I’m up for another year of reading for reading’s sake. Heck, I might even finish up the five biographies on my bookshelf if it gives me another reason to take book photos!

It’s not that I haven’t been reading this year, but I can’t say I’ve really devoted myself to reading as I did in 2010. Engaging brain now. Details to follow.

If this were my last week, what would I do? I’d like to think I would be out there enjoying it to the fullest. However, I’m pretty sure it will just be continuation of the same…trying to knock out the giant to-do task list.

I’ve been so fortunate with life…lots of deviation from the “norm” and lots of personal challenges which have made me the person standing before you today. I’ve also been fortunate to love many and be loved, to feel passionately about the world in which I live and participate in it, to seek understanding, to enjoy the act of learning, to remain open to the experiences of others, to test boundaries, to create, to employ my senses, and to have the fortitude to carry on when the going got tough.

I’m very thankful for the experiences. It is my hope Kit learns from life and doesn’t become afraid of it or turns bitter about it.

May she know I’ll love her always…even when she cuts her knife eyes at me.

I love the social gatherings I attend known as “book clubs.” Looking to expand my reading social circles, I propose a different kind of book club.

Banned (or challenged) books. Picking from a list of many, instead of selecting one book per month. Using our collective libraries, so everyone can participate no matter their current financial situation. Getting together to introduce books to each other instead of breaking the bindings open to describe every detail of said books. Keeping it fun and light-hearted, instead of trying to one-up your fellow readers with the sheer intensity of your noggin.

Anyone game?

nearing the end of the semester and the studying has ramped up even more. i feel like it has been constant for the duration and am slightly anxious on how i will make it through the next three weeks. but then, three weeks! (well, technically four but that last one doesn’t count because everything will have been handed in and completed on my end).

i have no life altering plans hinging upon graduating and yet, the possibility will exist. ahhhhh.

streamlined and ready to roll.

fall has been whisking by us this year and while i’m ready to “whew!” at the end of this semester, i’m not quite ready to say good-bye to the goodness that is autumn. i shall hang on until the last of the sunset colored leaves remain.

officially one

Originally uploaded by liz.kassera

but i’m going to try.

the daughter turned one and of course, it forced me to evaluate life as i have known it.

there’s been the predictable, lack of sleep and reconfiguring of priorities…the intense love and protectiveness i’ve felt for my little bear cub…the evolution of my relationship with mark…the sense of being a part of something bigger than myself in an almost familiar pattern of “life cycle”

then there’s been the underside of new parenthood; how terrible those first three months were and the self-allowance to shop at wal-mart (!) because its cheap and open 24-hours. the fact that i’ve become that person refusing to read the news because if i hear of one more child being raped or murdered, i’m going to never let kit have contact with others and what a host of problems THAT would bring.

i’ve witnessed the transformation of each of us as individuals and as a collective unit. we’ve had generous people near and far offer to and give help. and the level of love we’ve been on the receiving end this year…well, really words just can’t do it justice. we may have had a difficult year financially, but when i think of the amount of love, support and humor our friends and family have bestowed upon us, i can honestly say, we are wealthy beyond belief.

thank you for making this first year all that it has been.

i love it when there’s a cold snap before the holiday season begins. it puts me in the right mood to do all those fun christmas-y things, like baking and crafting and feeling all happy holidays.

originally, i had asked off for next sunday and monday to get the cookies baked and ready to send off to family and friends, but since next week we’ll be helping my gemini wonder twin move back to new orleans, i decided to get baking done this weekend. by a sheer stroke of good luck, i was given both saturday and sunday off (rare! and lovely!) and i’ve been baking away. not so much one the crafting. for some reason, this year i can’t get it all done at once…i can’t imagine why that may be…

and speaking of the little miss, she met santa yesterday and it went much better than i thought. she was teary, but then decided he was too weird looking to miss the chance to inspect him while he was so close. she’s my little trooper. i’ve learned so much from her this year and look forward to watching her grow.

i know that usually i rant and spew my annoyance on this blog. every so often though, i just have to let loose the happy.

stacie took this photo, on a day that seemed almost magical with happiness. we (stacie, kit & i) walked up to cooking on the square, ate gumbo and chatted away. on the walk home, we stopped in to see mark & matt. little munchkin was ooo-ed, and ahh-ed over the entire day…she kept her cape on and her spirits high, until she crashed early in the evening. not too very long after, i crashed and finally got some of that elusive sleep.

happy times.

oh, they have been filled with learning and loving. who knew such a little thing could create such a whirlwind of change? our girl is a gigglebox and snuggle bug. she’s gaining strength with each passing day and has developed a fondness for her routines.

there is far more to it all, but i’m still attempting to sleep whenever i can. here i go….

g’night

wow.

she’s perfect. we are getting to know each other. she’s rather cute and i lurve her.