weather, as it's moving to fall. I think he likes the wind. We shake our heads and laugh when the wind blows our hair around. He gets around fast now and can just sort of run in circles for quite a while and finds that very amusing.

I swear I'll clear off picasa and post some new pics.

By the way, have you heard about the family who had their kids taken away from child protective services because they had some photos printed of their kids during bathtime? Wow. I guess I better be super cautious about Sam bathtime pics. Sheesh.

Bad Blogger

Sorry I've been too busy to blog. Also I still haven't cleared space on picasa to post new pics.

Sam is doing great though. He is learning sign language since he's still stuck on "ga". He can sign for ball, baby, and hungry! Working on bath and water now.

Quick update...

Things are good. Busy. Started teaching Art Appreciation this week. I think it will be ok. I start at the library tomorrow. Oi.

Grandma and Grandpa Nemec visited last weekend and it was a really nice time.

I think Sam is getting sick. I'm nervous. There is so much worry about H1N1/swine flu going around. Eeek. And I know one of my students had it. Sam started being super upset and fussy last night and has a little runny nose today. He is still happy and playing like normal, so I dunno. I'll keep an eye out.

I ran out of room on Picasa so no pics today. But I will buy some storage or clean things out and send more your way...

Our Sweet Boy

I love this video.

Today Sam showed me his head and his toes when I asked him.

His Grandma & Grandpa Nemec come to visit on Friday.

We're having fun.