My mom learned how to drive stick shift over the telephone.

In fact, that's how she learned to drive, as it was her first time.

"First, draw an H..."

My sister advised me to read the instruction manual for my dad's old work car and then practice driving up and down the driveway. This was after the old man died. Before he died, he had forbade my sister to teach me how to drive stick on her car. So I went out to the car, sat there reading the manual, started up the car, and promptly backed out onto the neighbor's lawn. Mr. Kirsch came out, said, "Andi, what the hell are you doing?" So I apologized, and explained that I was trying to teach myself how to drive stick, he said, "Scoot over, I'll show you." Which we did. He drove once around the block, explaining everything he was doing, and asked if I needed him to sit with me while I tried it for myself.

I said no. In retrospect, it might have been easier on me if I had taken him up on his offer. But the one time I got really stuck, luckily a 15 year old boy came along and coached me through it.

Eventually I managed to get it down pat. And then for a few years any time there was something difficult that I had to learn (calculus for instance), I would say to myself, "I taught myself how to drive stick, I can master this."

Last night, we bought a fuzzy white hat with a chin strap that has little BEAR EARS!!!! OMGWTFADORABLENESS!

That makes my ovaries ache! Too, too cute! Also, I adore the ultrasound pics - so clear (what a relief, cuz I often feel like I'm congratulating expectant parents on their cute little smudges) - what a precious little guy you've got in there, GC!

Laga, great hair cut! It's definitely you.

I second Askye's move to Vermont and will toss in my moving services plus ___________ . Best wishes to all the hive.

I would like to report that:

1. I had my first Master of Finance exam today, and I'm feeling fairly optimistic.

2. Ryan is now three months and one day old, and still gorgeous. He now weighs almost exactly 7 kg (15 lbs 5 oz in Imperial); he's moved up from the top 25% mark to the top 10% mark for his age in height, weight and head circumference.

3. Ryan also slept through the whole night for the first time last night! This does nothing to diminish his gorgeousness.

4. I have fallen in love with baby yawns.

5. My younger brother is engaged, to a nursing student from Kenya. I found this out, not from him, but from my even younger brother. He found out, again not from the brother in question (with whom he works), but because said brother had changed his Facebook status. They have been dating for about a year and a half; they've been dating exclusively for roughly two months. I'm not sure what this says about my brother's attitude towards marriage, but I'm sure it's significant.

6. My nephew (the one who had an aneurysm) is getting close to crawling again, so he's almost recovered the motor skills he lost after said aneurysm.

7. My dad still hasn't come to visit his new grandson. We shall be teaching Ryan to call his maternal grandfather "Wàigōng", and his paternal grandfather "Slacker Grandpa".

All in all, this feels like a pretty productive week.

I second Askye's move to Vermont and will toss in my moving services plus ___________ .

Moving in the heat sucks. Hopefully, the move to Vermont will be in perfect weather, the drive will be scenic and not too stressful and askye will be more awake than I was for the drive from AZ to MN. When it happens.

6. My nephew (the one who had an aneurysm) is getting close to crawling again, so he's almost recovered the motor skills he lost after said aneurysm.

This is wonderful to hear.

4. I have fallen in love with baby yawns.

1. I had my first exam for the Master of Finance today, and I'm feeling fairly optimistic.

These are also good.

Handsome Glambaby!

Sleepy Ryan!

May your move go smoothly, askye, and the next one to Vermont happen soon.

I bought a used Bumbo seat for Kalee off the local parents' listserv and she lectured us all through dinner from her new throne. It was hilarious. Then I had to sign off the listserv because some people are convinced that the gov't is going to force us all to get swine flu shots filled with mercury that will turn all our children into zombies. or something. I stopped reading.

BT, I'm so glad your nephew is doing so well. And yay for Ryan continuing to be so adorable.

I don't see what people like that are worried about; sounds like they are zombies already.

I cannot stop watching the shiny new TV. I didn't realize how crappy the old TV truly was.

Yay sleepy BT spawn!

I cannot stop watching the shiny new TV. I didn't realize how crappy the old TV truly was.

That's sort of how I feel about my new mattress. I woke up for the second morning in a row today with no back pain at all. I hadn't realized that waking up achy had become my normal state until it stopped.