Not 1/2 Way!

As some of you know, Annie had the distinct honor of having a paper published in Cell on Friday. She was first author. It is hard to put this in context for those not in science, but getting published is the name of the game in academic science. Over the course of grad school, Annie was published numerous times and twice as a first author. These publications helped Annie to develop her thesis, prove to her thesis committee that she was ready to receive her PhD and also obtain a position in the lab she is currently a postdoctoral fellow in. That is what publications do for a graduate student.

Much the same, publications help progress the career of scientists and ensure that they are able to receive funding, institutional support and invitations to collaborate on other research projects (like laying a foundation for a house). In less than 2 years, Annie has not only been able to get a publication or even a first author publication but a publication with Cell! Cell is on top of the pyramid along with Nature and having a publication with either of these journals puts Annie among a very select group of scientists (like laying a bomb shelter as a basement to build your house on).

As the title of this post implies, by no means has Annie done this 1/2 way. Every step has been with purpose and determination and she has earned every word that got published. Annie has not only maximized the opportunity given to her here at Vanderbilt but has established a new par level of achievement that the scientific community is realizing and allowing her to work in. As has always been the case but now more defined, the sky is the limit for Annie and opportunities will be easier to find based on her extremely diligent work.

Here are links to the online version of the Cell paper as well as an article from the Vanderbilt newspaper. The write up in the Vanderbilt newspaper is extremely good for us non-scientists to be able to wrap our heads around the work she is doing.

1/2 Way!

We were talking on the way home from dinner tonight about how we were half way there. Not half way home but half way to having this baby. It is crazy to us how time just flies, it seems like just yesterday that it was December and we were just finding out that we had a second child on the way. Now what is crazy is knowing how quick the next 20 weeks will go! Are we ready? Sure. Do we know what we are having? This Thursday. Does Ev comprehend? She says hello to Annie's tummy and gives it kisses but we don't know how much she gets yet. Do we have names picked out? Yes. Will we share these names? Nope (you know the drill). How is Annie? She is doing good, this has been a much more challenging pregnancy than the first but the last few weeks have been easier for her. The morning sickness has subsided and she has had more energy to get through the days and evenings. Traveling? Not much. We are fortunate to have a number of visitors lined up this spring and have a weekend planned to go to North Carolina in June to spend a weekend with a group of OHSU friends. Annie is also flying to NC to give a talk at UNC Chapel Hill. I have a show in Chicago at the end of April and hope to have a business trip to the NW sometime in summer. Other than that we are going to try and visit some destinations within driving distance to take advantage of our time here in the south. Pregnant in the south in the summer? Thank the Lord for an AC unit the size of a school bus that keeps our house as chilled as we want it to be!

Speaking of weather, we have been blessed with an amazing run of 70+ degree days, no humidity, no bugs and many opportunities to be outside enjoying family time and life. Ev loves to blow bubbles and run around the yard and we love to watch her. Often I get to quietly watch my beautiful pregnant wife and beautiful 2 year old daughter sauntering about the yard, discovering new and interesting things.

We will keep you posted on the news from Nashville and especially whether the new baby Powell is a he or a she!

(pics of Annie and Ev this evening while waiting for a table at the restaurant)

For the record...

Evelyn is officially potty trained.
Well, she was a week ago, but I am finally posting about it.
Took us a little over a week.  Thank goodness for her in-home daycare that spearheaded the whole thing and "taught" us rookie parents what to do! (We bought the potty a long time ago.  Just never really committed to trying to train her...)

Amazing to no longer have to look at buying the giant boxes of diapers.

Well, at least until late August.

Wordless wednesday: My Very Own!!!

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Wordless Wednesday: Friends!

Southern weather!!

Ok, I know I owe you a post about a wonderful 2 year old's birthday and I PROMISE, it's coming.  But in the mean time, here's how we know it's Spring in Tennessee:

Tornado sirens!
Monster size-hail!  (Seriously, I have not seen anything fall from the sky that was this large.)
Flood warnings!

Some pics and video from Friday's storm that hit the Southern US.  We were lucky to make it out without any damage, but some folks lost everything.

This part of the country sure keeps us on our toes.  We are banking more and more "Remember, when we lived in Tennessee....?" stories...

A little tough to see, but the white spots on the ground are hail.

The size of the hail that fell on our yard.

And a little video...