Thankfulness Friday - Beach!

That's the Atlantic Ocean, Baby Bunny!

Lots of good happenings this week!

1) I got my manuscript submitted on Tuesday.  It was accepted for publication on Thursday!  This is HUGE!  This represents over three years of my work with students.  Needless to say, I am thrilled!

2) Today, I took the day off and convinced John to take Baby Bunny and me to the beach.  Off we went this morning to Asbury Park in New Jersey.  Asbury Park is an interesting little city.  In its heyday... was a fun filled place to visit with a carnival like atmosphere but has gotten quite run down over the years.  Only recently has the city gone through a bit of renaissance.  John used to go there as a kid.  Not much of a beach person, I was only interested in seeing how much Baby Bunny would like to play in the sand.  I think she liked it.  She managed to get sand everywhere.  I think she had a great time.  Daddy even dipped her toe in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sitting Up

Baby Bunny hit another major milestone this morning.  Waking up this morning, I heard what sounded like happy butt dance in the next room.  Behold, when I walked over to check on Bun Bun, she was sitting up in her crib, happy as a lark.  She had figured out how to sit up on her own.  What we take so much for granted took her a couple months of physical therapy to learn.

Other gross motor skill updates:
She has been stomach crawling, like an army commando.  She's fast, too!  Onward to crawling on hands and knees with stomach lifted off the floor next!  Look out!

Thankfulness Friday - Working From Home

Thankfulness Friday - Shrimpy

 It's Friday again! The week flew by so quickly.

Shrimpy? Shrimpy is a little shrimp that came with Mr Pelley. It was one of the very first little toys Baby Bunny got. It has two bulging eyes, perfect for sucking, and two strings for antenna, perfect for developing the pincer (thumb and pointer tips) grasp, one of the all important fine motor skill. It also has a little rattle inside. Baby Bunny still loves Shrimpy. She sleeps with it. She sometimes gets so caught up in gnawing on him that she doesn't sleep.

If you're in the market for a great fun toy for babies between 6 and 36 months, this is highly recommended!  Mr. Pelly has grinkly wings.  His feet rattle.  His cheeks are squeeky.  He stands about a foot tall.  His giant beak opens and eats his little treasures.  His tummy is a big opening for container play.  He and his buddies are soft, colorful, AND machine washable!  (On sale now at Amazon!)

Shrimpy..... my first love.... oh, you look tasty....  nom nom nom....

Hungry Pelican (Mr. Pelly) with his treasures

Shrimpy, Mr. octopus, Crabby, and Fish (our set is missing the fish)

Baby Bunny Birthday Bash!

June 9, visit with Uncle Morgan

June 9

4th of July parade!  It was hot!

Happy Birthday, Baby Bunny!

Yum!

Birthdays are the best!  (With my new friend, Mr. Octopus)

One year ago...

First days home, from a scrawny little bunny to chunky monkey...

Thankfulness Friday - 365 days!

Tomorrow is Baby Bunny's birthday bash. What a grand adventure this past (leap) year has been. I am so thankful for this little girl. She gives meaning to joy. It has been so much fun to watch her grow, to see how she's starting to learn, and to learn from her. It's getting late now. I hope to set aside some time tomorrow and post some pictures.

Thankfulness Friday - Deadline

Today is the deadline for submitting all external review materials for tenure to the Dean's office.  The second draft of the manuscript is now completed.  My research description is at a good place.  My publications have been photocopied.  Next in line is burning CD's with the same material.

I can take a quick breather before the onslaught tackling the rest of my to-do list for the summer:

1.  Formally submit manuscript
2.  Work on the full tenure dossier
3.  Organize seminar for the next academic year
4.  Put together Immunology lab manual
5.  Start the Worm lab manual
6.  Think about the next grant proposal

This weekend, I am going to enjoy my time with Bun Bun and her daddy.  We might go to the beach so Bun Bun can play in the sand.  Or, since it will be beastly hot this weekend, we might just stay at home and do nothing!  Yup.  That sounds good, too.

Thankfulness Friday - Forced Rest

I believe that God forces us to take a break.  Sometimes, He allows us to get sick, so we'd have no choice but to rest.  Other times, He does so by other means so we'd have to stop and refocus.

These past couple of months has been crazy busy for me.  It's been hard to take time off with the manuscript that needs to be submitted weeks ago and the tenure application looming over my head.  This week has been miserable with a sinus infection.  I pushed ahead anyway thinking that it really isn't that bad. 

There's always two more experiments in the lab.  Two more experiments for the manuscript to be completed.  Two more replicates to make an experimental result significant.  That's what May and June have been like.  I had planned a big experiment today and had planned to stay late, well into the night, to finish everything.  Then, next week, I can focus on finishing all the writing.  As it turns out, my reagent did not arrive; it won't arrive until Monday.  My big experiment will have to wait.  Will I make it?  I have no idea.  Do I have a choice?  No, I do not.  Am I thankful?  Yes, in a weird way.  I can go home earlier today and make Bun Bun giggle.  Is that better than a completed manuscript or tenure?  I know so.

Thankfulness Friday - Family

Another very busy week ended.  This one came with a sinus infection.  Yuck.  I hate being sick when the weather is nice.  So, I gave myself the afternoon off.

My brother is visiting PA this week.  John's sister with her two kids is visiting NJ this week, too.  This has been a fun week catching up with them.  Bun Bun got to meet her uncle (舅舅), auntie (小姑姑), and two cousins.

The highlight of the day/week/month was getting Bun Bun to giggle with me.  We were playing peek-a-boo.

Thankfulness Friday - Dawn Loggins

This has been another crazy busy week. I am thankful for the weekend to catch my breath before the onslaught of another crazy busy week even though the weekend is busy, too, at least fun busy. Bun Bun will be meeting her uncle, auntie, and cousins for the first time. My brother and John's sister with her daughters will be visiting the area. Who's Dawn Loggins? This week, high schools across the country held graduation ceremonies. Graduates are all looking forward to the summer. Some will have found gainful employment. Many will be preparing to attend colleges and universities come August and September. They each have their own stories about how they got to where they are or where they will be. This one about Dawn Loggins is my favorite.