ramonat latest

It’s been about 2 weeks since we came back from Houston.  I still feel out of sorts with my routine with the boys.  It’s not so much that the boys are out of their routine; it’s more that I feel like I’m not all together.  I used to have this nice routine of doing a chore a day, prepping dinner throughout the day, and going out with the boys.  The first two things I’ve not been quite as consistent about, especially the prepping dinner.  I’ve gotten lazier about making dinner and what I’m making because I just feel so tired of the day – fighting a toddler and dealing with a teething almost-one-year old.  It’s been this way since Nat first traveled in March.  Hopefully, as Nat starts working, I’ll kick my butt back into gear about chores and dinner.

The past 2 weeks have been a change for our family since Nat has been at home.  It changes the dynamics of life, and it allows me to go out during naptime.  I think that makes life more busy for me as I try to squeeze in more things to do that I really should do.  Anyways, we’ve had a good time having daddy around.  We’ve gotten some projects done – getting the chair rail up, moving the towel rack so it’s screwed into the studs and not the dry wall, ordering and putting together new pantry shelves, hanging a cabinet in the garage, reorganizing the garage, and decluttering some of the closet in Jonas’ room.  We have more projects that we’d like to do now that we know that we’re staying for awhile and we have income coming in that can allow us to do the projects.  Some of the projects we’d like to do:  declutter the house and find a storage unit to store things, order a bench and shelf for the entry way, ordering a DVD rack, and trimming the front bushes.  We’ll see how that goes.

Nat starts work today, so I hope all goes well.  I’m not sure if they’re just going to throw him in today or have a more laidback first day of work.  I’m hoping that Nat won’t have to stay too long at work most days so that he can help me watch the kiddos while I cook dinner.  If not, we’ll adjust. 

Sorry I haven’t posted for awhile.  Nat updated our password to be stronger so that we wouldn’t get spammed, and I didn’t really learn the new password.  We finally changed it tonight to something we can agree on and that’s easy for me to remember.

We have a busy couple of months ahead, so I’ll just start telling you what’s happening at the Thompsons.  Nat is traveling to San Diego next week for a conference.  He’s presenting the paper that was accepted, so that’s exciting.  I’ll be home with the kids enlisting the help of some friends to help with the boys at bedtime. 

Nat comes home next Friday, and he’ll stay for a week.  Then, the following Sunday (28th), Nat will be flying out to Albuquerque for an interview at Sandia.  Nat is nervous about the interview because he will have to give a presentation.  I hope that Nat does well!  I’m excited at the prospect of moving to New Mexico!

After Nat gets back, he’ll be focusing on finishing up his research, writing his thesis, and defending his PhD.  We’re hoping that Nat will be finished before Ethan’s wedding and have a job lined up by then.  Needless to say, it’ll be a hectic few months.

Sorry we haven’t posted too much lately!  We turned off the server for a couple of weeks while my mom was visiting, and we were too lazy to turn it on.    Life after our travel to Massachusetts and my mom’s visit has been pretty normal.  I run errands with Sean in the morning, we eat lunch, he takes a nap, and we run more errands. 

Nat has been busy working on a conference paper which is due on Sean’s birthday.    He’s been working so hard and thinking so hard that his body is starting to take a toll.  He’s been feeling sore from sitting at the computer so much.  Luckily, he had a big breakthrough with his paper last Friday, so it’s been less stressful (or at least a different kind of stress) for him.  Now, he just needs to plug and chug away at his paper.

Nat has also narrowed down his preliminary exam date for September 3rd or 4th.    The preliminary exam is an exam where he submits a 20 page paper that outlines how his research contributes to the field, a background of existing approaches, the research he has completed with regards to the topic area, and what he plans to do to finish up his PhD.  For Nat’s department, most people pass.  I feel like it’s more a negotiation of what needs to be done in order for him to finish.  I’m so proud of him that we’re approaching the finish line. 

As for me, I’ve been feeling pretty good.  I’m not very keen on my gestational diabetes diet, but it’s not too horrible to bear.  My doctor was happy enough with my blood sugars at the last visit that he said I could just test every other day.  I will say, the days I don’t test, I’m a little bit more lenient with the carbs that I eat.    As far as I can tell, the baby is doing fine–moving great, size is good, and I’m measuring about where I’m supposed to be. 

Next Friday is Sean’s 2nd birthday, so Nat’s parents will be coming into town.  We’re going to have a small birthday party at the pool, so that should be fun!   I can’t believe my little boy is already 2!  What a big boy he is!