Kids are funny!!!!

The Josh stories continue. The other day he was running around the house killing robots with his lightsaber (pronounced "lightZaber") and he decided to run up to Miguel and say, "Excuse me sir, I'm hot. The air conditioner is broken."

Where does he come up with this stuff???

Katie is now pulling up and cruising around on the furniture. She is still crawling around after Josh everywhere and always needs to know where he is. It is lots of fun to watch her explore. I saw her pick up an old cell phone Josh plays with now. She held it to her ear! She also picked up one of her barrettes tonight and tried to put it in her hair. They really do grow up fast. She is trying to talk now, and will say, "Hi Daddy" when you prompt her to. She is VERY determined and it is not nearly as easy to distract her as it was Josh, but she is still very easy-going. More pictures for your enjoyment.

Joanne's Job Update

I found a new job!!! Ok, not really a "new" job, but a different job within the company I am currently working for. I'll be in a very different role, so I am VERY excited.

For the last 7+ years I have been a part of the Corporate Service Desk at FCG, taking phone calls and providing technical support to all of the employees of the 2500 employee company (hardware, software, network - you name it, we fixed it). Since moving to Tennessee in '05 I've been the supervisor for the group. In April '08 FCG was purchased and we became CSC, which is a 90,000 employee company and already had a Corporate Service Desk. My department was eventually eliminated, but I was asked to stay on in a similar role on the Global Outsourcing Service Desk (glorified name for an outsourced Help Desk call center). I currently supervise 20+ people and would eventually be the liason to one of the Health-system clients we support.

Recently, I've really wanted to do something different. While transitioning into the new role I realized how much I missed the technical-side of things. While management has it's perks (I have my own office, for example), I craved a bit more flexibility than a 24/7 (including holidays) call-center allows. Upon finding out my department would be eliminated, another manager sought me out and asked if I would be interested in joining her team, back in a support-type position with an easy route into a project management-type position. This role would also put me back into the realm of Monday-Friday work, with my occasional turn on call for overnights and weekends and I'd one again have my holidays back.

Fast forward to this week. I've interviewed and been offered the position. My offer letter arrived yesterday and I'm going to accept on Monday morning. The new job has me client-facing, something I've never dealt with formally (my "clients" up until recently had always been the employees of the same company I worked for - and in my current mgmt position I hadn't yet been assigned any specific accounts).

Starting October 13th, I'm going to be doing system support for the various Meditech software systems used by at least 2 of our clients. My manager would like me to eventually (like, as soon as I've mastered the systems) move into a Clinical Application Analyst role which includes Project Management and Development of customizations for the systems. All of this will be very new to me and I'm very much looking forward to the challenge of learning again! Yay!!!!

Thanks to everyone who remembered me in their prayers as I waited for this job offer. I will be working from home after my initial training is completed, so I now have close to 2 more hours to spend with my family every day which I would have spent driving! This will be a huge blessing to our family.

Our Little Rock-Star

A little background. Josh is recently potty-trained (YAY!!!!) and received a "microphone" as one of his goal rewards. For the most part, he walks around the house singing ABCs and "Tink-o Tink-o It-o Star" into it, and his voice echoes out of it.

The other night we were sitting on the couch and he grabs his microphone and starts singing. I suggested he get up on 'stage.' The kid knew immediately what I meant, and here is the result:



He stopped performing the complete songs by the time I grabbed my camera (I should be more prepared), but you heard him right, he says, "Thank you! Thank you!" at the end, followed by what we think must be a "closing prayer."

Battle of the Beans?

Ok, so it wasn't really a battle. The outcome just made it look like a battle. Katie is a fantastic eater. She will try anything and usually wants more; she eats until she is full then starts playing. The other day we treated ourselves to Taco Bell (I know, I'm not a healthy mother - shoot me). Katie had some pintos and cheese. She fed herself - see for yourself.

New Picture of Josh...as promised

Yes, my babies are WHITE. Both of them have that porcelain-looking skin that makes me jealous.

I cut Josh's mohawk off yesterday. He doesn't miss it, but I do. I'm not used to this new look of his. It won't last long, I'm sure the next time I cut his hair his mohawk will be back.

...Sorry for the awkward angle, I'm not good at self-portaits.