Busy Busy Busy

Josh is officially potty training!!!! He started this himself. We had originally planned on doing a "cold turkey" weekend, as he was exhibiting all of the signs of being ready. We were getting ready for it, stock-piling Elmo and Thomas the train underwear and really talking up the potty, when one day Josh just took his diaper off of himself and went poo in his little toilet! We haven't ever done the cold-turkey training, but he has been going on his own in the toilet multiple times during the day. It seems to me when we really push it is when he regresses. So we've been leaving him in diapers and he'll just take it off to go potty. I'm so excited, it's great. He's been using LOTS fewer diapers. Maybe one of these days we'll put him in his big boy undies...I'm sure it won't be too long.

My job is changing. For those who don't know, the company where I have worked for the last 7 years was recently purchased. Since my job is at the corporate level, not the client level, it's being eliminated. Thankfully, they have a job they want me to stay on and do. At this point I plan on staying with the company no matter what, but I am certainly looking into what options I have so our family can have what it needs. I must admit I was disappointed at not being laid off because the severance package would have been FABULOUS. But I know a job for the long-run is better than a big payout in one shot. The job I get to do won't start until I am transitioned off the job I've been doing since moving here. That means I don't have any dates when things will change. It's all very fluid and my whole department is stuck in limbo. We've been dealing with new software roll-outs and all kinds of fun things. It's been very, very busy and quite stressful.

I know we'll be taken care of. I just hate the lack of structure it will take during the "transition."

We still have 3 dogs. Sherman is easily the largest and still the most spastic. I can't wait until he calms down. He's FINALLY not jumping on me as much, so hopefully we'll be able to break him of that. He recently discovered barking at the neighbors could be fun. Sarge has taken to chasing birds and airplanes. Sadie can still jump the fence and has proven it a few times again recently. Life is good. Here is a picture of Sherman.

Hair cuts...

The snow returned last night and I went to get my hair cut again. I say again because I chopped it all off about 4 weeks ago. I liked the hair cut I got, but didn't LOVE it. I went back today to get it done again, and it's worse. sigh. I don't think it looks terrible, just not as fan-tab-ulous as I'd hoped. Today's haircut will grow into what I want pretty soon, I think, so I'm kinda excited.

Here is how it was after the first cut - not great pics, but something...

I really liked the back of it best - and it looks a lot different in the pictures than when I came home.

It looked much different today when I got home. They gave me the "messy" look and I HATED it. I brushed it out immediately upon getting home and it improved immensely. I like the length, but not really the style. It just isn't what I was looking for. A problem with never having had short hair before - or a haircut which I needed to "maintain" - is that when they ask me what I want, I don't know what to tell them and I just can't visualize it. So I tell them to do what they want. In today's case, I'm not thrilled with their choice. The best part? It's just hair and it will grow back soon enough.

Here is how it turned out - and look, there's Katie.

I am officially letting my hair grow out until I can get it into more of a bob and less of a pixie. Here is another one of Katie, just because she is so darn cute.

One thing I must say I do like about the short hair. I have to style it. Most would think this would be a down-side, rather than a perk. I find it to be wonderful. Since I'm still losing baby-weight and don't often take time to put on make-up, I love it that I can feel cute because I have to take the time to do my hair. I haven't ever "styled" my hair daily before. I was a wash and wear girl - usually with my hair still quite wet when I would leave the house. No longer an option, but I'm not sad about it.

Snow Days

Snow finally arrived in late February for us. Josh was in HEAVEN. He watched the snow fall from the window and couldn't wait to go outside in it.

Once outside he was running around, throwing snow at Miguel and just plain being a little boy. After awhile he started flipping out. He kept saying, "Hands broken!" and holding his hands up. He hasn't learned "hurt" yet, but we now know he knows when something isn't working right - it's broken! Since then he's learned "fix it!" which leads us to prompt for a "please." He's so much fun right now.

Josh's vocabulary is growing so much all of the time. Lately he has discovered movies and loves to watch Monsters Inc. When it is over he says, "Again?" He says, "Macah" for Grandma, we don't really understand why. He is consistent too, as he calls both grandmas Macah.