Second star to the right

Calling all Lost Boys and anyone else who never wants to grow up!

Isa B is ready with her pixie dust to help you fly to Neverland.

Low moments in motherhood

Some days you know you're just not being a good mom.

You know, those days when your child has shoved yet another toy or book under the sofa and is screaming because she can't reach it. And you bend down to retrieve it only to bash your knee on the coffee table. And it's all you can do to not shout obscenities so instead you toss the book across the room.

Or when your child is cranky and decides that it's really fun to pinch you- hard. When you pull her hand away, she simply swoops in with her second hand. So you hold both her little hands and try to tell her calmly that "no, we don't pinch Mommy". She responds by screaming. And it's all you can do to not shout obscenities so instead you plunk her down on the floor, probably not as gently and lovingly as you might usually do it.

Or when your child is overly exhausted because she refused to take a second (sorely needed) nap. And it's bedtime. And she's screaming. She doesn't want to be down and play. She doesn't want to be in your lap. She doesn't want to be in her room at all. And it's all you can do to not shout obscenities so you simply force your crying child to stay in your arms until she finally cries herself to sleep.

You know... those days....

*sigh*

The Call

One year ago today I was sitting in my office when the phone rang. It was my agency's coordinator and she asked if I was sitting down. The next thing she said was "I know who your daughter is."

I can still hear exactly how her voice sounded saying those words. One sentence changed my entire life.

Only one year ago and at the same time, WHAT a year it has been!

The funniest word in the English language...

... apparently is "yuck". Or at least Isa B thinks so.

Almost walking

Here's the proof that Isa B is tttttthhhhhiiiiiissssss close to walking.

Today we went to the Little Gym with a friend across the street and then out to Bellevue Square just to be out and about. Our first stop was Pottery Barn Kids. They had a little shopping cart that was just Isa's size. Up until today she hasn't figured out "push toys." She pushed them but then wouldn't move her feet to keep up. Didn't work so well, as you can imagine.

Well, today she just took off with the shopping cart. I think she walked around the entire store....

This was the scene about 1 minute after we left the mall. :)

A few new pics

Reading all about being a Cougar (you can never start too early)

Meeting our new friend Gracie at the airport. Welcome home!!!

Her new backyard swing. Super fun.

Playing in a bouncy-house. Also super fun.

Yes, we're still alive

I know, I know. We've been gone for quite a while. But it's been uber-busy. (Yep, that's the only excuse I can think of.....)

So, here's the quick version of what we've done in the last three weeks:

- Isa went to the fair for the first time and loved seeing all the animals. Petting the sheep and the bunnies was quite exciting.

- We had her delayed 12 month check up. She was in a particularly stellar mood (a mirror to admire herself in and loads of crinkly paper on the exam table- wooha!!!!!). The Ped even asked if she was always this "animated." Yes, she is. :)
Stats: 25% for both height and weight (just under 21lbs and about 29in)
She stopped crying about 5 seconds after her shots because the MA gave her animal crackers.

- Unfortunately, her PPD came back positive (I thought we'd done this when she first came home, but maybe we didn't... or maybe I forgot to come back to have it read.....). Luckily, her chest X-ray was negative but we'll be starting meds tomorrow.

- Isa is now pulling up on EVERYTHING in site. She cruises like a champ. I predict full-on walking by Halloween, if not before. She'll walk holding onto my hands but she still walks on her tiptoes. You can never start your ballet training to early, you know.

- She is also sleeping through the night about 90% of the time. Granted, she often wakes up at 5, which is too early for this mama, so I still throw in bed with me. But 7pm-5am is superb. I wish I could get that much sleep.

- Naps are still hit and miss. Twice this week she's taken a 2 1/2 hour nap in the middle of the day which I LOVE. I can get so much done, it's amazing. It's a bit touchy as the evening progresses because she's been awake so long. And somedays she still definitely needs 2 naps. So, I'm just going with the flow right now.

- Great news on the job front. We're in the process of moving my only in-office job to remote status. That will mean I can add more hours (and thus more money- yeah!). I also am in talks with another hospital for a new contract, which would be gi-normous. Fingers crossed that it will go through....... I might actually be able to save money. What would that be like????

- I'm also taking 2 classes this semester so that I can take the Certified Tumor Registrar exam next spring. My Medical Terminology class is entirely online and I think I'll be able to keep up. The 2nd semester of A&P is every Saturday morning. Hoping I can keep up with that because, honestly, being able to take all the tests from home with my book at my side really helped my grade. I don't think my brain can actually hold that information in it right now.

So that is the speed version of the last month or so. I'm sure I'm missing things that I'll think of later. I'm too tired right now to try and load pics from my camera, so I'll pinky swear to post some tomorrow night.