I Really Like Maternity Leave

I really like maternity leave. I particularly like not having to log on to work and grade papers. It's been nice. I will miss it. I have scheduled a weeks vacation in April (Ellie's birthday week) so I can enjoy time off with her.

I have still not mastered transferring photos from my slick new digital camera so the great photos I have will have to wait.

Just a family update:

Ellie is doing very well. I am keeping her in school for 1/2 days only. It does put a strain on our work as she is home wanted to interact with us. I am encouraging Fred to utilize the office for the few hours she is home in the afternoon. I will keep her in the 9-12 program for the remainder of the school year. I am trying to keep her healthy. Ellie is doing extrememly well in school. She impresses her teachers. She always impresses us. We love her mature vocabulary and the way she retains almost everything. We are looking forward to Kindergarten.

Sagan is just wonderful. We just started working toward adopting her. Korea is unlike China, in that, we only have "guardianship" of Sagan until June. Then it is decided by our agency that we should be permitted to adopt her. I called our attorney yesterday and the wheels are now turning. We will be ready come June when adoption permission is granted. She is a great little lady and has a stubborn streak a mile and a half wide. I am working with her. Her vocabulary is emerging with words like: Da, Mama, Ya (That's Ellie), Uma, go, no (usually its "no, no, no"), hi and bye bye. Sagan is very easy to read and the crying that was present at the begining is gone. She only cries when she wants something that Ellie has or is extremely hungry. She understands us more. She understands the house rules and will give you an impish smile when she is testing you. The best thing is that she sleeps through the night just like Ellie. She goes to bed at 7:30pm and wakes up anytime between 5am-7am. This morning it was 5am....OUCH. I was ready. She makes lots of noise when she wakes up, stretching and loud yawns. She eats tons and we try to keep it healthy. One new food we have just introduced her to is Bonnie Bell mini ice cream sandwiches. Heaven! She doesn't make that much of a mess, but when she runs a chocolately hand through her hair that just irks me! The first week of February Sagan will go to a friends in home day care for 2-3 hour mornings to play with kids her age. We have already visited it and it is great. Sagan will have lot of fun.

Me? I am always on the go. Mom, teacher, wife, and student. I am running all day long. It's non stop. I am up at 5am and in bed by 9:30pm. I teach, take care of the kids and the house, and am preparing to defend my educational thesis. I am hopeful that I will graduate in May. I want the degree confirmed so I can move on. I am thinking about the PhD. So close now. Just another year of course work and a dissertation. I don't know if I have it in me. I don't know when in my day I can write. Ellie starts Kindergarten in the fall so there will be time in my day.
Lot's to think about.

Fred: Working and reading lots. He is a wonderful father and husband. I love that his new job has renewed him. He works with amazing people who are just like him. They read the same books, enjoy the same things and even eat the same way (really!).
My favorite time of the day is book time. This is at 7pm each evening. Fred is in charge of reading with the kids at night. Sagan is first with her favorite Karen Katz books while Ellie goes for more artistic story books. They look forward to shutting the door on the other sibling for this special time with daddy.