Step 3 and Chaos

Our camera broke :(. It was a weeding gift and was having trouble over the past year. Now, just after our fourth anniversary, it is dead. This blog will have to feature some pictures from our trip until we take some with the new camera.

I took, and presumably passed, a very procratinated Step 3, the final step before getting an independent medical liscence. There was really no rush since you have 7 years to take it from the time you take the first test (step 1). But with my own license I can work independently of the hospital. The 16 hour test (2 days) didn't seem too bad. It probably would have seemed like a long test before med school. I have to admit I did enjoy the chance to sneer at people in the testing center whining about their 6 hour test for their finace job or whatever. Not as funny as the guys a year ahead of me who took the first part of their radiation oncology boards in the same center as a message therapy group (Nuclear physics and DNA repair and pressure points?).

I haven't been availible to help much so our lives are still a bit in chaos. the apartment is a little cleaner than in this picture, mostly because Alyssa started to crawl, so we had to make time and straighten up.

We're back!

All the travel takes its toll. On some more than others.

So we moved to a new apartment (Marie is much happier), Marie had a performance, then we flew to California all in 3 days. Then we came back and the next day Marie had a performance in NYC. Then 2 days later flew to Seattle and I finished the work week off and then joined her out there. Now we are finally back and mostly unpacked from the move. I hope to catch up a little on blogging over the next few weeks.


The Grandfathers:

Mother's Day

I know its a little late but here is the Mother's day entry. Marie got a massage at a spa near the beach, which she was really happy about. Since we are moving soon the last thing I wanted was to buy more "stuff" to have to move, and I figured some relaxation was what she could use the most. It turns out it was a good choice. Then we went to some high end outlets and looked at all the stuff we can't afford. Sunday I made lunch and a desert for her after church and we had some of the dancers from Yale over for food and games. She had a good weekend which she deserves since she has been a great mom to our little girl.

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of Marie from that weekend. I do have some of our girl's other "mom." I remember, before she was born, telling people at work that I was going to let Sophia raise her. Hey, it worked for Remus and Romulus, and they founded one of the world's greatest cities. The fact that one killed the other I think was just bad luck. Besides, Sophia is (slightly) more domestic than a wolf.

Can't you see the love? If you look closely Sophia even does a diaper check before moving on.

We generally try to put a stop to this.

Spring

Winter in New England is a little odd for someone who grew up in California, everything here kinda stops and closes down. Aside from museums, movies, and dinner parties, activities are limited. It seems like you're trapped indoors for half the year. Finally this week, spring seems to be here.Today we went to a park by the beach, had a picnic, flew a kite, and went for a walk. It turned out to be a really nice Sunday.
Below is a picture of home, it looks nice from here. Since we live only minutes from the beach, we have a goal to get there more often (hopefully sometime next week).
Below is my fairwell to winter. Photo taken in December, featuring the only family member who really seems to love snow and ice.

Baby Scientist

Alyssa participated in a study at the Yale Infant Cognition Center this week. The center has discovered that babies at 3 months identify more closely with a good character than a bad character in a puppet show. Alyssa participated in a follow up study. They are currently looking at bad versus neutral and good versus neutral. The question is, were the babies drawn to the good character or repulsed by the bad character? Alyssa watched a puppet show with a tiger puppet bouncing a ball, and two bunnies, bad and neutral. The bad bunny stole the ball from the tiger. The neutral bunny just looked at the tiger, not helping or hurting. After watching the puppet show a few times, they measured how long Alyssa looked at each bunny. She had a great time, and was rewarded with a certificate of participation and a Baby Scientist at Yale University t-shirt!