At long last...

I started this blog in June and actually maintained it. Thrice! (I suppose, all things considered, I shouldn't call such a feeble effort "maintenance.") But I've been newly inspired by reading my cousin Katie's blog, and I figure I might as well give it another go.

Of course, much has changed since July, when I had barely a bump under my clothes to indicate a forthcoming child. Since then, she has forth-comed, our little Clara Amelia! Born six weeks early, much to the shock of her parents, Clara weighed just 4 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. But in the ensuing eight weeks and one day, she has managed to just about double her birthweight (please note the "then" and "now" pictures of our darling girl). What a trooper. Her last official weight was 8 pounds, 12 ounces. To us, she looks positively gigantic, although I suppose she's technically still a little baby. At any rate, we are slowly adjusting to chronic sleep deprivation, since she is definitely in charge of when any of us sleep. At present, she is enjoying the waning hours of 2006 by sleeping like an angel on Jeremy's shoulder. Normally we might try to put her in her little crib eventually, but since, often as not, she wakes to full alertness at the mere suggestion that her body will touch a surface not belonging to one of her parents' bodies, Jeremy decided he'd just hold her until it's time for her next meal.

I suppose, given that this is the last day of 2006 I should offer some sort of poignant reflection on the past year. Alas, I'll just have to guarantee that 2006 may well have been our most eventful year to date. In the past 12 months, we've gotten two masters' degrees; traveled more than 4,000 miles by car; presented two papers at the Association of American Geographers conference in Chicago (yes, they even let those of us in English studies to participate from time to time--especially those with a spatial bent to their research); moved across the United States to Syracuse, NY; and had a welter-weight baby! (Note to all expectant mothers: be careful when rolling over in bed, as you never can tell when such strenuous movements might cause your water to rupture.)

In all, it's been a bumper year, and yet we're very satisfied to report that we're enjoying the change of pace new parenthood has brought. Although being Clara's parents has us feeling a degree more stressed, fatigued, and frazzled than usual, we also feel a greater sense of peace, purpose, and contentment. May all of our years conclude thus.

Happy New Year!

A day trip to Skaneatles

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I thought the most special thing that was going to happen that day was the veggie omelet we made for breakfast. But of course, Jeremy had other plans! He thought it would be fun to take a half-day trip to Skaneatles (pronounced, for whatever reason, skinny-atlas), a little village on the north shore of Skaneatles Lake. Our first drive out of Syracuse, and our first trip to a Finger Lake. And we loved it!

Skaneatles Lake is apparently the cleanest lake in the country, according to the locals. I hope its clean, because that's where Syracuse gets its drinking water. :) But there's no denying that the water is extremely clear and blue, and we enjoyed having a picnic at a lakeshore park (one that, incidentally, prohibited picnicking, but we were not alone...) then walking around the shoreline and the village. Skaneatles Village is a quaint little tourist stop, full of restaurants and boutique stores. Jeremy is always a good sport to follow me into little shops and feign a mild interest, which I appreciate.

At any rate, we feel very comfortable in saying we will make several more trips to Skaneatles. It's only 20 miles from Syracuse, yet it feels worlds away. Add that to the fact that the Clintons themselves vacationed there for a week in 1999. A perfect vacation spot! :)

Happy 4th of July! On June 30!

We had a great time watching fireworks and enjoying an evening picnic with our friends Ryan and Emilee. The "vegetarian question" ended up not being so bad; we bought a bunch of delicious sandwich fixings, and everyone made their own. Ciabatta bread (love it!), avocado, sprouts, red pepper, cucumbers, Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, and turkey (or not), along with a choice of spreads. My personal favorite was a little innovation of mine based on a sandwich I had at a Leaf and Bean coffee house when I was studying for my comprehensive exams with my friends: peach mayonnaise. Thoroughly mix together more or less equal parts mayonnaise and peach jam/preserves (at the Leaf n' Bean the flavor was apricot; I think the options are limitless) and chill for an hour or so before using. Delicious! I told Jeremy the taste was better for people who like a hint of sweet among their savory, which I do and he does less. Either way, though, I was happy.

Anyway, we enjoyed the picnic, and we were charmed by the fireworks show. Jeremy called them "thinking-man's fireworks," since for the first half of the show there was ample time to contemplate each individual firework before seeing the next one. But things picked up eventually. Either way, the setting was great: a picnic on the grass on the edge of Syracuse's Inner Harbor, which we're told is extremely polluted but is nonetheless quite picturesque. One of those waterfront restoration projects that so many cities try, with varying degrees of success.

The only downside to the evening was that almost nobody in the parking lot was willing to use the "zipper" approach to parking lot-emptying. One annoying young man was so preoccupied with staring us down to let us know that we would not be getting his spot that he actually rear ended the car in front of him. Whatever. Overall, it was a great night, full of that summertime magic that manages to create even better memories with the passage of time.

Welcome to the blog!

Jeremy and I created this blog to stay in touch with our friends and family. So far, we have yet to invite anyone to visit our blog, but perhaps that's because at this point we have so very little to say! We are busily preparing for a "double date" with another couple in our ward to view some (very) early Independence Day fireworks at Syracuse's Inner Harbor today. Our one friend is a vegetarian, and we've been really pondering what vegetarians might enjoy eating on a picnic. Wish us luck!