Snowy Day

No, I'm not joking. We actually had a little snow in B'ham today! James Span, our weather man, predicted 1-4 inches and we didn't get even 1/4th of an inch; but it was nice to see nonetheless. Callen loved playing in the snow.

Here's a pix looking out across our neighbor's yard and down the hill from our house.


Here's a pix of Bo and Callen making a snow ball -- which they tried to throw at Mommy, but Mommy was too fast for them : ).











Bo and Callen made 2 little (really little!) snowmen. Here they are on the top of the trashcan.



By now, of course, the snow is almost gone : (. It was nice to see it even if it didn't stay long. Maybe it won't be another 2.5 years before we see snow in B'ham again!

Out Teched By A 2 Year Old

We had dinner with some friends last night and they gave Callen an Elmo song book with an MP3 player. See the picture below. So, our daughter has an MP3 player before either of her parents have an MP3 player or an Ipod. She loves it and has been singing with the songs today!

I've never thought I'd like an Ipod or MP3 player as I like listening to the radio when I'm in the car. However, I must admit the new i-phone is very appealing, given all it will do. Of course, I don't want to pay the high cost; nor do I want to switch from my present mobile carrier.

For those who have Ipods or MP3 players, what appeals to you about these technologies? Anyone have an i-phone? If so, how do you like it?

Fun Times

Last night we had a Mom's Night Out. Eight out of 9 of us were there this time. This is a group of women that got to know each other (for the most part I think anyway) while we were all participating in a breastfeeding support group. Our kids are all between 2 and 3 now. And, 4 of our group members are pregnant again! So, there will be lots of babies around again soon.

There was a recent article in the Birmingham News (I tried to find the link to it but couldn't for some reason) about Mom's Groups, and how they really provide a source of support in our current society for mothers. I agree completely. I have called others in the group or placed emails on the support group listserv numerous times in the 2 years I've been a mother. And, while they may not always have answers to help me solve my problems, the support I've received has always been phenomenal.

As someone who studies social support and the effects it has on our mental health, I'm glad that mom's groups are proliferating in our society. I wonder, though, how common place are dad's support groups . . . does anyone know?

Our group has talked about trying to get the dads together for a dads' night out. I hope we can make it happen (you do notice that I say I hope we, as in the mothers, can make it happen since I'm not sure the guys would take the initiative). Anyone want to volunteer their husband to organize a dads' night out?

Here's to many more fun times for moms, dads, and friends in general in 2008!

Busy Days . . .

Ever since we returned from holiday travels, I think I've been running in double time trying to get everything done. ASA's (the national sociology conference I attend) annual paper submission deadline is next week (and you have to submit a 20 page paper rather than an abstract for it); I'm working with other colleagues on 2 papers for it. Neither of them are as far along as I'd like for them to be at this point unfortunately. While these are important, I'm also trying to get a grant proposal out this Friday! If it gets funded, it will be a really neat and important project. I'm really ready for a mother's night out Friday!

I've unpacked 4 boxes in my office (out of 39); unfortunately they are taking a backseat to the grant proposal and ASA papers. I'm hoping to really start unpacking them next week. Wish me luck!

We finally got our xmas tree out of the house this morning! We de-decorated it over the weekend and then it sat there looking very sad until this morning. Nothing like knowing you have someone coming to help clean your house to finally get the tree out!

Oh, and we finally mailed out most of the Christmas cards! We still haven't been able to find the pix of Callen that we were going to include. Maybe they'll turn up before she turns 3! I'm hoping to mail out the last of the Christmas gifts on Saturday : ).

Here's hoping your days are more relaxed than mine . . .

Post Holiday Post

We've just returned from spending Christmas in FL with my husband's family. We drove the 10+ hours, which with a 2 year old is no small feat! Callen actually did great for most of the time. We divided the drive over 2 days on the way to FL but made the long trek back in one day - which was harder on Callen and us! But, it was good to be home and in our own beds again. It is always nice to visit with family and friends, but also nice to come home again.

We took Callen to see Santa for the first time while we were in FL. We stood in line 30 minutes until it was our turn. When it was Callen's turn to sit on Santa's lap, she would have no part of it! She screamed and held onto me for dear life! Guess you've figured out - we didn't buy those Santa pix! Maybe next year she'll be more willing to sit with Santa and tell him what she'd like for Christmas.

I've really been amazed in the past couple of weeks how Callen's vocabulary and her sentence structures have developed. It also seems that she's beginning to look more and more like a little girl and less like a toddler! I'm not sure I'm ready for her to grow up so fast...

I hope you all had great holidays; I look forward to hearing about them soon! Oh, and the Christmas cards still haven't been written on this end, but hopefully soon : ).

Time Again

I know I talk a lot in these blog postings about how fast time goes by, but I have to say it again: I can't believe how fast the last month has gone! The end of the semester is always frenetic with grading, exams, and finishing up everything before the holidays. However, this end of the semester was even more frenetic.

All the departments in my current building had to pack up their departments as we were all moving to a brand new building this week! The new building is so beautiful! So, in the midst of finishing up the semester, we were all packing boxes (I had 39!). In addition, I flew out to a conference last Friday and didn't return until after midnite Tuesday night. I'm also working on a grant proposal that is due in just a few weeks and way too many papers. And, of course, getting ready to travel again in a few days. Bo and I haven't written the 1st Christmas card yet. For all you good friends who have been sending us cards -- we hope to send out cards within the next month : ).

I went to a fabulous workshop at the conference last weekend. It was on Time Management (how ironic, huh!). I'm determined to try to implement some of the wonderful strategies I learned in the all day workshop. For those of you who have seen my prior offices, you'll recall that I'm not the best manager of paper. Hopefully in my new office with my new time management skills, I will be better about this : ).

Even with the time flying by, the travels have been great and all the boxes began to arrive today! Maybe in January I'll have time to start unpacking!

I hope you all have a great holiday season and safe travels wherever you may roam!

Youth and Technology

After dropping off Callen at her school this morning, I stopped by my local Panera and graded papers from my undergrad mental health class (and I actually finished grading all of them this morning -- whoo hoo!). Their assignment was to examine how the media portrays some aspect of mental health. They've been presenting their projects over the past week of classes.

I've been amazed at the variety of media images that the students have been able to find depicting aspects of mental health -- from news reports on various news' websites to commercials to movies to clips from You Tube. I knew there were a lot of films and videos that dealt either directly or indirectly with issues of mental health, but I wasn't aware of the prevalence of clips on You Tube. The huge number of clips presented from You Tube has really amazed me! I should examine You Tube in more detail the next time I teach this course!

Here's to youth and technology. . .

Disclaimer: I was not paid in any way by You Tube for making this post : ). However, if they'd like to pay me, please contact me!