I Love You So...

I found this awesome book that anyone with a child should have. I just happened across it yesterday while Jake and I were walking around Walmart, on my day off. I have a weird thing for books anyway. I love the way they smell and I want to buy ALL of them. Jake already has a pretty good collection of books and I just keep buying more. The book I found yesterday is written by Marianne Richmond. It's a book about unconditional love and I think it explains, as best as it can be explained, the overwhelming, awesome feelings you have when you bring a child into this world. I'm so glad I accidentally found it. Of course, Jake just likes to look at the neat pictures, but, hopefully someday it will be one of his favorite books. Anyone with kids out there, you should definitely check it out. I got it for less than $9 at Walmart. I found it on Amazon for about $11. It's definitely worth it though.

Have You Ever...

...been driving along and realize you have no idea how you got where you are? This morning I got stuck in a little traffic, nothing out of the ordinary. I said a few bad words and yelled at a few other drivers, nothing unusual. Then the roadway opened up and I was just driving and thinking. I don't even remember what I was so concentrated on but I looked up and noticed I was passing my exit. I have been coming the same way to work for over two years now. I take the same freaking exit every single day. How in the hell did I manage to drive right passed my exit? And it wasn't even like I was aware enough to be driving in the far right lane and could just swerve over and catch the exit. I was in the far left lane, passing people. I wonder how far I would have gone if I hadn't realized I passed my exit. Maybe I would have ended up some place fun rather than work!

Crawling

No, Jake isn't crawling yet, but not to worry, he's already applied for college. I'm starting to think he's going to skip the crawling phase. We have imitated crawling. We have put him on his hands and knees. We have put toys out of his reach. We made the dogs sit out in front of him. He has no desire to actually do it, I guess. He pivots himself around in a full circle, on his belly, but won't pick his belly up so he can go forward. He also scoots backwards, which he's been doing for a long time. He just seems content with whatever he's got in front of him and has no desire to move. When we move his toys, he plays with the carpet. It's kinda funny.

I was starting to wonder about him but he's started trying to pull himself up. I tried explaining to him that he can't pull himself up on stuff if he doesn't crawl over to it. He uses us when we're sitting near him. We also caught him with his hands on the top of his crib the other night trying to pull himself up. We had to move the matress down. I can't remember when I started crawling but I started walking at 13 months. We have no information on when Daddy did stuff. Of course, all babies develop at their own pace. We've certainly learned that Jake does things when HE wants to do them and it has to be HIS idea.

It's About Time

Well, I finally heard back about that "other job," three weeks later. I had gotten a call over the weekend from my friend who works in that section. She had been given some information from one of the head bosses. Apparently, I was the first choice pick but didn't have quite enough years of experience. I don't have gray hair and around here that's a bad thing. I come to work on Monday and get an email from the guy who interviewed me apologizing for not getting back to me sooner but they would be "letting folks know SOON!" I was starting to get annoyed with the whole thing all over again. How long could it possibly take to make a freaking decision?

Yesterday, Wednesday, I was sitting at my desk, overloaded with stacks of paper. (They actually gave me work to do. Yikes!) I get a call from the man and he asks if I'm still interested in the position. I said, "yes, but I would like to visit with you about it." So, I went and sat in his office for 45 minutes and walked outta there with a new job. Basically, I wanted to get a realistic idea of the extra hours I will have to work and I wanted it to be very clear that my son comes before work. His section has a bad reputation, but it's going to open so many doors for me in the future. And, as long as I stick it out for 6 months, I can keep the increase in pay no matter what job I take within this agency.

He was very understanding and agreed to work with me. He also told me that he had to convince the head boss to hire me. He said I lack ONE year of experience (which apparently is a big deal) but my "good reputation" more than made up for that. I almost crapped myself as I started to worry about what people were saying about me and what would now be expected of me.

I'm scared cause it's going to be A LOT of work and a huge transition for me. But, it's not forever. That's what I keep telling myself. Plus, my current boss, after thinking he was going to kill me, was super nice and told me if I want to come back, the door is open. So, I have some options. I won't be "stuck" anywhere.

I start on January 22. Cross your fingers that I can survive 6 months of hell and my first Legislative Session! Yikes!