Goodbye, Kellie!

After getting to know Kellie for two years at Alfred University, I eventually moved back to the area in 2008 to get my Masters in Education at Binghamton University.  Although Binghamton was the place I spent the first seven years of my life, it still posed the same challenges that anyone would face moving to a new city.  Thankfully, Kellie had been also been attending BU as a graduate student as well, and became my first friend in the area.  Ever since the days we spent in the hallowed halls of academia, Kellie has become mine and Andrea's most trusted and beloved friend.  Over the course of three years, we have worshiped together, served together, celebrated each other's birthdays and other miscellaneous occasions, gone on countless trips and vacations, and attended many Bible studies together.  Kellie and I even had an opportunity to work together at our previous employments at Broome Community College and observed each other's classes.

However unfortunate for us, Kellie has been given an opportunity to find employment in the great state of Rhone Island, a place much closer to her boyfriend, Albert.  As much as we would love to still have Kellie with us, it's challenging to be in a long-distance relationship, especially for as long as Kellie and Albert have been dating.  So at the very least Kellie, I will continue to pray that the time spent in Rhode Island yields you much fruit spiritually, financially (with gainful employment) and emotionally (with you awesome boyfriend)...

...but I'll also continue to pray that God will bring you back to us through a Naval Academy on the Susquehanna.

There's a lot of ways I can close this blog entry out, but I think this is most appropriate:

We love and miss you Kellie.  Our loss is certainly Rhode Island's gain!

Chronicles of a Father-to-Be: Part V

So the registries have been made and all the showers have come and gone.  We were blessed enough to have three: one for church and friends, a second for family, and the math department through me one.  Since I wasn't at the first two though, I don't think I'm very qualified to talk about what happens at showers.  However, I am exceeding content and humble to receive as much support and love from those who have participated.  For that I am very grateful.

On Tuesday, we'll be in Week 35 and both of us are very excited but also very much aware that Baby will be with us in about a month.  We are also very much aware a lot has to be done, and as of tonight, we're feeling a bit overwhelmed.  There are still a number of things we have to do (wash new baby clothes, clean the rug, get the hospital bag together, get car seat inspected, etc.) and remaining essentials to buy (diapers, bottles, crib mattress, sleeper sacks, etc).

In addition to all that we have Christmas to worry about.  Andrea is diligently working away on Nativity figures, while I'm writing lesson plans and making materials weeks in advance in hope that I can take about 5 days off from school.

Oh don't worry though, I put up the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling last night.  Looks awesome.

Here's to hoping we can be a bit more put together by Thanksgiving!

Our nursery is underwater themed.  Andrea did most of the work here.

29 Weeks

33 Weeks

The Wrench

A few times a year, public school teachers get an opportunity to say phrases that aren't normally uttered by anyone ever.

Yesterday was one of those days.

I am just about to start my lesson when an usually loud clang gains the attention of the entire class. As I look towards the noise, there is a large 18-inch silver wrench lying on the floor.  As people identity the noise, there's that super quiet moment where no one quite knows what to say or do.  C, a shy student, leans over and picks up the wrench that has fallen three feet onto the floor.  In jest, I finally break the silence with the unnecessary request, "Please try to keep the wrench inside your book bag."  

The class laughs and just before we start the lesson C, informs us, "It's for tech club... after school."

Chronicles of a Father-to-Be: Part IV

One joke I tell someone who is getting married is, "Planning your wedding is the final test of engagement."  If you're able to plan a big event together, there are few things that can stand in your path.  There is so much food to be made (and eaten), entertainment to arrange, a photographer to hire, invitations to write, and a registry to agree on.  But when it comes to building a baby registry for your first child, Andrea and I both agreed that planning our wedding seemed so much easier.

With an overabundance of products - ranging from extremely necessary to ridiculously unnecessary - it doesn't take long to get confused at what exactly and truly needed.  After hours of online research, fact-checking with friends, and a few trips to actual stores, it took Andrea and I about a month to be confident we put together a registry that best suits us.  Feel free to check them both out on Target or Babies-R-Us.

As for a house update, we are pretty much baby ready.  The only thing missing now is everything that's on the registry getting inside our apartment.  I'll take pictures this weekend and give you a tour of our lovely home... right before I put the plastic insulation over the windows.  So be patient with me.

The important thing going on around here was the month long birthing classes.  Along with the hectic that the beginning of a school year brings, the birthing classes did a good job in preventing me from doing as much blogging as I'd like.  We had four sessions at the hospital where we are planning on having Baby.  Although I was very skeptical about the entire experience, enduring the two-and-a-half hour session once-a-week was actually very informative and helpful.  I certainly won't be calling myself an expert, but I know enough to be some-what helpful during the delivery process.  Also, I finally know what entrance of the hospital to drive and bring Andrea into, which is also valuable information.  (Emergency Room, by the way, for those who are curious.)

Every week the inevitable truth becomes harder to avoid - just like Andrea's tummy.  Baby Kovac will be among us in about 10 weeks.

Vacation at the Lake

Unlike the past two years where we've tried to have an extended vacation at "The Lake," this year it actually happened.  Normally we'll spend about half of our summer weekend there, but this year we actually got to spend a week there for vacation.  Since it is a major part of the summer, I thought I'd share a few thoughts and pictures.

As seen, the cottage lies on the Eastern edge of Cayuga Lake, so in favorable weather we are treated to beautiful sunsets.  Something I've learned is the idea that no sunset is ever the same.  Having the opportunity to watch it in the same place day-after-day and year-after-year, I thought it would grow boring.  But in fact, it has turned into a favorite time of mine.  People slow down and watch the gradual change of colors in the sky, on the lake, and in the clouds.  Since the sky is different everyday, the sunset is unique as well; it is always enjoyable and is a different form of worship that I've grown accustomed to.

When you pull up to the property though, this is what you first see.  You can see the lake in back.  Although some might consider the cottage rustic, I think it's the perfect blend of modern comfort and a place to escape.  We have running water and electricity, but no cable or internet.  Cell phone reception is, at best, spotty.  In a time where culture values constant connectivity, this is place a get-away to enjoy NOT being connected.  We also have a DVD player hooked up to a small TV set, that gets used when its too rainy to play outside or start a bonfire.

After walking through a hallway, you come to a very open room.  We make and eat (and digest) our meals here.  During vacation, Andrea and Grandma (who lives here throughout summer) took turns making meals.  During the weekend though, food prep rotates amongst the different members of the family who choose to spend the weekend.  Not only am I blessed with a beautiful location to spend the summer, but everyone in Andrea's maternal side of the family are excellent cooks and bakers.  There is always a plethora of snacks and healthy dinners.

In any given weekend, the front porch is where the business is happening.  People pass the time by chatting, reading magazines, playing board games or lawn games, or sunbathing.  Although ladderball has been the game of choice for many years, this year someone bought Corn-Hole, and has become this year's favorite.  This is also where I grilled food for the first time, so this place also has special manly significance.

I believe that Cayuga is the longest and deepest lake of all the Finger Lakes.  This makes it the ideal for boating and swimming.  Although most of the adults don't swim unless it's really hot, I try to take advantage of the water as much as possible.  We have a small motorboat to go tubing with as well as paddleboat for shorter distances.  (Grandma in particular likes using paddleboat before the sunsets to watch all wildlife settle down in the evening.)  But mainly, I just really enjoy swimming and goofing off in the water.

One topic of conversation Andrea and I had last week was how much of a blessing the lake and cottage is to us.  Before meeting Andrea, I didn't have anything like this growing up, so I certainly envy the fact that she has enjoyed this since before she could remember.  Now that I've married into the blessing, I'm reminded how much God has needlessly given me.  And although the sights, recreation, and food blessings are something to be thankful for, I think it's best function has been simply to serve as a place for retreat and escape.