Birthday pictures!

Here are just a small taste of the recently promised pictures:

For her birthday I made Melly a little heart shaped cake with sugar dots all over it. I made a larger version for the adults...expecting that my child would be a "cake all over the place" kind of kid. I was wrong.

After a little encouragement from me... (like physically smashing her hand into the cake a little) Melly was convinced to lick her fingers and poke at the sugar dots.

*sigh* Well I tried. And she really liked the frosting... More to come!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today my baby is one.

She is such a big girl.

The festivities included Grandma and Grandpa D. Some shopping for the party on Saturday. Lots of wonderful new toys and outfits. And the careful mooshing of cake all over our face and hands.

A great time was had by all.

(Sadly, my camera died and we have no batteries to save it. So everyone will have to wait until tomorrow to see the wonderful cuteness that is my one year old baby girl.)

Good night. And party like it's 1999!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One year ago today...

I was very pregnant. I woke up and something wasn't right. So I went to work and it didn't get better so I called the OB and went in for a check up. After a full exam I was informed that I was fine and no where near labor. But my blood pressure was high (imagine that?) so I was sent off to the hospital to be hooked up to fetal monitors and blood pressure machines for an alarming five hours. I slept. The doctors dealt with actual emergencies. And after all that they sent me home with a pee kit and instructions to return in 24 hours. I was a bit angry. My whole day was ruined and I had to pee in a cup all night. *sigh*

Little did anyone know that at 2am Melly would finally listen to me and come out to play...

Happy October 29th everyone.

Today is Melly's last day of being a newborn.

Tomorrow she will start to conquer the world!

My favorite holiday

Halloween if finally here!!! Or the weekend before Halloween. Today was our first party. So we decked the baby out. (And I can finally post the baby in costume pictures that I have been hording for the past few weeks)

(And now a word from Melly)
At the party we got to play all kinds of games, and walk around. Lots of my friends were there and we had a great time.

I explored some of the play equipment with dad...

And made a picture frame with mom.

And had a great time. Halloween is great! And we are only five days away from my first birthday!

Not to be outdone...

I feel as if there needs to be an explanation for this post and the last one. For some reason both Grandma C and Grandma D are sending me baby pictures of myself and Mr. C. This being said, I am dutifully putting them on the blog for everyone to consider and weigh in on. Have fun!

For your consideration...

But according to Mr. C... "I don't see any similarities"

A year ago today...

was Melly's baby shower.

There was cake and skee-ball.

What a wild year it has been since then.

Cheers!

Thank you Fluffy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the sweater!

And the card is pretty tasty too!

However, I do not recommend wearing padded envelopes as hats. They cover your eyes and you end up walking into walls and daddy's.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Visitors

Starting off the birthday festivities...
Great Grandma and Grandpa S came to visit!!!!

We went out to eat. And played. There were several attempts at eating watches and earrings and a good time was had by all.

Thank you for coming out to see us!

Thank you for the birthday presents!

Fine, fine, fine...

I went to the interview yesterday. It went pretty well. I am having a problem reading people out here though. The people from the South are so nice and peaceful that I can't tell if they like me or if they are just being friendly. But I was told that I would hear from them sometime around the end of the week or the beginning of next week. So we'll see. He still had some interviews on Wednesday.

I'll keep you posted.

Promise.

Missing: 5 pounds

These pounds are sneaky and hide in unassuming foods like pizza and ice cream. They may attempt to blend in with the rest of your body without you noticing until it is too late. Pounds are more fertile than bunnies and will multiply every time you blink. If spotted, call for help.

(Four weeks, five pounds? I am now back to where I was when Melly was first born. Now all I have to do is lose the other 50. That's not so hard.)

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa D

I just love getting new clothes! I can throw them all over the living room!!!

I can't wait to see what is in my birthday box!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa D!

Jobbie-job-job.

For those of you wondering what I chose... I called up the nice people and explained that I would love an interview. Unfortunately my temporary childcare was out of town on a business trip and I would not be able to come until Monday. Which they agreed to. So, on Monday morning I will be interviewing for a job. My first in NC. Wish me luck!

Bubble Bath

I had no idea.

And if I had known... I would have done this weeks ago.

Apparently bubble bath is the best thing ever.

When there are bubbles the baby is forced to giggle,

Splash,

Babble,

And stomp her way back and forth across the bath tub.

If I had only known.

We gotta work on this communication thing.

Thank you Grandma C!!!

I just love all the neat Halloween stuff. Especially the books! (Except that mom keeps taking pictures of me and won't let me read them in peace)

The problem with applying for jobs

As most of you know I have been out of work since July. And since I am getting unemployment, I have been looking for jobs. I have been sort of looking for a job. Well, really I have been half heartedly looking for a job and applying for positions that I would love to get, but are pretty much out of my league. I like being a stay at home mom. I like being able to do things with my baby.

Now comes the hard part. I just got a call back for a job. According to my contract with the state, I have to be seriously looking. SO I need to do this. It's a part time position. And if I were offered it I would still be able to spend time with my baby. But Mr. C is out of town this week and I need to call them back to schedule the interview. What should I do? I don't have anyone to watch the baby this week... SO I will call back and ask if next week is OK. And then figure out how to deal with this if they actually offer me the job... it would be good for my resume... good for my self esteem... not so hot for the wallet... and possibly not good at all for the baby.

What to do.

What to do.

What to do.

One year check up (a little early)

Because we moved we had to find new doctors. And, because there is a nationwide shortage of one of the vaccines that Melly needs I found her a doctor right away to get her on the list. So we went in to see the doctor yesterday and here are the results (for those of you keeping score)
50% for weight (a huge jump for a mighty eater) 20lbs 12.8oz
28 1/2 inches
and 19in head circumference (Which is completely off the charting curve).

Melly is healthy! She is doing really well according to the doctor. Eating right and with an extremely high level of motor skill. (She spent most of the visit walking around in circles clapping and babbling at us)

We will be going back after her birthday to get some one year old shots (the doctor would not give them early) and hopefully the one she is missing from her 6 month check up.

Grow baby, grow!

For Grandma D

Look how nice my new shoes are! They are cute and tasty too!

A close up of my dainty little feet.

You know what? Today is my 11 month birthday. I am almost a big One year old! I can't wait!

Oh yes, I also love the books. I took the Halloween one into my little corner and look at it all the time. And mom wants you to know that she took the white box and hid it in my closet so I can't reach it.

One week of Weight Watchers...

lost 3.2 pounds.

This is good.

This is very good.

Plus, I found "Smart Ones" desserts. They are in the freezer section. Low on the point scale (so low fat and higher fiber) and very tasty. Everyone should try them.

Cheers!

Fear our money!!!

No really, you should.

Today I opened my internet to discover that Wachovia is getting bought out. Interesting. You know what other bank just failed? That would be Washington Mutual. Guess which banks have gotten our business for the last few years? Oh, you're so smart! Apparently we have bank killing funds.

Fear my money!!!

C with your tour guide Melly!

Hi! I'm Melly. You might remember me from such posts as "Barbarian Baby" and "C is for Carrots". I know that lots of you wonder about the new neighborhood I just moved to. So to curb your curiosity, I'm here to take you on a little walking tour to the library. So put on your walking shoes and come along.


And so we're off. This is the first street we walk down. It's pretty with trees and houses and grass. I like it. It is also very quiet. I know that my mom likes the houses and can't wait until we can move into one.


Here is the second turn. We still have a ways to go though.


Are you still there? I haven't lost you have I? Do you need me to slow down or anything?


Right about here is where we leave the neighborhood walking and get on the walking path. It's pretty and has lots of trees and stuff. Sometimes we find kids playing here. I like to watch them play and will be big enough one day to play with them.


This is my favorite part. We get to see frogs and rabbits and all kinds of birds and stuff. And when the Hurricane came through this whole path was completely under water. Just behind those trees is a big lake. Not a swimming lake, but pretty anyway.


Oh, we are almost there! This part is not so pretty. We have to go back to the street and off the walking path. But that's OK since it's only for a tiny little while.


We made it! Look at how pretty the building is. It's full of books and computers and other kids for me to play with. I just love it here. When I am a little older (and don't eat the books anymore) I can check out stuff too!


Sadly, now the tour is almost over. I can see the complex now. And that means I have to have a nap.


Oh but wait, I can show you so much more before we go home. If the weather stays nice, this is where we are going to have my first birthday party! I'm so excited. I get to eat all the cake I want!


And we're home!


That concludes our tour today. I hope you have all had a nice time. For those of you who are wondering this little walk is just about two miles. I hope to have some new tours for you soon.

Bye!

Happy Fall!

We have officially made it to Fall. Thank goodness! The temperatures are dropping and going outside is much more pleasant. It is also time for a lot of stuff to happen... (and here is yesterday as a case in point)

We... Slept in late (7:30 ?!?!?! WOW!!!)
Went to Gymboree
Did some sewing. (Almost finished a project I promised to Mr. C about two years ago)
Took two naps.
Got an appointment to talk with the UNC people about my MSW.
Joined Weight Watchers.
Went to the fabric store.
And ran errands... all in time to come home and watch the season premiere of Heroes.
Not bad for one day if I do say so myself.

What's that, you are questioning my Weight Watchers? Yes. That's correct. This will be the second time I have joined a weight loss group. However, if this one goes as well as the last one, we will be doing great (minus the baby part where I get all the weight back and then some).

And UNC? Well, I need to talk with someone about written evaluations instead of grades. I finally got up the courage to get all of my evaluations sent to me to read over. And you know what? I didn't do as badly as I thought. The first thing is they really only look at your last 60 credits. Which is good because I apparently rocked in my Junior and Senior years but was not as cool as I thought I was in Freshman and Sophomore. When converting goods and very goods to As and Bs it is all subjective. Hopefully they will look past my need to not have grades and look instead to my two years of Peace Corps and my three years of Social work after that. Who knows what might happen.

And...as we all know, I can't leave you without a picture. So here you go. After all the excitement yesterday we were just a little tuckered out.

Yarrrr!

Happy talk like a pirate day, Matey!

Barbarian baby

Barbarian baby?


Baby-arian?


Bar-babian?

Last week

So on Sunday we went to a fund-raiser for the local children's hospital called Dish it up. They brought in about 30 different restaurants for the surrounding areas and had them all serve samples of their food. It was a lot of fun. We ate way too much and bought too many food tickets but it was great. And now we have a bunch of menus and ideas of local places to go and eat. Plus we gave money to the hospital. SO go us and yummy!

Yes, I know...the first picture is a bit obscure... But we had this beautiful full moon and I wanted a picture of it. Unfortunately, digital cameras don't do so hot in the moon light. Oh well...For your viewing pleasure...


As Melly gets older she makes her wishes and needs known far more clearly. As you can see here, she wants to be picked up. Really she does.


I realized that I haven't posted pictures of our place yet...and for good reason. Here is one of Melly being proud of her bedroom... But soon it will have even more stuff in it as I just ordered the dresser and we should be getting some wall shelves for her more fragile stuff soon. However, she doesn't seem to care.


As you can see, the difference between shadow and light is still possibly the coolest thing ever.


Taking a quiet moment to read by herself in her room.

Taking a page from Fluffy...

Get Sorted By The Hogwarts Sorting Hat!

Just another Saturday morning

Reading my favorite book with dad.

Proud

Who just took their NC drivers license test and only missed one question?

That would be me.

Who had to surrender her CA license for this new one?

That would also be me.

It's like I live here or something.

Thank you

Thank you for the beautiful new clothes Grandma D. I can't wait to grow into them!

This is how Melly feels about hurricanes

A little scattered

I would like to start this post with everyone's appreciation of our beautiful new futon! It's so pretty... And squishy. I love it. You don't realize how wonderful a sofa is until you don't have one for two months. :) The best part is...we can now have guests stay over. Lots of room and a soft bed to sleep in.

This picture is for Grandma D. So the story goes, Grandma D sent us all kinds of wonderful toys and gifts for the baby in her new place. And one of these was an inflatable safety bath for Melly. I blew it up in the living room room to see what it would end up looking like. And Miss. Mell went right over to it and climbed right in. So, it has stayed in the living room as a baby play gym. And here she is, enjoying it. Thank you Grandma D.

And another story behind this one...
As most of you know, for the first several months of Melly's life we tried to get her to use a pacifier. She flat out refused. So after a while we gave up trying. On the day we arrived in C Ms. Mell went over to her toy basket, picked up a pacifier and has been very content with one ever since. (Strange kid.) She is very agreeable with it and doesn't want it when she is trying to sleep. But loves to crawl around with one in her mouth and holding on to one or two others.

And last but not least... We have one bookshelf in the living room that she will not leave alone. And on the shelf there is one book she goes after every time... And here it is... Definitely her daddy's child.

I have...

SIX TEETH!!!!

(A little upsidedown, but still a fun picture!)