FIrst Swimming Lesson ~ Mixed Reviews

Today was Stella's first swimming lesson.  It is a sweet little heated pool with only 4 other kids in the class (not including Topher).  Stella did really great for her first time swimming!!!

She is starting half way into the term though, so the other kids have a little experience on her for sure.  She loved everything & then they did the "swim" command, where they submerge them completely under water & scoop them down down & then back up.  She didn't love it, but she got over it real quick.

And then, they did it again at the end.  This time, she knew what the cue was for going under & she got nervous.  When she came back up, she was really freaked & then she got scared & then it was all over.  Oh well, she did great for the first 25 minutes of class, that is all I can ask for.

Except, there was this mom that came in to with her kid for the next class after ours (at least 4 or 5 years old) & she came in right at the end as Stella was not so comfy with the whole underwater thing any more & she made some comment like, "Jeez, that baby is really crying, hummph." Right next to ME!  Took all of my grace not to throw her in the pool.

She sat on Topher's hat too.

Maybe next time I'll bring her some special brownies.

I can't believe how insensitive people can be sometimes.  Guess this is just the beginning of people judging my kid.

I think she did AWESOME!  & she's totally passed out early, so it's good exercise too!  Can't wait for next week!

Happy 5 Month Birthday Stella!!!!

Hard to believe it, but yes it has been 5 months!!!

I've been an artist all my life, but you are by far the best thing I have ever created.

Happy 5 month Birthday Stella!!!

What have we been up to....

Well, Topher's mom & nephew were out last weekend, and that was really fun.

I feel like this weekend was the first time we've been here & are hunkering down for the winter.  Traveling a lot is great, but it feels good to stay home & get some things done.

The garage is coming along slowly.

It is really hard because the only time Topher has to work on it is the weekends & evenings....and since I am back to work, that is the only time I have to work....so we make due and things go REALLy slowwww.....

Wish I didn't have to work, wish I could just stay home & cook & play with my baby.  But, I should be careful what I wish for.  At least I am able to work from home & don't have to completely leave my baby with some stranger all day long.  I couldn't handle that.

It was hard enough the other night when Topher & I went out on our 3rd date in 5 months...all I could do was think about if she was okay or not the whole time.  ITS TERRIBLE, I know.  Must be a new parent thing.  Does it ever get better???

Southern Oregon Trip ~ Unexpected but welcome Family Time

Oh my, the sweet little MONSTER is asleep....finally!  I think she was a little wound up from traveling & just couldn't go to sleep....ALL DAY.  Well, finally at 8:30 she went down & I am having a BEER.  My last nerve went * sizzle frazzle snaaaap * at about 5pm & luckily Topher came home from work early because if he didn't, he probably would have come home to a comatose wife & screaming baby.

Here's a picture of her angelicness yesterday, just as a reminder of what she CAN be like....

Let's shoot for that TOMORROW!

Anyways, I haven't been a very good little blogger lately.  I've been trying to reintegrate into the workforce so we don't wind up in the streets, peddling our arses to pay the mortgage, and I have to say, it ain't easy.  I didn't really ever expect it would be easy, but needless to say, that doesn't make the day to day learning curve any shallower.  At least I didn't wind up with baby poop on my cell phone today...that was a close one!

Here's some snaps on my flickr site to some of the fun we had in Southern Oregon with family this last weekend....Crater Lake & Southern Oregon trip photos .  I took the time to write little snippets on the flickr site, its a little easier & less cumbersome to upload lots of photos, so have fun!  We did.

It was great to see Erene & Chris & spend time with the parents.  We also got to hang out with Chris' mom Asha & Aurora my niece in law whom I adore.  I can't believe she's in sixth grade!  It seems like just the other day she was 3!

Long days and Short years as they say....

Well, wish me luck tomorrow.  & tonight.  Seems like Stells is falling into a new habit of waking up at 3am & every hour on the hour until 8am...no more sleeping through the night for us....guess we can't complain though, we've had it pretty good on that front so far....please come BACK!

And for all those other parents out there, I'm tossing back a pint for you!