time marches

It's starting. Had the first two days of orientation, which could be called "Introducing the Program, Fire Safety, and 43 Other Ways to Freak Out". Actually, it was nice to get a gist of the professors, the setting for our theory classes, and where the fridge is. A couple profs and the admin, Maria, also took it upon themselves to help me get situated in a room that I share now with a Research Assistant. I can pump easily and without hassling everyone else in there, and even have a key. Really super cool. The RA is a sweetie, and a 2nd year so it's nice to also have someone to talk to sometimes.

The program load is ridiculous--18 credits. Maybe after it's all said and done I will feel otherwise, but it is going to be hard. Uber suckage hard. The department seems organized and quite supportive, so I guess it's just how life will be for 4 months. After this, the program is supposed to make more sense and settle into a good deal of field work and hands on. Very research heavy, but in order to stay abreast of the newest innovations, I am going to have to really get comfy with research. Eh, I'll try to pretend I'm reading another type of knitting blog!! Maybe I can incorporate knitting into a therapy program somewhere down the road. Oooh the possibilities!
There is a new addition to the dept, a Professor Barocco (I'll find her real spelling later) and her specialty is the connection between Primary Care Givers (often mothers) and their children. I've already talked to her a bit and she seems helpful and cool. This place is full of resources, I tell ya.

Emelia has taken well to her days without me, it seems. Between D and a sitter, she was fine eating the expressed milk by bottle, but when I came home she went right to nursing no problemo. A relief, there.
We're getting her better with sitting up, and she's becoming more and more aware of her environment. Barring her being a Terrible Two someday, I'm excited to watch her grow. Yeah, I said it again, so what? I'm her enthralled mother!!
So here's a treat of her falling around the place, just being completely overwhelmed by shininess and the hiccups (Her feet are on a pillow as she's barely too light to touch the ground. Give her a week.)

Here's one of her sleeping. Because isn't that the cutest? She wakes up with a smile most of the time.