a (not so white) christmas in vermont

I can't write for long, but i'm longing to blog (very sad, I know). We've been hanging out in a small Vermont "town" called Hardwick, about a half-hour east of Montpelier, the state capitol. This is my second Christmas in Hardwick and I'm sad to report that this has not been a very white Christmas! There's talk of snow later tonight, but I have my doubts.

I'm curious to know how your boys' first Christmas went. Aidan's being showered with love and smiles, and I also think he's sometimes a bit overwhelmed by it all. Is it just me or is it a bit scary when you see eight people hovering over your baby's portable crib, ogling and cooing in unison while he stares curiously from below? Of course, I can't complain about all the new clothes he's receiving -- and I love that he's surrounded by so much family.

Great news about the teaching offer, LizzieP. I enjoyed teaching for the IWP (and I think interdisciplinary writing experience looks good on the CV). I can't help you with the childcare question. when i went back to teaching, my schedule was only two days per week for three hours max. simon is able to stay home (and not work) to help, and my younger brother is also living with us right now and that truly helps. we haven't yet needed childcare. one recommendation (which you probably already thought about): we purchased a parking permit so i could drive to and fro campus and park next to my office. that way, i didn't spend extra time either on the bus or walking to and fro the montlake parking lot, which makes a difference when you want to get home to catch the next feeding! good thing you invested in a good pump -- mine was so handy on those days I wanted to stay on campus an extra hour or two. I returned the hospital-grade rental (medela classic) and found a barely-used medium-grade electric one (medela pump in style) on craigslist. It's all enclosed in a leather bag and comes with an insulated storage pouch for bottles and dry-ice backs. fond memory: pumping and prepping for class at 7:00AM. I hate to get all Martha Stewart on you, but I truly love this pump and can't stop promoting it to new mums. It works better than the expensive rental, and it's so light I don't even realize I'm carrying it sometimes.

Since it seems like the three of us are likely to be on campus next quarter, we should meet up and brainstorm creative ideas for childcare. I'd be more than happy to help out in any way I can. Sacha: you mentioned something about 'office sharing,' and I'm still very curious about what you meant by that.

As nice as it is to be with family and friends, I find myself longing for our home in Seattle. I wonder if Aidan, like me, misses the comfortable familiarity of home right now.

SO looking forward to life after the holidays, traveling, and, of course, the much-dreaded MLA.