Sometimes, it's the big things.

And sometimes, it's the small things. Susan's parents were here visiting for a couple of days when Lucy made a big leap - she let Gran hold her and play with her for a good 10 minutes! She also let her hold her a few other times while out shopping. She didn't cry at all and when she was "done" she just reached for Susan or I.

To most people, it's probably not a big deal, given that she is 9.5 months old. To us, it was huge. More or less since birth, she has screamed bloody murder if anyone besides me or Susan (and sometimes even Susan) so much as looked at her, no less tried to hold her. It was to the point that we had to ask well meaning strangers to please not speak to her or try to engage her. Those who know us well stopped trying to hold her at all, as they knew she'd just freak out.

It got to the point where I broke down one night because I was sure that I was the only person in the world who liked her at all and that everyone thought she was a "bad baby." My heart broke for anyone to think that because she is a great baby and a sweet girl, just one with a few challenges.

I was so happy to see her interacting with her grandparents and that they got to see what a sweet, happy girl she is.

Job news.

Now that it's official, I can share the details. I started at Duke almost two years ago in the position I have now. When I was interviewing, the team leader told me they had requested an additional day for the position and wanted to be sure I was ok working three days/week. I said I was, but at the time, I could have gone either way. The extra money would have been nice, but Theo was 10 months old, I'd never spent an entire day away from him and three days seemed like a lot. So, for about a year, I didn't say much about it.

Over the past year, it's been clear that the third day was needed. We'd really like to move to a bigger house, closer to Duke, and needed the extra income to do that. Also, my patient load is crazy and I was having a hard time getting everything done in two days. So, I started asking. And asking and asking and asking. Heard lots of empty promises and "maybes." So, I started poking around just to see what else was out there. I wanted to remain part time and I wanted to continue working in a hospital, in pediatrics, so that limited the options. I did find a part time position at Wake Med and applied.

The short version is, after a phone interview and a TWO HOUR panel interview, I was offered the position. I was honest with Duke the whole time and let them know exactly why I was looking and that it had absolutely nothing to do with being unhappy there, just a need for more hours. Well, all of a sudden, they got serious. My boss asked me not to accept an offer without giving them a chance to respond. I got the unofficial offer from Wake Med a week ago, but had to wait on the HR rep to come back from vacation to give me the official offer and to discuss salary. She finally called and I kid you not, while I was on the phone with her, my pager went off with a message that said "can you start working three days/week on August 15th? Call me immediately." Nothing like the 11th hour!!

I told both hospitals I needed a night to think on it. There were pros and cons to both. Wake Med is closer. It's a new position with 20 hours a week that I could use however I wanted and come and go as I please. But. It was grant funded. It was a new position. They wanted 5 days/week (4 hours/day) which could have easily started looking like a full time job. I didn't know anyone. It would be starting over. I love working at Duke. I have friends there. I am respected for my work and have a good relationship with my clinics. It would be more money. But. It's three full days away from the kids. I'd never get to take or pick up Theo from preschool, so I would feel like I didn't know his teachers at all. One of my coworkers drives me crazy.

I called my boss on my way home that evening and told her about not being able to take and pick up Theo from school and how sad that made me. She agreed that on Tuesdays I could flex my hour and work 9:30 to 6 instead of 8:30 to 5. That sealed it. I did come home and talk with Susan and we agreed that the extra money and the concession of the hour on Tuesdays was more than I could have hoped for. I also would be earning PTO and retirement. And, when we are able to move, the commute will be cut in half, so the days won't seem quite as long.

I gave my decision yesterday and was SO relieved. It's been a long two weeks and it felt like I was playing chicken with Duke. I'm so happy they came through for me. Wake Med asked if there was anything they could do to change my mind, but I had my mind made up. This is going to mean really good things for us and we have a goal to be in a new house in 18 months! I also had my annual review yesterday which went well and I was able to thank my boss in person. And, hear a lot of nice things about my work and contributions to the team which felt nice.

So, that's the story. Susan and I will be Dookies for a good long while!!

Yeah, I fell off the blog wagon.

I have no good reason. I guess it's just between Facebook and Flickr, does anyone really need so much "social media?" I do use the blog to help me do the kids' books at the end of the year, so I guess I should update, even if just for me!

Theo

Little man is two and a half! CRAZY. I can't even believe he will be 3 in November. 2 is still a baby, 3 is a kid. He is funny, sweet, mischievous and looking forward to being able to go outside again once the heat breaks. He's matured by leaps and bounds in the last few months. For starters, he is POTTY TRAINED! It didn't take long at all and Susan did most of the work, but as with every other transition, he did it easily. He wears underwear all day (even during nap) and a diaper at night. He loves picking his underwear out every day and I love buying it. I especially love only having to wash half the diapers. We skipped Pull Ups and went straight to underwear, which I think was key. He didn't have too many accidents and will even potty in public. It's awesome. He's been in a twin bed for nearly a year now, likes to pick his own clothes, puts on his own shoes, finally can eat pizza without it being cut up, LOVES to help me in the kitchen (still) and carries on long conversations. As he is out of diapers now, it seems like there isn't a trace of anything "baby" around here for him anymore. Such a big boy! He goes back to preschool in September and I think we are all ready to get back to a routine. He's a great big brother and likes playing with Lucy. And, she is his biggest fan.

Lucy

Little bit is 9 months old. I'd say I am shocked, but babyhood seems to be going slower the second time, so I feel like she should be older somehow. She has also made huge strides in the last month or so. She is eating crazy amounts of solid food and while she doesn't have any teeth still, she will NOT eat purees anymore. For example, this morning she ate a whole piece of french toast, a handful of blueberries, a quarter of a banana, a bunch of Cheerios and she nursed. She's a pro at the sippy cup (just water) and is still nursing several times a day. We don't know where she puts all this food as she isn't quite 17 pounds. Still very much a little peanut. She is so close to crawling! She gets in position and rocks and pivots and rolls all over, but no actual crawling yet. Fine by us, by the way. She's been pulling up for a long time and likes to stand. She is also SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT! We started some gentle Sleep Lady work a few months ago, but she really did this mostly on her own. She was waking at 2am for a feed, then 4am and now 6am. It's awesome. I believe this is largely due to her being able to put her own pacifier in. We sprinkle a bunch in the crib so she can find one at night. She's also taking two decent naps, which we no longer have to fight her on. We put her in her crib and walk out. She just plays and talks to herself until she falls asleep. Generally, she takes one short nap and one longer one. She loves to play with Theo and watch the dog. She is a very loud screecher and does this ALL day long. She loves the water and bath time is a favorite around here. She's also made gains with social development and no longer cries if a stranger looks at her. She generally ducks her head under our chins and acts shy, but doesn't cry. We'll take it!

Us

I am training for the Charlottesville Women's 4 Miler over Labor Day weekend. I am using a Couch to 5K program and it's going ok. I have had a lot of trouble with my lower back, which makes it hard to run. I saw a doctor who said I sustained an injury during Lucy's birth since she came so fast. He said not to run. I disagreed.

I am also possibly making a change at work, but more to come about that if/when things change.

Susan is still working hard and finding projects around here to keep her busy. She's becoming a master toilet fixer (or something). She and the kids have a lot of fun during my two work days and she is really good at getting them out of the house and on adventures.

We are also beginning to plan for a move. It won't be for another year or so, but we have narrowed down where we want to move and I spend time torturing us by looking at listings for houses we can't buy yet. Ha!

So, all's well here, just busy. I keep the Flickr stream updated regularly, which is where all the pictures are. At least that I can do.

Happy end of summer -- oh fall, come quickly!

Six (ok, nearly seven) months old!

Our girl is halfway through her first year. Shwooo, it's been a tough six months, but every day she gets a little easier and more full of personality. She's sitting up nicely, absolutely adores her big brother and smiles and laughs readily. She likes her exersaucer and can finally touch the bottom with her feet. She's eating solid foods, nurses like a newborn and is still on Prevacid for reflux. She's been on a plane, to a concert outside, takes swimming classes and got her ears pierced. It's been a big month!

She's really still in 3-6 month clothes, but her summer threads are all 6-12, so that's what she's wearing, even though they are big. Thankfully, her big fluffy cloth diaper holds up her pants! At her 6 month appointment she was about 14.5 pounds and 25 inches long, so "not the biggest girl in her class" as the pediatrician said. Plenty healthy, though and she got her first vaccine, the HiB #1 dose. She will get two more doses, one at 9 months and one at a year and then we probably won't do anything else until 2, which is what we've done with Theo and has worked out fine.

She is a terrible sleeper, but does spend the first part of the night in her crib and we took down the pack and play in our room. She naps in her crib, or in the car on the go, which is what happens when you have a busy big brother to keep up with.

She has big, beautiful eyes and we still don't know what color they will settle on. They are looking more blue, but we'll see. We get comments often on how pretty her eyes are and we have to agree! In spite of her challenges, she teaches us a lot in patience and grace and we couldn't love her more. She is the perfect addition to our family.

Happy Six (seven) months, Lucy Goose!

Strawberry picking!

Every Spring, we find a strawberry patch and go pick a big bucket of berries. I did it as a kid and always loved it, so I especially love having kids of my own to take now. This year, we went to a new place, Vollmer Farms which specializes in organic strawberries. It was a cute place with stuff for the kids to play on, wagons to ride out to the patch in and homemade ice cream (the highlight for me!). The berries we really, really small, so it took a LONG time to fill a bucket. Theo had an absolute blast once he realized what to do. He would shout, "I see one! I see one!" and then excitedly fling it into the bucket, which led to a discussion of how to be gentle with our berries. Lucy sat in the field, played with some grass and just enjoyed being outside.

On the way home, he was quiet and then said "we did have so much fun in the country!" I should say we did.

Click the Flickr widget above to see more pictures.

Mama and LK in Hotlanta!

Lucy and I flew down to Atlanta on Saturday to meet some friends and see Aunt Sammy's new house. She has recently moved in with her beau, Adam, who lives in Atlanta. We had a great time! It's a short, cheap flight from RDU so we flew down early and came back that evening. Sam and Adam picked us up and took us to breakfast, then we hung at their house until my friend, Jen, picked us up. We met friends at the Olympic Park, had lunch at the CNN Center and then back to Sam and Adam's for a bit before heading back to the airport. It was really fun and hopefully the whole family can get down for a Braves game!

Lucy did well on the plane, save for the last 15 minutes of the last flight when she screamed her head off. I was so flustered and sweaty by the time the plane finally landed. I apologized to the passengers, who were gracious and many said, "hey, we've all been there!" and said not to worry. Nonetheless, I think I will not be flying alone with her again for a long time!
Here's a few pics, but they aren't superb. I didn't want to lug the big camera, so I just took the point and shoot.

Hanging out at Aunt Sammy's.

CNN Center.

Atlanta friends!

Meal plan Monday.

1. Fajitas

2. Crock pot Santa Fe chicken over rice

3. Chicken pot pie soup w/cornbread muffins

4. Baked ziti

5. Make your own pizza (Theo LOVES to do this)

6. Breakfast

7. Fend for yourself