What's shakin' with the Jones sisters - Brady

Since I've basically given up on my sisters ever posting to this blog again, I'm going to take it upon myself to let you in on what they've been up to, from my perspective. We'll go in age order.

Amy, it seems to me, just works all the time. Sounds like some days at her charter school are great and some are tough. She helped them raise test scores a bunch this year using all kinds of creative methods. She occasionally takes a break to have dinner with me or go home to visit my parents. Roger seems to be doing well and continues to give the best hugs in town.

Kelly also works a lot, and I think maybe she got some big news from the office last week that I'll let you ask her about. She and Nate have been redecorating their apartment - I was with them when they recently bought a stylish new couch. She seems to like her yoga teacher training, and she recently went to a workshop with Rachel Brathen, this kind of famous yogi we both follow online. And my #1 favorite actor, Nate, has recently had a bunch of career success - getting a second Jeff nomination (a big deal theater award in Chicago), a part in a Steppenwolf show (a big deal theater company in Chicago), and some exciting auditions. 

Okay, now me! All good things are happening.

• I'm making good progress on my dissertation and have my funding and maternity leave all set up for next school year.

• I'm now 21 weeks pregnant, and we found out the baby's sex this past Thursday. (But we're keeping it to ourselves until the birth because we're annoying. We want to keep gender stereotyping out of the picture as long as we can.) We are crazy excited and a little overwhelmed. Also, more importantly, it looks really healthy. Its legs are long. I've been feeling it kick pretty regularly for the past month, but just this morning I could feel it with my hand, on the outside of my belly, so pretty soon I think Kevin/other family members will be able to feel it too. 

• I'm at Lake Wawasee for the first time this year. It's my happy place. Our good Fort Wayne friends threw us an impromptu baby shower here yesterday. We got a rainforest themed swing and a white noise/stuffed teddy bear toy.

• Something's gotten into Molly. She's been a maniac recently. Kevin thinks she's just feeling really good. She's slim, her allergies aren't bothering her, and she's excited it's warm out and time to swim again. Here's a photo of her sleeping on our bed (I knew it would happen eventually - we kept her off it for the first six months, but we've given in), another picture of her new favorite activity - sticking her head out the car window, and a couple of her playing in the kiddie pool at the dog park. 

• Kevin and I went to New York City over Memorial Day weekend. We spent most of our time outside of Manhattan - in Brooklyn and Queens. We saw both of my cousins who live there as well as some of our good friends, ate some awesome food, and took a couple of jogs through the gorgeous Brooklyn Bridge Park. So fun. I'm ready to be done traveling for awhile, though. I love the Midwest in the summer. 

• I got an article published online! You can read it here. This is basically what my dissertation is about.

That's about it! Big things making me happy and little things making me happy. I'll keep covertly updating you on the super secret lives of my sisters. :) Have a great Sunday!