Catching Up

Guys, I'm sorry.  I promise I'm not abandoning this little blog.  I'm still here... Just busy.  And tired.

I've gotten myself into that place where it is hard to just "start up" again.  I feel like I have a lot to catch you up on, and I'm not really sure where to begin...  It's overwhelming, so I just don't do it.  That's my style these days. (You should see my house.)

We'll start with a picture then.  That seems like as good a place as any.

Before our annual Oktoberfest party this past Saturday night.  More on that later.

Ok now, let's bulletize.  Shall we?

- I have been back at work for almost two weeks.  So far, it is going well.  It still feels good to be back and most days I am happy to get up and out.  I miss teaching A LOT, but I think I'm going to be happy with my new position for this season of my life. My office is a dark closet with  no windows - seriously.  It's kind-of depressing.  But, I have done a pretty cute job of decorating it if I do say so myself.  My days are spent doing a lot of organizing and looking at data.  I like the former a lot and not the latter. I'm administering my first big test today.  Other than details like this,  I probably won't talk much about my job here because standardized testing is TOP SECRET.

- Jeff's job is going really well too.  (I don't talk about it much either because he is private - unlike his big mouth wife.)  He travels a lot - usually one or two (sometimes more) nights a week - which is hard but worth it, because he genuinely likes his job and that's super important to us.  I have a whole new appreciation for single moms though - especially working single moms (and I'd imagine most are).  When Jeff is out of town I'm like a one-armed paper hanger (what are those anyway?) and that's with an awesome support system of friends and family.

- Sam is THREE months old.  I LOVE three months.  I'll do a whole post on him later this week.  (Promise.)  I really do think 12 weeks is a miracle marker.  He has adjusted SO well to our new routine and is the happiest little guy.  I am pretty much obsessed with him.

- I weigh three pounds less than I did before I got pregnant.  I've been feeling pretty good about myself until yesterday when a cafeteria lady asked me when I was "going to finally have that baby."  Hmm... I've done a lot of positive self-talk, and I think I'm going to survive this. *I haven't done the first bit of exercise or watching what I eat.  Some days I am motivated to start the next day because I still have a long way to go to where I want to be; but most days I'm pretty content eating icecream and allowing pumping to be my only form of exercise. ;)

- Clemson is KILLING IT in football this year.  I don't really watch the games (just being honest), but I'm always so proud when I see the final score.  As you know, however, I DID attend the VT vs. Clemson game a few weeks ago, and I was SO glad I did.  Here we are with our friends Meg and Tim (from Boone, NC via Clemson) tailgating before the game...

Yes, I have a head coming out of my head, and Jeff couldn't stop eating for two seconds to take a picture.

I'm happy to report that Sam will be a Tiger upon high school graduation 2029. 

- I LOVE fall.  It is, by far, my favorite season.  A lot of people say that, but I really mean it.  I sweat too much to enjoy summer. I regret to say that I haven't spent as much time as I'd like to outside, but it has already been a full and fun October.  So far, we've been to the football game, had a wedding shower for my soon-to-be sister in law (post coming), been to a vineyard wedding, and hosted Oktoberfest (post coming).  Plus, we still have Jeff's brother's wedding this weekend, DaPalooza IV the next, and then, of course, Halloween.  Just wait till you see my little man in his costume!

- Life is good; BUT, I do not have it all together.  Finding this balance as a new working mom has been more challenging than I was prepared for (seems to be the theme of my life these days).  This week has started off on a much better note - I even made dinner last night - but last week I felt like a total train wreck. I have the Erin Condren Life Planner and a Home Organization Binder - but those things don't actually put away laundry or wash out bottles, not to mention that most days I'm too busy to even look at them.  Anyway, I'm learning that sometimes "good enough" is, actually, good enough.  Maybe I'll process that and write more later.

Ok.  Enough.  I won't be gone so long again.  Thanks for going easy on a girl.