Snow!

I love snow. I am one of those people. I think snow makes winter a whole lot more bearable, because it is pretty and pure and brings back tons of childhood memories for me. So whenever the weathermen are predicting the doom and gloom of a big storm, I get all excited like a 10-year-old kid hoping for a snow day.

Friday was that way for me. As others groaned while the flakes started to fall in Columbus, I smiled. My boss told us that we could leave early at our own discretion (have I mentioned how much better my new boss is compared to the last one?), so I stuck it out until 3 o'clock and then bailed to get Rachel from the sitter. Sometime around midnight, our power went out, then came back on, then went out again a bit later. But when you are asleep and warm in your bed, it doesn't bother you so much that the power went out.

Saturday morning, we awoke to what appeared to be just shy of a foot of snow. Duane started a fire, and I had a hot cup of coffee. Then I went out to shovel the driveway (after much argument from Duane because he said he would do it), and I got Rachel all bundled up in the snowsuit I bought her last year when it was on clearance for $10 (normally $65!).

I am not sure how Rachel liked the snow. She didn't have much reaction to it at all, except bewilderment. She couldn't walk in it because it was one-third of her height. At one point, she said "Brrrrrr." But overall, she dealt with it for the 15 minutes she was outside. Then I sent her back in and proceeded with shoveling the driveway. I didn't mind it, actually. I hadn't shoveled in years, and it was great exercise for me. The cold went away after 20 minutes because I was working so hard, and all the neighbors came out to shovel theirs (except the neighbor with the snowblower, but I can't complain too much because he ended up doing my half of the sidewalk), so it was pretty pleasant.

We even had a man on a frontloader come through to clear the court, and he was nice enough to clear everyone's approaches so that we could get out of our driveways!

Today, we woke up to a more frigid morning, and the snow had been covered up with a thin layer of ice. As a special treat, my mom had asked me to go to the OSU Basketball game with her. The doctor she works for was in the Bahamas for a conference (must be rough), and so he offered my mom his tickets, so she asked me. It was cool. I am not the biggest basketball fan in the world, but I enjoy going to the games whenever I am offered a chance. My competitive nature gets into just about any sport if I am at the game, so it was a good Sunday excursion. When I got back to my parents' house to pick up my car, my mom gave me my old baby doll cradle to take home. It has my name on it, and a mattress (read: long pillow) and pillow. When I brought it home, I showed Rachel what it was, and she has spent the afternoon loading her baby dolls in and out, saying "Nigh' nigh'."

Tonight, we are having a low-key Super Bowl experience. Duane made his turkey chili, and I plan to wind down the weekend watching the last of my football for the season. I don't know that I care who wins -- I guess I prefer the Saints since they haven't been there before. I like both teams though, so I won't complain either way.

Not a lot has changed for me this month, with one major exception -- I CAN SEE!! For the first time in 17 years, I can see clearly without the aid of glasses or contacts. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I can see the clock without fumbling for my glasses, inevitably knocking them on the floor and having to search for them. It's wonderful. I had LASIK at Bloomberg Eye Centers on January 7th. I can't describe to you how great this feels. People ask me how I feel, if I can see better than before. The answer: No. I see exactly the same as I did with my contacts. The difference: I don't have to put them in every morning and take them out every night. I don't get aches in my eyes when they start to go bad, and I don't have to invest $200 in contacts a year and $10 a month in solution anymore.

I am still working, still enjoying my new department, for the most part. Duane's job continues to demand a lot of his time, but we can't complain -- we have been blessed to profit in a time when a lot of people are suffering. We have the luxury of being able to go out and buy things that we need (and some things we want) when we need them.

trying to figure out what I want to change in my life. I am still trying to lose that last 10 pounds of baby weight. Try as I might, nothing seems to stick. I suppose if I ate better and worked out in combination, that would probably bring about better results, but I have trouble with the concept. I like to reward myself for exercising. :)

Aside from the physical, I know there are things I would like to change. For one thing, we are laying out plans for a major overhaul of the house. I worked up an Excel spreadsheet, room by room, of everything we would like to do to the house over the next couple of years. We aren't sure if we will stay here for the long haul or try to move before Rachel starts school. I think we would like to get closer to the Gahanna or Westerville area, if we can. But even if we were to move, the house needs some work, and we finally have the funds to support all of our lofty dreams. So the plan is to tackle one room every couple of months.

Personally, I would like to take up a hobby that will keep me happy. I don't have a lot of time to spare, so I want to do something that won't be too involved. I always thought I should try to learn to knit or crochet. That is something you can come back to at your leisure, without having to get a lot of equipment out or invest a lot of time in one stretch. I love my cake decorating too though, and I have been wanting to invest more energy into getting better at that.

Also, I have researched some camera classes online, because I have this fancy schmancy camera and I barely know how to use it. Hence, I get a lot of pictures of Rachel, but only a couple that I actually think merit the use of such an expensive camera. So I think I will enroll in the class next month.

Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by everything I want to change. It can give me anxiety that causes a lot of pent-up frustration. But I just have to remember to take baby steps and enjoy each day. I feel very blessed right now.

Speaking of blessed, here are a few pictures of the thing I am most grateful for when I wake up in the morning...my healthy little girl! She is a character. Her latest quirk is mean-mugging Duane and me and then bursting into laughter, then turning back to a mean mug again. She has learned "Please" (which comes out "Peas"), and we had to lock the pantry to keep her from breaking into it and stealing cookies when we aren't paying attention. She got baby dolls for Christmas, and she carries them everywhere with her. I forgot to take baby with us to the sitter's one day last week, and when she wasn't there when Rachel got to the car, I heard about it.

Bring on February!

Happy New Year!

I know I haven't posted since Halloween-time, but I have been very busy at home. I have had a lot of freelance work since August, which has been wonderful for me and my family. With that and Duane's new job, we were able to have a very nice Christmas with each other and our respective families. Normally, I try to buy nice things for the people I love, but I have to draw the line at a certain amount, and I feel like a cheapskate. I know that it shouldn't matter how much I spend, but I like to get nice things for the families -- especially for all the nieces and nephews. And now that Rachel is more aware of what kinds of toys she enjoys, it was really nice to be able to buy her some nicer presents, instead of the many clothes she received from Santa last Christmas. And then Duane and I got to buy real presents for one another as well, and we didn't exchange anything last Christmas.

I have also fully transitioned into my new position at work, and it is much better than I had ever anticipated. I like being part of a smaller group of people. It is a strange feeling, not working IN the actual math department. I felt like a big part of that group. But the first day I went back downstairs to look for something, no one so much as said hi to me downstairs. A few of my friends always stop me to chat, but everyone else acts like I am an alien. I never would have thought I would be so easily dismissed by the people I used to work so closely with, but there you have it. To add to the weirdness, Kim and I sit farther apart than ever before. We see each other far less than usual (only once or twice a DAY!), so the adjustment has been strange. But the job itself is great! It took aware the part of my job I disliked the most and added some other operations aspects instead, and I have really enjoyed it. The people are nice, my boss couldn't be much more of an improvement (if you know what I was going through in the past, you would be chuckling right now), and I really don't mind going to work every day.

Duane has also fully transitioned into his new job, and on top of the perk of a bigger paycheck, he gets to decide when he wants to work OT, and he doesn't have to deal with the distraction of working with family anymore, which has improved his relationship with his parents quite a bit.

On top of all the work stuff, Rachel has blossomed into quite the little lady. Santa treated her very well, and she received her very first potty. She isn't ready for potty training just yet, but she takes a great interest in the concept of using the bathroom, so we decided to put the potty out so she can grow used to it. The first night it was out, she sat down on it and smiled. Maybe we will have her out of diapers by the time we decide to have another baby! (Don't get excited -- it won't be anytime soon.)

At her last doctors appointment, Rachel was 21 pounds (12th percentile), 32 inches (52nd percentile), and had a head circumference in the 90th percentile. So my child is long and lean with a BIG head! HA! Maybe she is a genius. She has developed so much in the last few months, adding more words to her vocabulary and developing new talents and interests. She really enjoys coloring, music (she also received a piano from Santa), and playing mommy. She carries her cabbage patch baby around with her and gives her a bottle. She still loves to play tea party too! Her latest words include "Happy," "Cheese," "Go-Go" (she calls most dogs this, because the sitter's dog is named "Cocoa"), and the sound effect "Shhhhh." She is very good at repeating what you want her to say, in her own way. By far, though, she is most interested in food. She can now reach our door handles, and she is accomplished at getting into the pantry and trying to get her graham crackers out.

As for our Christmas, Duane bought me a bed (the headboard and footboard) and a television for our bedroom. It has been WONDERFUL. I used to look at our bedroom and sigh, because it looked like a bachelor pad -- just a room with a bed in it. Now it feels like OUR bedroom. I got him, well, a motorcycle. He bought a motorcycle from his friend to replace his current motorcycle, which he might sell, or he might keep it as a streetbike. I also got him a new helmet, some cologne, and 2 tickets to an OSU men's basketball game.

I have been on a mission to lose some weight since Rachel was born, but I seem to have gone in the opposite direction lately. I started walking on our treadmill while I watch TV. I figure I am watching TV anyway, I might as well walk. It makes me feel pretty good about myself, though I haven't lost weight yet, so I am going to have to start a diet to cut down on the junk. So stay tuned for updates. I need to lose about 15 pounds before I will be happy with myself.

Duane and I decided to have a New Year's Eve party this year. It was quite an endeavor, because we never do anything halfway, but it was a lot of fun. Usually we make plans with one couple for NYE, and the plans generally fall through because the other couple is sick or something comes up. It is just our rotten luck. So we decided to have a full-fledged affair this year. I don't think we will do it again next year, but we hope that one of our friends will pick up the reins and it can be a rotating thing. We had a great time -- it was just a LOT to handle all at once, so it isn't something we would do every single year. And I think I am ready to move on to a more tame atmosphere too. After all, I am turning 30 this year. I can still have fun, but I'm definitely not in college anymore. My body suffers more for my decisions more than it used to.

The most exciting thing happening now is my LASIK eye surgery scheduled for this Thursday!!! I went in for a consultation, and I was a little disappointed with what I found out about the price. Then my friend referred me to Bloomberg Eye Centers and I was much more impressed. It is a big step for me, and even though the surgery is relatively routined, I am a bit worried. But the prospect of waking up in the middle of the night and being able to see the clock immediately, without reaching for my glasses, for the first time since I was 12 years old...well, I will take the risk. And for an extra $100 per eye, I am going to be able to have my vision retweaked at any point during my lifetime. It is my "motorcycle" of sorts. Duane doesn't understand fully because he has near-perfect vision, but for those of you out there who wear contacts or glasses, you know how frustrating it is to wake up in a blurry haze. And if we do plan to have another child, I would like the comfort of waking up for midnight feedings without having to find my glasses.

So moving forward, I will try to be better about updating my blog. Hopefully I didn't lose my faithful readers during the hiatus!

The Tulip Fairy!

It's been a long while since I have posted, but I haven't been taking many pictures lately, and I hate to post a blog with not pictures -- what fun is that? So let's see...Duane's new job (if you haven't heard, he got a new job as Operations Manager, which was our big and exciting news!!) is going splendidly. It's fast-paced and a lot of work, but he loves it because it is on his own terms.

My job is a bit different. Right now, I am doing 100% of my old job, 100% of my new job, and 100% of a job that needs to be covered because someone else left. I have had one interview and I am hoping to have another for a different position. I love my company, but the work that my new job entails isn't thrilling me right now. So I am just feeling things out, trying to determine what I want to do with my life. If we had the money, I would stay home with Rachel every day. I have really enjoyed the days where I can stay home and spend time with her.
Speaking of Rachel, she is also doing very well. We went for her 15-month check-up and she weighs 20 lbs 7 oz (which is about the 20th percentile), she is 30 inches long (47th percentile), and her head circumference is in the 73rd percentile...my little genius baby! She has gone from walking to running and dancing. She has mastered it, and she is so proud of herself as she moves around. I can't imagine a time when she couldn't walk now!

She is enjoying her new sitter and all of the children there. She has a couple of favorites, and there are little girls for her to play with, which is nice.

On our most recent playdate, Lawrene had a Halloween theme for the kids, so they all wore their costumes and went on a scavenger hunt for candy and treats. It was really lovely. Rachel is a tulip fairy this year, and she looks darling. Her outfit, as you can see, is quite pink. Again, I use the excuse that she hasn't enough hair to make her instantly girly, so I have to put her in girly colors. Plus, she just looks so cute in pink!! She seemed to have fun with her Halloween basket, so I am hoping she will enjoy the real Trick-or-Treat here in a couple of weeks.

Countdown to Fall!

The weather has turned a bit more mild, and I am just ready for Fall to be here. It is by far my favorite time of year. Partly because you can wear longer clothes, and I love warm clothes. And partly because it is football season!! Rachel has a couple of OSU outfits, so this week I put one of the cheerleader outfits on her to see how it fit. It looks pretty cute! And it got me in the mood for football, so I am really excited that the start of college football season is only 6 days away! We had our NFL fantasy football draft last night, which also stoked me up for football season. I have to beat Duane at least once this year, because last season he beat me BOTH times.

This week was wonderful, because I had a whole week of vacation to spend with my baby girl. On Monday, we went to my work to visit people there. Rachel was a bit moodier than usual, but she still enjoyed playing and visiting with people. Tuesday morning we left for the cabin, after I went to get my new license (bleck to the pink licenses!) and spent the morning cleaning up after Murdock's latest stomach issues. The first day was a bit hectic. Rachel spent time exploring and getting her sea legs on the boat. Then Julie and the boys came up and we got to spend time with them as well. It was a good time and very relaxing. Watching the kids play in the water reminded me a lot of the time I spent at the cabin years ago.

Friday we got some VERY good news, which poses a pretty picture for the future of our family. I will elaborate more later, but I still can't believe it; I am in a state of shock. I also got a freelance job that promises to pay nicely. It will be a lot of work, and I am nervous about it, but the payoff will be amazing, so I can't pass it up.

I am SHOCKED that my vacation is over already!! I am enjoying this last day with my family, and we are headed to my parents' house to celebrate August birthdays today. That should be fun too. I enjoy spending time with my family. They are a good group of people.

The goal for this week is to get back to working out, despite the fact that my ribs are really sore. I think I have finally recovered from my cold and cough, but now my ribs are bothering me with every twist and turn. However, I need to get back to working out because I can feel the tone I built up starting to fade again. No pain, no gain, right?

Happy Birthday to Me!!

So, I am 29 years old. My first 29th birthday. It is a strange feeling. I used to look at late twenties as this time when I would be having kids and be all grown up and mature. And I do have a beautiful little girl, a good husband, and I am grown up. Mature? Well, sometimes. I still have a lot to learn about life, even though I like to pretend I have all the answers. I talk a good game, but I get plenty of doses of humility to bring me down a peg.

I have learned that I need to surround myself with people who have a positive impact on my life. I have good friends, some of who I have just befriended in the last 2 years. It isn't easy for me to make new friends, but I have learned that I need to open my life up and be vulnerable to people. And I need to remember not to take myself down to the level of people who try to hurt me. Because strangely, they are out there, and I need to be a better person and ignore it. Because letting them have the satisfaction of getting to me and affecting how I behave is worse than just leaving things alone.

Now, off my contemplative soapbox, I am posting pictures from my last day of being 28 years old! It was a great time. Duane paid for me to get a mini-makeover. I got my hair cut and highlighted, and the last few times I have gone to get my hair cut, I have said I wanted something different. But I would always end up with the same haircut after about a week, and my hair would look so plain after a month. So this time, I told the stylist that I wanted some wispy bangs. I haven't had bangs since I was 17 years old! I painstakingly grew them out because they were annoying! But after I had Rachel, some of my peach fuzz at my hairline grew out and I had this hint of bangs that got me thinking that I might be ready for bangs again. They turned out great, and I really like the results.

After that, we dropped off the baby with my in-laws and went bowling with my friends Kim & Lawrene and their husbands and our friends Heather and Jeremy. It was so much fun, I can't even describe it fully here. I love bowling, and bowling with friends is even better. We all just hung out and enjoyed ourselves, and then afterward we went to a Sports Bar, played pool & darts, and just hung out. It was exactly how I wanted to spend my birthday eve, and it really reminded me of how lucky I am to have people who care about me.

Today, I am spending time with my own little family. I have the whoooooole week off work, and I am going to the cabin with Rachel for a few days of Women's Week. The other days, I will just relax with my girl...possibly paint our bedroom...take Rachel to work to show her off...and enjoy the peace and quiet. It has been a hectic year!

Walking and Talking...

Rachel has become such a toddler in the last month. She is taking steps, literally, and really developing her personality and expressing herself. Though she doesn't have the confidence to walk for very long on her own, she has taken as many as 8 steps at once, and every day she tries harder to take one more step before plopping down on the floor. She also walks like an expert behind her push-along toys, zooming so fast that I can barely keep up with her.

She is becoming quite the talker too, though I can only discern a little bit of what she is trying to say! She likes to yell...and she laughs at us when we tell her "No!" now, so I fear for the teenage years. Duane and I have been singing the alphabet song to her, and she repeats "Ahhh-bayy" back to us. She seems to enjoy that song the most. And she "reads" constantly, which makes me very happy. I always loved to read as a child, so I encourage her reading.

But our new favorite game is "tea party." My cousin gave Rachel a tea set her daughter no longer uses. I showed Rachel how to pretend to eat out of the bowls and how to pour tea in the cups. She LOVES it! She grabs it and pulls out the plates and forks and stabs at the pretend food and "eats" it. She even makes noises while she pours tea!

We are very close to finding a new babysitter for her, which is bittersweet because we will dearly miss Melissa. She has been such an important person in Rachel's 1st year of life that I can't imagine the impact she has had on my daughter. However, I am very hopeful that the new sitter will bring new friends and experiences for Rachel and be another positive influence in her life.

On another note, my job is still in the transition stage, and I know very little about where I am going. I know that my responsibilities will definitely change. I welcome the adventure, but I worry because I am going from a very large department to a very small department, and I am not sure how I will fare in the new environment. All my friends are being scattered as well...it is the end of an era.

But I am taking this transition and using it across my life. I have been really trying to do better to lose this last 10 pounds of baby weight. I go to Kickboxing on Tuesdays and AquaFit on Saturdays. I try to go to workout on Thursdays too as well, and I have been trying to adjust my diet to a healthier style and smaller portions. I am also trying to take on a healthier attitude about things -- most especially the people with whom I associate. I have said it before, but this time I am making a stronger effort to weed out negativity from my life.

I hope to have even better news in the next few weeks (no, I am not pregnant!). Stay tuned!