Colin is now six months old. It is amazing to see how much and how fast he is growing. He can now grab things, respond to people, and eat pureed foods.
It's funny that before parenthood, I thought that having kids would be something like a burden. I'd have to tell my friends, "Sorry I can't go. You know the kid." But the reality has been much different than that. Of course there have been things that Shannon and I haven't been able to do since he was born, but we don't regret them. It really is a joy to stay home and hang out with Colin. And even though, a crying baby can try your patience, a laughing baby is one of the most wonderful things in the world.
As you might already know, I am done with school for now. I have the credits for my math degree, but I am two classes away from the Russian degree. As it is, I am planning on graduating with a minor in Russian, and I may eventually go back to earn the full degree. That reminds me, I need to submit my application for graduation. Part of my recent raise was an agreement to get my degree in the next year, and my MCPD in two years. The MCPD stands for Microsoft Certified Professional Developer.
The other hesitation to having a baby in the past was the financial obligation. They say that babies cost a lot, and it's true. I can't believe how much the hospital charges. It makes me wish for socialized medicine (like that would make it free, but that's a topic for another post).
I am happy to say that God has been providing. We decided early on that we wanted to have Shannon stay at home and raise Colin, whatever that cost. So we've had thoughts of selling the house, and making it work, but so far we haven't had to take any drastic steps. I got a raise at work, and I've been taking on freelance projects to build websites and other programs. Opportunities for work just keep coming, and it really keeps me busy.
I've also started a new blog at lancefisher.net, but don't worry it's not replacing this one. If you are into programming and web development you might like it. I've been much more active with programming recently. Part of this is due to freelancing, and part of it is due to having more time and less mental strain since I'm not in school. I really enjoy the extra attention that I've been giving my profession. A couple of weeks ago, I flew down to Boise to attend and speak at Boise Code Camp with my friend Andrew. He recently started a tech blog too. I'm also starting a Missoula .NET Users Group. It's basically a monthly meeting for local developers to talk about programming and trade ideas.
So that's what I've been up to. How about you?