April 6 - Highs and Lows

High - We got real smiles today! It happened for both of us separately at different times under different circumstances, so we're pretty sure we're right about them being real. Super fun to have him react to us in this way after a month of crossed eyes, blank stares, and smiles that were gas or reflexes. Another high was going to a baby shower on my own. I really hemmed and hawed about how to handle it - go, not go, take him, take the pump, wing it without the pump, etc. I went with the pump and had a good time!

Low - Being away from my baby for 5 whole hours ... How can that be a high AND a low? I don't know, but it is!

Year 2 - Day 178 - June 28

Tonight we celebrated a friend's upcoming wedding with a fun and relaxing bowling and mexican food girls night out. Of course I don't have any pictures from the evening because I was too busy enjoying it! There were some pictures taken, but I haven't seen them yet. :) I took this one while sitting at a red light after I made a wrong turn. I couldn't believe that gas in Columbia is 40 cents higher than up here! Hopefully this is like that White Marsh Exxon and not everyone down there is still paying in the 3.80's for regular!

Year 2 - Day 151 - June 1

We had a baby shower at school today. The year I was married, there were something like 7 babies and 3 weddings. This year, we had this lone shower! We didn't even have any 2nd babies this year that I can remember. This is quite unusual for a staff our size & age, but it was nice to hang out and celebrate and see the adorable things she got for the baby boy to be!

Year 2 - Day 134 - May 15

I packed a whole lot of stuff into today.  Thank goodness it's summer and there is plenty of daylight! The best surprise of the day was that it didn't downpour. For days they were telling us of the horribly rainy weekend we'd be having, and then it didn't hapen. That was A-OK!

First, we packed our friends lives into two gigantic PODS. Great inventions, those PODS. Pop your stuff in and poof they appear at your next residence.

Then, I left them to their packing and headed off to a baby shower. It was lovely. I am very happy that the first baby shower I had to go to in this season of life was small, friendly, and low key. It made it much easier and I was able to enjoy myself. I was still sad at times, but I'm thinking that just doesn't go all the way away. It's good to have people to celebrate for!

Finally, I did the biggest grocery shopping excursion I've done in years. I actually spent $103, which is WAY more than I ever spend shopping.  But it was a ton of stock up things that drove up the price. AND, I saved $102. So really, it was an excellent trip. Plus I have $29 in store money to spend next week. Not too shabby!! :)

Day 234 - August 22

Today we all headed down to La Palapa in Ellicott City to celebrate Tracie's bridal shower.  It was a fun time and the food is always good there!!  It was nice to see people that I don't see very often. (Although with all the showers and weddings, it seems like I've seen some people more often than usual!)

Day 205 - July 24

Today I helped host a bridal shower for a friend that is getting married in the fall.  My work schedule isn't working with the timing of their destination wedding, so I was glad I was able to help celebrate now!  We had a good time ... but we forgot to hand out favors until most of the people were gone.  (Doesn't that always happen!?)  We gave the bride a pile to bring to her bachelorette weekend, but I have almost half of them left. :)