The Heusens

The votes are tallied. The results for the "What Should Ashlyn Do With the Vest?" poll:

Return it, for Kris's sake: 13
Keep it!: 9
Return it, it makes you look fat: 1

I'm hoping the person who said the vest makes me look fat was taking a game theoretic approach. Like, they didn't think it actually made me look fat - they just thought that voting that way would make me want to return it more (right, Miguel?).

So, I took the vote to heart and bundled up my family (here is Saya bundled up):


We walked to Nordstrom and handed over the vest. There was a sad, heartfelt goodbye:


So then I bought three pairs of underwear, two necklaces and a pair of boots.

Also, the West Family sent Saya a really cute pink blanket in the mail:

Posted by Ashlyn at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today, I was Charlotte:

OK, maybe I wasn't Charlotte in this picture, but it was the best one I could find...(so, in case you are wondering, No, I did Not scream at my best friend's fiance after he left her and her couture and hair with a big blue bird in it at the altar).

Here is how I was Charlotte today. You know that scene in the Sex and the City movie where Carrie is talking to Charlotte, and Charlotte starts crying about how she loves her life so much, and is so happy, that she's terrified that something bad is going to happen? I feel that way about my life right now.

My day was uneventful. But Saya was sososo cute. She was very good today - she hardly cried at all, and the cooing and smiling were in full force. I could see the light at the end of the fussy tunnel, and it looked beautiful. I know I am biased, but I think she is just so beautiful! I literally feel overwhelmed with amazement when I look at her.

And my wonderful husband made me an egg and bacon sandwich just the way I like it - with mayonnaise and toasted sourdough bread, thankyouverymuch. And we did some work while Saya napped. And we did meal planning. And the three of us shopped for groceries. All very generic activities, but I realized at the end of the day that it was just a beautiful day!

We came home together and ate baguette with blue cheese, figs and bacon. We put Saya to bed, and we buzzed around in the kitchen, making chili and cornbread. We watched Mad Men and played Text Twist while we ate our dinner together and it began to rain outside.

And I got all misty-eyed. I love my life so much right now, I can't imagine it getting better. In fact, it's so great, I figure it can only get worse! I hope that's not too pessimistic. I just feel so close to Kris, and so close to Saya. I'm already sad that one day I won't have the closeness of being able to breastfeed her anymore (I know, kinda psycho, but hey. I'm being honest).

And you know how Charlotte's life isn't actually super perfect because she ends up pooping in her pants in Mexico? Well let's just hope that doesn't happen to yours truly.

Posted by Ashlyn at 1:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yesterday my parents called me. We've been planning to take a holiday trip with them to Mammoth. Last year, my parents took me, Kris, Maryn and Brian there for a week-long stay in this amazing cabin. It was fabulous - actually more like a chalet. Unfortunately I couldn't ski because I was pregnant and throwing up constantly. We were thinking of doing the same thing again this year, although poor Marynie has a bum knee.

I've been wistfully hinting to my parents for awhile that we should go to Hawaii together sometime soon. Indiana is very far away from Hawaii, and I think it's going to get harder and harder to get there once we move next year. (I haven't been to Hawaii in about five years, but my parents go every year because my dad is an AWESOME surfer. If you haven't met my dad, he is pretty much a badass. Even though he is almost 60, I would put money on him being able to out-do any of my peers in any sort of athletic competition. A few years ago, his doctor told him that he is in better shape than most 18 year olds). My parents go to Hawaii so my dad can surf, and my mom (who belongs to the "non-swimming beach bunny" species) can relax, eat well, buy Japanese dishes, check out the Japanese pickle displays at the local Costco, and scope out all the other Hapa kids.

Anyway, my parents called me last night to talk about Mammoth plans. Then my dad says this: "We're thinking of going somewhere else this year, instead." My heart sank. I was really looking forward to Mammoth. He continued, "You know Reseda, in the Valley by L.A.?" My heart sank further. Then he said "Well, we're thinking of flying 3,000 miles west of there...." I instantly screamed "OMG! HAWAII?!?!?!" My parents said "YES!" And then I screamed "OMG! OMG! OMG!"


My parents found out they have enough American Express points to buy round-trip flights for themselves, Kris, me, Maryn and Brian. This year is also their 30th wedding anniversary, so they thought "What the heck? Let's celebrate!" So they are flying us to Oahu, where we will stay for a week (12/16 - 23) in a house on the North Shore. I am soooo excited I can hardly breathe!

The North Shore should be awesome. I've never stayed there. It's not as touristy as the rest of Oahu. I am LOVING thoughts of getting tan, watching my dad surf, cleaning sand out of Saya's diapers, and long chats and walks with the family.

Posted by Ashlyn at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments

Two things come to mind when I think of Nine 1/2 Weeks.

Sultry Movie:


And Smiley Baby:



I prefer the latter.

Posted by Ashlyn at 12:53 AM | Permalink | Comments

Ashlyn is an impulsive shopper. She didn't shop at all during the 9 months of pregnancy, and now she's spending like a sailor on shore leave. She must be stopped.

Just last week, I made her return $700 of shoes.

Today's "vest to nowhere" is a $400 leather vest/furry hood combo that she had her eye on for a while. She said she just wanted to try it on and get some pictures with it because it's so damn fierce. Then, she'd return it. So we had a little fashion show.

It looks pretty good. The only problem is that now she's thinking of keeping it. So we're putting it to a vote. Give us your input!

Labels: Polls

Posted by Kris at 1:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

I am sure you know who this person is. He needs no introduction:


Event planner extraordinaire and frequent Oprah guest Colin Cowie.

You may have read that my sister Maryn is trying to start her own event planning business. The other day I received the following email from her:


Exciting! Then, even more exciting was the email I got today:

"I SWEAR I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!!!!!!!!! I JUST TALKED TO COLIN COWIE HIMSELF FOR 15 MINUTES!!!!!!!!"

Of course I instantly called Maryn. She basically did not breathe as she recited, verbatim, the entire conversation that took place with Colin Cowie as he sat in his town car.

Highlights of the conversation (all in Colin's crazy pretentious-sounding South African accent):

"I started 23 years ago with $400 and a VISION."

"When my ladies go to Europe, they always wear skirts. If not skirts, then they are wearing FABULOUS trousers."

Posted by Ashlyn at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments

Saya turned 2 months old last week! Time has really flown by. It's amazing to reflect on how she's grown (I mean really grown -- see picture at left), and is now starting to develop a personality.

I left her for 5 days last week on a business trip to Nice (talking about robots, of course). While I was awake in my hotel room 2am (after 8 full hours of sleep -- thanks jet lag!), I got all nostalgic looking at her old pictures from when she was brand new. When I returned home, she was like a completely different person! At some point in the previous 5 days, she started making intentional sounds, like whining, cooing, and "yelling". Ok, sure, some of you without kids are probably thinking "Big deal, Kris. Let me know when your spawn starts testifying in front of the supreme court". But to a parent, these little changes are monumental. I mean, I'm not actually doing anything to make this happen. It feels like the most amazing thing.

So I'm canceling all my trips until she's 18. I can't miss any more of these important developments.

Check out a random assortment of pictures from Saya's second month here:
Saya Month 2

Labels: photos, Saya

Posted by Kris at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

Disaster struck this week. Little Saya came down with a sore throat. It might not be Katrina-level disaster, but it's bad.

The poor thing cries because her throat hurts, which irritates it more. Wash and repeat. All night long. I feel so sorry for her.

We are almost positive that she caught it from my dad or brother, who came to our house and visited with her for at least half an hour before telling us that they were sick. Ash and I are thinking of buying one of those neat plastic bubbles. Or at least instituting a mandatory policy of latex gloves, surgeons masks, and hand sanitizer for all visitors. Don't you infect my helpless baby!

Ash and I are doing whatever we can do to make Saya comfortable until she gets better. Go little immune system, go!

Labels: Saya, sick

Posted by Kris at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lately I've been feeling like an academic joke...kind of like the Sarah Palin of the academic world. Allow me to highlight some similarities for you, boys and girls:

1. Just had baby. Nobody thinks I will be able to pull my weight academically (sort of true)
2. Stopped making sense in conversations due to sleep deprivation.
3. Palin fakes foreign policy skills: "I can see Russia from my house!" I fake econometric skills: "I can see the econ department from the place I eat my lunch!"
   

The latest is this. Indiana hired me to fill their Management Science faculty position. To my credit, I was very transparent in my interviews about having no coursework or research experience in management science. They hired me anyway. Unfortunately, they now want me to TEACH management science in their MPP program. Kill me.

My recent conversation with the dean bore a striking (frightening?) resemblance to Charlie Gibson's recent Sarah Palin interview:

GIBSON: Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?
PALIN: In what respect, Charlie?
GIBSON: The Bush -- well, what do you -- what do you interpret it to be?
PALIN: His world view

IU DEAN: Can you teach Management Science?
ASHLYN: In what respect, Dean?
IU DEAN: Management Sci...well, what do you interpret management science to be?
ASHLYN: Um, something I know nothing about?

Posted by Ashlyn at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments