Saturday, January 1, 2011

Cranney 2010 letter



For our blogging friends and family we give a Cranney update:

Stephen is applying to graduate schools again this year. The difference from last year is that he has a clearer idea of what he wants to study and hopefully his letter of intent shows this. He's had a few publications in peer reviewed journals and seems to come home with a seemingly endless stack of books he's dying to read. I'm enjoying the commune and am trying to get back to my old pleasures of painting, flute, and listening to books on CD. Stephen got me a yoga mat for Christmas so I no longer need to land on our hard floor when I fail to keep up with the unbelievably flexible yoga people on hulu. I'm finally making some progress on my thesis after an extended vacation and hope to defend in Spring term. Kumquat loves being my favorite distraction to my thesis and we simply can't get enough of his dancing, singing, and leading music. He's getting better with his beat and we think we might have an interpretive dancer on our hands. We can no longer brush our teeth in his Majesty's presence as he throws a fit if he is not holding at least one toothbrush as his sceptre. Pens and phones come as a quick second favorite. The only thing he likes more than any of these is his uncle's iPhone. Christian was finally completely weaned just before Christmas and the process was pretty smooth as he already took a bottle pretty well. We haven't used cloth diapers since he was 6 months, but who knows, perhaps if we ever move to a place with our own washer and dryer we might take it up again. He's in the 25th percentile for height and weight. I know, I know, what a lightweight, but we're doing all we can to make him the fattest baby you've ever seen including frequent feedings of cheese and even a little eggnog during the holidays.
Have a wonderful New Year!!

Rachel, Stephen, and Kumquat

7 comments:

Astromom said...

So cute, so handsome, so growing up your little boy. I love your family photo here at the end. Yoga is good, just make sure you fatten yourself up as well as your little guy. You do completely spoil that child, but somehow it hasn't gone to his head, you guys are good parents.

Ruth said...

what a beautiful family - I love your clever posts about your family. What books on tape? I called yesterday wihle you were interviewing someone for your thesis. Stephen said you were suppose to be home any minute. Seeing as how he was counting down the minutes I guessed he was watching Christian. He said he was "tearing up" your place. Ha-ha.

Tonya said...

That is the awesomest family photo! And I just told Jacob he has to read your post because I love your writing. I'm sure your thesis will be quite good!

Heidi said...

Love the pictures! We were opposite with the cloth diapers. We didn't get a washer and dryer until moving to Arkansas, so now we do use cloth diapers. I was even crazy and brought them with us to Utah. Good luck with your thesis!

Lisa said...

Awww. What a cute family you have. Isn't it fun to be the mom of a one-year-old? Good luck with thesis defense and Stephen's grad school applications. (Oh, and keep encouraging that interpretive dance. Who knows when those skills will come in handy!)

emily michelle said...

Interpretive dance will come in fine and handy in high school, if he takes after you, but you should give him a French horn. I can say with authority, having been one myself, band kids are a delight.

Nicole said...

Thanks for the great update! Even though its only been a few months since we've been in Utah it feels like forever! We're missing so much. I'm glad weaning went well, Elle was so much easier than Hyrum as she took a bottle, too! Weaning from the bottle (binkie) can be much more difficult, but that can wait a few years:). Good luck with your thesis and grad school aps, keep us updated and drink a little egg nog for us!