Happy Spring!

The weather here is absolutely glorious, and we've been enjoying time with Ivy outside and inside. She's doing so great -- she's the most amazing baby in the world.

I haven't reported on her sleep lately -- it's fantastic. Though she was up early when Grandma and Grandpa were here (I think she was excited to get up and play with them), she's going to sleep at 7:30 and sleeping until 6:15 most days (on Friday, she slept until 6:45!). She naps 2 hours for Brittany, and 90 minutes for us most days. (She's awake in this picture).



She's standing up more and more, and pulls herself up with our hands. She hasn't yet figured how to pull herself up with furniture, but we imagine that's only a matter of time. We're teaching her by making her stand up next to her crib.








I had a good week at school. I love my theatre history students. We have more fun all the time (though Ivy is even more fun than they are). My PERF class is still a tough one. I'm looking forward to teaching it next year in a different form. Josh is doing lots of grading right now, but is really happy about his Rhetoric of Television and Film class.


We spent time with our neighbors this week. The Engels live behind us -- they have great palm trees, and a 3-year-old named Marshall. Katie teaches history, and Jeff is with the Bush school at A&M. They're expecting their next baby in September (we don't have pictures of them). The Simaneks are next door. We had dinner with them on Saturday. Eric is in the chemistry department, working on cancer drugs. Valerie stays home with Jack (6), Max (3), and Leo (18mos), but was A&M general counsel. Ivy loved seeing the big boys run and play. She was especially fond of Leo, who liked her too (though he's not as neat as the original Leo, of course!). It was great to spend time with people like us.





TAMU doesn't have class on Good Friday, so Ivyandmommy day became Ivyanddaddyandmommy day this week. We ran errands and took walks together. It was so nice being a family. Ivy is the most fun baby ever. We've got less than 6 weeks of school left, and then we'll be home with her all the time (not really, but we will be with her more).



It's not fair that I take so many pictures of Ivy, and Josh's turn out better than mine. It's not right! She looks so pretty in white, on our white bed. The natural light helps, too. She's a little puzzled in this photo -- why does Daddy have the camera?

I've got grants to write this week, and Ivy is going to learn to fish.