J's bunnies

J's sweet spot for bunnies makes me smile. His favorite bunny had babies a couple weeks back, and they nested right next to our planter a few feet off our deck. Five little bunnies all curled up in big balls of fur and cuddle cuteness is hard to resist. It was chilly all week, so J made sure that their big tuft of grass with fur woven in kept them warm. We would get home and he would go check on them. Then he would research them online to convince himself that he wasn't harming them by getting so close - even though there is a old wise tale that if you touch them their mom won't come back to take care of them. He admitted to gently petting them once he knew they weren't going to be hurt by them. A couple days later they were out and about, weened from their nest. One was in the yard and J actually leaned over and pet the bunny before he pranced off. I think when Aiden gets bigger we're going to have to get some pet bunnies ;)

rav

We decided a few months back that we would jump into the realm of two car ownership now that we have a baby on the way. If you read our baby blog, you'll know that we spent hours picking out, buying, and returning a baby swing that we still don't have. So, you'd think that picking out a new car would take weeks or maybe even months. Surprisingly, after casually perusing online and reading consumer reports, we wandered into a largest toyota dealership around 7pm last night and walked out around 10:30 as new Rav4 owners. I can't get over how much space you get (over our original idea of a matrix) and we got a smokin deal. J was even able to get us a "new grad" discount since he officially finished his PhD in May. We were sucked in by their super sale (of course ending yesterday) and even my mom was on board to go ahead and get it for - get this - $4,000 less than the sticker price. Who would've guessed that we would get the first car we test drive?! The last car they had in stock for the super deal was perfect in everglade metallic with two tone beige/brown interior. Can't wait to see it in the day light when we pick it up ;)

pseudo bday and more

Luca helping me open presentsParty onto the deck
Waterfire downtown

Friiiiday was my birthday and it was better than most. It was really a reflection of how much has happened in one short year to think of my birthday last year. At that point my co-workers of a little over two weeks took me out to lunch even though I hardly knew some of their names. I'm only partly exaggerating. This year two of my closer friends that work in other areas at Brown planned to get me out to lunch even though we were in the midst of a big proposal prep (which almost meant coming to work on Sunday - although my boss let me off easy and I didn't end up having to come - yea!). Friday work ended a little early because I had a doctor's appt and my glucose test - the sugar rush didn't ruin my birthday at all! Then to top off a good day, my folks were arriving to town with my aunt and a bunch more shower presents. We went to a bday dinner at the Grist Mill and afterward the geese/ducks customarily chased us into the parking lot going after our leftover boxes.

Saturday was my pseudo birthday, a party where I don't really highlight my birthday or make a big fuss, but I still feel surrounded by fun people. We had 28 people and kids at our house on a beautiful perfect day. It was the largest crowd I've ever hosted and it wouldn't have gone off so well without my families' help. My mom even repeated the schnazy veggie/meat flower skewers from my shower and they were even better the second time. Having a party with so many kids we risked our new carpet but luckily we'd made "outdoor brownies that taste better outside" as my smart mom friends insisted for their two year olds. After the party we all headed downtown to another packed Waterfire parking by the Prospect Terrace park to watch the sun set. I'll try to post some photos from my aunt later...

Sunday the fun continued as we scarfed down the ridiculously good brunch at Paragon which I thought would be followed by my going into work... But our copy editor hadn't finished yet, so instead we showed my family around Brown and new places like Roger Williams Park and Wickford, RI. The CreaTOYvity had the most adorable rocking dream meadow play pad from Haba (which doubles as a changing pad and travel bed) that my aunt spoiled Aiden with and I still can't stop day dreaming about. Going into work early this morning didn't seem so bad after being so active this past weekend... just gotta keep on, keeping on.

wineries, churches, and pregnancy

Which of these go together? A winery and an old church, a pregnant woman and a winery...? All three went together for me while visiting my family for the long weekend. We started the weekend off with my shower (for review visit the baby blog) and then took a huge crew of family to visit Chagrin Falls and the South River Winery. This winery was built around an old church structure that looks like a classic midwest one room church. No wine for me, but I was in heaven eating leftover snacks from the shower (cold cranberry meatballs) and reclining in the perfect weather. I played a whole game of bocce to 15 (although everyone was helping me get my balls so I didn't have to bend). Aah, quality family time really made the trip. Photo review:

wall paper ecstasy

I'm headed home to Ohio for a long weekend trip (baby shower in the mix too - can't wait!) so J's going to paint some more when I'm not around the fumes. We have a nice light chocolate color for an accent in both the kitchen and the living room. Then we picked out a cool green apple color for the bedroom (it was hard to stray away from blues like our last bedroom). We had a long wall of this funk-a-delic wall paper in the bedroom that was not a selling point. It was pretty muted and hard to really be offended by (unlike the flower explosion in the office, which will probably be our last project) but it just wasn't going to cut it long term. Since J has offered to paint without really any help from me, I wanted to contribute by getting the paper down. I had visions of picking at half torn paper edges and I hoped we wouldn't have to use any serious chemicals (I resorted to everything for a wall of crap paper in Tucson and eventually had to texture paint over it because we couldn't get it all off). Well, not only did it come down in major long pieces, but I didn't even have to spritz water on it. It was high quality dream paper without too many glue marks. The wall was prepped and nearly ready for paint in less than an hour. I can only dream that the other room will be that easy.

anniversary

My one year anniversary at Brown came and went. I brought a little thank-you-cranberry bread to our first all staff meeting ever!? They replaced my old boss and she made this new addition, which actually took exactly an hour even with all 30 some people sharing. I don't normally talk about work here, but let's say that this year has been fulfilling and busy. I feel like I've been around much longer than a year, and that is a very good thing.

We also celebrated being so close to J's family by visiting his great aunt that I'd never met at her convent up north of Boston. Such an amazing group of welcoming women that made you feel blessed to be around them. I can't wait to bring Aiden back to meet them someday. It's amazing how much happens in a year!

48 hour film festival

Providence's self-loving filmmakers were out in droves tonight for round one of the 48 hour film contest screenings. My former RISD instructor was entering and was soliciting help on her website. I offered up our backyard in Seekonk to which she responded, "Hahahaha. That offer was hilarious. So far I have: a crab, medieval weapontry, a mustang, the town of N. Kingston and a farm in CT of all things. Seekonk is not that far! Your house in Seekonk is most appreciated, hopefully, I won't need it. If you'd really like to help, you could come to the screening that Wednesday night and vote for my film!" This response would pique anyone's interest right?!

It was packed when we arrived and I have to admit my expectations were pretty mixed. I expected some really terrible films and I got to see some. I also expected some tidbits that I'd remember. The most memorable aspect was the self aggrandizement coming from the filmmakers and their crews for each of their films. The more hooting and hollering, the least likely it would be worth watching.
My favorites were:
- my instructor's musical about a failed writer who felt compelled to tell his life story to a stranger in a wine shop
- a mortician that talked to a dead guy with a hard on and danced like she belonged in Hairspray, and
- a sci-fi take on time travel and the online dating attempts of a slave from the middle ages
My least favorites were:
- a supposed comedy about a shrill voiced publisher that left her manuscript in her car when it went in for a tune up and the mechanic had to re-write the ending
- a group of bored guys driving around daydreaming about singing karaoke, but then they are knocked away from their day dream because they forgot to feed their turtle (!?)
- a horror film that stole it's feel from Saw (I'm taking J's word on that one) and had excessively loud music and screaming that literally had my baby trying to punch his way out of my belly and the theater

The whole concept is interesting - they all had to have the same prop (boots), character (a publisher named Conner/Constance Sutton), and line (Have you heard of that - or something like that?)... but each picks a different genre of movie. Key to success was at least someone that could actually act. The combo of all 11 films should make for some interesting dreams tonight.