Annabelle Georgia Sallee

Born today. 7lbs 5 oz.  Congrats to Tom, Jillian, Ryan, Lily, and Juliet!

House pictures

Here are some pictures.

Front Yard

Master Bedroom

Family Room

Finished Basement

Back Yard

Kitchen

Main Bath

Plenty of room for visitors!!!!

We bought a house!

We are so excited and I will post pictures soon.  After waiting years to purchase our first home we are working on the paper work now to get the mortgage financed.  Of course-yesterday mortgage rates hit their highest mark in years and the fastest daily increase in 4 years.  3 weeks ago this mortgage would have cost us $70 less a month---and we haven't locked our rate in yet.  It could still continue to rise.  WTF?!

Wish us luck!

We are getting ready to go look for housing in Chicago.  We are looking at homes to buy as well as apartments to rent (real estate is hot there-houses are gone off the market in 1 week).  Wish us luck :)

Gestures

I think growing up I was oblivious to gestures that were made towards me unless they were really obvious.  I'm not talking about someone giving you the middle finger or sticking their tongue out at you but changing their plans to accommodate me so that I could be there because *I* was important to them.  As an adult, I'm more  aware and I try to make these types of gestures whenever I can.  Here are a few that have recently taken me by surprise (in a good way).

We have a terrific undergrad in the lab who, after 3.5 years with us, is graduating this weekend.  The lab is having a graduation party tomorrow but I have to be at Elon so I can't make it.  To thank me for all of the help I've given him and to thank me for all of the food I have provided him, he (read as his girlfriend) baked a cake for us to enjoy today.  So sweet!  I'm gonna miss that kid.

Mike and I are traveling to Chicago to find a place to live in a few weeks.  I told the chair of my new department that we'd be in town and asked him for some recommendations on places to look.  In addition to  LOTS of good advice, he is hosting a departmental BBQ at  his house while we are there to welcome us.  So thoughtful!

I was working at the desk the other night on my last lecture (!) and Mike came over and gave me a big hug and kiss and said "I'm so lucky to have you".  Of course he is correct and wins for best gesture of the week! The only thing that would have made that gesture better was if it was accompanied by something chocolate :)