A Week Flown By

I can't believe we have already been back in Princeton for over a week. Time has been flying by!

Brant started his class on Monday, and it is going well. He is taking a course titled, "The German Church Struggle." This is the only course he is taking, as this is a short term - 3 weeks, actually. They call this the January Term and he only has class 4 days a week, but it still keeps him very busy! On top of class, Brant continues to do his T.A. (teacher assistant) work for Ashford University, his R.A. (research assistant) work for a professor of his at Princeton, babysit Maddie each day, read hundreds of pages of homework, and finish up on his PhD applications. This man has a lot going on!

Speaking of applications, since many of you have been inquiring, Brant turned in his Princeton PhD application last Thursday. He is also applying to Fuller, in Pasadena, and that application is due this coming Friday. We will now wait for a few months before hearing anything from either school. To one extent, Brant is now relieved to have these applications (almost) out of the way. It is allowing him to focus more on the day to day requirements that come his way. But it also makes the waiting game that much more real, for both of us. We shall see; only time will tell. :)

Meanwhile, I am back at work myself. While Brant is in this short January term, I am working less hours at the children's center, which is quite nice! :) Although it changes our income just a bit, it means I get to spend more time at home with my baby girl, and more time at home to just take care of "home stuff." I'm taking full advantage! I am also still enjoying my work as a respite care provider for our friends/neighbors across from us. I like the fact that I am still keeping my feet relatively wet in my field of expertise.

Maddie is doing well. Boy, is she growing! Her bottom front teeth have started poking through her gums. Although we don't have full pearly whites out yet, they sure are present!! Ouch! She is rolling right and left, all over whatever floor space you give her. She wants to crawl so badly. You can see her bring either her left or right leg forward, but then she doesn't know what to do with it! She gets frustrated, maybe cries a little, but then a toy (or Tucker) can distract her and keep her happy. She is also starting to sit by herself. More and more each day, we are seeing her sit for longer stretches of time. She loves it! If she starts to fall to her right, she can put her arm out and brace herself to remain sitting, at least momentarily - then she topples over! We are slowly becoming more successful with feeding her "solid" foods. I sure thought it would come fast than this; she never seems thrilled, but she is getting more accustomed to it and not fighting us.

I can't leave Tucker out. He is doing well, too. He loves to go for walks, eat, be petted, played with; you name it, he loves it. He's still our little buddy who loves us very much. :)

I don't know why I felt like writing this type of an update. It almost feels like a mini-Christmas letter. That was not my intent. :) Just a lazy Sunday afternoon, with time to give you an update on us!

I'll post more pictures again soon!