Last Day!

As I sit eating my Doritos and banana for lunch, I hope to not get cheese powder on this keyboard. It's not mine you see. I'm at my training for Transcription Express. Today is the last day of full day training, and I cannot wait to get that block of time back in my day. It's made for a long tiring week. I get up at 6:30 am, go downstairs and pump, get ready, get Maddie ready, go to my work office to print out my homework for the transcription class (our printer is STOOPIT), drop Maddie off at Tasha's, come to training until 2, go pick up Maddie, go to work at Slade until 5:30, come home and spend the rest of the evening doing the homework assignment, tending to Maddie, or eating dinner with my family while they're in town. Last night was especially long because we had Mutual to attend. Needless to say, I'm happy for this week to be over.

Weekend, here I come! Be prepared for complete laziness and gluttony. Oh wait, you're used to that.

Holly Homemaker

Is it possible to survive on $75 a week? Join us as we take on this terrific challenge.

I will be taking on some part time work as a transcriptionist, but I must first go to training for a week. I will not be paid from my current job during this time, so after figuring all the math, I've determined our weekly budget for the next 4 weeks is $75/week. Don't worry, I've figured all our monthly bills into the math. I just have to worry about groceries gas, and the unavoidable miscellaneous costs.
Gas is my main concern. My car is $50 to fill up; Casey's about $40. I fill up about once a week, but starting Monday I'll be doing more driving because of the part time work.
Sooooooo, food budget is extremely limited. In my attempts to meet my financial goal, I will be playing the role of Holly Homemaker. Homemade bread, hand rolled tortillas, beans and potatoes will make appearances throughout the next month. I fear the bread most. I've never done it; it always seems so complicated and specific. I hope to succeed.
I'll of course keep you all posted on the outcome of my venture. I know you're on the edge of your seat now, as you read this most gripping blog...

Never Again

Casey's boss gave us pretty great seats to the Cardinal's game last night, so we gladly accepted. Later we realized it was at 5pm, but we still decided to go, knowing traffic would be a mess. Never again. Never ever again.

We left the house at 4:30 as soon as I got home from work. We got to the stadium at 6:30: me with a tear stained face, Maddie SCREAMING, and Casey repeating, "I hate this stupid Valley." It was my first experience of letting Maddie cry, and it broke my heart. I was sure I'd never get her to stop, but as soon as I fed her, she was smiling up at me, and I instantly was in a better mood.

We made it before the 3rd quarter started, and, according to Casey, the starters had already played the first half, because it's a pre-season game. So we got to see a lot of the 3rd and 4th string. Eh. Football is football. We left in the middle of the 4th quarter because we did not want to face horrible parking lot traffic. 2 1/2 hours of driving for 1 hour of football. The tickets were a kind gesture, but next time, I think I'll pass.

Success!

After years of searching, I founder a partner who fit my criteria, and we were able to breed a dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty. 10 1/2 weeks have passed and our offspring's eyes have clung to the blue pigment. I pray they stay, and I'm sure I'll soon be smited for such a vain request. Next step: get that baby a tan! Which may prove difficult, as Casey and I shield her from the sun at all costs.
***Disclaimer: I did not marry Casey just because he has blue eyes. He also has athletic genes and nice olive skin.

Smiles Galore

Don't be fooled by the half hearted smiles seen in the pictures; it's hard to snap a shot in time to capture Maddie's glee. She's finally at the stage of true smiling, and let me tell you, she thinks I'm HILARIOUS. Which, I am. No surprise there. It's just nice that she can finally express herself.

Daddy and Maddie

Casey is so adorable with Madeline. It melts my heart to see them together. She will definitely be "Daddy's little girl", and he will definitely be "crazy-over ptotective Dad". He's already put his foot down about piercing her ears while she's a baby. I've agreed to wait until she asks. I'm not sure if I'll enforce the no makeup until her wedding day though.

Some actual wording

Ok, so I've posted enough pictures of our chubby-cheeked baby, I guess it's time to write about her. Today Madeline is one month old, and as all new mothers know, it's been quite a month! The delivery was long and full of good times. I started getting contractions on Wednesday night, and they kept me up the entire night, and of course Casey couldn't sleep either, as he kept wondering if it was time. It was not. The next night, same miserable thing. Finally they started to come more consistently and with much more pain. We checked into the hospital at 6am. I was 4 cm and completely effaced. 6 hours later, I opted for the epidural; the pain was no fun, and all I wanted in life was to sleep. At about 4pm the nurse says to us, "She'll be here within an hour." 4 1/2 hours later she finally came. The stinker was face up with her arm around her head, so it took longer than expected.
The first week was rough, adjusting to my new sleeping schedule. But she now does well and will sleep 4 hours when I lay her down at night before her first wake up. Some of her favorite things are: eating- first and foremost, getting her hair washed and combed, snuggling like a potato bug on daddy's chest, mommy's melodic voice, her swing with accompanying tunes and car rides. Things she does not enjoy are: getting her face washed, her pacifer when she's hungry, loud noises, and formula bottles when mom can't feed her right at the moment.
She's a bundle of all that is good in the world, and we love her stinkin guts. She's a must see for all who need a glimpse of absolute cuteness. Schedule your appointment today!