We had more people register for our library's webinar today than have ever registered before. It was exciting! While only about a third of those people attended live, we know the recording is going to get a bunch of views.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Spotting a chipmunk eating breakfast on the walk to school with the kiddo
• Windows open for most of the week
• Really meshing with my colleagues
• Thank you emails from faculty members
• Kiddo adores her new loft bed
• Said loft bed didn't take too long to construct
• A lazy afternoon at home
• Having a video call during our fantasy football draft
• Seeing daycare folks at a birthday party - only two weeks and I already miss them

I read a lot of books with my kiddo. Kid Reads is a biweekly look at what we've enjoyed recently. ​

You can file "build a kids' table" under my "other duties as assigned. We ordered a table from a vendor and it arrived last week. Today, I discovered that the pre-drilled holes were slightly off kilter for the legs. Luckily, I could adjust the brackets and get it all together. But, what should have been a 10 minute project ended up taking 45. Annoying.

Here's what else I've been working on:

1. Pivot to Video: Our students want video. They like video. We haven't really made a lot of videos. That changes this semester. This week, I kicked off a new short video series called "Info Tip of the Week." The plan is to share short tips about information, research, and library skills. Just stuff that makes people's lives easier. The first video went up today, I recorded the snippets for next week, and I have a list of topics to round out the rest of this year. 
2. Embedded Classes: I'm embedded in a dozen classes this year. I've spend the past few weeks doing pop-ins to say hi, setting up my discussion boards, and even teaching a few sessions. Normally, I get to ease in to instruction each semester. Not so much this year. It's been full speed ahead since day one.
3. Need a kid bed?: We upgraded our kiddo to a lofted big girl bed. Now we're trying to sell her convertible crib, linens, and monitor. I've posted this "Nursery Starter Kit" to several list-servs and, sadly, have had no takers. I may need to resort to Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace. I really don't want to... 

This week, our kiddo started kindergarten. She handled the transition great. As expected, she was sleepier than usual most nights. All the new things are a lot to handle.

One new thing is that she now walks to school. Well, we've always walked to school, but her daycare was two miles away so she was pushed in a stroller. This week, we left the stroller behind and she walked the 0.75 miles on foot with us.

We adults can make this walk in about 10 minutes. With the kiddo, we budget 20 minutes into our schedules. This is not just because she walks slower but to accommodate her need to stop and explore. This week alone we stopped to look at a bunny, several black squirrels, bugs of some sort crawling on the sidewalk, and a fruit snack wrapper. This is in addition to stopping to adjust a shoe or sock and to say her legs are tired.

As much as I want to just get to school (or home at the end of the day), her butterfly childness is a good reminder to stop and see things around us. Part of our walk parallels a fenced nature conservancy. I hope we'll get to see a deer one day. They've been known to stroll there and I think our kiddo would love to see one up close.

We've survived our first week of kindergarten. The kiddo did great with the change and we're adjusting well to new routines. It will take more time to settle in to this new normal, but I'm glad this first week was relatively free of hiccups and drama.

Here's what else was good this week:

• The first parent and kiddo used our new family-friendly study space. They loved it and gave us good feedback.
• Kiddo's new teachers are all great
• Spent a lazy afternoon on the couch
• Unexpectedly met a host from an NPR podcast I listen to
• So many people in our new library!
• Arriving at work before 9 most days
• Walking the kiddo to school
• Drove to the airport all by myself (and only had to do the airport return because I missed the parking garage once)
• Videos I made for work being reshared

Dark Restraint
Katee Robert

I’m back in the world of Dark Olympus. This time, Robert’s telling the story of Ariadne and the Minotaur. I don’t know this myth at all, so I’m just reading this one as a straight erotic romance. It feels like the rest of the books in this series. My main quibble is that the overarching narrative has barely moved. I kind of wish they spent less time in the bedroom. I want a bit more world development.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org

This might be the first, in-office day since our library moved that I haven't been rearranging furniture, building something, or setting up a space. It's not for lack of trying though! Some items for our family-friendly study room arrived this morning. I would be putting them together but I need to bring in a screwdriver first.

Here's what else I'm working on:

1. We're over here!: I'm updating any and all materials, slide decks, handouts, talking points, etc. that reference our library's old space. Today, I finally had time to record, edit, and post a video showing people how to get to our new location. It wasn't a hard thing to do, it's just something that took time I did not have. It finally feels like we're settling in. Still lots of things to tackle, but we've made HUGE leaps in our to do lists.
2. Embedded Librarian: We got our assignments for the semester. I've spent the past week creating my discussion board, posting announcements, and popping in to my classes to introduce myself. This is the most classes we've handled in a single semester. It will be interesting to see what things look like in December.
3. Kiddo's School Stuff: Our kiddo started kindergarten this week. (*deep calming breathes*) So far, she seems to be taking to the change very well. She's also been exhausted every night from all the new adventures. On the parent side of things, we're figuring out how to handle all the new logistics, submitting paperwork, and generally trying to orient ourselves to this new normal.

Our kiddo starts kindergarten this week and I'm not ready.

First, logistically, I feel unprepared. Our public school has only trickled a few emails our way. We've combed the school's website and the city's website for information. We're still lacking details which leaves us uncomfortable. I mean, nothing is bad, we just feel less prepared. Our daycare was so communicative and had great onboarding so we always knew what to expect. This feels a little like jumping off the high dive for the first time. 

Next, I never love it when routines change. This is a massive routine change for all of us. Until we get back into a rhythm, I'm going to be out of sorts. Our kiddo has generally been good with cold turkey change so, thankfully, that should help with things. 

Finally, I am not emotionally ready to have a school-aged kid. Where did the years go!?!? I know things go by fast when you have a small child, but it feels like COVID ate even more time. I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that we're entering the school play, field trips, and homework years. 

Don't mind me - I'm just going to be over here alternatively weeping and hyperventilating. 

Our new library opened this week and our students are in love! We've received so many happy comments to go with the shocked faces. It's been a rush. I'm going to ride this positive wave of emotion for as long as I can.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• I put together an unhinged but hilarious video for work
• Still loving having my own office
• Pre-fall weather and leaving the windows open for most of the week
• New colleague is amazing!
• Rewatching The West Wing
• Making recipes just how I like them
• Won a door prize at work
• My skin glowed after my home spa day
• Receiving super cute pictures of my kiddo and hearing about how much fun she is having on vacation