Life Update.

Yeah, it's been a while since I've posted much of substance. So, here's what's been going on in our lives lately...

• Our old car, the lovely Phat-Ass Escort, finally up and died. The cause of death was determined to be a fairly convoluted ignition problem that would cost more to fix than the car is worth. (Of course, changing the wiper blades would also have cost more than that car was worth.) So, after nearly a month without transportation, we finally got our loan paperwork straightened out an bought a new vehicle -- a 1996 Honda Odyssey. (Yep, having kids really does mesmerize you into buying a minivan. It's unavoidable.) It's got 131,000 miles on it, but was maintained in perfect condition. It's unbelievable how much this thing looks (and even smells a little) like it just came off the dealer's lot. Now we just have to avoid messing this one up, too.

(Her first time inside, Sarah said, "Ooh! Car big!")

• I'm finally getting to teach my first class, News Editing (see the woefully under-written course description here.) It's only a two-unit course, but it'll be a short and intensive, held over ULV's month-long interterm in January. Should be fun, and give me a chance to dwell in my newspaper production geekery.

• Sarah's comprehension of what's going on around her seems to grow by leaps and bounds everyday, as does the number of topics she likes to talk about. While most kids her age are busy vegging out in front of "Barney" or "Blue's Clues" or something, she's become an eager fan of "Star Trek" (specifically "The Next Generation" and "Deep Space 9" -- she even makes us all get up and dance to the ST:TNG theme song), "Mythbusters," "Brainiac," "In Living Color" and "Around the Horn."

One of her favorite phrases lately is "I'm just a baby." She typically uses it as a guilt-inducing preface for getting what she wants, i.e.: "I'm just a baby, need cuddles" or "I'm just a baby, need foodies." During her bath this morning, completely unprompted, she turned to me and explained, "I'm just a baby, sometimes I play."

• Hunter just turned four months old and is vocalizing up a storm (with much of it beginning to sound imitative of our speech). He's also strong and likes to try to throw himself about, as if he's trying to get down and follow Sarah in her play adventures about the house. Of course, this is followed by his frustration at not being able to crawl yet, much less walk. But it won't be too long now...