Holly & Tom Underwood

Usually, I put the parents before the kids, but this time, Bryan & I have great news to share, so I’m putting us first. What could be so important? Grandkids, that’s what!

On the Friday before Christmas, Tom and I found out that I’m pregnant! (This is us shortly after we found out.) We told Mom & Dad when they were over on Christmas Eve, and were able to reach all of our brothers by phone the same night to share the news. I’m currently 13 weeks pregnant, due on August 28. After a year of trying on our own, we got help from a fertility practice. we’re thankful that it took only a few months of non-invasive help before we were successful.

Due to my age (ripe old 38), we had some standard genetic testing, and know that the baby (who Tom dubbed ‘Acorn’) is highly unlikely to have any of those problems. So far I am also doing well: no morning sickness, I’m still working out several days a week, and I feel pretty darned good! I’m not showing yet, but my clothes sure don’t fit like they used to…

Are we going to find out Acorn’s gender? No. Have we chosen names? No, but we’re working on it. Do we know what color the baby’s room will be? Not really, though I made a rug that everything else will be based on.
The other great thing that happened last year was Tom finding a full-time position at the Dayton View branch of the Dayton Metro Library. It was quite a journey to get there, too. Last year at this time, he was working two jobs, shelving books at the Main library and holding on to his job at the cable council. That lasted until May, when he quit both jobs in order to be a sub for the whole library system. He was able to sub for 2 different positions, and did so at about 7 branches in all, over the summer. The job paid much better but the hours were not guaranteed; we were lucky that he only had a couple of slow weeks. He started the full-time job in September, where he’s in charge of the computers (the ones patrons use to get on the internet and the employees’ system), the teen-oriented programs, helps out at the circulation desk, and is the main reference librarian. The job is full of challenges and new things to learn, but he’s doing well with it so far. And maybe best of all—he only works two nights a week, and two Saturdays a month, which is a whole lot better than before!

Holly is still working at Cityfolk, for 11 years now! Once again, most of our travels were related to her job. One new trip we took was to Chicago, one weekend in September when there was both a Celtic and a World Music festival going on. And a Turkish festival and some sort of Mexican traditional celebration, it turned out. We got to stay in Oak Park with a friend that we don’t see often enough, which was a treat in itself. Oak Park is the neighborhood where Frank Lloyd Wright designed a lot of homes so we were able to take lazy walks while viewing an abundance of fabulous architecture. In fact, we walked a LOT while we were there! We saw a lot of wonderful sights and heard a lot of great music, and still missed a lot! We would love to go back for a week and see more.

Our vacation was a week spent at a cottage near Lake Michigan in the Frankfort, Michigan area (just south of Sleeping Bear Dunes). It was a very relaxing week, filled with rock hunting, visiting lighthouses (here we are in front of one), hiking, sitting on the beach…and watching the Tour de France! We have decided that we really should plan our vacation at another time next year, so we don’t feel compelled to spend so much time in front of the TV!

The next few months will be busy ones, as we prepare for the arrival of our little Acorn – but we can’t think of a better way to pass the time!
Take care,
Holly & Tom