Well, I've done it, I've finally gone and shared the blog!

One of my favorite short stories in college was called "El Museo de los Esfuerzos Inútiles" or, "The Museum of Useless Efforts". The protagonist tells you (in great detail!)all about her job managing this museum full of all the useless efforts or pointless things known to man,how they are categorized, her friend's promotion,etc and I loved the irony of it, because you are left to wonder if what they are doing really matters at all?

I felt this way about blogging for a long time. I didn't really know what to write about and who would read it anyway... it seemed like a lot of effort, for something that didn't really need to be done, so why do it?
Until Hannah. I've pondered many things in my heart since becoming a mother... there was so much happening each day that I just wanted to get down on paper (or somewhere, anywhere) to remember it, and to share with others at the same time. Writing became much more natural again, probably because I stopped writing as if someone were going to grade it! Sometimes it's poignant or insightful, many times it's a milestone that's worth recognizing, and really, most of the time it's something that really cracks me up, or makes me happy. Now blogging seems like the perfect outlet, if only I were to keep up with it more! I'm getting better. I've been at practice for a few months, actually. It was much easier to write because no one was reading it, really. I've learned to use Bluetooth technology to upload the pictures to the entry instead of waiting to download to the computer. I've also hooked up my Flickr account (should be on the right) so you can see my photo diary... because even if I don't update the blog I do usually take a picture of the day! Most of this technology i now possible because Micah introduced me to the real world of Blackberry (I'm so hooked now, thanks honey!)

So, welcome friends and family, to whatever slice of life I'm sharing for the day. I'm happy that you are a part of it!

Spring Break.

It's finally here!!!!
Seems like it always comes right when you need it.
I've got a LIST of fun things planned for our Easter break this year:
-get some plastic eggs for hannah to hunt for in the next few days
-fill them with fun sounds
-dye some real eggs (the brighter, the better!)
-date night.
-egg hunts! friday, saturday, sunday
-lots of playtime at the park (Hannah is obsessed with the slide)
-easter brunch at our house
-sea world
-play dates
-get some plants for my window
-sell some books from the front room (this is not a fun plan, but it will make me so happy when the clutter is gone)
-take lots of pictures!
-run.
-make pillow covers for the living room. (maybe. maybe not).
-try new recipes

well, i'm off to check some stuff off the to-do list!

there's also the everyday chores and stuff too, but we won't talk about that) ;)

p.s.: Gus is off to a great start (where did he learn to crawl up in the chair like that? we've not seen him do that before!)

Monday night!

I love this Monday! Yes, I said that. Monday nights are the best! Amber and I have been taking this awesome piyo class (pilates and yoga!) and nothing feels better at the end of a long day. Especially after the running I've been doing lately. Plus, our teacher tricks me into doing the ab exercises I should without all the crazy reps. :)
This Monday night, however, is especially awesome, because Micah came home early, we had dinner (pork chops, applesauce and sauteed spinach) early enough to clean up before piyo!
Micah and Hannah are still out at their "playdate" with Brian and the girls, and I am home, brewing a cup o'tea, jazz on and I'm going to settle in to grade some papers.
Micah will probably come home with a sleeping baby, and we might catch up on this week's episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Big Bang Theory" (our favorite).
Sometimes life is so crazy for us, it's nice just to have a moment to pause.
I love this night!

This is a funny age...

Funny to watch hannah turn into a little person. Walking and talking (still baby talk, but talking) about her world! She likes to do everything herself, or help me with whaever I'm doing. Snacks are big time now, as she likes to feed herself, and the food of choice is almost always cheerios. Here's a look into our day:

I gave Hannah a little bowl of cheerios. She shows them to Gus.




Gus doesn't like cheerios. Hannah heads back to the kitchen... leaving a trail behind her. Sits down and looks totally innocent about it! (too precious!) Her personality cracks me up!



We pick up the cheerios. She's on the move again! Over to snack in her kitchen...



Oopsy! Drops more cheerios. "It's ok, I'll pick them up!"




And she dropped some in the process of picking the others up!



And this went on... and on... life is busy now, my friends!

it fits my life!

3 x 5 cards.
of all things i use in life... these keep me organized and my mind flowing in the same direction more than any calendar, device, computer program, book, etc. I like the way I can move them around.
as a spanish teacher, i probably have a much greater appreciation for these things than the average person. (how many vocab terms have i picked up in my lifetime? millions, i am sure, as i learn a few everyday... checking the history on my phone's dictionary, yesterday's words were: hedgehog and plum (erizo y ciruela). Random thoughts abound,and the list goes on...)
I have planned my wedding (and many important parties) with stacks of 3x5 cards, written research papers, memorized Bible verses, given speeches, copied recipes, planned workouts, made grocery lists, planned lessons, and made countless Spanish games... all on 3x5 cards.
My newest use for these?
Best journal ever. Small enough to carry around, plenty of space, and then i can tuck them behind my pictures in my Project Life. (one photo for every day of the year... I'm behind in journaling back to February. Ouch. Plus, now I don't have to be looking for that "perfect journal"...I would be too afraid to write in it any way.

How do you use 3x5 cards?
Do you love anything like I love 3x5 cards?

in the wee hours of the morning...

Update on the sick baby: turns out she's really sick. she's got ear infections in both ears (first time!) and that cold turned out to be a virus called RSV. Sounds scary. Especially when the doctor administers breathing treatments with a $500 dollar nebulizer. And the medication that goes in that thing? Another $100. Peace of mind, priceless. I am so thankful for our insurance. And mother's intuition. And GRANDmother's intuition. Who knows how long I would have been nursing that "cold"... I am also thankful for phone nurses. And,I am especially thankful for support from our family - because it takes a "family" to raise a child...(not a village, as the old saying goes)
Poor Hannah. Such a little trooper. Waving at all the kids and nurses in the doctor's office. She is sleeping like a rock. I am not. I have 11 more minutes until I administer her next breathing treatment and antibiotics.
I have dreaded having a sick baby... even before I had kids. I was so afraid of everything that moms had to do. Moms do laundry. Lots of it. AND then, they put it away! Moms do the dishes, even when we are all tired after a big meal. Like Thanksgiving (I'm notorious for my turkey coma...) I don't know if I could ever do it. Moms change diapers and clean up throw up, and all kinds of other gross stuff.
What's scary now: not how much moms do, but how much moms care. That's why they do all that crazy stuff. Hannah is pretty much an 18 pound container for my heart and everything I hope for her, and I just watch it run around... every day. When I go to work... it pretty much stays with her. When she is sick, there is nothing else I can think of but to try and make her better!
Which is why I am up, blogging a few minutes away, and drinking Immune Fizz...
All is set and ready to get us through the night. Humidifiers filled and running. Nebulizer: assembled (correctly, I hope) and plugged in ready to go. teaspoon laying out by the amoxicillin. coffee pot: set for 5 am.
Already looking forward to a nap tomorrow. Or a run. One or the other, depending on how stressed I am.

On an unrelated note, some other goals:
Want to use that box of hair dye.
I am in desperate need of a haircut, as well.
Grades are due on Tuesday. My new motivation for powering through piles of papers? The foot spa. Tomorrow I'll do a pedicure while I grade!
Need to run tomorrow. Perhaps I already mentioned that. I think I'm the one that needs the reminder!
Watch movie. (i rented Angela's Ashes... couldn't stop watching it on Sunday night, but sadly, had begun watching it halfway through...)
Will listen to the rhythm of the falling rain.

Time for the medicine. This will either go really well, or be really difficult. Don't really want to try it. I miss Micah (He's in the desert for the weekend.)


Long night. Listening intently to her breathing on the monitor. Thankful for each and every breath! Thank you, Lord, for my little girl...

sick baby...

We went to mammoth last weekend. More on that later... It was awesome! But, we brought home a sick baby. Sad face. She woke up with a fever of 101 at 1am monday morning. That was a long night. We've had a few of those since!
She was a real little trooper on the way home... She watched a couple of videos, read lots of books, and we sang lots of songs!
Hannah hasn't been sick too often (this is the first real cold-not allergies) but here is what I have learned:
1.Saline nose drops,the booger sucker, and the humidifier are invaluable at this time.
2. Lay the baby on the floor with their head between your knees to suck the boogers out.
3. Askdrsears.com has dosing info for medicenes for infants