I'm sure you've all been waiting for the update-well here it is I started my new job on Tuesday 7-6 at bandwidth.com

You can see the website at http://www.bandwidth.com/ It's 2 miles form my house which means I can come home for lunch & relax or start dinner or do laundry (yeah right)

The people seem to be nice & my title is Customer Service Manager. It's a brand new department & the company is growing leaps & bounds. They just leased another office space across the hall & will be doubling their work force soon-hint hint to any of my friends that might be looking to leave their current jobs -lol The only drawback is Carmela & day care. She has thrown a fit both days I've dropped her off which is weird because when I transitioned her 3 days last week she was fine. Also the day care is 20 minutes on the other side of town so I have to drive in the opposite direction 20 minutes to come back to a job that's 2 miles from my house. Oh well -we're still on the waiting list for KidsRKids-I think it's going on 7 mths now!!

Just when you think you don't want any more babies your friend goes & has one :)

My friend Sherry gave birth last night (6-19) to a beautifal baby girl-8 lbs 10 oz -Lottie Emily

 

I can't remember Carmela being this small

Congratulations Sherry & Mike. Patrick will make a wonderful big brother too!

I thought some of you might like to see what a change there's been in the girls since they were born

This is a picture of them when they were newborns on my couch in the living room & if you go to the Photo Album section (albumtitle My PLay Dat PLus....) you'll see a similar picture of them on that same couch just a little bit older-ha ha

For those of you who have children you know one of the best accomplishments is the POTTY!

You'll see the picture of the "little throne of her own" that Oma bought when she was here & not a day later without going into the torrid details Carmela was happily sitting & doing her "business".

Now we're not fully trained yet but it's a beginning. Wish us (me) luck! :)

I decided to take a picture of the infamous Penny

She decided to hang out last night on the couch & look cool

So today we tried the "free" Gymboree music class- http://www.playandmusic.com/b2c/customer/detailProgram.jsp?pCode=9  instead of play to see how Carmela would like the change.

Well not only did she not like it she decided to stand at the door to the play area & yell & scream "OUTSIDE-OUTSIDE" until the nice Gymboree teacher asked me to take her out of the room to "talk to her" & come back in (as if that was going to make a difference) .

As my friend Sherry informed me tonight-the problem is not that they don't understand when you tell them things -it's that they DO- & they understand what they want & when & how & Carmela certainly does all of that & then some.

We went back in & the yelling continued so I decided this time to remove ourselves & spend the remaining time in Gymboree Play- http://www.playandmusic.com/b2c/customer/detailProgram.jsp?pCode=4 where I knew she'd be happier or maybe that was me :)

In the end I've determined she is much more a Gymrunner than a Half Note

What a day!

 

As most of you all know I was laid off from my job on Monday 4-19. It was very unexpected & as most of you all know too very unlikely for me to be without a job. Rather than complain I'm going to put here something somebody very dear to me sent me when he found out & leave it at that:

DESIDERATA

              G o PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND

 

HASTE AND REMEMBER WHAT PEACE THERE

 

MAY BE IN SILIENCE. AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

 

WITHOUT surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the sprit. If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.  Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of sprit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the tress and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever you labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. . With all it’s sham drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Br careful. Strive to be happy. 

Found in old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore. Dated 1692

We went to Pullen Park http://raleigh-nc.org/parks&rec;/pullenpark.asp on Sunday We played on the swings & slide & fed the ducks. The merry go round & train though didn't open until 1 & we got there at 10:30 & left at 12:30 so we missed that -maybe next time. We went & had hot dogs at Jim's favorite hot dog place & then took the little one home for her nap! She was so wore out she slept for 3 hours :)

Today was nice. Carmela woke up at 8-8:30 a nice change to her normal 6 am routine. We hunted for eggs-she put them all in her basket & we waited for our company. Grandma came at 11 so she could cook the ziti & stuffed artichokes & we made the ham, salad & green bean casserole. Aunt Gail, CB, cousin Norman & his girlfriend Laura came at 2 - we ate & ate & ate some more. Aunt Gail made fun of my lamb cake (or as she called it-the dog cake)-see for yourself! Any way it was a nice day overall

So today is the 2nd anniversary of my Dad passing away. It seems strange to "celebrate " or even acknowledge this day because every day is sad without him. Doesn't feel quite right to specifically be sad because today was the day he died. I think the saddest part (as if there weren't 100 saddest parts) is that he's not here to see Carmela & her not knowing what a wonderful man her Grandpa was. I'm the lucky one-I got 33 years with him & know all his stories & some of my own whereas Carmela will only know what we tell her. At least there's some comfort in knowing there's a piece of him in her -especially when she's tripping over her own two feet ;)

Ok so my journal will be way longer than Jim's (if he even does one) So as everyone knows Carmela has been plagues with ear infections since about the age of 6 months. Her most recent (2 weeks ago) has not cleared up with the Omnicef prescription or an antiobiotic shot so now she's on the good old tried & true Augmentin. Hopefully she'll be feeling better soon