Today ...

Today ... was my first official day of summer vacation. I'm working tomorrow and a few days next week, and then I'm not working again until the end of July. I can feel my entire body relaxing as I type those words: I'm not working again until the end of July. The cold Boulevard on the coaster next to me may also be part of "my entire body relaxing."

Today ... Sara had her 6-month visit with Dr. McDonald. She weighs 17 pounds on the nose, and she is 26 inches in length. The doctor himself said, "She eats well." Indeed. For the last 6 weeks or so (give or take), Sara has been eating "real" lunches and dinners that consist of rice or oat cereal with veggies and/or fruit. She hasn't met a food she doesn't like. So, it's official: she can stay. This is the face of a kid who can't figure out why she must pause between bites to pose for pictures.
Today ... Sara had her last set of immunizations for a while. She's never had any adverse reactions to them, thank goodness, but I'm glad she won't have to endure as much poking at her 9-month check-up.

Today ... Dr. McDonald said we can start using a sippy cup! I don't know why this excites me so, but it does. After leaving his office, we immediately went sippy-cup shopping. So far Sara has had about two drinks of water, with my help, of course. She'll be keeping herself happy and hydrated without assistance in no time, I'm sure. Today ... is the last day of Sara's 5th month. At the doctor's office there was a newborn, and she was so tiny. Not long ago, I had a newborn, but now she's becoming a full-blown kid! Six months of Sara's life have gone by in a flash, and I find myself racking my brain to be sure I've secured enough mental images and memories to last a lifetime.

Today ... Higgins had a shot, too, so he can stay at The Dog House when we go to MN in a couple of weeks. He and Sara are paying more attention to one another these days. Last week she got a good grip on a chunk of his hair, and -- to my relief -- his response was to jump around like they were playing. When we were waiting at the vet today, Higgins made sure to "check" on Sara whenever another dog passed her. Today ... a new job opportunity may have presented itself to Steve. We'll see what unfolds. In the meantime, he's still on contract with his former/current company.

Today ... I decided to turn over a new leaf: I didn't even look twice at the tabloids in the grocery store. I hereby give up celebrity gossip, mostly because all it does anymore is make me sad. This is the first goal of many I hope to accomplish in becoming a better version of myself (call it a Summer Resolution). I'm typing it here so you can all yell at me if I regress.

Today ... I tried really hard to let the ordinary, mundane parts of life remind me of how great things are, just the way they are. Today was a good day.