Tuesday, February 27

Losing

Well I'm down 15 lbs since January 1st and 3 lbs since I started my self-challenge post (to lose 10 lbs by March) a week or so ago. That is pretty good progress I must say, when I put it into those terms...I must be doing something right.

So I guess I now only have 7 lbs to lose until the end of March. It's do-able. I must keep on keepin' on.

Monday, February 26

Her first word!!

Brooklyn spoke her first 'word' yesterday!! eee! Oh a mother's delight! I type 'word' in quotations because her first word was actually a combination of words; it was "mama-papa". This was after JD and I repeated this over and over. We didn't expect her to say them both but after thinking about how we repeated it together-like, why wouldn't she?

It was really cute, though, after one of us said it she would just silently mouth the words at the same time that we said it...not out loud, just mouth it. And then when we got quiet for a moment (ok mom & dad! SHUT UP now! hehe), and she said "mama-papapa"!! teehee!

It was a sweet moment and after months of 'competing' with eachother and coaxing 'mama' (me) and 'papa' (JD) to her for it to be her first word, we both get to dwell in the fact she said both our 'names'! hehe! Of course this is all in fun and whatever her first word would have been, we would have, nonetheless, thought she was brilliant anyways!

So now the bad news...bad news, you ask? Well now I have to really watch my f-bombs! And that's not going to be an easy feat with my current 'trucker-mouth' tendencies!

Sunday, February 25

Clear head

Ok, in regards to Job #1 and Job #2 etc..., I think I've figured things out more concretely...I do feel that I am ready to return to work after being on maternity leave. I am coming to terms with being able to balance all the things in life that I want, including being a good mom and furthering my career.

That didn't take as long as I thought (only days) which kinda surprises me because I am usually torn with what my husband, JD, doesn't want to do as we ultimately clash on the subject of moving. But I think it helps that, since Brooklyn was born, he has actually been more open to moving so that I can finish my graduate degree (this is a new man I am seeing!) and he has ACTUALLY browsed around at some programs at the university and the trades college where we would move to in CG...this is quite a break-through for him as he's never been willing to move or go back to school, let alone even THINK about it all!!! So I give him a lot of credit for that! And after he told me that yesterday and showed me which programs he was looking into (although quite unenthused but still, he was looking!!), I got to thinking...

...We just don't have the money to move up north to YK where that gov't job is. If we moved there, we would probably try to keep our house here and so that would be like having 2 different mortgages, plus it’s colder there...and I’m not a winter person so I don't think I want to do that! hehe! And also the fact that when I moved back home here (after I got preggo) I FINALLY got a good job, and I’ve realized that that was what I've been waiting for all these years...was an opportunity here in my hometown. After all, that is why I returned to school to get a masters degree because I could not get a job here after my undergrad.

So ultimately, I figure that I will go back to work here in town to my current job. But I hope to negotiate a permanent position with them that includes an education clause, allowing me to return to and eventually finish my degree...because I also need to finish what I started, right?! hehe! And if they don't agree to that, well I'll just work and save up some money for school anyways. This decision is what makes the most sense to me and also appeals more to JD as well. That way we only have to move once and then it’s only temporarily for about a year or so. And school will cost a lot so keeping my job here will enable me to save up for all the expenses that we will incur moving to CG for a year.

So that's my decision...It's nice to have my mind made up and I'm SO glad that my husband is finally on board with me on something that is so important to me. His support means so much! It’s a happy, happy day!!

Thursday, February 22

Brooklyn, my little pianist

Here is my little 6 month old Brooklyn playing the piano. It's too cute!! I hope I can successfully link the video...yup there it is below! Man, this blogging stuff is really cool! hehe! Check out my lil' Miss Mozart!! She's just workin' it!


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Wednesday, February 21

Job 1, Job 2, Home or Grad School?

Well, I have some serious decisions to make...and of course I need to discuss them with my husband (that's always a pleasure :S). I am currently staying at home with my (almost) 6 month old daughter on 'maternity leave'. Before I got pregnant, I was attending graduate school (in another city) in my area of interest. 3 months into school and a trip home for Christmas to see my husband, I was pregnant! Nothing bad about that, it was actually the best thing to ever happen to me and us but now I am left to try and decide what to do next...I guess I am always trying to figure out what the next step is, that's just how I am.

So when I got pregnant I moved back home to my hometown to be with my husband and looked for work and accidently came across a great job in town in my field. So they gave me a contract to work with them until I had my baby and it was great working there. Now, I hear that they want me back but I am not sure if they are willing to give me a permenant position with good pay...if they don't then I was going to drag my husband and baby with me so that I can finish my graduate degree. That is difficult enough as we have a mortgage here in town and 2 dogs which makes house hunting (to rent) difficult in most places.

AND...to make matters more complicated, I just applied for another similar job with the government (set for life type of job) in another city which is very expensive to live in. The pay and benefits are great and I'd be working in the top place for Geomatics in my area. Mind you, I still need to get an interview but I think my chances are really good...but I guess, until then...

So...yeah. There are 3 choices. Actually 4 if you count the fact that I can just stay home and enjoy my time with my baby...plus hubby does not like the idea of moving ANYWHERE. He has some sort of phobia against moving since he moved away from his home back East and has always been this way but now that we have a little one, he realizes that I want to move forward in my career and is attempting to be more supportive and actually consider moving. His job is sort of a dead-end type and he has had no concrete career ideas so he knows that I would like to move forward with some of my career goals and dreams before he is ready to figure out what he wants to do.

Anyhow, fun stuff...decisions. Ah well...atleast I can say that I have the luxury of having these choices. Which is a step up from a few years ago.

Tuesday, February 20

A mom needs to lose some poundage!

Ok, so I gained way too much weight while pregnant...and have been trying to lose it since Brooklyn was born 5 1/2 months ago. Ultimately, I gained about 58 lbs and so far I've lost 43 of those pounds so I have about 15 more lbs to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight. Not too shabby but when considering that 25 lbs came off within the first week (obviously baby+water weight etc), it's been a slow process since. But atleast I haven't given up. Lifestyle change, right. I'll get there, it's just a struggle sometimes. Anyhow, I want to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight by atleast May and then work on losing a few more pounds after that.

So, I challenge myself to losing 10 lbs by end of March. That's 5 weeks away so its totally manageable at about 2 lbs loss per week. Yeah...That sounds like a motivation! Can I do it? Sure! We'll see...

Monday, February 19

A Mom

I am a mom. Brooklyn Abigail is my baby girl's name. She is almost 6 months old. My husband Jody is the best dad ever! I don't think we ever would have imagined how great parenthood would be. I don't think I ever imagined how much of a mommy I would love being. I am overwhelmed each time I even think of it. I will post pictures of my baby girl as soon as I figure this thing out!
Peace