Case and Jacilayne

These pics are from Jessi's blog. It looks like Case and Jaci are having a conversation.

Things I Will Miss From Grad School

1. Being able to wear jeans and a tshirt to work.
2. Being able to make my own schedule. Literally.
3. Seeing the Frenchman-Scientist who wears a fanny pack and an Indiana Jones hat.
4. My Bursar. Charging things to it.
5. Having a couch in my building where I can go take a nap when I need one. And it's acceptable and expected.

Coming Down From the Whirlwind

I handed my dissertation to my committee today. It was a long process (I finished writing Tuesday night) to get it into shape. The formatting took awhile along with writing up the Table of Contents and List of Figures. I also had 2 chapter corrections from my advisor to do. Wednesday night I started getting sick and went home sick Thursday morning. I think the lack of sleep finally caught up with me, and I caught a bug. It was my dissertation sickness! Well I felt a lot better today. After I finished everything, I had to get it printed and copied for all my committee members. I remember my Comm III prof from OC always telling us, "Don't leave your printing until the day your paper is due...you never know what could happen, and nothing is excused!" That kept going through my head this afternoon as I went from place to place. First, I went to the computer lab to try to print the dissertation. The printer in my lab is down so I had to go somewhere. I got one dissertation printed, but then after that this one page kept jamming in the printers. Not sure why nor did the lab tech. So after 4 printings of only pages 1-25, I decided to go somewhere else. I had one complete copy so I could make copies...if there was a place open on campus! There was no longer a copy center in the Union anymore, and then the library's copy center was closed (apparently, they close at noon during the summer! What about people who wait till the last minute like me?!). Finally, I was able to make copies in my department...good thing the secretary didn't mind. I felt like a load had been lifted after I turned it in to all the members. My defense will be in about 2 weeks. I can't wait! (I never thought I would be looking forward to such a scary event!)

Still in the Whirlwind

The last couple weeks have whirled by me. Josh went out of town to camp for a week. Thank goodness his mom, sister, and nieces came for a few days to help me out. I barely got to visit with them - I mainly just worked on my dissertation coming home to eat and see my son here and there. Then this past Friday, my cousins Jacqueline and Jordan came for lunch on their way home to Chicago. I'm glad they got to meet Case (and I know they are too!). Because I was on 3 hours of sleep and still hadn't gotten ready for my trip later that afternoon to pick Josh up, they watched Case while I finished packing and got ready. Friday night, Case and I stayed with our friends Trey and Lauren before we left the next day, picking up Josh on our way home. On our way home, Mom, Dad, and Gram arrived and met us in OKC. Their time here has been short, and I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time with them, but they've been a big help. I feel like all I've done lately is write, eat, feed and play with Casen a little, and sleep when I can. I feel so blessed to have family and friends that help out so much. You know how they say that it takes a village to raise a child? And I've heard that when a person writes her dissertation, her spouse goes through the experience, too. Well, I think it takes a village to write a dissertation, especially if there's a new baby involved! I finished up my writing tonight. All I have left to do are corrections. Oh, and that big thing they call a defense. Then I will be free of graduate school forever!!!

A quick update with pics...

I'm trying to finish up my dissertation this week. I'm so tired of writing and am at the point that I hate it. I've heard that happens in the writing process. Josh is at camp working as a counselor (the one we usually go to in the summers) so his mom, sister, and 3 nieces are here helping me out. It's been super having them help with Case and dinner and everything else. These pictures are from a few weeks ago when Kellie and Jordan watched Casen while I worked (yes, writing) and Josh was working on stuff. They enjoyed him. I heard Case watched the horse race with Jordan, and Kellie got Casen to start taking his bottle (which he does now regularly - yay!) I think Case recognizes Kellie for sure now. Last Wednesday, he started talking to Kellie while we ate dinner. I think he was telling her, "Pick me up!" Anyway, I better get back to work. Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers I've gotten so far - keep them coming! Did I mention I hate writing???!!!

Adventures in Dissertation Land

This week has been crazy! I have deadlines coming up so I was putting in extra hours to submit my draft to the grad college and get another chapter to my boss (I did yesterday...I still have more to write and corrections but two things crossed off the list!). I find myself wandering around in Dissertation Land hoping that I get out soon. The latest adventure? Tuesday night, I needed to work until after midnight at school. Since Casen is finicky with taking a bottle, especially at home, Josh opted to bring Casen up to school with me. So while I worked in my office, Josh and Case hung out/slept on the 4th floor in the lounge. I got a call around midnight to come nurse him and then it was back to work. I was actually glad I had company in the building because in Josh's words, "Your building is freaky at night!" We left about 2 AM and stopped off at Whataburger for a snack where the people behind us I think had the munchies due to some illegal drug and the Whataburger guy got my order wrong. Of course, what do you expect at 2 AM? I finally crashed last night. Currently, I'm looking for some more steam to start another long round of writing. Anyone want to babysit Case at the Chemistry Building through the night?

He Knows What He Wants

Casen is developing more of a personality each day. As his Mamaw said, "I've never seen a baby so young get panicky when he loses his toy." Most times, if Casen drops a toy and can't reach it, he yells to tell you about it (and to get it back for him!). Case in point (no pun intended):
Yesterday at daycare, apparently Casen got a bit upset when he had to stop playing. He was playing in one of those walker-type things. He can bounce in it and chew and grab toys on it. He also had a toy in his hand chewing on it. Well, it was diaper changing time, and his teacher knelt down to take him out. He did NOT want to stop playing. He screamed and THREW his toy across part of the room (about 3 feet). Thankfully, his teachers thought it was funny! I told them, "He knows what he wants...and is going to let you know!"

Case and Grandparents

Here's 2 videos of Casen with his Papa and Mamaw.

Daddy's Boy

Here's a video from Memorial Weekend with Case teasing Josh. He just started doing it to me - usually when I go to daycare to feed him at lunch or to pick him up.


The other video is Case wanting Josh to pick him up - nobody but his daddy will do at times.

Hot Mama

I chopped 11 inches of my hair off yesterday. I really like the bob - it's so much cooler and my hair already looks healthier. As my facebook status says today, "Amanda is feeling like a hot mama because of her new haircut and the fact that she was able to fit into a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans (of course they aren't ready for the public yet!).
p.s. Do you like Josh's "close-up" pictures of my hair?
: )

Casen Hearts Dogs

We'll have to get some video of it, but Casen is getting to be a hoot when he watches the dogs. He enjoys watching Newman and Padme. This morning I think he wanted to play with them, but they pretty much ignore him right now. I think as soon as he is mobile, they won't be able to ignore him anymore!
Last night, he decided it was time to play at bedtime. He was fussing so I was rocking him. When Padme came over and sat by us, he stopped and just watched Padme until she left. I think I'm going to see if Padme or Newman will lay within Casen's eye-line when he's fussing at night.
Last night at the Gotcher's was the best though. Casen was sitting on the couch next to Nic. He would laugh at their dog Mitch. Mitch is huge (I think he's pushing 100 lbs) and has a ginormous head. It was like Case thought it was funny that here was a dog that was so big.
The picture I think is from March or April of Casen with Nic and Mitch. See how big that dog is!

Memorial Weekend

Here are some pictures and videos from Memorial Weekend. Josh's mom and stepdad (Mamaw and Papa) and our 2 nieces Tana and Dakotah came to visit. We had a picnic at the park and fed the geese. I think all the geese scared the girls a bit. They were cute to watch those - I love little goslings. Casen likes to be outside and watch the trees and all the movement.

4 Months Old

Case turned 4 months this past Friday. He had his check-up today at the pediatrician's. He's 25 inches tall and 14.6 lbs. He's healthy physically and developmentally. What a blessing!

Case and Lilly

I thought it would be cute to show the pictures we've taken each time Casen and Lilly are together. Lilly was born next door to Casen in the hospital.

Back in April, Case and I visited Lilly and Chandra one afternoon.

Last month, we ran into the family at Bedlam Baseball in OKC. Case was a little flirt with his friend Lilly.