Chemistry Professor Comments

Due to my recent opportunities to meet with some chemists, here are some great statements I heard:


"The value of that material is proportional to the students' boredom."


"I had a brain vapor lock the last few days."


"It is great to have two physical chemists at one [small] school. Do you know why? If you ask two organic chemists who wants to teach analytical chemistry and physical chemistry, you aren't going to get a quick answer. But if you ask two physical chemists who wants to teach analytical chemistry and physical chemistry, they are quick to say they can teach either one."

(Inferring that physical chemists are superior in their chemistry knowledge.)

Tubing Baby Style

The babies got to sit on the tube while it was tied to the beach. They had fun laughing at one another.

Playing in the Sand

Case and Eva had fun playing in the sand at the beach.

I Want to Go Too!!!

Case had never been around a jet ski, but I think he knew it was a fun ride like the 4-wheeler. He was upset that his daddy was riding one without him. Then he got upset anytime anyone else took off on one. Maybe next time Josh can take him for a slow ride. Lauren and I were jealous of the new cool tube that they all got to ride. Sigh. Maybe next summer.

Lake Fun

Because both Lauren and I are pregnant, we didn't get to jet ski or tube this time. I told her after we have our babies, we should go out to the lake and we'll do those things and no one else can. Ha!
This was Case's first boat ride. He was very serious breaking a slight smile only a few times. I think he was taking it all in. Case did get upset when he saw that his daddy was on the jet ski next to us. I thought the babies' life jackets were so cute! Case didn't mind his which was a relief. Eva is the other baby - she is Trey and Lauren's niece. She kept coming over to Casen but he just stood there ignoring her. Not sure what that was about.

Swimming

We went to Lake Texoma Monday night and stayed a couple of days with our friends Trey and Lauren. We always have a great time with them. Tuesday morning we went swimming. Case had a good time. He was a bit braver this time allowing us to let him go for a bit. He can balance in his floaties a bit before falling forward in the water. Most time though he wanted to be held in the water. Josh showed him how to jump from the side, or rather, step off into the water or scoot off the edge. After awhile, Case got tired of swimming and walked around the edge. He threw rings at us and caught them when we threw them back.

Wichita Fun

Case and I made the trek up to Wichita this past weekend for my cousin's wedding shower. We had a good time seeing some family. We got to spend time with Mamaw, Aunt Sissie, Annie, and Jared and his family. We did some shopping, ate yummy homemade enchiladas, had dairy queen!, and went swimming Saturday. Sunday was busy but we had time for a nap after church and lunch before the shower.
Case enjoyed being with everybody - especially PJ the dog (when he wasn't sniffing his cucumber melon soap on his skin), Jared, and Jared's brother Dave. Saturday night Case went up to Jared's brother and kept telling him, "Dog. Dog. Dog." Someone spoke up and said, "Casen wants you to acknowledge him." Apparently Case thought he still needed to win Dave over. So he goes over later to him and wants him to pick him up. He had Dave pick him up and hold him a lot that weekend. Case also liked to have Jared hold him. Jared was a great help with Case. He took him out to play at our lunch on Sunday, and then got him ready and helped me load the car on Sunday so we wouldn't be late to the shower. Jared is going to be a great daddy someday, Annie!
Mamaw liked to push Case around in his stroller when we were at the malls. She took Case into Bath & Body Works (I know, this is what happens when a boy joins a Wood Family's Girl's Outing) and let him pick out a rubber duck. He didn't want the green one, but the purple one. He already has a green duck - he needed a different color! Mamaw up to this point kept saying she wasn't going to guess what I was having - that she had been wrong every time up to this point. That went out the window when she bought the baby a pink duck! I guess she's voting for a girl : )
Case had fun at the pool with an audience watching him. He liked to get out of the pool and stand where Mamaw and Aunt Sissie were sitting then get back into the pool using the steps. Its always a treat seeing some of my family. Being with Mamaw and Aunt Sissie was like seeing my mom so that was especially nice since I've been homesick for my parents (I get to see them in 2 weeks! woohoo!).
I had a good time hearing and seeing some of the wedding plans. Sissie showed us where and how the ceremony and reception is going to be set up. Annie showed me the gorgeous bridesmaid dresses. It's going to be a beautiful wedding!

Reading With Mama

The same night Case worked out with Josh, Case also read with me. Case loves reading books - on his own or being read to. He also just likes to carry his books around. This evening he brought some books over next to me where I was reading. He sat next to me and started reading his own books. It was so cute! One of my favorite things about my friend Pam is that we can do anything together - even just read and hang out. I was reminded of that when Case was content just to sit next to me and read.

Working Out with Daddy

Josh was showing Case how to do sit-ups and push-ups the other night. Case was so funny.

Shaving

Casen gets very serious during certain activities. This morning when Josh shaved with him, Case got all serious. He was concentrating hard it seemed. After he finished shaving, Case came into the living room and told me all about it. Sweet Sweet boy.

My Little Sharer

Casen loves to feed the dogs. When he is at his Mamaw and Papa's, their little poodle gets all kinds of treats! Yesterday, Casen was sharing his marshmallows with our dog Padme. He ended up dumping the marshmallows for easy access. Case did get up upset when Newman came over and started eating too. Casen and Newman are like brothers - they usually just annoy and get upset at each other. But Padme is his favorite - he loves her!

Casen's Sign Language

We've done a little sign language with Case - just a few signs for main words that he needs to use. He has morphed the signs into his own little sign language.
His favorite sign and word is "more". More food. More drink. More play. More open the door for me. More playtime in the sunroom. More playtime with the dogs. As you can probably guess, we usually have to figure out what he is asking more specifically. Usually it's food though. So that's our first guess.
He knows the sign for dog so he does it from time to time (it's panting like a dog). He now usually likes to just say, "Dog." Over and over again.
I decided a couple weeks ago that he needs to start learning to say please and thank you. We taught him please (it's rubbing your chest right below your neck). He did not really want to have to say or sign that word. Why does he need to do that when he already said, "More?" At first he would either walk away and try again later if we insisted he say please OR he would do the sign on our stomachs. We let it count. Then it changed into him doing the sign on himself but usually it's on his stomach or chest - all over rubbing and haphazardly done, as if he is saying, "Okay, okay, please." A few days ago, I told him he had to ask please before he could have whatever I was eating. He did the sign for please and shouted, "No!" I told him it didn't count so he finally just made the sign. Stubborn boy. But very entertaining boy.
Today he came over and asked for more (made the sign) drink and made the please sign! Without prodding! Woohoo!
I guess we are going to introduce Thank You later this week. He's going to love that-he already will have gotten what he asked for. We'll see how it goes....

Playing with Water

After swimming, the babies played in the yard with the water hose. They helped to water Mamaw's flowers. Jaci kept getting Case which he didn't really mind usually. He did mind some of the time, but she didn't care. I told Case she was getting him back for irritating her all day. Case is the Master Annoying Cousin. He will go up to Jaci and stand right by her - but not touch her. He stands like that until she starts crying. Then he acts like, "What? I'm not touching her!"

Swimming

We went swimming one night. Casen hadn't gone swimming since last summer, but he did pretty well. He only wanted me to hold him so I was tired by the end of the night. He wore floaties but doesn't know how to use them yet. He has to learn how to kick so he can stay up. He wouldn't panic though when he would go under so I guess that's good. Well until the slide incident. There's a kiddie slide there, and he kept asking to go down it. I knew I couldn't take him. A few years back, I went down the slide with Tana and learned my lesson! I hit the water so hard and it's so shallow there (shallow for an adult) that I hit the bottom of the pool hard. My knee was black for a month. It's a wonder I didn't break my kneecap. So I knew I couldn't take him down the slide. Well, Jaci went down the slide in a lifejacket. So I decided to let Case try it. As I waited for Jessi to let him go at the top, I was standing in the pool waiting - nervous. Jeremy was making fun of me - but it was my baby! Case came down the slide, went under the water, and popped back up. I think he was in shock for about a minute. Then he started crying. He didn't ask to go down the slide again. Hopefully, he will go down the slide in the park though. Case got upset when it was time to get out of the pool. I was running on empty, and it was getting near to closing time. Well, he and Jaci went and ran around in the grassy area watching the birds. Then I look over, and he was taking off for the pool. Of course, it was the deep end. Jeremy told me he didn't know I could move that fast. I caught Case right before he got to the edge. He might have just stopped at the edge and looked in, but he probably would've just stepped into the pool. Just like he does when he walks off the couch or bed. I know he probably would've been fine. Between the lifeguards and all of us right there, but it still scared me. I'm sure I gave everyone a laugh by running to the pool to catch my baby - I'm already showing. Hopefully, I won't have to do that again. I don't know if I'll be able to move so fast by the end of the summer.

Softball

We went and watched Kota play softball later. Her team won! It was pretty hot outside, but I made it the whole time. I think the heat had zapped me because the next day I took three naps. Thank goodness I have babysitters in Chatty! : ) Case had fun running around. He especially liked his first ring pop that Tana bought him. Of course it was blue raspberry!

Case Visiting with Cousins

Josh left for camp, and his mom stayed with Casen and me for a few days. Then we came down to Chatty. On the way, we stopped in Elgin to visit Tana, Kota, and Graeson. Casen enjoyed them all. In the pictures, he is pointing out Graeson's nose and his own. He loved holding Graeson - so much so that he would cry when Graeson was taken away from him. So he got to hold Graeson quite awhile. Rocky cooked authentic German food for everyone for dinner - schnitzel and German potato salad. It was yummy!

Graeson

Zoo Warnings

Has anyone ever been bit at the zoo? Usually these signs are posted by animals that you can easily reach (like the tortoises) but I know I saw some people not heeding the warning. I have heard the story of my Mamaw getting bit by a monkey at the zoo when she was a little girl.

Dance of the Flowers

So the zoo had this special, hyped-up exhibit called the "Dance of the Flowers." Only a certain number of people could go into this area at a time where these butterflies were going to be. Of course my imagination got away from me, and I pictured hundreds of butterflies surrounding us as we walked through. It was a let-down then. sigh. But the white peacock was beautiful.

The Laughing Kookabura

Anyone remember that old kid's song about the kookabura sitting in the tree laughing? Seeing the bird at the zoo made me remember the song - I sang it to Casen today.

It's a Mountain Lion! It's a Puma! It's a Cougar! (It's the Same Thing!)

So my sis-in-law got into it with some smart-mouth 10-year-old girl at the zoo. Okay not really, but I think it was close. Ha! Someone in our group says, "It's a cougar!" Jessi replies, "It's a mountain lion!" The little girl turns around and goes (with attitude), "It's the same thing!" She continued to stare at Jessi waiting for an acknowledgement of her wisdom. (It didn't happen.)

Pushing or Carrying the Babies

With 4 babies at the zoo with us, thank goodness for two older cousins who like to push or carry the babies!

Zack Attack!

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I copied this from my friend April's blog.  If you grew up watching Saved by the Bell, you would definitely appreciate this!  Josh and I were hysterically laughing throughout.

Laser Lights

Case got a laser light - a little flashlight. Somehow he ended up with it in his crib the other night when it was time for bed. He wasn't ready to give up his awake time yet so he was screaming. Josh motions for me to come look into his room. As Case is screaming in protest, he is spinning around in his crib flashing his red laser light around the room. It looked like that it would've been a LONG time until Case settled down.

Josh went in there to take the laser away. Case fell asleep shortly thereafter. It's amazing how easily one can fall asleep without red laser light shining everywhere in the dark.

Comments Overheard at the Departmental Meetings

What is said when chemists get together....

"We don't want to water down the chemistry...."

"Yeah, or we'll have to evaporate off some of that solvent."

"Or you mean rotovap it off."

If you didn't follow any of that conversation, then good. That means you are officially not a nerd.