Stranger in a Strange Town

Almost Halloween

Well, October is creeping by, so I thought I would update a bit. There isn't much of anything happening, so there isn't much to update. Miss B is getting bigger and more opinionated. She likes watching Muppets, Doggy Movie (Lady & the Tramp) and Cinderella. Occasionally she will drift from those to Monsters, Inc and really enjoys watching the "Monsters". She is getting ready for her first Halloween that she will actually participate in. She is going to be "Boo" from Monsters, Inc... she is working on saying Mike Wazowski just like Book does in the movie.

Anyway, ciao for now!

A

what a month!

September was a blur! Miss B decided that sleeping was not a fun activity and that she was not going to do it without a fight and without waking up several times a night. Her reflux was getting much worse also. After about 2 months of that, I managed to come up with a correlation... just before she stopped sleeping well, her Zantac was changed from the name brand to the generic. I know, I know, it isn't supposed to make a difference, but apparently she is very sensitive. After getting the name brand back on Thursday (Sept 27) she has slept for 3 nights! I know, it isn't much, but after over 2 months, 3 nights is MAGIC!

~A

Turning 2 is FUN! and exhausting

Once I was finished with Accounting class the three of us packed up the van and headed south. We paused at Target for more school supplies for mommy (too much math for the cell phone calculator!) and at the Verizon Wireless store for a new cell phone for mommy (too much antenna being used to grab mommy's phone and steal it!) then we went and found Miss Kim's "new" abode in Albuquerque and dashed to Texas Roadhouse for dinner....NUMMY. After a flying stop at Toy's R Us to pick up B's birthday presents and a bedside rail to help keep her in bed and we were off to the Isotopes park to watch the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Affiliate of the Florida Marlins) and Memphis Red Birds (AAA Affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals) square off. The game was good, the company was great (thank you again Larry for the Orbit and t-shirt for Miss B) and the girl was having fun. Miss B had 1 helmet of Dippin Dots, and fell asleep somewhere in the 6th inning. We passed her up and down the row a bit then decided that since it was already 10 pm, and the Topes were up by 7 at the 7th inning stretch, it was time to head down the road. Paul didn't want to see how they could blow that lead and lose the game ;). When we finally arrived home at midnight, it was still 73*. We all crashed into bed quickly though, with only a minor wake up in the middle of the night by Miss B.

Today we spent between mommy doing homework and all three of us re-doing Miss B's room in honor of being a 'big girl'. About a month ago she decided she was "DONE" sleeping in her crib, and started climbing out of it. We tried doing the conversion to a toddler bed, and with us sleeping on the floor next to her were able to get two nights of sleep that way. SO, we have been making do with her sleeping on the queen sized bed that was in her room for guests. Today we removed the queen sized bed, converted the toddler bed to a full sized bed and re-arranged everything.

What a busy weekend! Hope yours was GREAT!

~A

Too Much Is Never Enough?

I have several loved ones concerned that I am crazy. Why? Is it because of some weird rituals I go through before crossing the threshold of the house? Is it because of washing my hands 320 times a day? No, it is because on top of all my other commitments - Husband, Daughter, work full time, president of Embroiderers Guild of America Chapter and soon to be Associate Matron of Order of Eastern Star Chapter, I have taken on Graduate School. Today I start the classes to elevate me to an MBA. The next two semesters is going to be the 'crunch' time for me, I have 2 prerequisite/leveling classes to take (Finance and Calculus) and the GMAT to take (Yikes!!). Once those three things are accomplished, I am planning to 'take it easy' with just two classes per semester. Time will tell how many of the County employees that have chosen to pursue this will complete it, I just hope I am one of them!

Almost 2!

Well, Miss B had her two year well check yesterday, and she is amazing apparently... all measures were good and she doesn't have to go back until next August :) except for her flu shot that is.

I am in the process of getting set up for an MBA program through NMSU, which is being offered here in Los Alamos. My manager isn't being supportive of it, so I may wait until next year to actually start the program, but will be able to take the 2 prerequisites I need and take the GMAT before next August that way instead of taking them concurrently.

Well, time to head to daycare! Have a great day

A

TGIF

Okay, semi functional today, but that is it. For some reason, after not sleeping well for 3 weeks, B decided that she should sleep though the night last night...YEAH!!! That thrilled me, but for some reason the fact that I slept too means I am crashing today. I hate sleep problems. I hope that she is done with them for a few weeks at least.

This is going to be a possibly busy weekend. I want to go shopping, Paul needs to get some work done, and I need to sew.... in other words, both of us want the other to have the B. ;) We will see how we can work it out, I am sure that it will be fine.

Quick Week

This week has sped by. We had a quiet weekend at home (very needed) except for a foray out to sew on Saturday (okay, it was a playdate for the girls, I admit it) and a fun afternoon at Rover park for the Annual Eastern Star Picnic. Then off to visit Robert and Claire for the first time in awhile. I think B had fun at both, she played on the toys at the park and with the dogs at the Sanders.

Monday and Tuesday B was home because her daycare was closed for their annual cleaning/ rearranging. It looks GREAT now. They had everything ready for the kids, even though they aren't ready to move into the new building. Hopefully in the next couple weeks that will happen though. B started in the 18-30 month class yesterday, the only thing that seemed to make her sad was that Allie was in the 2.5 - 3.5 room instead. Both girls are missing each other, but they do get to play on the playground together at least!

We haven't made much progress in getting any more sleep lately, but last night B deigned to sleep on the floor of our room, so at least there was more sleep available!

A

NRJABOL

Today is totally random. I am in a waiting game at work trying to get all the end of month information that I need, also trying to figure out a couple of deals for purchasing some power for next week. Tonight Paul and I get to attend a 'parent orientation' at B's daycare (montessori school) and find out what the upcoming academic year has in store for us. After that meeting Paul is going to the Lodge to practice his memory work for awhile. I have been really impressed by the amount of time he has devoted to earning his degrees in Masons so far. Well, I have enough sugar in my system to power an elementary school, so I think I will go walk about the office for awhile ;)

A

Home again Home again!

Well, the party was a success! Grandma is officially 90 and we partied all of the octogenarians into an early nap time ;) (and the rest of us too, but that is another story!)

We made it back from Seattle yesterday, after a short "LONG" night at the Fairfield Inn Seattle Sea-Tac. Great hotel, B just wasn't sleeping well. Our flights went well, B dozed through most of them and then through most of the trip home. Buddy was happy and healthy when we picked him up. Apparently doggy day care was a big success each day, his report cards are wonderful! If only we lived closer so that he could get that kind of socialization on a more regular basis.

Now I am back at work and Paul is home with B because her nose is kinda crummy and she had a pretty ugly cough and a fever. Hopefully she will be feeling well enough for school tomorrow!

A

Passports?

Well, it looks like B and I will have passports this year! After over 2 weeks of phone calls and emails our passports were actually expedited today for delivery Thursday or Friday. SO, we will be having them delivered to Seattle since that is where we will be. This has been an experience in patience...or a test, not sure which, but I am going to write a letter to the customer service manager regarding the lack of information and effect that the call centers can both access and cause. That has to be the most frustrating part!

We are mostly packed (Paul is mostly packed, B is partially packed, I have yet to see my suitcase) and will be leaving bright and early after breakfast with the Masons at Daylight Donuts tomorrow. Buddy is probably not thrilled, but he will live with going to the kennel...as long as I find his shot record again...I think it is on the fridge. I hope it is on the fridge.

A

Terrible Whats'?

Okay, this has been an interesting few days. B decided Saturday that her crib/room are no longer 'safe' for sleeping. Last night she finally slept in the play pen in the living room. At least that saved our sanity for a night. This evening we are going to convert her crib to a toddler bed and see if that is 'safer' at least in her opinion. I may have a nervous breakdown due to lack of sleep in the meantime!

Yesterday B decided to show off her escape (and hostage liberation) skills. She opened the outside door to her daycare room and took off with one of the younger kids. The teachers found the escapees a few minutes later playing with the water table. B ended up in time out. I am beginning to think an hourly dose of time out will do her some good!

We have also sort of started potty training. She likes the idea of sitting on the potty, just isn't sure what to do once she gets there. I think it is time to start reading potty books (as long as we don't get potty mouths because of it).

I am trying to decide if I want to make an attempt at getting my MBA. There is too much to consider in some ways, but the program that started last year in Los Alamos through NMSU in conjunction with LANL may be just the right mix. Now I just have to figure out how to overcome the GMAT.. YIKES!

LONG weekend

What a long weekend! First the router on our network decided that it didn't want to work anymore while Paul was out of town :( then once he did get home, B decided that she didn't want to sleep!!! She ended up sleeping with me last night, and almost kicked me out of bed. Oh well, at least I got a little sleep. Other than that the weekend was quiet, and I think we are ready for our trip to Seattle!

A

He's Home, He's Home, He's Home

Well, Paul got home about 10 last night from his trip to Ottawa. He made all the connections just fine, though the airlines had some challenges with weather. He is going to try and rest this weekend since we are heading to Seattle on Thursday next week to visit with the Donovan side of the family for my Grandmother's 90th Birthday celebration. I can hardly believe it is almost here!

B had a good evening, we got to play then she took her bath after using her dinner as a facial treatment ;) She hasn't gotten to see daddy yet, so I am sure she will be excited when 4:00 arrives and he picks her up.

A

New Tricks

Well, B had to pull a new trick out of her hat for me this morning apparently ;) When I went in to wake her (yes, she has actually been staying asleep in the mornings this week) I found her naked as a jaybird from the waist down. Apparently she didn't want to wear her nemo jammie bottoms anymore and since her diaper was wet she took it off too, then went back to sleep. Her bed appeared to be dry, but I will be stripping it this evening to insure clean sheets. She is such a little pickle these days!

A

Manic Monday?

Well maybe for some people. B and I were ladies of leisure this morning apparently. I managed to sleep in until 6 and then she slept until 7! Then we got dressed, ate breakfast, made lunches, made coffee, etc etc etc. Then we went and checked on Elsie and Luna cats... Elsie was trying to convince me that she was starving and Luna was hiding under the bed, so all was well. I filled their food dishes and topped off their water and then wisked B to daycare down the street. Hopefully she will have a great day!

A

too much energy this morning for mommy!

Well, yesterday was our 4th wedding anniversary. We went to the restaurant where we enjoyed dinner with EVERYONE after the wedding. It was fun, but then real life interfered and we had to go to Walmart to get stuff Paul needed for his trip to Ottawa today. Oh well, that was fun too with a buzz from 2/3 of my strawberry margarita with dinner ;)

Brigit woke up a couple of times last night, so sleep wasn't the best. Paul left her in our room with me when he left for the airport about 4:45 and she actually let me sleep until 6:30.... I am SO tired, and don't have the energy to go get coffee even, and of course I am too low on coffee at the house to actually make some. Hopefully in the next hour or so I will feel up to getting dressed and going out. Wish me luck!

Just Starting

Hi there... if you have found your way here, prepare to be bored by the ramblings of a 30-something first time mom of a toddler... oh yeah, she is the light of my life... and my exercise plan :) I live in Los Alamos, NM. Home of the Manhattan Project and yes, we still have several original buildings MY HOUSE is one of them! I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and can't wait to someday return. We just have to find a good physics position for the hubby!

Anyway, more to come later. I have to go chase the B.