Sunday, December 18, 2011

Changes

We had suspected it for about a month but this week got test results back that confirmed that Asher has a cow milk protein allergy. This is not lactose intolerance and is something that we think Cadie had and grew out of. Our pediatrician said that most kids grow out of this by 18 months but for at least the next 9 months I will be on a dairy-free diet. Good thing there are a lot of vegan alternatives available at the grocery store (milk, butter, cupcakes, ice cream). I will not be cooking Christmas cookies this year. Sorry neighbors. Hopefully Asher will have less stomach issues and sleep better (PLEASE). He really is a mellow dude though - except when it is time to eat:


Cadie had a Christmas performance at preschool. It was her last day as she is going to start day-care three days a week in January. We will miss Ms. Nicole and the fun kids. I'm excited for the new structure and classes she will have - yoga, music, math, reading, spanish. She loves learning new things and is really soaking up so much right now. I am nervous about the full-day aspect. 


We are also saying goodbye to Ms. Irene and ballet and tap classes. Maybe we will start up again next fall but for now it is time to take a little break. I'm trying to simplify life as I think things will be a little chaotic when I start my new position in January.


I start work as an assistant professor at OSU January 3rd. I teach fluid mechanics in civil engineering right away and then I teach a forestry class in the Spring. I'll be taking on graduate students and trying to get research going quickly. This is a 3-year contract appointment (non-tenure track) and so I had the flexibility of choosing part-time. I'm excited but nervous about the kids. Wish us luck!

Monday, December 05, 2011

She's Four and More

Look who is FOUR! 
Birthday donuts:
 
We have had a busy, but happy, few weeks. I keep looking around me and wanting to freeze time, or at least freeze these little moments in my mind. Maybe it is because I know that changes are coming, I want to hold on to every little minute. On Sunday I just sat and held my sleeping baby and watched Cadie play without thinking of my lists and projects. It was awesome. Why is it so difficult to enjoy the little things?
Eric had a work trip to Kuwait (yes, seriously) and so my parents and brother Tim came out to visit and help with the kids. Eric surprised us all by coming home early -on Cadie's birthday! - and he was able to join us on our overnight trip to Kirtland (church history) and Amish country. While the family was here we had Asher blessed at our church. Here is the little man on blessing day:



We celebrated the little girl's birthday with family and it was great! At four years old Cadie is 39.9 lbs, and 44.5 inches tall. Her pediatrician said she is "off the charts" in height - above the 97th percentile. She grew 4 inches in the last year. At this rate she will be as tall as me (E) at age 9. Opa and Oma Myers and the birthday girl: 


Our little cabin outside of Berlin, Ohio:

The Myers clan left before Thanksgiving so we celebrated the holiday a little early. Yum. Even greater that we were invited to a friends home for the real holiday so we got to pig out twice.


 Eric in Kuwait!