Cold

It's been really cold here and I know a lot of mom's don't take their kids out because it is too cold, but that is so hard! Don't get me wrong, she didn't get to go for a walk or play in the snow until it was above 20. But here are some images of just how cold it was. 

These are taken from the science center looking at the river and downtown. 

And the other day when it was warm enough to play. 

Science Center

Today's outing was the Carnegie Science  Center. 

Sad day

It seems this is the end of the ride for us this year. A long one and now we sit at the bottom and wait. And hope someone fixes the ride soon.
(To ease some of your minds, we were quite hopeful for a position back in the NW, but it seems that is not in the cards for us at this time. Academia positions/hiring is a broken system and has left us exhausted and frustrated this time around.)

Lego tunnel and a train

I'm not sure who is more obsessed with this evening activity. 

And more train time. 

Girlie

I rarely put tights or dresses on Violet, but we were supposed to go to the symphony today (cancelled because of weather). Those are her slippers, but imagine snow boots instead. 

Out of body

Maybe because my body isn't quite my own or because it has been taken over lately by our little, growing boy, but I've been feeling out of myself. When I see Violet I wonder who this little person is and where did my baby go. I see Bob and I and I wonder how did we get here, as in physically, to Pittsburgh and what are we doing here. It's as if he and I haven't changed but everything around us has. It's our stuff in a weird setting. It's our baby turned to a little girl. It's my tummy expanding everyday to make room for another family member. Pictures of friends back home, of past trips, of our 23rd St house, seem almost strange, not as in foreign but as did that really happen? Did it lead us here? How is it part of who we are now? Is it holding us back or saving a place for the future. 

The year so far and how the roller coaster goes

I'll write about how the year finished up when at my computer, but here is an update on how 2014 has started. 

We flew back on the 3rd and Bob had 2 interviews in DC (conference) and Violet had her first real food puke, a winner of a day. We decided because of the incoming polar vortex to cut our stay short and head back to PA. Thank goodness that drive was uneventful. The snow came, the cold came. Violet and I did not leave the house for 3 days. Bob only did to walk lulu briefly. I had stocked up on groceries in DC taking a guess at what we'd eat and what we left behind 6 weeks ago. 

Today it is 55 and rainy and I'm recovering from the bug Violet had last weekend. Puking when 7.5 months pregnant is even harder than when not. Bob has been super dad and nurse, but it is wearing him down quickly. Tuesday he starts teaching again but I know he's mostly stressed about not hearing back on his interviews. Time in this case is not on your side. You only hear from schools when they want you and rejection letters come way later than what should be acceptable, usually after you know who took the job. And when you apply in November (first interviews start in Jan, basically 3 rounds of cuts) and they decide in February (but don't update you along the way) that is rude. So we're on the down slope screaming, praying there is another up on the way.