Updates

So it's been a little while since I posted. School started for me and I have found that I just can't seem to keep up anymore. That shouldn't have been too much of a surprise I guess since I am taking 16 credits this semester instead of my usual 12. But somehow I had it in my head that I would handle the extra work load with ease. Boy was I WRONG. Each day I am staying as busy as can be with classes, homework, church stuff, and most importantly, being a wife and a mother. But, there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. Two of my professors have given permission for the students to finish their classes as fast as they want. So, if I can just get those two classes out of the way quickly, I should free up some breathing room. My goal is to have them totally completed before Spring Break which is in mid-March. It will make me exceptionally happy to get these two particular classes out of the way since they are my least favorite: Intermediate Algebra and a Natural Disasters (Geology) course. To accomplish my goal, Malone has been sitting down with me after we get Baby K to bed and helping me study for at least 2 hours every night. And the biggest surprise of all? Malone and I are both really enjoying sitting down together to work on my homework. I know, it's just SHOCKING! Me? Liking Math and Science? I think I just saw a pig fly by. :) Just kidding. In reality, we are just enjoying having some time together every night that's exclusively the two of us.

Malone's work is going pretty well. It's kind of the same ol' same ol'. A couple of exciting things have happened though. Malone was recently designated as the "Senior Biofuels Student" in the lab. It might sound a bit silly, but it has taken a long time for him to earn that title. No, he doesn't make more money. What it really means is that he has a little bit more authority and responsibility. And of course, it also means he's the closest on his side of the lab to graduating. SO! I guess there really is a light at the end of the tunnel! We only have about 15 months left of school. Let the countdown begin!

Another exciting occurrence is that Malone's enzyme is now fully patented and up for sale to the highest bidder. Hopefully it sells for a lot! There are, of course, a lot of additional people who would get a chunk of the proceeds of the sale. The university, the lawyers, Malone's boss, etc... But if it sells for a lot it could mean a nice kickback for us. So we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Baby K is doing great. She had a sinus infection about a month ago that is all cleared up now and she is a much happier 2 year old without it. She is getting her very last two molars in on the bottom of her mouth, which she is VERY unhappy about, however. They are taking a long long time to come all the way through the gums. They are poking through in a couple places, but have yet to totally surface.

Baby K is also learning lots of new words. I don't think I could list all of them but some of her most recent words are: Apple, cow, grapes, doggie, Malone (hahaha), etc... I never thought I would be one of those wives who ever called their husbands "Daddy" but now I understand the necessity of it. A few weeks ago when Baby K would want something, she would holler "Maone! Maone? MAONE!!!!" At first I just thought she was experimenting with the word Mama, but nope! I would try to ask her what she wanted but she just would not be satisfied until Malone responded to her. So now we're working on helping her recognize the difference between a first name and a title. And I have had to learn to call Malone "Daddy" when Baby K is around. Not gonna lie, it's kind of awkward. A little.

As for Baby #3, I will be 23 weeks along this Saturday and she is healthy and growing normally. My cervix is staying shut so far (HOORAY!) and I am not on partial bed rest yet (HOORAY!). We had a 3D ultrasound of her yesterday and she was happily sucking on her fist. Her cheeks are already looking chubby too. :) And the most exciting recent development? She is now big enough/strong enough that when she moves, I can see my belly move. This is my most favorite part of pregnancy, hands down. Getting to feel her move and knowing that she is healthy and strong makes every pain and sickness more than worth it. I am so grateful for this blessing.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Although I suppose I could leave you with a funny story. (At least I thought it was funny)

Each week Malone and I try to split up the chores. He has been so sweet and taken on more of the household responsibilities since I have been pregnant however. Malone and I also decided this year that every month we will each receive a small allowance (and trust me, when I say small, I really mean it). We each get to choose what we want to do with our allowance and it can be as frivolous as we want. This way we don't have to feel guilty if we are doing something for ourselves as long as it's within specific limits.

Well, late last night (a little after midnight) as I was finishing up some studying I suddenly realized that I had forgotten to start a batch of whites in the wash. The laundry is my chore this week and I had procrastinated getting started on it. Unfortunately, this meant that I was wearing my last clean pair of undergarments and really desperately needed to get some laundry through the wash before morning. Since I had a few things left to finish up for school, I begged Malone to just get the one batch of laundry started in the washing machine. He was so sweet, he didn't even complain about it. But then after starting the wash he came back in the room with a grin on his face and said "I think if one of us asks the other to do their chore, then that person should give the other person their allowance." I couldn't help it, I burst into giggles. I just couldn't stop laughing. For some reason it struck me as hilarious that one grown adult would be begging another grown adult to do their chore for them and paying them their allowance to do it. I felt like an 8 year old again trying to convince my little brother to weed my row of corn in the garden or something ridiculous like that. :)