February Already?
The baby is three weeks old today, can you believe it? He smiled at me this morning, a big, real, eyes-lighting-up-in-recognition smile when he focused on my face. Scott was there to see it. It was one of those moments where you wish life came with a freeze-frame button so you could stay in that flash of time for ages.
Scott went back to work today after two weeks off, sob, and my parents, who flew in for a short visit (yes, my mom was just here helping before and after the delivery, but my dad hadn’t seen the baby yet), went back home this evening. We are missing them already. And of course this means that tomorrow, for the first time, I am on my own. It’s a day full of stuff to do, too: big kid stuff, running around. Should be interesting…
Speaking of big kid stuff: It’s time for one of our favorite activities of the year: the Journey North Mystery Class. We have done this fascinating project four times, either alone or with a group. This year, another mom in our circle of homeschooling friends has very kindly offered to host the Journey North gang, what with my being three weeks postpartum and all. Jane is extremely excited. Truly, this geography project is one of the highlights of our year.
Our Shakespeare Club took a two-month hiatus for the holidays and my delivery, and we’ll be maintaining a low-key pace during the ten weeks of Journey North so as not to overload anyone’s schedule. But my Taming of the Shrew kids will be working on their scenes during the break, and we plan to get together now and then to rehearse. Jane spent this afternoon walking around muttering Katherina retorts under her breath. We’re doing a couple of scenes, which means a couple of Kates and Petruchios. Fun fun.
Haley S. sent me the link to Academic Earth, a WAY COOL site full of video lectures from top university professors. Thanks a ton, Haley. I’m psyched about the Nabokov lectures, having recently shuddered my way through Lolita for the first time.
Gosh, I read a lot in January. Eight novels and two nonfiction books. For the first half of the month I was too pregnant to do much BUT read, and during the second half I was snuggled up with my sweet bairn, under doctors’ orders to take it easy. I’ve been working on a “books read in January” post, mainly for my own records, but I keep getting too chatty about individual titles and it’s taking forever to write.
The January Carnival of Children’s Literature went up last week. I haven’t had a chance to peruse the posts yet but it looks like a doozie.
Speaking of children’s literature, I’m pretty excited about the new Kidlitosphere Central website that was just launched by a team of my favorite children’s lit bloggers:
“KidLitosphere Central strives to provide an avenue to good books and useful literary resources; to support authors and publishers by connecting them with readers and book reviewers; and to continue the growth of the society of bloggers in children’s and young adult literature.”
Spread the word!
sarah says:
You’re kidding! You were able to read after just having a baby? You can even think about your children learning? And you are rehearsing scenes of Taming of the Shrew? And visiting cool literature sites?
That cheesecake must have something added to it!
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On February 3, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Shonda says:
Sending warm thoughts to you tomorrow. That first day “alone” is always a little scary. Congratulations on your blessed bundle!
On February 3, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Beck says:
I think all I read for MONTHS after having babies were really goofy magazines. You are distressingly admirable.
On February 4, 2009 at 6:40 am
Mary Beth P. says:
I love those first couple of weeks when all you do is sit and nurse (& read). That is if Daddy and/or Grammy are there to help with the other children! The baby is beautiful!
On February 5, 2009 at 8:11 am
Jane Wiley says:
Dear Melissa,
As always… I’ve enjoyed reading “The Bonnie Glen”…
Congratulatons… your precious new baby. “Huck” is a beautiful baby.
You and Scott are very blessed…
I enjoyed your comments about the “Sign Art”…
The interpretation of music in Sign Language is a beautiful way to paint an image of music and song…
When the interpreter performs an inspirational song… the interpretation must come from the heart and have true meaning… I’ve been performing “Sign Art” since 1994… on stage and for community events…and I’ve enjoyed every moment… and a DVD of the interpretation of a song was made at our Wiley family farm in Tennessee…
Melissa, thank you again for this great web site… “The Bonnie Glen” is a wonderful place to visit…
Sincerely,
Jane Wiley
On February 6, 2009 at 4:42 am