Blogging Baby

A Blog that I read daily -- Blogging Baby - www.bloggingbaby.com. If you've got kids, are thinking about kids, or just enjoy the latest news about babies and children, this site is a great read. The articles are relevant, poignant, fun, and well-written.

The Winning Entry 

Pumpkin Carving 

Happy Haunting

Its been awhile since I last posted. We're getting ready for Halloween. Won the pumpkin carving competition at our apartment complex a couple of weekends back. Not many people entered. Probably would have if they'd realised that the prize was a $50 Target gift certificate. Just for carving a pumpkin.

Its nice to be back in the USA for one of my favourite holidays. Kellan's going as Thomas the Tank Engine. Party at his baby group tomorrow. He'll dress up again on Halloween (after church) and help pass out candy in the evening. We've decided not to use him as our ticket to free candy this year. But next year, when he can walk, chocolate here we come!

I've been sick all week on candy. Just ate a bunch of Tootsie Rolls. And I don't even like them. Why is that you'll eat just about anything at work? Well, so long as its candy and preferably chocolate (even in the false Tootsie Roll form). I'll never lose these last 5 lbs of baby weight. Kellan's only 8 months old and I'm very nearly back to my old figure. In a size 6 now and I was a 4 before being pregnant (well, I was a 1 for awhile, but then I started to eat!).

Happy Halloween!

Beautiful Fall Day 

Ready for Halloween 

You Know You're a Mother When...

...you've spent the morning pumping milk from your breasts, coaxing a 7 month old to eat his breakfast, picking up cheerios from the floor (and the seat, and the table, and the baby's pajamas), and are still in your underwear. Oh, and another giveaway -- holding a long and meaningful conversation with somebody who's only response is, "Ba, ba, abba, aaaahhhhhhh". And then you're off to discuss issues of geologic importance with your scientific colleagues at work. And they wonder why I don't feel up to presenting an afternoon seminar yet.

Kellan's New Winter Hat 

Another Friday

Where did the week go? Another Friday, a long weekend. The days seem to fly when you're working, parenting, and generally trying to stay afloat. Kellan had his flu shot this morning. They only had enough for this week, today they were administering the final doses. Glad that we got our appointment as soon as we heard about the shortage. Empty in the research centre today, everybody's off on a camping trip for the weekend (we opted out -- at 7 months old its a bit cold to be sleeping out). At least I don't have to sit in the "pump room" to express today. I can do it at my desk. No chance of anybody walking in.

Friday

Student loans. And the car. It was free, but in 2 1/2 months time its been towed once and in the shop twice. This time may be long and involved (and expensive). The student loans are going to cost me every penny of my income and all the interest on our savings for the next 4 years. I love my job, but in order to get the degrees that allowed me to get the job, I had to take nearly $90,000 in student loans. I now make $30,000/year before taxes. Where does that leave me?

At least its Friday and I get two whole days at home with my boys. Try to find things to do in the middle of nowhere Springfield IL that don't invovle driving. The video store?