Advents Corner

Yesterday we spent most of the day with Don taking Michaela’s picture for her graduation announcements that will go out later this month or next month.  We still can not believe she is only a couple of month away from graduation.  Time passes so fast it is hard to accept it sometimes.  I would be feeling really old right now if I would not have two more behind Michaela.  I can’t believe I have one graduating and one in diapers.  It is funny how your life puts you in places a few years ago you would not have imagined you would be in.

I knew it was bad but was not too sure how bad until it came time for my employee performance evaluation. I was brought into the room and told even though my performance is always stellar the company has put a freeze on all increases until we “get over this hump”. I was also told that I am at the top of my pay scale so other than the cost of living increases I would not be getting anymore raises. Way to bust a bubble right, especially considering I am not even getting the cost of living increase because of the freeze. I was given the consolation prize that when the freeze is lifted the increase would be retro active. I should not complain, I make really good money but it is just dishearten to think that no matter how good I am at my job will not make more than what I am making now.

Sorry about that but we had a server problem with the sites last night and most of this morning.  We are back online now.

Matt’s brother took this picture of us a few months ago and did some work on photoshop with Lani’s shirt. This has to be one my all time favorite photos so I just wanted to share with everyone.

After flight cancellations and flight delays, Lani and I finally made it back home.  We were suppose to get home at 4:30 pm but we did not land in Tampa until 10:40 pm and by the time we got our luggage and made it home and got in bed it was midnight.  We were so tired but of course Lani did amazing.  She is such a good little flyer.  On the flight from Houston to Tampa it was her 20th flight.  She is a seasoned flyer now.

Once again we are talking about home improvement projects.  We desperately need a new faucet in the master shower.  We are looking at the Grohe faucets because if we are going to put money into it we might as well go all the way.  We need to replace the entire kit thought not just the shower head.  The knob that you pull to turn on the faucet and turn to make the water hot and cold is not working right.  It turns off but you have to play with it a little bit to make it not leak which is a pain in the butt.

I have a friend that is going on a trip to Hilton Head South Carolina. I use to live in

Charleston and it is such a beautiful place. I wish I could go back one day; I will put that on my bucket list. My girlfriend is getting on of those Hilton Head rentals because she said it was cheaper than getting a hotel room and driving onto the island. She is so lucky; I hope she has a great time.

Lani and I are getting ready for our trip to

Louisiana so I had to get down our luggage sets last night.  I am so excited because we are going back home for Greg and Heather’s baby shower so I will get to see a lot of family.  I will also get to see my Grandparent’s which is always nice.  I really miss them and they are getting older.  They have not seen Lani since she was about 4 months old.  Now she is walking around and chattering up a storm so it should be fun.

Now you can watch the video yourself. I want to say the response has turned out really well and this was just the first day after the interview. We have 5 new registers, 3 people have contacted me with their information and we have at about 500 visitors to the site today and that is pretty good. I want thank those who have sent me emails and I want to tell the rest of you not to be shy, I really want to hear from you. Oh and last night when the interviewed air I had to watch it again because when she said it was fish fry night at the local VFW all I could do was think about that fish. Hope you enjoy the video. The website Our Precious Gift, please stop by and visit.

Dad sent me an email wishing me good luck with the interview tonight.  I have to say I am very nervous.  I did try and get out of it but she said if I did not appear they could not put the story on air so I have to do it.  I am just not very good at putting myself out there.  I am hoping this gets the word out for the site and it continues to grow.

On Tuesday I started belly dance class again.  I was in it before I got pregnant with Lani but had to stop as soon as I got pregnant due to some complications.  I wanted to get back into it after I had her and that was the plan but do to some personal issues I decided I did not want to go back.  I thought it would be more emotionally draining if I decided to go back than if I did not.  I decided to take a chance and went back on Tuesday.  I loved it so much when I was in it before and I still love it.  I am so out of shape it is crazy.  I forgot what a work out it really is.  My shoulders and upper stomach hurt so badly yesterday.  I decided to go back to the same instructor I had before and she really made me feel welcome.  Thanks Hollie for welcoming me back.

I go once a week on Tuesday’s and it is right down the street from my house.  It is really nice because I can still come home, spend time with Lani, and make dinner before I have to go so I don’t feel like I am taking anything time from anyone and that makes me feel better about it.  Michaela will have to watch Lani for 30 minutes in between the time that I leave and Matt comes home but that is not a big deal.  I was worried I would not remember anything, I am a bit rusty, but I do remember the stuff we were going over. 

Today we were able to finish the wall paper in Lani’s room, finally.  It seems like it took us forever to get it all done.  Well I guess if you think about it, it did take us forever to get it done.  Lani is now in a toddler bed and she is doing wonderful.  I thought we would have a battle on our hands trying to get her to stay in the bed for nap time and bed time but she has been so good, just like always.  Now we do not have to worry about her jumping over the rail to get out of the bed anymore.

I went to leave this morning and turned on the video monitor to look at Lani just like I do every morning but this morning was different, she was not there.  I looked again and then got closer to the screen to make sure I was not missing her.  I then woke Matt and told him that I did not see Lani on the monitor.  I grabbed the monitor and set it on the bed and gave Matt his glasses.  He looked and then said I don’t see here either.

I ran into the kitchen and slowly opened her door, thinking she was just in the corner of her bed and the monitor was not seeing her.  I slowly opened the door and looked in the bed and no Lani.  I yelled for Matt and when I did she stood up and said HI!!

She was sitting or lying, I am not sure which, on the floor next to her night light.  I don’t think my heart has started beating again yet and it has been a couple of hours since all of this happened.  I just grabbed her up and hugged her.  I could not believe she was there.  I could not believe she climbed out of the crib.  I brought her into our room and put her in the bed with us and just kept hugging her. 

Her arms were cold so I have no idea how long she had been on the floor with no covers.  She was in her bed when we went to sleep last night when Matt opened her door.  I asked Michaela if she was in her bed when she shut her door this morning and she told me that she did not shut it.  I guess when Lani woke up and got out of her bed she shut the door.

Michaela and Serena never climbed out of their bed so this is new for me.  I guess it is time to start thinking about getting her a new bed and get her out of the crib.  If she does it again we will have to do more than think about it we will have to go and get her a bed.  I don’t know if she will stay in the bed without the rails of the crib but I am much more afraid of the fact that she could break her neck by climbing out of the crib in the middle of the night.  She seemed find just sleepy and she did not want me to leave this morning.  I will keep you posted on this turn of events.  I thought about one of those crib nets but the Academy of Pediatrics advises against them.  Only if she does it again will be take the next step and get a toddle her bed.  Keep your fingers crossed it was a one time thing and this does not become an every night occurrence.

Oh the life of a Mommy!!!!!!!!  She is still the most precious thing in the world and she is 18 months old today.  If anyone has any advise just let me know.

This is what the outside of my cube looks like today.  The Ohio State fans have to pass by me to go to the kitchen so they are not too happy with me right now.  Oh did I mention I also have on my pink LSU shirt today.  Sucks to be OHIO!!!!!

What a game?  With Ohio taking off early in the game LSU answered back, less than a 1 1/2 to be exact, the game quickly turned back into LSU’s favor.  Don’t think you are going to come into the Super Dome and not get a fight.  The final score was 38-24 and it was tit for tat most of the night.  After LSU scored 24 unanswered points Ohio began to put up a fight but it was too late.  I made chicken wings and catfish for the big game, so by the time the game came on we were full and ready to watch it.  I hope you were able to catch the game but if not you can read the highlights here.

GET OUT THE BEER AND CRACKLINS, THE GAME IS ON!!!!! Tonight is the night. I am very excited about the game tonight. As luck would have it I sit in the middle of two Ohio State fans. How messed up is that right? What are the odds? That did not stop me from wearing my LSU shirt and tacking my LSU hat to the outside of my cube.

GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PMI-001 is not a tough course if you have the likes of 642-372 and 70-293 on your credit. In fact, you will notice that clearing mcsd as well as 70-297 will be a piece of cake for you. In network+, the previous experience contributes a lot to future learning.

I am continuing to update Our Precious Gift with names so that data base is growing each day.  I am preparing for New Channel 10 to come and the interview on the 18th.  I was a little reluctant when I found out I was going to have to appear on TV but they will not do the story without it so I agreed.  Don’t forget to link over the site to check it out and forward to your friends and family.

They are so beautiful I had to share.

 

So Matt’s company as released the choices for the company trip this summer and there seems to be a clear winner.  The only thing is if we don’t find someone to watch Lani for us there is not way we will all be able to go, it is just too much flying for her.  We would fly to LA for a couple of days then Hawaii for a couple then Singapore for a few then finish the trip up with a flight to Bangkok for several days then home.

How amazing would that be?  But with all of that flying I don’t think it would be fair to Lani.  We have a lot to think about.

Yesterday was such a lazy day, it was so sad.  Matt and I would just look at each other.  We miss everyone so much but soon we will see everyone again.  I am going to see my Mom later this month for my brother’s baby shower so that will be fun.