Thankful Thursday

1. Ian is such an affectionate boy. He says "I love you" many times a day. I'm trying to teach Nadia how to respond politely when he says "I love you, Nadia." On Monday after Nadia changed into her leotard for ballet class, Ian said to her "you are beautiful." What a sweetheart!

2. Ian has gone 9 consecutive days without an accident. WOOHOO! He still struggles with going in public restrooms, but he's doing much better at holding it until we get home. I can't blame him for not wanting to use the portapotty at the playground!

3. The temps got up into the 60's yesterday!!! We had a blast at the playground. In fact, I woke Nadia up from her nap (and she rarely naps these days) so that we could go because I knew we wouldn't be able to go today (because of my work schedule), even though the weather is gorgeous again today.

4. As of yesterday, Nadia has learned all the uppercase and lowercase letters and the numbers 1-9. She hasn't totally mastered all of them. A few of them we have to review each day, but she's come a LONG way in the last couple of months.

5. I started reading A Bear Called Paddington yesterday to Nadia. I loved that series when I was a child, and Nadia seemed to enjoy it yesterday when I read her the first two chapters while she colored.

6. The ballet teacher surprised me last week by emailing me and saying we didn't need to pay for April's tuition. I thanked her. The gym also gave us a $49 credit for the 4 gymanstics classes she'll be missing.

7. I am so grateful that Ian likes coconut milk yogurt. He actually says things like, "I want yogurt." We shall see what Karen says today about whether it's okay if that's all I feed him until he starts at Hershey Medical.

8. I haven't gained any weight as of 10 weeks into the pregnancy! With Nadia and Ian I gained a little in the first trimester. It looks like I won't this time!

9. Paul's advisor thinks he could possibly graduate in August, and it seems very likely he'll graduate with his PhD in 2012!

10. For years I have thought of going to a Women of Faith conference. I haven't gone for a myriad of reasons - one of which is that I'm a penny pincher. I paid for my ticket to attend in DC in August. My mom will watch Nadia and Ian. I'll sit with ladies from my church, but I won't be riding the bus down with them or staying at the hotel with them. Now I just have to make sure not to go into labor at 33w (which is how far along I'll be then). I was in labor at 33w with Ian so it's not crazy for me to be a little worried about that. I wouldn't have paid for my ticket if it would have been any later in the pregnancy since Ian came at 34w and Nadia came at 36w. I'm looking forward to it!

11. The Dean told me I can't use the 37.5 hours of annual sick family leave toward my unpaid leave this semester. I was able to do that in one payperiod last semester because I was on FMLA. She said I can use it so other professors can teach a few of my classes. Today I asked for volunteers (they will be paid), and five of my classes will be covered in April. My department chair said I could do one by Wimba. What a relief!

12. I finished reviewing the 33 promotion applications today! Maybe I can conclude my review of their supporting documentation in the library this afternoon! WOOHOO!