Hey!

I'm moving the entire operation over to the blog I started when Jason and I got engaged.  It's actual updates and such.  I'll be shutting this one down once I've had time to get things off of it and take what I want.  It's part of my 40 Days, 40 Bags challenge (see other blog).

Follow me here: www.theyingers.blogspot.com

- I'm peachy.

Top 5 Tuesday: Stupid Money Wasters

Yes, I know it's not Tuesday, but deal.

Top 5 Wasters of Money in My Life

Preface: Since Elliott was born, I really do try to reign these in...try being the operative word.

*Target: Now, the things I buy there aren't usually wastes of money (food, formula, clothing), but I ALWAYS manage to spend a lot more than I intended.  You can't just "run in" to Target.*

5. Dunkin' Donuts: Almost every morning that I work, and absolutely every Friday, I get a Boston Cream Donut and a Medium Dunkachino / Coolatta (depending on the season).  I used to hate coffee, but these two drinks barely count and I'M A NEW MOM, OKAY!?

4. Crochet Patterns: Now, once they're bought, I can use them a million times, but you can't see them before you buy them, so sometimes I can't complete the pattern and that is more frustrating that almost anything else.  I think Jason supports it because that means he can use it too, if I'm successful.

3. Books: My husband works at a library.  We own over 300 books.  Why in goodness name would I need to purchase a book?  I'm also a really slow reader, so it's not as if I've read everything we own or that I even read the new books I buy.

2. Nail Polish: Yep, this made my list too.  Jason actually asked me to stop buying nail polish.  It's not really that cheap and I seldom paint my nails in the first place.  Also, piggy-backing on what Sara said: how many greys does one lady need?  All of the greys.

1. Moleskine Products: O Lord help me.  I've become a Moleskine addict.  My planner for the past 18 months has been a Moleskine; I also bought a monthly version of the same planner; I bought a 2012 planner that is a Moleskine; Anytime I need a notebook, it's a Moleskine.  I'm at my desk and there are 14 different Moleskine products in front of me, and my planners aren't even on my desk!  They do make me look more professional, but I certainly don't need this many notebooks.

- I'm peachy (and based on the above list, both poor and lucky)

Feeling Old and Lame.

Last night I, along with two friends from college, chaperoned a Masque event.  It was a "Happening Hour," and the club needed three faculty / staff members to check ID's, give out bracelets, and just be there.  It was super easy, and most people left by 11 (for the cast party, I presume), and I just hung out with folks and chatted until midnight.

However, it did make me realize how much I've aged socially since I graduated.  I went from a typical college senior (I'll let you construct that image) to a wife, mother, and...chaperone.  It's only been three and a half years since I graduated, but I've flashed forward.  90% of the time, I'm 100% happy with that.  It's that other 10%, when my friends go out at the last minute, or people are still living footloose and fancy-free that I feel a little weird.

Oh well.  I have an adorable baby and a husband who cooks me chicken parm and cupcakes filled with cookie-dough.

Final note: I don't miss the college-ness of the Masque, but I do miss meetings, planning, and working really hard.  I hope a Ph.D. program fills that void.  If not, I'll probably end up being a kick-ass den mother, dance mom, or room parent.

I'm peachy.

PS: Remember - updates about E and my family and general domestication are on theyingers.blogspot.com.  I will also be featured soon on a motherhood blog.  I'll let you know when that interview goes up.

Top 5 Tuesday: Halloween Costumes

Some years I had a great costume, and other years were real busts.  This year *might* be the first year I don't dress up, although Halloween hasn't come and gone yet, so who knows.  This specific Top 5 Tuesday is difficult...I had some cute costumes.  (I will add pictures if I can find them).

(Side note:  Elliott will be a little monster for Halloween!  Meg bought him the costume and it is so cute!)

5. Alice (From Alice in Wonderland): My parents bought me the dress from the Disney store as a nice outfit, but I wore it as a costume first.  I guess I was about 4 years old, or 3 just about to turn 4.  It was so cute.

4. Hawkeye Pierce (From MASH): I was really into the show MASH when I was in 7th and 8th grades.  I was originally just going to go as an Army nurse, but with my mom's help, the costume evolved into very specifically Hawkeye.  I wore olive drab clothing, a Hawaiian shirt, a blue bathrobe, a bucket hat (which they always wore when they went golfing), and painted on stubble.  One person guessed correctly the entire evening, but a lot of people guessed I was someone from MASH.  One person was very clever and guessed I was Klinger in reverse.

3. Princess and the "Pee": I dressed as a princess (gown from Ross, tiara) and carried around a fake specimen container with "pee" (actually, lemon candy).  Props for this go to Sara and Megan for our Urinetown gifts.

A year later, that dress barely fit.

A 2. Twin from The Shining: The Masque costume room is a treasure trove for Halloween costumes.  Pam and I discovered three matching dresses, and we decided this would be a good costume.  We were fairly creepy looking.  The following year, Liz C. and I used the costumes for the Masque Haunted House (Pam had to be a zombie because she was a campus tour guide).  

I didn't have to buy a thing for this costume.

1. Juno (From Juno): Jason and I went as Juno and Paulie, complete with fake stomach, Sunny D, and orange-flavored Tic-Tacs.  I always said if I was pregnant over Halloween, I would wear the costume again.  I was pregnant last Halloween, but I didn't know it yet and I certainly wasn't showing.

2007: Jason, Sara, and I reverse roles.

2010: A sexy cosmo.  My shoes had little lime wedges too!

- I'm peachy.

Top 5 Tuesday: Defining Songs

This is a countdown I can get into.  Like Sara, mine isn't in any order...they are all pretty equal.  This was also pretty difficult.  Music is a powerful trigger for me and my memories, so this list could have been really long.  I went with what songs came to mind first.

(Who knows what these videos are...)

5. "Say Yes" - Elliott Smith (Either/Or)
This song takes me back to freshman year of college and the way I changed in that year.  It reminds me of the time that it took from me hating being at college to me adoring being at La Salle.

4. "Feed the Birds" - Richard and Robert Sherman (Mary Poppins)
I have always felt that this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.  Even as a little kid, I understood the wonder and meaning of this song.  Mary Poppins is my favorite Disney movie, and one of my favorite movies period, so it alone has had a big impact on my life.  When I was in high school and was cast in My Fair Lady, I spent more time listening to Julie Andrews sing than the silly movie version.  I used this soundtrack to break up the monotony of my "vocal training."

3. "We Didn't Start the Fire" - Billy Joel (Storm Front)
I have loved Billy Joel since I was about 4 years old, and this is one of the first songs I remember listening to with my parents.  I *thought* I knew all the words.  Since becoming an adult and learning what each of the lyrics is actually referring to, I have figured out the actual words.  "Eisenhower backscene" is now more correctly understood as "Eisenhower, vaccine" referring to the polio vaccine.  It's just the cheesiest song, but I love it (and it's historical teaching value).

2. "I Was Meant for the Stage" - The Decemberists (Her Majesty, The Decemberists)
This song perfectly describes what I feel when I perform.  Plain and simple.  It was also the final song in my college theatre group's senior slide show the year I graduated, so it also brings me back to watching that with Sara and Michele in the theatre.

1. "You Can't Stop the Beat" - Hairspray
Oh, A-15.  This song was our calling card.  We played it at every party, danced on the couches in our house, and got us ready to just be crazy the rest of the night.  We also played it at my wedding to help get people out on the dance floor, with the group of us as an example.  Anytime I hear this, I just have to stop and dance.

- I'm peachy.

Oddly Controlled.

Life has been just so different around Casa de Yinger in the last three weeks.  I went back to work on the 31st, thanks to the hurricane, and balancing that with baby, Jason's class and work, and keeping up with life has been crazy, but as the title suggests, oddly controlled.  Because I have so little time to myself, I don't waste time the way I used to.  I'm much more efficient.  It reminds me of how I was in my senior year of college during the shows.  I finally had figured out what worked for me in life, and was happy with my life in general.  Therefore, I didn't procrastinate as much, I got in shape, I ate better (not great...just improved), and I felt at peace with my life.

Elliott is 2 months old today.  I'm amazed at how much he has changed, as well as how much Jason and I have changed.  I no longer look like I had a baby, and most of my old clothing fits.  I need some new jeans, but that's not surprising.  I'm amazed at how much I enjoy being a working mom.  I get out, talk to grown ups, and work, then come home and bum around with my baby.  Playing on the floor, dancing, singing...it's awesome.

- I'm peachy.

Top 5 Tuesday: Childhood Board Games

The McGee's love board games, so this was an easy list.

5. Bonkers: This game was one of the cleverest games I've played, but no one outside of my group of friends at home has seemed to hear of it.  There are a number of tiles and you lay them on the board next to the spaces as you play.  Eventually, each space has instructions next to it on the tile.  Every time you play, it's a new game.  It also had pink and purple pieces, which was awesome.

4. Sorry!: One of my family's favorites.  My grandmother used to play it with me, which taught me to strategize and to lose.  My grandmother never believed in letting little kids win if they didn't actually win.

3. Mall Madness: I scrimped and saved the $35 to buy this game when I was a kid, and it was money well spent.  I loved the announcer's voice and having my own "credit card."

2. Monopoly: I agree with Sara that this game is amazing.  It's not a passive game; you must be engaged the entire time, and it can be days before it's over.  My sister and I also played Monopoly Jr., which was set at a carnival and you paid different amounts to ride the rides ($1 - $5).  It was a lot simpler, but introduced you to the basic concepts of the game. I have two versions now: Original and Seinfeld.

1. Trivial Pursuit: I've been playing this since I was a kid, and I have always enjoyed it.  When I wasn't getting a lot of answers right, I was learning new things by hearing the questions and answers.  Otherwise, I was kicking ass and taking names.  When my family plays with my extended family, my parents and I aren't allowed to be on the same teams.  :)

I also loved Yahtzee, but it didn't make the cut.  As a kid, I had Disney Yahtzee, which had characters' faces rather than numbers.

Top 5 Tuesday: Ice Cream Flavors!

I realize that it's almost, if not already, Wednesday, but oh well.

Ice cream is and was my vice, especially when I was preggers.  So much ice cream...so little time.  I could barely limit this list to 5 (I guess 6...whatevs).

5. *Tie* - Banana Fudge (Wawa) & Graham Slam (Turkey Hill): Banana Fudge is fantastic.  The fudgy pieces paired with the fairly subtle banana flavor is a real treat.  Graham Slam, as any Phillies fan knows, is Turkey Hill's special flavor just for the team.  Eating it reminds me of being at CBP and eating it out of a plastic Phillie's hat.
4. Chocolate Peanut Butter (Turkey Hill): I love anything that combines chocolate and peanut butter.
3. Mint Chocolate Cookie (Ben and Jerry's): Just lovely.  The cookies are sometimes whole in the vanilla, which makes it even better.
2. Mint Chocolate Chip (Turkey Hill): I like MCC in a lot of brands, but Turkey Hill's is extra special.  The chocolate is more like flakes than chips.  I usually don't like chewing my ice cream (with some exception, see #1).
1. Chubby Hubby (Ben and Jerry's): This, in my humble opinion, is the perfect ice cream.  Salty and sweet, fudge and peanut butter, pretzel and vanilla.  Mmmm.

- I'm peachy.

The Morning After

Well, Irene was as scary as all get out, but we came through it with no damage to life or property, which is awesome.  Barney may be suffering from PTSD (perhaps I am too), and it was quite an adventure.

We decided against leaving, despite my parents' "invitation" (I think they were using Irene as an excuse to see Elliott).  Around 10pm on Saturday, I deeply regretted that decision.  The lights in our parking lot were out, so we couldn't see what was going on.  Our electricity stayed on (thank God), so at least we had the internet for information.  At about quarter to 2, just as I was drifting off to sleep in the living room, a strange alarm started sounding.  I woke Jason, who grabbed Elliott, and I attempted to wrangle Barney into his carrier, with no success.  Jason and I switched "dependents," and I got Elliott into his car seat.  I put my shoes on, grabbed the car keys and prepared to leave.  But hold on...what is this alarm for?  We had already experienced tornado warnings, so do we go to the basement, or was this flooding, in which case we should probably just chill on the 2nd floor.  Or, perhaps, was it a fire and if so, where do we go in this storm during a fire?  I looked out in the hall.  No one was leaving their apartments.  Hmm.  Jason finally got Barney into the carrier, and we pondered our next move.  Jason ran down to the lobby to see if anyone was down there and had more info.  He returned with the report: there was one guy downstairs just as confused as we were.  We headed back to the lobby, evac bag, baby, cat, and diaper bag in tow.  We were totally prepared to leave at any moment because of the storm.  After about 10 minutes in the lobby, where about 3 more sleepy people joined us, the alarm went off.  The firemen, who responded to the alarm, believed it was tripped by the weather.  Great.  So much for sleep.

We returned to our apartment, frazzled and frightened.  Barney was happy the alarm was no longer sounding and clung to us all night (because that earthquake wasn't enough).  Elliott basically slept through the entire event, which was amazing considering how loud it was.  He heard everything, but was just to sleepy to care.  Jason and I stayed up until about 4, when the storm died down.  I kept waking up, believing I was hearing the storm gear up again, but fortunately it never did.  In the light of day, we saw the one casualty of the storm: Evil Tree.  In April, my parents' car was totaled by a huge branch of a dead tree in our apartment complex during a severe storm.  It was our very first night in the apartment, as they were visiting to help us move.  On Saturday, Irene took care of Evil Tree and he is no more.

Good riddance, Evil Tree.

By Wednesday, we should be getting to our new fall schedule.  La Salle cancelled classes for Monday and Tuesday, so I won't go back to work until Wednesday.  Holy cow, what a week.

- I'm peachy.

Weather!

So, as anyone who knows me knows, I love weather, especially extreme weather, and other natural disasters.  I'm fascinated.  Therefore, this week has been super exciting.  I've been watching MSNBC and CNN online all week (we don't have cable).  I already know how to stay safe in these situations, because I've been learning about these events since I was little.  When I was about 7 or 8, my aunt moved to California, and in 1994, she experienced the Northridge Earthquake.  We were glued to the TV.  The coverage was riveting.  My family is a family that probably watches way too much TV.  It's always on.  The idea of an earthquake was scary to me, so my mom or dad suggested I learn about them.  If I could gain understanding of an earthquake (and that they don't happen often where I live), I would fear them less.  So true!

That brings us to this past Tuesday.  I was in the kitchen cleaning up my lunch dishes when the apartment starting trembling.  "It's just my neighbors," I thought, "they walk around like elephants."  I began walking back to my room, where Elliott was sleeping the afternoon away.  Suddenly, Barney bolted past me, his tail as fluffed out as a raccoon's.  That's when I realized the bookshelves were swaying and everything was moving.  I ran to my room and scooped up Elliott, who had not realized anything was amiss until I picked him up.  Barney was under the bed already.  "Good," I thought, "the cat knows what to do."  I looked for a heavy piece of furniture to stow myself and my child under, but the desk wasn't really an option.  There were wires and other things in the way.  I went for my second best option: the doorframe.  It should never be your first option, but it's better than nothing.  I stood there for a few seconds and the shaking stopped.  I checked the apartment for fallen items or damage, although I was sure there wouldn't be any, and then tended to my poor trembling cat.  He didn't leave my side for the rest of the day, and has been clingy ever since.  My neighbors, who I initially believed to be the source of the shaking, are moving out, so they have been noisier than ever.  I've had a couple of "Oh no, more earthquakes" moments, but watched Barney for an appropriate response.  He knows what's up.

I'm more concerned about this weekend's hurricane, Irene.  It will probably prove to do more damage to the area, and since my apartment is surrounded by GIANT trees, one of which totaled my parents' car in April with just one, albeit large, limb.  I contemplated packing up the kid, the cat, and the husband for a weekend jaunt to safe, only slightly damp Harrisburg, but the storm is weakening and I feel like it's not worth it.  We re-parked to the car to a less tree-infested area, we took other precautions, and are ready to leave should things turn.  I have a feeling it will just be super exciting.

The rain is starting outside...

- I'm peachy.

Top 5 Tuesday: Constellations

Sara and Mary have started "Top 5 Tuesdays" on their blogs, so when I have time and remember, I plan on joining in.  This week's is a little difficult for me, because I don't know that much about constellations aside from the ones from Elliott's Twilight Turtle nightlight.

Here goes:

5. Sagitarrius: My zodiac sign...he shoots stuff with arrows.  Good stuff.
4. Cassiopeia: Named after the queen Cassiopeia, who was super self-absorbed.  It's pretty easy to see, as it's a bright 'W.'  In Youth and Government in high school, my bill was to make this the state constellation of PA.  I don't remember why.
3. Orion: I can spot its belt every time.  The rest of it?  Good luck.
2. Gemini: The story behind Gemini is pretty cool in mythology.  Pollux was immortal, while his twin brother, Castor was not.  When Castor died, Pollux begged to join his brother in the sky, thus the constellation.
1. Ursa Major, or at least the Big Dipper: It's the first one everyone learns to find.  Also, Ursa Major, the the Great Bear, is the name of one of my favorite roller coasters at Hersheypark.  Lame?  Perhaps, but my childhood summers were spent at the park and it has a special place in my heart.


- I'm peachy.

He has arrived!

Finally!

Elliott Zachary Yinger has arrived and he is perfect.

For the full birth story, check out our family blog www.theyingers.blogspot.com

Since we arrived home on Monday, as a family, things have gone really well.  Jason and I have taken to the parenting thing quickly, and we are both loving it.  While I get the hang of breastfeeding, he has taken over diaper duty.  We make sure we each get a few extra hours of sleep and a shower everyday.  He'll change a diaper and play while I shower, then I'll feed while he showers.  While some relationships are strained by a baby, ours has actually gotten stronger.  We're looking out for each other in a whole new way, and its hard not to love someone when the little baby in your arms is a collaboration between the two of you.

After the ICN stay, its also nice to have a really healthy baby.  He has had two great doctor's appointments (pediatrician and home visit nurse).  He is almost back to birth weight, which is a goal for a 2-week old and he's only 6 days old.  He eats like a champ and we even have to supplement with formula because he just can't eat enough.

Barney is adapting well.  He still sleeps with us, and actually sleeps in the crook of Jason's arm at night.  He maintains a respectful distance from the baby, and isn't freaked out (anymore) by the crying.

Here's some adorable pictures for you:

I'm peachy.

Seven-Seven.

This has been the date that I have associated with Elliott's birth since our first doctor's appointment (when they revised our due date based on his size).  Now, it's beginning to look like he'll have another birthday.  I know due dates are just guesses, but it's really strange for the day to be here and the baby not to be.

Lately, most of my blog updates have been on Jason & I's blog (See: "When Jason Met Megan..." on the sidebar).  They have been stories of baby showers, doctor's appointments, and not much else.  Now that work is over, this is basically what I have going.  Friends have been keeping me busy here and there, but it is also summer and everybody is busy with vacations, work, and research.  Our vacation isn't until August (and who knows what that will be like with a little baby), so I can't wait.  School starts at the very end of August, so I have a while to go until I'm back to work.

So, in short, COME ON ELLIOTT!

- I'm peachy.

Well Hello Again

It is not a rare thing for me to be absent from my blog for weeks at a time. This is actually a good thing, frankly, because it means I've had more important things to do.  Life is pretty good, in all sectors:

Work: Oh work.  This has certainly been a challenging year, for a variety of reasons.  I have had some very interesting students, and some wonderful ones, this past school year, and I really need to recharge my batteries.  It has also given me a renewed appreciation for those who teach at the elementary or secondary level.  They are up against a lot more than me.  That being said, I am thankful for my upcoming maternity leave in order to tweak my teaching style and courses, as well as come away a little more refreshed.  On the work end, I'm also looking into jobs outside of teaching.  I don't believe that teaching (at any level) is my calling, so I need to figure out my other options.

Home: J and I are moving soon and we could not be more excited to get into our new space!  We have enjoyed living with "the girls," but I'm ready to nest and prepare for Elliott's arrival, as well as have our own space as a married couple.  The new apartment is lovely and has a little balcony that J and I already got furniture for.  We foresee many summer breakfasts out there.

Barney: B is doing well.  He has figured out that the treats we give him with his pill actually contain the pill, so he's making giving him his allergy meds much more challenging.  When he takes them, he is also a lot more pleasant because he's not upset at being so itchy.  I'm a little concerned with the upcoming stresses of the move and the new baby, but people who know him (J, Doug, Em) think he'll be fine and adapt quickly.  I hope we can settle semi-permanently soon, not just for us, but for him.

Elliott: Elliott is doing well on all fronts.  He is growing and moving constantly.  We have another doctor's appointment tomorrow, and I need to get my glucose tolerance test done soon.  Because of the move and work, there just hasn't been a free couple of hours to get it done.  I'm hoping that time will present itself next week so I can stop thinking about it.  At this point, and this point is the third trimester, I just can't wait to meet him and see his little face.

That's it for the quick update.  I hope my few readers are doing well.  :)

- I'm peachy.

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. The phrase or punctuation I overuse most is "so....". I use it when I don't know how to end a sentence and just can't seem to wrap things up in conversation. My mom brought it to my attention a few years ago. When I would end a story with "so," and usually no conclusive ending, my mom would say "buttons." Get it? "so buttons" sounds like "sew buttons." It's lame, but at least it let me know that I wasn't quite speaking clearly.

2. Today I am thankful for Spring Break! Seriously, my students and I need breaks, and it is beginning to show. Aside from that, and the obvious family and friends, I'm thankful that Barney was cute this morning (and not a turd), for Trader Joe's Honey Greek Yogurt, and for Elliott's little kicking feet. :)

3. My best friend is actually a number of different people. Jason is my best friend and husband. My sister Sarah is probably my best girl friend ever, while Sara and Michele are my best college girls (and not family). Other than that, I have a lot of great trusted friends who I love to pieces.

4. A quirky thing about me is how many pillows I use at night to sleep. I have A LOT of quirks, but this one is pretty good. I use three pillows at night: two under my head (a contour pillow laid flat and another pillow tilted) and another next to me, which is propped up long-ways on the other two. Since I got pregnant, my need for comfortable, restful sleep has escalated. I've always been very particular about my pillows...firm, but fluffy.

5. This weekend I am going to perform in three performances of Guys and Dolls, the show that never ends. I'll probably veg on Saturday morning and Sunday evening. Sunday is also Jason and I's first married anniversary, so we'll probably get take-out from one of our many favorite restaurants (I'm pulling for Tampopo).

6. Something that worries me is everything. Seriously, what don't I worry about right now. My biggest worry is driving. There is a lot more at stake and people in Philly are crazy drivers. I can't wait to move soon to a more suburban area just outside the city. I've already lived there once, and it was so much better than living in the middle of the city (for us).
7. On my night stand you would find whatever book or books I'm currently reading, a lamp, tissues, a water bottle, What to Expect, Simple Abundance, and the newest issues of Vanity Fair and Real Simple, although VF is officially off subscription now.

- I'm peachy!

It's...a...

BABY!

Well, more specifically, it's a boy! We had our mid-pregnancy ultrasound yesterday and found out that we are going to be the proud parents of a little lad. We've already had a name in mind, so it's nice to call him by his name and provide him with an identity. Elliott Zachary is quite the perfect baby (perhaps I'm biased).

On top of all that, he's healthy, growing exactly on target, and was performing for us on the ultrasound. He flipped around a lot in order to avoid having pictures taken of his heart (which had all the chambers, beating away). He is adorable, even if the ultrasound pictures make him appear to be a little weird.

This ultrasound made it all the more real. We are even more excited now, if that was possible. :)

Fill in the Blank Friday

Sara does this thing called "FITBF," and I decided the questions this week were a good way to start this tradition on my blog. We'll see if I do this every week (doubtful).

1. The TV show/website that I watch/read that I would be embarrassed to tell anyone about is almost anything that I watch. I watch a lot of nerdy, informational programming (Weather Channel specials, PBS docs). I used to watch Keith Olbermann's Countdown...that's probably the most embarrassing.

2. An item of clothing that is worn and torn but that I love far to much to throw away is my McGee's Pub shirt. I used to have 2 (one large and one small), because my grandma brought them back from Ireland when she went in the late 70s or early 80s. I only have the small one left (I think the large is at home in H-burg). It has a hole in the armpit and the collar is frayed, but I just wear it to bed. I don't know why this is underlined. :/

3. My grocery store impulse buy is ice cream! Ever since I got pregnant, I eat ice cream every day. It can either be regular "hard" ice cream, soft serve, ice cream novelty...that doesn't matter much. I just want ice cream.

4. Something I do at work to pass time that I wouldn't want my co-workers to know about is do crosswords. I have a book in my office that I do when I don't feel like grading anymore. I also go online a lot, but most of that is just quick stuff here and there or to read the news.

5. One thing in my life that I could give up, but never will is sour cream. It's a joke how often I eat it. I use it as a dip for tortilla chips, quesadillas, pretzels...so, I could but I NEVER will.

6. A little indulgence that I have is good cosmetics. While I don't always have my nails painted or my make-up on, I have really switched to using quality stuff. Essie, OPI, Sephora...you get the idea.

7. The junk drawer/area in my house is the laundry room. It's actually one of my weekend projects. I want to get Jason and I's stuff more organized so the move in 2 months won't be so horrifying.

In the Year of the Rabbit

First, if you're looking for baby updates, checkout Jason and I's family blog. I'll obviously discuss the baby here a little bit, but not everything in my life right now is about the baby. Here are the other things going on in my life:

- Barney has been very vocal lately. He's healthy, but just really loud.

- This semester of classes is proving to be much better than last semester. I don't have discipline issues (yet) and people seem to be engaged and doing their work. I have 3 very pleasant groups of students.

- On the work front, I have yet to have a full week of classes, either because schedules didn't match up, national holidays, or SNOW. If I could go one week and stick to my syllabus, I'd be thrilled.

- Guys and Dolls is...well...community theatre. I feel like we're a little behind, but tonight's rehearsal and this weekend should take care of some of that. For more info on the show, check out the King of Prussia Players website. It runs from the end of February until March 12th.

- Jason and I are coming to the end of our lease at the 4640, so we're on the lookout for apartments in the Roxborough area for our little nest come April / May.

- I had a doctor's appointment today, which went well. All is as it should be with le bebe.

Thanks for reading and check out our family blog and my movie blog. I'm trying to keep up with all three. :) I have a review on the movie blog about "The King's Speech."

- I'm peachy!

PS: Either here or on the family blog, vote for what you think Baby Yinger's gender will be! The poll closes February 21st. The result will be announced, as long as the baby cooperates, on the same day.

PPS: So, my links didn't work. I don't have time to figure out why. Our family blog is "When Jason Met Megan..." on the sidebar, my movie blog is "Spoiler Alert" on the sidebar, and the King of Prussia Players website is www.kingofprussiaplayers.org

Yay!

While many of the people who read my blog already know this, I have been keeping it from the interwebs for obvious reason. Jason and I are going to have a baby. As in, I am 14 weeks along.

This is my main reason for not posting for so long. It really has been one of the only things going on in my life, and for the sake of sanity, I decided it was a thing to keep to ourselves (and tell people at our own pace). That all being said, we are so excited! We love looking up what our baby is doing this week and how big it is (we won't know for another 6-7 weeks if it is a boy or a girl...and yes, we're finding out...Jason wore me down.). Right now, I have a baby the size of a peach (closer to a lemon, I guess, since tomorrow is exactly 14 weeks. We're due July 7th.

My blog probably won't become baby exclusive (that's what Jason and I's joint blog is for), but it obviously will be the primary aspect of our lives for the rest of our lives. So get ready!

- I'm peachy!

Holy Crap

As you may or may not have noticed, I have not been good at maintaining this blog as of late. This is due to how incredibly busy I am right now. Just after the last entry, I was cast in a community production of Meet Me in St. Louis as "Eve" and a dancer (of course). We rehearse about three days a week, although since it's going up soon, its turning into four or five. I was also recently cast in the same theatre group's production of Guys and Dolls, which is going up at the end of February. It's a long rehearsal period, but because of MMISL, we really can't have regular rehearsals until the first show is over. The holidays also eat up a bunch of time, so our actual rehearsal time will be normal.

Shortly after getting cast in MMISL, I found out I was teaching a second section of history at La Salle (Tuesdays and Thursdays), putting me into 5-day-a-week teaching. I also got a second job at Philadelphia University, where I teach writing. The work load is intense, but I really enjoy teaching, so it's usually not terribly stressful. It's midterm time, so I'm more or less running on empty. Fortunately, this week is fall break, so I have some days off and half days coming up. :)

In other news, we had to get a new car because I may or may not have totaled the other one. Needless to say, that was NOT a good weekend.

Things are busy, but good. Just letting you (my few readers) know.

- I'm peachy.