G is 2/3 of a year old!

That's 8 months! Big girl.

She now has FIVE teeth...two bottom middles and the two "fangs" up top, plus her right top middle finally poked through.


Very serious tonight. Must be worried about getting old already.

Leave Us Together

The leaves are just so gorgeous in our neck of the woods right now that C and O couldn't help themselves but rake up a few big piles. They came and got G and I to jump right in with them.

One of our neighbors walked by and offered to take a picture of us all in the leaves...heck yes! Like C and I are ever in a photo together any more...well, figures...neither of the kids looked at the camera.


Beautiful, beautiful fall day. Saved the best for last...

WHOA! WHOA! Whoa, there, buddy...

(photo of O as he woke up the other morning...completely upside-down)

My four-year-old son informed me today on the way home from school that he was getting married in the park tomorrow to his current preschool girlfriend, who shall remain nameless. I am certain she is a lovely little girl...but jeez! He's four. (And a quarter, as he would add.) Not to mention a proper wedding requires a bit of planning.

So I also bring his little bud home, as we carpool. So his pal asks, "where are you going to live?"

And he repeats our address. So I say, "Wait, you and '___' are going to live with us?"

"No!" he says, with a giant grin on his face. "California!"

Help.

G's Christening

Our little girl was baptized Sunday. Here she is in all of her splendor.


Her gown was actually "donated" by my aunt, my godmother. She picked it up in a children's store that she worked at ages ago when it was going out of business...figuring she may have a granddaughter someday! It was positively beautiful and somehow, remarkably...fit perfectly. Had an antique feel to it.

We even got the boy dressed up. (Well, we all did.) Do you see big brother holding her hand?


Of course, you can't let a 7 1/2 month old who's as active as she is stay in that gown all day. So she had a costume change.


Note the shoes. My friend D has the BEST taste. Whoppers.
(In case you can't tell...they are leopard-print pony-hair flats. D&G. With a delicious tiny white leather bow. Every little girl should be so inspired, so young.)

God bless you little girl; you were the most wonderful angel all day.

Tennis Lessons Started Again

O started tennis again. Look at that form!

Backhand practice on Friday. I'm so proud. He likes tennis so much more than any other sport so far.

Begin Again, Lady, with Grace

I have parted ways with my current employer. All about the math.

Revenue needed, clients can't commit, salaries to be paid, time ticking, I was most exposed.
And...there you go.

Not entirely unexpected, which is why I've been entertaining freelance opportunities. I will admit my heart has not been in it lately at work...slowly, slowly realizing after having a second child that priorities continue to tilt and spin as life evolves. And that what seemed "good enough" perhaps wasn't.

Don't get me wrong; I am grateful for the flexibility I was allowed. I'm thrilled with all that I learned. It's made me significantly more qualified for the current day. I am much more valuable now than when I walked in that door.

I am lucky to have remained in contact with good, smart people. It's time to make a change and do something that is more fitting. In other words...I'm not going back to an agency.(Okay...maybe on a project basis, to make some cash...hey, we have bills to pay!) But not in a client-management, day-to-day role.

This is my opportunity to change for good, to get more time at home with the kids, to never have to feel stressed about my priorities being in the right place.

I'm ready to crack the code somehow. Wish me luck!