New Job and what's to come!

I can finally say I am the proud owner of a new job.  Excited does not cover it.  I'm happy in the fact that I wanted a job closer to home, and I needed a good raise, but I am sad about leaving my dysfunctional work family.  I've grown so close to these people and they have been with me through a wedding and a baby and if that doesn't create a bond, nothing will.  I really could see myself staying at this job if we were about 3 years in the past but I came about 3 years too late to this party and now its time to go.  I'm moving forward to (what I hope is) a really good place with more good people to be around.  I'm excited to have a commute 15 minutes long and to add a gym time back into my weekly schedule.  I'll be able to feed Kylie breakfast in the morning before we go to our respective daycares and we'll leave the house at 8am rather than 6:45. I could not feel more lucky to have my checklist of job must-haves complete.  The new chapter starts October 4th....Which brings me to my next big event that will punctuate the end of my first week at my new job: my 30th birthday.  Thirties, here I come. I'm at peace with it.  I'm not necessarily excited or disappointed.  I have a lot to show for 30 years on this earth so what is one more year?  I hope to celebrate the occasion with several of my favorite people.


The next few months are shaping up to be a blur running all the way up until Christmas.  Birthdays, craft getaway,  babies due (not mine),  holiday preparations, Thanksgiving,  hopefully a short vacation, Christmas, New Year.  I'm happy to say I have my Christmas list already started and even a few things checked off of it.  I need to remember next year to start a Christmas club account (like I say every year).  I wonder if its too late?  I have so many good ideas swimming around in my head lately and Its not overwhelming my like it normally does.  Oh and of all the overwhelming things, I'm preparing for the PHR certification test.  I hope this time next year I'll be able to add PHR to my title. Oh how fulfilling that would be.  So much excitement to come, before I know it its all going to be here.

Any Given Day: Mommy's Little Helper

Kylie girl is topless and sporting a little plumbers crack, but most importantly, she is attempting to help Mommy feed their demon cat.  She went to the pantry and got the food out all by herself and brought it over to the bowl.  Such a smart cookie she is, and from the looks of it, an animal lover too!

How do you do more?

Tragedy seems like its everywhere these days. People leaving this earth long before their time.  Creatures that are helpless to the elements they are exposed to whether it be crude oil or flooding.  Sadness is everywhere and it makes me feel so helpless.
Motherhood, specifically, has turned me into quite a sentimental person.  As one who used to easily hear a sad story and shake my head and move on, its so very different now.   The stories of death and loss stick with me far longer than I'd like, especially when I don't know how to deal with it.  I guess now that I have so much to loose, the possibility of loosing it is beyond frightening.  I'd rather not try to fathom the thought of not having Kylie in my life, and my life would be so lonely pointless without Nick.  But some people are, in fact, dealt that hand in life.  When I hear those stories, first hand or otherwise, my first instinct it to act.  But how? Do you reach out?  Do you send words?  Is just unspoken support enough?  If I had the resources, I'd do anything in my power to come to these people's aid.  I want to help, I just don't know how.  What can a regular person do?  How can you let people know you care?  Its such a tightrope to walk.  How can you approach a problem that is bigger than you?
When the BP oil spill happened, I would come home at night and worry to Nick.  "What will we do?"  "WHO will help??"  "WHO will stop this horrible mess?"  It was anxiety worthy of at least a few Valium. 
When Layla Grace was ailing, near the end of her short short life, it was tear inducing.  The thought that someone...parents...were going to lose their beautiful gift, their daughter.  It was heart wrenching.  Because that could be anyone at any time. Then what? Where do you go from there?
Whatever small silly conciliation I could offer, would be so minute in the grand scheme of things.  I want to heal their pain.  No money can provide that kind of relief to them...and I'm sure my time nor words nor crafts are worth that much. So what do you do?  How do you make a difference when what you have to offer will never be enough?   

dad &hearts&

I don't think he knows how much I appreciate him.  He is different than I thought he would be to me at this age.  He's a Dad and a Grandpa, and half a Mom all rolled into one.  He plans get togethers with us and he makes sure they gets Kylie time every week, and he picks up the phone to call and make sure we are doing ok.  If you catch him at the right time, he might even gossip with you a little.  He talks music with you, and he says things like "Its all good."  He frames pictures and hangs them in the hallway gallery.  He keeps the house in line and he cooks and he calls me whem my mom needs to get her hair done so I can set up an appointment.  He remembers birthdays, he exercises, he works and he plays.  The travels and he holds my Mom's hand and gives her an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder. 
I wish I had given him more credit from the get go.  I never thought he'd handle it all as well as he does.  Its like his stride picked up where my mom's kinda stopped, barely missing a beat.  We don't really have the kind of relationship where we have those kinda of heart to hearts, but I hope that he knows that he is irreplacable.  He's our glue.  There isn't a card or a phrase or gesture that will show him how much he means to me.  I needed to know him this way, and see him as more than the working dad.  Although the words are infrequently spoken, the love is strong. 

Any given day: intro

On any given day in our house I see things that make me smile. A warm smile, an heartfelt smile that brings tear to my eyes (or just almost).  So in honor of the random joys I experience ony any given day, I will devote a post to them and call it: AGD.

True to shoe fanatic form, Kylie is attached to these shoes with a capital A.  I just couldn't get over how her feet looked like those of a big girl, all that's missing are painted toenails.