Sally's First Owie

Last week at Johnny's softball game, Sally fell off the bleachers. She was walking, slipped, and fell through the back, dropping about four feet onto the concrete. I ran down, but Johnny got there first, and Sally was screaming like no other. We were both a bit hysterical at first, too, but after checking her over, we realized she was fine (somehow!!). I thought for sure she'd broken an arm or gotten a concussion, but she was totally okay, other than a scratch on her head. Within a couple of minutes, she was scrambling to get down and go play again! That night, we treated her to a shake and a churro, and she couldn't have been happier.

Bye Bye, Paci

I decided that once I quit my job, I'd be ready to tackle the task of taking away Sally's pacifier. She loved that frog and all other pacis so very much. But when we went to her 15-month check up, the pediatrician said we should wean her off of it sooner than later because her front teeth were starting to be affected.

So last Thursday we took it away! She was totally fine during the day, and then that night, she seemed extra antsy, but she went to sleep without it after about half an hour of coaxing. Johnny and I were high-fiving each other at how easy it was.

But then Friday night came along. She screamed and screamed and was trying to tell us she wanted it by touching her mouth and sucking on the back of her hand (and screaming, of course). But we took turns soothing her until she finally exhausted herself and fell asleep. It was so hard not to give in because she was so sad! Each day has gotten a little easier, and she's finally doing great without it. And she's become quite the little chatter box, too, even if most of what she says is unintelligible. Sal, we promise we love you!

I Quit

It's official. I've been unemployed for exactly a week now. I can't believe I finally got up the nerve to quit my job. I've been mulling the idea around in my head for months and discussing the pros and cons with Johnny night after night. But it was hard to say goodbye to such a steady income. 

Ultimately, what it came down to was time. I simply didn't have the time to take care of Sally and work full time. More and more often Sally was getting shuffled to my sisters' homes, and I'm so grateful for the help they gave me in watching her the last several months. For the last six months or so, work was increasingly demanding, and I didn't even have time to enjoy being a mom. Sally was being placed in front of the TV as I scrambled to make a dent in my constant backlog of work. We talked about getting someone to come take care of her at our house while I worked during the week, but the money we would have paid that person would have eaten up most of my pay. Plus I really wanted to be able to focus more attention on our girl. 

And so I put in my two weeks' notice. And other than a few minor feelings of panic in the beginning, it mostly just felt so good to finally be quitting. Since Sally was eight weeks old, I've been juggling her and my work, and it was just too much. Sometimes I wonder if my first year of motherhood would have been much less overwhelming if I hadn't also been working. Even though it's only been a week, I find myself enjoying my time with Sally so much more, rather than counting down until her nap time so I can edit some tight-deadline project. 

My coworkers were great and super understanding, and it was pretty weird to quit a job I'd held for 4.5 years. But it felt right, and I'm so very happy to be spending more time with little Sal gal. And in case you're wondering if I have a ton of free time on my hands now, the answer is "No!" I'm working on managing our household a little better, cooking meals (which I've barely done for months now), and I'm doing some freelance writing and keeping up our personal finance blog. The difference is that I can do all of that on my own time. Anyway, for me, today, this was the right decision. And I'm so glad I finally had the guts to do it.  

Arches

A few weeks ago, Johnny and I headed to Arches for the day, mid-week! We were both stressed out with work, and we just needed a (very) mini-getaway. It was beautiful and warm, and a good lesson in toddler-hood. Sally is all about running around right now, and she was less than thrilled to be stuck in a car and then a hiking backpack all day. She yelled and screamed for almost half of the trip and half of the hiking. But we tempered our expectations and still made a fun trip of it. 

 guzzling Gatorade

 falling asleep sitting up

 this trail went on for another few miles, but we turned around right after this picture was taken because Sally was being grumpy :)

 she was so thrilled when we finally let her get out and walk around