Well, #$@%&*!

(Insert your own expletive. A game? Yes, how fun!)

Since most of you are on Facebook, you've already read Steve's announcement that, as of yesterday morning, we are a one-income family. Unfortunately, the one income we still have doesn't hold much of a candle to the income we lost. Fortunately, we're not above eating Ramen and rice & beans.

I know that many people -- even some good friends -- have been (or still are) in our shoes. Of course it's difficult to understand the gravity of a situation until you are faced with it, so while I had sympathy for others who've been here before, now I can say I really get it. I think the most frustrating part of this for me is the fact that Steve is really good at what he does ... he deserves to have his job. But lots of people out there are making the same argument; I know, I know. On one hand, I'm feeling sad, stressed, nervous (and I'm not even the one looking for a job). On the other hand, I'm feeling way more important that I usually do. Just think: right now you are reading the ramblings of a BREADWINNER!

I guess it's not that funny.

This is all just to say that if I didn't hate the recession before, you can bet I do now.

Refreshed

For the first time in a long time, we spent the weekend with college friends. Craig, Lisa, and Isaac came to town for a whirlwind visit that included a trip to Southfork Ranch for the girls, hole-in-the-wall Mexican food for the guys, and the NFL draft for all. As is par for the course when we have memories to document, we managed to take only one photo all weekend. Steve's goal was for Isaac to at least hold Sara, but as you can see, he far exceeded all expectations:
You know that refreshing, fulfilling feeling you get when you spend quality time with people you love? I so feel that this evening. We were blessed to have made college friends who are as close as it gets to family, minus the whole biological bit. They've seen us at our best and worst, they know pretty much all there is to know about us (and even a little more), and in a way, we all sort of grew up together. The unedited, honest conversation and whole-hearted laughs that defined this weekend provided some long overdue refreshment in the midst of what has become a hectic and stressful spring. Our 36-hour visit, albeit too quick, was just what I needed.

Thanks for visiting, guys ... we can't wait to do it again!

Serenity Now

It's been a week.

On Monday morning I had a near-crisis when my hairdryer wouldn't turn on. The dryer itself was in working condition, but the switch refused to budge. You better believe I went into panic mode and beckoned Steve to help me. I may have started to cry a little bit, and I may have even stomped my feet. It took a screwdriver (a real one, not the drink, although that probably would've worked, too) to get my hairdryer up and running again. Yes I did go to Target Monday afternoon to buy a backup to have on hand so this crisis does not manifest itself again. Serenity now.

Dallas traffic is driving me insane. On the way home from work -- daily -- I manage to hit every red light, and when I make it to the freeway where I'm supposed to be able to move, I inevitably get stuck behind the person who clearly has no intention of getting home in a timely manner. Driving never bothered me before, but it's beginning to become the bane of my existence. Serenity now.

Facebook, MySpace, and "sexting" are causing me problems. While I'm not involved in any of these electronic mediums, I spend my days among 900 teens who are very involved ... and therein lies the problem. Facebook, you pressure people into thinking they need you in their lives to be cool. But seriously, grow a conscience: create a minimum age and stick to it. And let it not be less than 18. And filter for crying out loud. Because you lack morals, Facebook, and because you let any teenager without (or even with) conscientious parents write whatever their hearts desire on your filthy pages, my job gets harder and harder. I'm out of patience. Serenity now.

I have a headache that won't quit. I don't know what to make for dinner. Pay day is still two whole days away. And even though I have had the luxury of "sleeping in" for the past two mornings, I don't feel anymore rested than I do on any regular day of the week. Serenity now. Serenity NOW!

Confessions of a 4-Month-Old Drama Queen

Happy Easter!

On Friday morning, Sara had her 4-month check-up with Dr. McDonald. She weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 24 1/4 inches. She received another round of immunizations (she cried only for a minute or two), and was told by Dr. McDonald that she's ready to start eating something more than formula. This was the good news I'd been anticipating for some time! Dr. McDonald said we can go ahead and start experimenting with the different cereals and applesauce, and slowly begin to add vegetables and then fruits. If you've taken notice of Sara's cheeks in any of the recent photos, you'll understand what I mean when I say that the child is probably more excited than she realizes about the array of fine foods that will soon be presented to her.

After our appointment, we loaded up the car and headed to Kansas for the weekend to see Steve's sisters and their families. Sara spent lots of quality time with her new cousin, Lyndsey, who was born April 1st. Now that I think of it, we were so occupied with the babies that we didn't even bother to take a picture with all of the cousins together. Bummer.

Lyndsey and Sara weighed the same at birth (7 lbs. 7 ozs.), but I swear that Sara was never so itty-bitty. How quickly I've forgotten ...Tonight when we got home and unpacked, we gave rice cereal a shot. Sara ate a few spoonfuls, didn't make too many "oh, gross" faces, and made enough of a mess so that we had the opportunity to take plenty of messy-first-time-trying-to-eat-with-a-spoon pictures.

Bring it on ...

Not so sure ...

Getting the hang of it ...Although we had the slight misfortune of spending the better part of our Easter driving through pouring rain in Kansas and Oklahoma, we had a fun weekend visiting family and we made it home in time for a relaxing evening, so I'm headed to the couch with Steve and Sara. Hope you all had a good one!

There Were Ten in the Bed and the Little One Said ...

... "Roll over, roll over!"

Sara rolled from tummy to back for the first time tonight. Though I tried, I was not able to capture proof in the form of video. But she did it! Three times! I swear! She rolled over right in front of God and everybody (well, Steve and me, anyway). As you can imagine, there was a lot of cheering involved.

**********************************************

In other news, Sara is a hard sleeper. On Tuesday night, we put her to bed in the center of her crib, covered with a blanket (Gasp! I do cover my baby with a blanket ...). When I went in to wake her up on Wednesday morning, she was sleeping like this:

Sara managed to do all of this tossing and turning without making a peep. She has on her "turn-off-that-bright-light" look. The child fights hard when she's roused from sweet sleep in the mornings. She and her Dad must be kindred spirits. I'm not bitter. Did you hear me? I said I'm not bitter.

Wordless Wednesday

(Disclaimer: This idea is totally stolen from Renee, Allison, and many others who started posting Wordless Wednesdays a long time ago. Yes, I know these are words, but it's a disclaimer so they are allowed here).

Hurt So Good

I've been begging Steve FOR-EV-UH to help me landscape the backyard. Although he never fully agreed, he was left without much choice when his parents said they'd be happy to help. So this morning, with the help of G & G B. and Uncle Mark, we began what may very possibly snowball into a multi-phase yard overhaul. We spent today placing paving stones beside the covered patio to create a sunny spot to sit, and then used metal edging to design a large flower bed, which is the new home to six bushes (three Indian Hawthornes, two Japanese Boxwoods, and something with soft leaves and yellow flowers).

Part II will include a small tree in the backyard. The perfect finishing touch, it will hopefully provide both visual interest and a little shade for Sara and Higgins. I have in mind the type of tree I'd like to get, but I'm open to suggestions if you know anything about trees and would like to share. Part III will be a redesign of the front yard, which actually looks decent but just needs a little trimming and updating. Sort of like hair.

In addition to the fact that my backyard now looks a little less like the wildlife habitat at the zoo and more like a place where a family lives, today I managed to get my first layer of summer sun, and my gluts are sore in a way that indicates to me that my behind may be working its way back into shape. And that, friends, hurts so good.