There she goes again

So Sadie is on the move and she's not slowing down! Since September 3 I (Michael) have been unemployed. I lost my job due to a reduction in labor and now I'm playing Mr. Mom while searching for something—What I don't know but I'll know when I find it. Back the real topic...Since 9/3 I'm constantly chasing after Sadie and then consoling her when she falls, which she does fairly often. That's just the way growing up goes. We fall, then we get back up again. I wonder if I'll ever be done growing up.

We were sitting down for dinner one day and Sadie decided that her sitting in the chair wasn't going to cut it. She wanted whatever was on the table and nothing was going to stop her! Ever since then she continues to astound me; getting braver each day. A few days later she startled me as I was sitting at the computer searching for a job by starting to climb the stairs. WAIT!! Little people that are not even 8-months old yet are not supposed to be climbing stairs and standing up on their own.

So, here's some fun Sadie pictures.

Following her figuring out how to successfully climb up the stairs she has decided her favorite place to play is...YES—on the stairs. She chases the toys up the stairs then sits on a stair, usually the third one. After a minute she likes to scoot over to the railing, grabs hold and pulls herself up. She pretty well stands there until I come get her, or falls down. She's fallen twice, nothing serious. Since standing at the base of my chair screaming doesn't get my attention much anymore, she has resorted to climbing the five stairs the main level then crawls around the dinning table to in front of me. Grabs hold of the bars and smiles at me through the bars. This is really quite funny and convenient for me. This way I can watch her, she can watch me AND I can continue my online search through network contacts and postings.

Ahh...my adventurous baby girl.

From the mouths of babes

My kids say the cutest things. I wish I could just carry a tape recorder around with me all the time. Here's a few snippets from the last few weeks; at least the good ones I can remember.

Zander was emptying the dishwasher and to put the plates away he climbs up on the counter, then to put the cups away, he walks across the narrow part in front of the sink. Today as he crossed it he said to me, "You know what you have to have to do this?" or course I'm thinking balance or something like that. But Zander responds, "It's the same thing you need to do everything." I'm a little confused now. Then it comes, "Faith!"

Zander comes in the door from school out of breath. He tells me his friend was trying to beat him home, but he was too fast. "I'm getting faster and smarter! It must be all the work I'm doing at school!"

I was driving in the car with Keagan and Sadie when we had to stop to let a train go ahead of us.

Keagan: Mom, I like trains. Does Sadie like train?

Me: I don't think Sadie knows what a train is, buddy.

Keagan: (laughing) Choo-choo! That's what a train is!

Zander got an invitation to our neighbor's birthday party. It's a friend that he plays with, but she is a girl...When I asked him if he was excited to go he said, "Well, I'm going to be working on my books so I'm going to be having a busy schedule."

Where do kids come up with this stuff???

Our backyard

I've been promising pictures of our redone backyard for a long time, so here you have it.

[Drumroll, please....]

Here is Michael with a jack hammer tearing out our old, pitiful cement block.  He was really excited to do this project not only because he got to put in his dream patio, but because he got to use lots of big tools and machines.

Like this bobcat.  And Keagan being our little man's man was right there wherever his dad and all the tools were.  Here they are clearing away the rubble from the old patio and other places in the yard.  Notice the work gloves, work boots, and ear protection, just like his dad.

Then he framed out the new curved patio.  We can't have anything so plain as a rectangle one.  Where's the fun in that?

This is the cement truck with the "boom" that pumped the cement over the house and into the back yard.  Michael was fascinated with this one.  He said it made the job 100 times easier using that than having to wheelbarrow and shovel it back there!

Here is the work in progress.  One is smoothing the cement and the other is following behind doing the stamp work.  Michael was helping do the finishing work, but these guys were so efficient he ended up just being in the way.  So he made me proud and got lots of pictures!

Here is the finished product...almost!

And this is after Michael put the color wash and antiquing on it.  And of course he beautified it by adding huge pots and planting flowers.  No detail left undone.

Honey, you did a great job with our new patio!  And of course thanks to those who came and helped.  My brother Kimball was here as was our friend Matt.  Thanks guys! 

Let me clarify...

Michael was cut from the trip to Brazil, not from his job.  Thank heavens!   He actually got a promotion not too long ago from Events Coordinator to Events Manager.  His actual job hasn't changed (nor did his pay unfortunately) but he has a manager title, which is always a better thing for seniority.

Sorry for the confusion...and thanks for your concern!!

I'm bummed!

Well, Brazil is out.  The budget was cut, and in turn so was Michael.  We won't be going to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro after all.  =(

And I was going to be the hottest thing on the beach (you were right, Jessica).  I've lost 9 pounds so far, putting me at 115.  It's almost the least I've weighed since having kids.  After having Zander (and doing South Beach) I got down to 113, but then stayed pretty constant at 115 shortly after that.  So, I'm there again.  Go me!

Well, I did a rotation at the IMC hospital last Friday.  I was on the surgical transplant floor.  It was so interesting and so humbling!  It makes me realize how much I don't know.  This Friday, I'm going to do Head Start physicals for migrant workers children.  I'm pretty excited to do that.  Maybe I can practice my Spanish.

Well, I'm super busy at school right now doing preliminary papers to prepare us for our master's project we'll start next semester.  I hate doing research.  Can I just say that?  That's why I'm getting a degree as a clinician and not going into research.   And tomorrow I have to do a physical on a "patient" with a complaint of headaches.  I'll be videotaped and have to give a diagnosis and treatment plan at the end to a faculty member.  A little intimidating, yes.  

On that note, I need to go read up on all the things that can cause headaches!  Pray it's not a stroke!

Later. =)

Wacky Weather

So, outside right now there's lightning, thunder, rain.......and hail.  That's right.  It's June 9th and it's hailing, really hard, outside my window.  Welcome to Utah!  And in the time it's taken me to log in and type this, it's probably rained about an inch.  I kid you not.  It's coming down in huge pouring streams of rain.  And hail.  

That's it.  Hail.  In June.  Hee hee.   :)

Go me!

If you will refer to the graph on the left hand side of this page, you will see that I have been losing some weight.  Most of it was fairly easy, I had a baby and since then lost most of the baby weight.  I was, however, still 5-6 pounds more than my pre-pregnancy weight.  Last week it came to my attention that I may be able to accompany my husband to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he is going in August for a conference.  The hotel is right by the beach.  Now, I was sitting at 124 for a good 2 months, which is the few pounds higher than before Sadie.  Seeing as how I am barely 5' tall (on a good day) that means I still have a few pounds to lose before I am beach ready.  So two weeks ago Michael and I started doing the South Beach diet.  I love this diet, as much as you can love any diet.  It works very well for me.  I've done it before.  It's very healthy and isn't so much a diet as a change in eating habits, if you do it right.  So far, I've lost 6 pounds.  I'm aiming for 6-10 more which would put me down to about 110-113 which is about where I was before I had kids.  How great would that be!  Even if my body will never be the same (until I have plastic surgery to fix it, that is) my weight might be if I stay dedicated enough.  The though of a bikini and me and Michael is Brazil may be just the inspiration I need.  Wish me continued luck!!