Randomness

Lots of random thoughts have been floating around my brain lately that I am going to share in a typical consultant's method of conveying information: A bulleted list!

• I am so glad that college football is done and can't wait for NFL football to be done as well.


• I finally got that scent, Sugar Lychee I've been drooling over from fresh and it is way more complex than I thought. I feel gorgeous wearing it.


• My New Years resolution is to keep the house cleaner. Yesterday I "mopped" the kitchen floor on my hands and knees with a roll of paper towels and household cleaner-don't tell my Mother!


• I drink at least 70 ounces of water every day. (Hey-I said it was random)


• Yesterday, at an office Baby Shower I ate 5 Rice Krispie treats and didn't feel guilty.


• My daughter, by far, is the cutest kid at her day care.
  
• I have not slept for more than 6 uninterupted hours since May 28th 2007.
  
• During a recent meeting with my colleagues we argued the "realness" of the word projectize. In the words of my dear friend Kathleen "I wanted to cut my arm off and beat myself with it".
  
• I blow dry my hair on the way to work in my car by blasting the heater and directing the vents at my head.


• I plan on voting D in the election whomever gets nominated.

Something less random is my desire for a project. I decided that once we move to the Philippines I am going to start a sewing project. I sewed minimally when I was younger with my Mom but I will need to re-teach myself and get a sewing machine. I think it will be a fun way to keep myself busy since I don't plan on working when we are in Manila. I haven't completely decided what the project will be. I want to do something simple that I can perfect and give as gifts. I have some inspiration and a vision in my head. One thing I have decided is a brand! So when my product becomes mildly famous or popular you will see my label all over. Those of you who know me will understand the cleverness of it.

71 degrees

Today was unusually warm for this time of year! I have to admit that it was so refreshing. After I picked Addie up from day care we put a beach towel on the grass outside and played for a while. Over the summer Addie was too young to be fully aware of her surroundings so this afternoon was the first time she felt grass on her toes and leaves in her hands. She went crazy for the feeling of grass. She rubbed her feet in the soft dirt and grabbed at the leaves and blades of grass. Of course everything went in her mouth so I had to snap a few pictures quickly and then grab nature out of her hands before she ate it. I got to try out my new Nikon D40 camera. Wow, it takes clear photos.

winter sunshine

It's funny how in September I wish away all the last hot summer days and pray for the cold weather to roll in quickly. Then during the winter I long for just one warm sunny day to come relieve us from the dry windy bitter cold. Today was warm and sunny just in time to pick my spirits up. Addie, Lucy, and I took a walk in the neighborhood to soak up the vitamin D. It was wonderful.

before our eyes

Addie has grown before our eyes these past two weeks. While we were in Washington her second front bottom tooth surfaced. It's taken no time to sprout as tall as the first and they are visible when she opens her mouth. It's so adorable. She likes to push her tongue down on her teeth to test out how they feel. She has also started to scoot herself on the floor a little bit and moves from a sitting position to a tummy position easily. Her foot gets caught often but she's trying so hard to crawl and move. Tonight she got on her knees and was bouncing up and down a bit while pulling herself up on her Dad. She's reaching her arms out for who she wants between her Mom or Dad, it's so sweet that she's able to express that she wants me. Addie has also started to say dadadada. She said it once as Justin walked by so I think she might grasp dada is Daddy. No luck with Mama yet. Just within the last three days Addie has started scrunching up her nose and sniffing loudly. It's hilarious. Her personality is definitely coming through. It's so fun watching my baby grow!

Adorable

Addie still thinks bath time is the best time of the day. Every night she splashes in the water and sucks on the bath toys. Grandma and Grandpa have a really cool blow up ducky bath that we used while visiting. When you squeeze the bill of the duck it quacks. Addie thought this was hilarious. Megan caught these two adorable pictures of my baby girl having a ball in the bath.

so many books, so little time

Powell's Books is my Mecca. Every year I make my pilgrimage to this wonderful city of books. New and used books line shelves that go on forever. The store is just messy enough and just confusing enough to feel personal like your grandmother's basement. Each book is given its rightful place on the shelf in it's rightful room (color coded: gold for fiction, orange for children's, etc.). Each book is respected; the used right along with the new. It's a book lovers paradise. I could literally wander around all day stroaking the spines of the books, seeking out my favorite authors, and breathing in the musty paper smell of the books. I'm not exagerating...we actually had to go back for a second trip after feeling a bit rushed through the first time since Addie was with us.

The result of this pilgrimage was a huge stack of books we had to get back to the east coast. We couldn't wait to start reading all our purchases.

I was so pleased with my finds for Addie. I found a reproduction of A Child's Garden of Verses, the full collection with the original vintage illustrations. I also got an old edition of Mother Goose Rhymes, and a used Runaway Bunny board book.

I brought home Sushi for Beginners, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, and The Other Side of the Story, all by Marian Keyes- easy British chick lit. I also picked up a used copy of Songs of an Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry Morris and Mansfield Park by Jane Austin.

Justin brought home No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (he's almost finished it already!), A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, The Blind Side by Michael Lewis, Enders Game by Orson Scott Card, and Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman.

Plus I got a Powell's Nalgene bottle! It was bliss! My friend Heather drove down from Olympia to hang out and go to Powell's she brought Addie a peacock for Christmas. Addie was in love with it.

A Day to Remember

Dad worked on Christmas Day so my parents, sisters, Justin, Addie and I had our family Christmas on December 26th. We savored the whole day to relax, open gifts, eat, and just enjoy the company. Most years we are rushing around to finish everything before jolting off to the next celebration. We all preferred the slow paced setting and decided to make it a tradition. Grandpa helped Addie open her stocking. She probably would have been happy with the little popping turtle as her only gift. Grandpa and Grandma went all out. There were so many gifts for Addie! She was surrounded by toys. My parents picked out wonderful toys and clothes. Dad said he tested them all out to make sure they met his standards for his Granddaughter. Addie is such a lucky girl. Everyone got their traditional new PJs for Christmas as well as lots of other goodies, and treasures. The family room looked like a bomb went off once we were done. It was a blast. Since we had all day we decided to go to the best Microbrewery in all of Washington that just happens to be in our backyard. Salmon Creek Brew Pub is Justin and my Father’s favorite for the laid back atmosphere, fiery old Russian woman who co-owns the family pub, Ruben sandwiches, and of course the top notch micro-brew. It was my first visit and I admit the beer battered onion rings were a winner. Mom and Dad are sporting their new Syracuse sweatshirts from Megan. It was a great ending to a great Christmas!