Confessions from an Ig

I was reading through Farah's blog today, and it got me thinking. Maybe it is time for a Confession from an Ig... So here it goes:



Confession 1- I love making up ridiculous nicknames for Westly. This week I have started calling him "Ludwig van Baby" because of his little tuft of hair that sticks up on the back of his head. He looks like a musical genius of the 19th century or a mad scientist of the 20th. You take your pick--I vote Ludwig.




Confession 2- I am actually bummed this school-year is coming to an end. I have loved this group of students, even the ones who talk incessantly--yes you Charlie--does that count as a shout out? I know next year will be wonderful, but this group has that certain something. Alas, there are some years where you are just blessed with a great group.



Confession 3- I want to make ice cream. The last time I made my own ice cream was in the fifth grade during summer school. Back then it was a "fun" thing to do. There were interactive games and lessons that were all hands on. My favorite three were peanut butter taste testing (I picked Laura Scudders), Magic Class (seriously, I am Harry Potter), and the day we made ice cream in science. This summer, I want to get an old coffee can and make some ice cream in it.



Confession 4- I like the mornings. I know, for years I said I hated waking up, I liked sleeping in, yada yada yada. But in reality, I have come to love the mornings. Some good quiet time when no one is awake. The thought of "I can make this day anything I want it to be." The excitement of, "When will my doodles wake up so we can hang out?" To me, all mornings have that Christmas morning excitement. Maybe that comes with living in the Manor...




Confession 5- I haven't had a Diet Coke in 515 days. Not that anyone's counting. I know I should be proud, but just last night I had the urge to go out and buy one. To taste the processed sugar-free drink upon my lips. I can't help it. It has been around since I was born and it is a part of who I am. Perhaps I will always have a faint craving for the NutraSweet drink... But I mustn't drink one. I have an addictive FEAST OR FAMINE lifestyle, so I better stay away. Sigh.

So there they are. My confessions. Do you have anything to confess?

What is that I smell...

The Summer Breeze, rolling in.

I can hardly wait for Summer to come! I am anxious for all of the Summer Goodness awaiting me. There are 17 days of school--four of those being set aside for finals and such, which means only 13 more days of teaching... Well, if you count the two days set aside for tests and such, that makes it only 11 more days.

In all honesty, I am rather sad to see this group of students go. They are a bright group with a lot of personality. Part of me wishes I could follow them up, but what's best for the family is less prep. So bring on the new set of 9th graders...

As for summer plans, here are some of the ones I hope to make happen:

1. Go on our anniversary/honeymoon retreat. This will be the first year we don't journey up to Carmel for our anniversary, but we will invest in a lush hotel here on the coast--complete with fine dining and babysitting services thanks to some wonderful family members.

2. Ride my bike more often. I haven't been very good about riding my bike since the Mini-Doodle was born, so I hope to improve that with free mornings and lazy afternoons. I see many Starbucks and Jamba Juice rides in the coming months.

3. Double Pay-Checks. I love the summer because I work part time for the college. With that said, I only work two days a week and I get double pay. It is a good thing for a guy like me.

4. My gift certificate to Amazon is coming! Just the other day I completed a survey for a textbook company where I earned a hefty gift card to Amazon. This summer, I plan to save up some money and use the gift card to buy something epic. It will most likely not involve Odysseus, however it may involve Literature. More to come on this...

5. Spend more time with Doodle and Mini-Doodle. I am excited for Mini to get into a routine and possibly allow his Mother and Father some regular down time together. But even if that doesn't happen, it will be nice to be able to explore the world with him. I plan to take him out and about to experience the joys of infancy. Maybe even his first trip to Disneyland will take place...

That's it for now... Look for an extensive list after Memorial Day. Ah, just the sound of Memorial Day around the corner sounds like a Princess Tiana jamboree!

Mummy

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mommies, Moms, and Mums out there. I have been blessed with a wonderful mum! Cheers to her and all of you wonderful maternal caretakers.

In addition, this year I wish my lovely Farah a Happy Mother's Day as we celebrate one month of our Mini-Doodle.

Here's to moms!

One Month

Tomorrow, Westly turns one month old. Time has zoomed by, and in someways it has stood still. But with either feeling, things have certainly changed in the Shaw Manor.

Here are 10 changes I've noticed:

1. I come home and give a kiss to not one, but two doodles.

2. I have a better memory than my wife now (though I doubt this will last long).

3. I rarely sleep longer than 4 hours without being woken up (I use to get 8 to 9 hours people).

4. When I sneeze, cough or feel overly tired, I worry about passing on my germs.

5. There is a lot of stuff in our house.

6. I take photos and videos like a crazy man on summer vacation.

7. On the weekends, I weigh the merits of getting dressed and going downstairs versus staying in bed and wearing my robe all day.

8. I looked up recipes this week.

9. I count rest time in minutes, not hours.

10. My mult-tasking skills have exponentially improved.

Alas, as the weeks go by I'm sure I'll see more changes. They are all welcomed because we couldn't be happier. Simply, couldn't be happier... Ahh...

Tony Danza

Oh, Farm Boy, you are a loud doodle.



Last night, he reminded us who the boss of the house is.