Fun vocabulary

Here are two fun words that I have learned in my classes this semester:

From my multivariate statistics class: Kurtosis
Sounds like a disease, but it really has to do with the flatness or peakedness of a curve. Even more fun are the related terms platykurtic and leptokurtic.

From my clinical measurement/evaluation class: Schistosomiasis
The professor that teaches this class is an infectious diseases doctor, so he used this disease in one of our class examples. Actually what happened was that he asked for us to call out a disease, and someone suggested schistosomiasis, but I think they just said it because it sounded cool.

Four months old

Ally had her 4-month well-baby check-up yesterday. She is 13 lbs 8.9 oz and 25.25 inches long, which puts her below the 50th percentile in weight, but approaching the 90th percentile in height. She also got her second round of vaccinations, during which she howled very loudly. However, once I picked her up and fed her, she went back to being her happy self.

For the past two nights, Ally has gone to bed shortly after 8pm. This has been nice, because Ben and I have been able to work on schoolwork after she goes to sleep. I am wondering if this is a real shift in her bedtime, or if she is just doing this for a couple days and will revert back to a later bedtime. I have to say though, Ally has really become a very good nighttime sleeper. She sleeps through the night for the vast majority of the time, and she is even taking some substantial naps during the day at daycare. (Of course I realize that as I write this I may be jinxing myself!) She is becoming more fun every day with her smiles and giggles and interest in everything going on around her.

Ally's Baptism

Ally was baptized at St. Thomas More on Sunday. We were so glad to be able to share the experience with her godparents Jim, Victoria, and Matt, as well as my parents and several of our other friends from church. Afterwards, everyone headed back to our house for a fun spaghetti lunch. Here are some pics from the day.

Fr. Romen anoints Ally on the chest with holy oil

Ally getting dunked (yep, they baptize the babies naked at St. Thomas More!)

Fr. Romen anoints Ally on the head with sacred chrism

Receiving the Light of Christ

After Mass by the baptismal font

With Ally's godparents Matt, Victoria, and Jim

With most of our small group

With my parents

Ally enjoying wearing her baptismal gown my mom made

First week of school

It is that time again: the start of a new school year. After being a stay-at-home mom for the summer, I am now back at school full-time. I will admit, I am glad to be back, although I do miss seeing Ally during the day. I do have a picture of her as my desktop computer background, so at least I can look at her when I want.

Ally now goes to a home daycare about 1.5 miles from our house. She is with 4 other little girls and she is the only baby. Her daycare provider is a Colombian woman, whose family is also parishoners at our church. Ally cried for a little bit the first day, but now she seems to be doing just fine. One thing's for sure, she's definitely getting to see a lot of excitement with 4 other little girls around.

Ben had planning week this week, where he got to go to a lot of faculty meetings. Right now he is dressed up in his PhD regalia, attending Fall Convocation. His classes start on Wednesday.

Grand-Nana would be proud

That her great-granddaughter wore a hat to church today!

Here is Ally in an outfit that our friends Brent and Kristi (former small groupers) gave her. The dress and bloomers are really cute, but the hat is the icing on the cake, in my opinion.

Cabin trip #2

Last weekend, we went back to the mountains of NC to spend a weekend with our small group. It was lots of fun; the only regret is that we couldn't have stayed longer.

Standing at Looking Glass waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest

Ally sleeping during the hike

Ally REALLY asleep during the hike

The whole group

Ally, Elaina, and Rebecca

Visiting Nana and attending Heather's wedding

This past weekend, we traveled to Portsmouth, VA, to attend our friend Heather's wedding and to visit Ben's grandmother. Heather is a good friend of mine from college, and she was the maid of honor in our wedding, so we were excited to share in this special occasion with her and her family. Additionally, Heather asked me to play the violin during the ceremony, so I was excited to be an active part of the wedding.

Very conveniently, Ben's grandmother (his mom's mom; Nana to us, Grand-Nana to Ally) also lives in Portsmouth, so we stayed with her. It was her first time to meet Ally, and she was most excited to show off her new great-granddaughter to her friends. Also, we got to see Ben's uncle BJ and both aunt Lindas, as well as Nana's sister Betty. It was a good visit, and everyone was excited to meet Ally. And of course, the most common comment was "Look at that head of hair!"

Below are some pics from our trip.

Ally and me with the new couple Heather and Eric Poma

Ally napping during the reception

Me playing some prelude music

Ally and her Grand-Nana

Ally meets Willamina Wolf

Ally sleeping with her dog's nose in her mouth