Graduation

Vanderbilt graduation was last Friday so Peter, Cole, and I ventured to Nashville for the day. While I graduated in December, Vanderbilt only has a ceremony in the spring.  I was given the option to walk in the spring when I registered to graduate. Knowing we'd have an infant in tow, I opted out of walking, but committed myself to attending and celebrating with my cohort. Even though I finished a semester early, cohorts in graduate school are much more defined by start date than graduation date. 

It was a gorgeous, cloudless day so we sat a bit further down to the lawn to keep Cole in the shade.

Since we left the house at 5:40am, it was no surprise that Cole took a catnap during the ceremony.

My cohort gathered for a group picture with nearly everyone (four people were missing). As we posed for the picture, we noticed Josh bolting across the Peabody lawn determined to get in the shot.

 Which he did.

After the ceremony, Peabody hosted a luncheon reception on the lawn. Peter and I visited with my former coworkers, professors, and classmates. Before heading back to Memphis, we got dinner and Jeni's  in East Nashville with Leslie. Cole didn't want to miss a minute so she waited until we were headed home to sleep. It was a long day but it was absolutely worth it.

Tuesday Fun

Yesterday, five of my friends from Vanderbilt headed West just to spend the day with me and Cole. It was glorious! We went to Central BBQ for lunch, Trolley Stop for dinner and YoLo for dessert somehow managing to squeeze trips to the Graceland Wall and the Might Mississippi in between. Cole even decided to show off her dance moves when I played her favorite song.

My dear friends are in the bizarre time of waiting that comes before ceremonious occasions. Classes for the semester are over, comprehensive exams have been passed, and all they have left to do is graduate (and maybe go to work).  With graduation just over a week away, my friends planned a Week of Fun where they will tackle items on the Nashville Bucket List. Brilliant, right? Luckily for me, they decided to spend a day in Memphis before getting down to the serious business that will be the Week of Fun.

Showered in Nashville

In the last two weeks I have been honored with three baby showers. I have found the entire baby shower experience quite humbling. It has been an overwhelming joy to celebrating the upcoming arrival of our little one with so many friends!

 

My first shower was in Nashville. It was hosted and attended by my dear graduate school friends. The hostesses came up with an Animal Cracker theme which was very clever.

 

My mom made the trip to Tennessee to attend the shower which was lots of fun! As you may expect, since this was a shower with my graduate school friends no one has any children. Still, my child-free friends were very savvy in their gift giving (even it if required a bit of shooting in the dark at Babies-R-Us).

I had to so much fun visiting my friends Nashville and showing my mom around. It's hard to imagine it is was eight months ago that I moved back to Memphis full-time. Time certainly flies! 

Sayonara Grad School

Last night, at 10:00, I finished graduate school. There were no fireworks just a small green box stating: This assignment is complete. I got word ten days ago that I passed my comprehensive exam so my online assignment submission really was the end. I suppose now I'll keep an eye on the mailbox and wait for the diploma to arrive.

Right Now

My desk is buried. I suppose this is what graduate school looks like, at least in Nashville.

{For those of you who spotted the Sprite, there is no need to be concerned about my caffeine habit. It is doing just fine. I've been attempting to reduce my intake of dark drinks because I'm using a whitening toothpaste.}

Yesterday I registered for my Spring classes. It's pretty hard to believe. But then again, it is the middle of October!

Academic Weekend

Last weekend can only be described as academic. I was in class Friday night and Saturday then spent the better part of Sunday with my nose in an assigned book {such is the life of a graduate student}. Fortunately, I like what I'm learning and don't think it is too laborious. Being that I am an extreme extrovert, I made time to go to Red Rooster Saturday night. Sunday I did most of my reading at Bongo Java. I like Bongo Java very much. The food and drinks are excellent and the people watching is even better. Also no matter how long you stay, the staff will not kick you out which I suppose is the biggest perk.

New Digs

I am suffering from home confusion. When I talk to people in Nashville about home I am always talking about Memphis. When I think about home, I think about Memphis. But when I am talking to Peter, I call Nashville home. By no means does that mean my heart has left Memphis, I'm just suffering from a bit of confusion.

Moving on, would you care for a home tour?

Our apartment is so cute. Super cute {perhaps I'm biased}. Peyton, Leslie, and I coordinated our individual furniture contributions through email and somehow it all worked out.

Just A Thought

First day outfits are always the hardest to choose. I started my new job today. And I wore this.

It's Go Time

This week has been quite busy. I've not yet found the best time to blog- but I'm working on it. I've settled into my new apartment, familiarized myself with the Peabody and Nashville Public Libraries, and wrestled our wireless router into submission. Friday was Orientation which did nothing but reaffirm my decision to attend school. I feel like I've false started a bunch of time and I'm finally running the race.

Reality Check

My classes start a week from Wednesday! Over the weekend, I moved to Nashville then came back to Memphis. I will be heading back to Nashville tomorrow. While I'm in Memphis, it is errands, errands, errands. Already today, I have been to the vet, the dry cleaner, Goodwill, and still have a laundry list of things today. I have just a few pictures from the move.

My empty closet in Memphis.

The truck I drove to Nashville then successfully unloaded solo.

After moving in, I went out to dinner with my new roommates

Leslie {left} and Peyton {right}.

Moving is Messy

{I'm just keeping it honest, people.}

Since I don't have a job, I taking my sweet time packing. A little here, a little there, a big mess everywhere! I am moving Friday. Not next Friday or a couple Fridays from now but this Friday. I have less than a week. In preparing for this move, no part of the house safe. I leave a path of destruction wherever I go.

This happened to my closet about a week ago and I have not even started packing clothes.
I've been leaving piles all over the house.
I'm not sure what to say about our bathroom. It's bad. And you can't tell from the picture, but our toilet is actually in two separate pieces {that's not related to the move, Peter is fixing the plumbing}.
Through it all, Gunther and Lily are my helpers or more my encouragers.
Gunther likes to support me from his box.
Lily prefers the couch. With a pillow. She is very fancy.
I think they are both afraid to move from their safe places for fear they'll be buried alive or boxed and taken to Nashville.

It's Official x 2

1. Peter and I are going to get our first niece or nephew in the fall!
2. Also this fall, I will be starting my master's program in Higher Education Administration at Vanderbilt. {If you really care, my concentration will be in Institutional Advancement} I'm psyched and so is Peter.