Craziness Continues

Ever since returning from vacation we have been non-stop busy. Jennifer has been working hard packing and I have spent more than my share of time driving back and forth between Somerville and Amesbury. As of this afternoon we have about 90% of our stuff moved up to my mom's garage. Its been a lot of work, and we will hopefully reap the benefits of it once we move in and don't have to drive back down here for anything.

Of course this process hasn't been without a snag. Today we went up to Merrimac and everything went very well and then we got a call from our mortgage broker. Apparently the banks are now doing a lot of last minute double checking on people and decided to call Jennifer's employer today to make sure she is actually working there. They weren't able to reach anybody so they put a hold on our closing. Now we have to move the closing back to one, which is going to cause trouble for the seller because she needs to close on her new place at eleven. It basically a big mess, but should hopefully all be resolved by 2PM tomorrow. We will then start driving back and forth from my mom's to the new place. It is sure to be a long day, but in the end we should be officially moved up to the quiet suburbs.

I'll keep you posted once we are all settled.

Keeg

Fort Running

"Fort Running" on Google Video
Episode One: Lakitu Goes Fort Running Here is a video I recently made while on vacation in Maine. I really love our MacBook. See you all soon!!! Keeg

Final Vacation Photos

Our vacation is coming to a close today, I have actually been working up here in Maine for the last two days. I will provide more text updates soon, but in the meantime here are more photos. I will say that Kaleb has made a lot of progress sitting up on his own as you will see in the photos. He also has a lot more aware than even a week and a half ago. He is growing up so fast.



It's back to Somerville tonight and then we start moving up to Merrimac for the big closing date on Tuesday.

Keeg

Two More Slideshows

All is well in Maine here are two more slideshows.

Quick Post from Bath

Here is a quick post from a cafe in Bath, Maine.



We are currently on vacation and everything has been wonderful. I will hopefully post more later when I have more time.

Keeg

Kaleb's New Noise

"Kaleb's New Noise" on Google Video
A short clip of Kaleb demonstrating his new screeching abilities. He also goes over the list of things to bring on vacation with mom. Sorry I don't have any photos, but we are going on vacation and I should be putting a bunch of stuff up soon. Keeg

Gotta Love Working Late Nights

I first want to apologize if it takes a few days before you get any updates or see any photos of Kaleb. The truth of the matter is that I have been working non-stop and on top of that I have started the process of moving things up to my mom's garage. My days at work pretty much go like this:
10 AM Arrive at work start up my computer and check email.
10:15 AM One of the emails is from somebody asking for assistance.
10:45 AM Return to my desk briefly to check email and update my source code.
11:00 AM Go into the kitchen for a snack and on the way get dragged in to an impromptu meeting.
12:00 PM Return to my desk to check email, and read anything new in my Google Reader.
12:15 PM Lunch time
1:15 PM Return from lunch, check email, update source code and do another local build.
1:30 PM Head to kitchen for chocolate. On way back get called into the boss' office for discussion.
2:00 PM Return to my desk to check email and see message from engineer who needs assistance.
2:30 PM Back to my desk again and get to install the software before getting bug emails that I need to review.
3:00 PM A scheduled meeting is planned, which runs anywhere from 1 to 2 hours depending on how side tracked we get.
5:00 PM Finally, I return to my desk and start to pack things up so I can get home in time for dinner.

I don't know really why my title is Software Engineer, because I don't seem to do much of it lately. I know being a jack of all trades is a good thing, but seriously I just want to sit in a room for eight hours and get some work done. Oh wait actually I do get to do that, but only after 8PM at home. The second part of my day, when I actually get work done starts at 8PM. I pull up a seat at the dining room and quickly get to working. The only breaks I take occur about once an hour when I creep into the nursery and lean into Kaleb's crib to make sure he is still breathing. Once I confirm that everything is okay I return to my dining room station and work until about one or two depending on how tired I happen to be and how much work I NEED to get done.

Thankfully a big break in all this madness will be here and I will get to rest. You see at the end of the day on Friday my vacation begins and I am going to be keeping the work computer off for the entire week. No email checking, no phone calls, just the peace and quiet of coastal Maine. I will be using a computer though, but it will be our MacBook and I will be editing all of the movies I have filmed so far this year. I can't wait!!!!!

Keeg

Some More Firsts

Kaleb had a couple more first today. First we went up to Plum Island to meet Nonna and Sir at the beach. Once out on the river side of the beach Kaleb got his first chance to touch sand at the beach. He was cool with it and didn't have any reaction. Later on I took him down near the water and dipped his feet in, of course being New England the water was super cold and he cried a little until I pulled him up. We then sat down in the wet sand and made his first footprints in the sand. After a couple hours we packed up and went over to my mom' house.

Once there Kaleb ate some lunch and then I got to take him into the pool. He was surprisingly calm and didn't mind it at all. We hung out in the pool for about fifteen minutes going back and forth in the shallow end and just swimming around. He was a bit tense at first, but eventually relaxed and had a grand old time.

Now I have to get over to the dining room table and start doing the work that I have been putting off all weekend. Only five more days until I start my vacation!!! I can hardly wait.

Keeg

A Couple Firsts

Kaleb had a couple of firsts over the last few days. The first first was eating solid food. I think it was the Fourth of July, we mixed up a little breast milk and rice cereal for him. He didn't really eat it very well and most of it ended up on his bib, but we are confident at least a little bit made it to his little stomach. We have since continued solids every night and he gets a little better at each feeding.



The other first occurred today and it was his first boat ride. We were invited to Liz's birthday party which was on Georges Island in Boston Harbor. So we met down near Christopher Columbus park and boarded the boat. Kaleb didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, but I would say he enjoyed seeing all of that water. It was a first for me too, I had never been to Georges Island. The island was pretty cool and at one point I wandered off and checked out the cool fort on the island. It was a really great day and another successful first for Kaleb.

More details later. Be sure and check out the actual album and view the album view for the Georges Island trip.

Stay cool out there, a heat wave is on the way.
Keeg

Today is Independence Day

We originally had grand plans for this lovely Independence day, but around 8AM this morning I woke up and decided I might just need to take my day off and rest for a change. Jennifer and I also weren't feeling too well so it made the decision a little easier. So we stayed in bed for a few more hours, I made Jennifer a latte and brought in a plate with our anniversary cake and some blueberries. It was then back to sleep for me for a couple more hours. I woke up around noon to find Kaleb sound asleep next to me. We put him in his fourth of July outfit and went up to True Grounds for lunch. Now we are back at home watching the Devil Rays-Red Sox game.

Hopefully after the game my mom, who is at the game, will be coming over to visit, well if she can find her way here.

Keeg

Last Free Weekend

Saturday marked the last weekend day until the first week in August that we didn't have anything in particular planned. Since I had seen a movie in as long as I can remember I went in to Boston and saw the latest Die Hard movie. I have to admit I am such a huge fan of the entire franchise, it is the perfect mix of humor and action. Of course this installment didn't disappoint and I left satisfied. Once back home I ended up working for most of the evening, but the good news is that I made some great progress.

This morning I spent some of the morning with Kaleb, before walking up to True Grounds for breakfast. I enjoyed a scone and a nice mocha while doing some more work. I took another short break from work and went for a walk with the family. I then did some more work before we piled in to the car and went up to Winchester Hospital for a little reunion. We really had a great time there. I have been helping out with a google group for parents in the Special Care Nursery, which will hopefully get some use soon.

Its getting late so I am going to close this up now. Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary, which certainly caps off a crazy year. In honor of the day we are going to dinner in the North End at Bricco. We are both very excited to eat some amazing food.

Keeg