Vacay!!!

This year is our FIVE year anniversary! Woohoo!!! Over the winter we talked about going to New York for an anniversary trip. However, Steven and Davie have been missing out on each other's company too much. So we are going on our fifth annual summer trip to Colorado instead . . . and I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED!

I love road trips with Steven. It reminds me why we became best friends 7 years ago. The drive is one of my favorite parts as long as Steven is in the seat next to me. Hopefully having a toddler in the back seat doesn't change this too much. We shall see.

I'll let you all know how the trip goes. We are leaving tomorrow night! HURRAH!

The Paths Thus Far . . .

So far in my semi-adult life I have pursued many career paths (and thought seriously through many many more). I started as a teacher - my first love that I go back to every-so-often. Then I thought I'd pursue a less stressful career as a director's assistant. It turned out to be too tedious. Then I started a Master's program for Library and Information Sciences. I made it to one class before I decided I wasn't even an inkling passionate about that. Just recently I finished my first semester in the Master's program for School Counseling. I truly loved all of my classes and was excited that I finally found something to finish.

Here's the deal though. Oklahoma doesn't have a law right now that requires school counselors. Therefore those jobs are rare, especially right now. Knowing that it was such a narrow degree, I planned on going ahead and getting my LPC. It would take about a year and a half more of school, assuming I didn't need to work full-time. Then LPC jobs can be very stressful with a high burn out rate.

I started thinking about nursing, and how much I have loved taking care of my grandmother. I love caring for people in a concrete way. Steven and I also still have a dream of moving out of state one day. Nursing would be one of the easier relocating jobs to have. I found out that since I have a bachelor's degree already, I could get an associates RN at OCCC in 10 months.

The best part of a career in nursing is the ability to switch in to different fields semi-easily without having to go back to school. As you can see by my track record, this is pretty important to me.

I'm going to go and talk to OCCC on Monday and see what the reality is. Thank the Lord for my supportive, yet practical husband - who although he probably wants to rip his hair out with me sometimes, he listens and dialogues with me about all of my ideas.

Ignorance was bliss . . .

You may need to pray for my soul. I'm not sure.

I'm changing. I'm getting less tolerant - not for the "sinners", but for the "good guys". I just can't stand the close-mindedness. Although I recognize that in a way I am becoming close-minded about those that are close-minded . . . if that makes sense at all. What's stranger is I used to be able to hold my tongue about such things. It's so hard now.

I'm not sure what I think. I'm conflicted about this new me. I definitely was happier when I could write off people as good-hearted and simply misguided. Then again, I just can't stand it when people can't see outside of their own perspective.

I wonder if this has to do with what I'm learning in my classes.

The Good. The Bad. The GREAT!!!

THE GOOD: Davie and I took a much needed trip out to Nana and Papa's lakehouse on Thursday. Before we left we met Daddy at the zoo and it was so fun to see her finally enjoying something besides her feet as she walked around. She stayed busy at the lake walking and walking and walking, swinging, sliding, and swimming in the hot tub. She also slipped under water a few times and thought it was the funniest thing ever. The next day we had planned to see the Sanders family in Broken Arrow and then on to my sister's birthday celebration.

THE BAD: Davie started getting fussier and more lethargic as the weekend continued. Then we heard about the weather. We DID however get to spend some time with Jennie's little family and my sister's little family before we had to ship back out towards OKC. This morning Davie had a full-fledged temperature, so we hit the road. It got worse and worse on the turnpike until I was thinking that it will be a miracle if I get home without getting in a wreck. That's not a good feeling with your sick baby girl in the back seat. Davie started crying and I was getting stressed to the max and distracted, so I decided to pull over and deal with her . . . to be safe. Oddly enough, my attempt to be "safe" wound me up down in a ditch. I fought back tears as I got out and tried shoving stuff under the wheel to get traction. Some classy dude yelled "a**hole!" at me as he drove by on the other side of the turnpike. I actually started laughing at this point, because WHO DOES THAT?! Anyways, a cop came by and told me to get back in the car and he would put me in the system but he said it would be awhile before someone could get to me. I got back in the car and looked at Davie and the tears were really pushing in. Then Steven called. I hadn't wanted to worry him if I could handle it myself, but of course I told him what happened. He got our friend Chris and his Jeep and they started out my direction. I called AAA because I remembered my dad getting me a membership awhile back, but it had since been canceled so they couldn't do anything for me. Anyways, within an hour, the Bristow Wrecking Service came by and took care of me. He was the nicest guy ever, and I didn't even mind paying him $100 . . . I wanted out of there before I had an all-out panic attack.

THE GREAT!: I met Steven and Chris at the McDonalds in Stroud and my darling husband drove me the rest of the way home. When we got home Davie was running 102 temperature, so we gave her some Tylenol and let her rest and then gave her a bath. Now she is running around like a crazy person instead of draping herself over the nearest leg. We came home and had Chili-fest 2010 and are happy to be warm and together. We also got a Wii . . . just for icing on the cake. I can't explain how good it is to be in the same house as my husband and my child at the same time.

Reality Cookies

My side hurts from laughing. My sister Kristen came over to eat Chinese with me tonight at my grandma's. She opened up a fortune cookie that said, "Keep your feet on the ground even though friends flatter you." We laughed at how NOT uplifting that was. "When people say nice things about you, don't believe them. They're not true." Hahaha. So then we thought what a funny idea it would be to have "Reality Cookies" instead of Fortune Cookies. We started to come up with one or two ideas, and before you know it we couldn't write fast enough. It was strange how easy it was, haha. The only thing that would've made it better is if my other sister Kacey had been there. No doubt she would've come up with some truly hilarious realities.

What's your reality?

You are about to meet a perfectly average person.

Stop trying. It's over.

Something mundane is ahead.

Something you lost will stay lost.

The night is dark. Count on it.

You will find new outlets for creative ability. Sadly, you have none.

It's too late.

Not that shirt. Seriously, it's too small.

You are about to meet someone who will hurt you horribly, but you won't know until it's too late.

One of your friends is talking bad about you right now.

The path ahead will end when you die.

Ask for fame, riches, and fortune. Go on, ask.

A secret admirer will soon creep you out.

Some say a warm smile is testimony of a generous nature, but remember babies fart-smile.

If you continually give, people will start to call you a doormat behind your back.

If you set your goals too high, you won't reach them.

You will soon be invited to a 7 year olds birthday party.

You will spend old age in incredible boredom.

You will meet a short, fair, average acquaintance.

Love and laughter is great medicine . . . also, Zoloft.

Love is like wildflowers. It is often found in the most unlikely places . . . also, it dies.

None of the secrets of success will work if you are a loser.

The first step to better times is to go on a diet.

It doesn't matter.

The secret of getting ahead is cheating.

Your past success will be overshadowed by someone else's success . . . in bed.

You are very expressive in words, act, and feelings . . . and people hate that about you.

You should be able to undertake and complete anything, but you never do.

You're okay. Everyone thinks so.

20 months and we're finally hearing some thoughts . . .

Davie is talking up a storm. I think it is really a mixture of our ears being trained to her voice, and her voice training itself to sound more like ours. I also think the biggest difference that I noticed over the weekend is that she actually wants to repeat and answer us. She says some basics and then some. I wanted to list a few of my faves though.

"Mama" - I've been waiting a long time for this. I seriously just heard this for myself last week. Steven swore she said it one morning when I wasn't home, but he might've been just trying to keep my hopes afloat since she says "dada" like it's going out of style. But oh my, when she says "mama" and she really means "mama" . . . there are no words.

"DAAAAA-DAA?" - It is so adorable to hear Davie yell inquisitively for Steven. She does it all the time. Whether he's in the other room, or at work, or on the phone - heartmelting.

"Day-doo." - This means "thank you" and I will argue that it was her first meaningful words. Now I chalk that up to good parenting, eh?!

"Thkow!" - This means "Scout" . . . I hear this anytime we are outside. She thinks Scout should be there.

"Oh Boy!" - It is as clear as a bell. You have never heard anything cuter. Her teeny tiny voice perks up when she sees something interesting. She said it probably 15 times today, maybe more.

Wow. When it rains it pours - in a great way. It feels like certain parts of their development creep along, and then over the course of a month or two (or sometimes a weekend), they blossom!

BIG NEWS

I have to apologize for faking you out with the title here. Mainly I haven't written because I've had no "big news" among everyone else's "big news". I have loved reading about pregnancies and babies and new jobs and on and on. For now, I'm not really experiencing any giant changes . . . for once in my life. It's kind of nice. I think the nice part is not always looking for what's next. I am satisfied with our little life right now.

Steven has a job that he works really hard at . . . but they show him the appreciation he deserves, which is what I always wanted for him in his career. He really enjoys it, although he could do with less hours - but that is a problem we can deal with for now in a time where so many people are looking for work. He also is working a lot of weekends out in the wilderness. We have tried out a few different options for spending time together, but it's been rough.

Davie is indescribable. She is, as always, delightful and hilarious and learning every day. She loves talking about her daddy when he is away, and laughing at him when he is here. It is funny to see her little personality developing. She loves everyone she has ever met (much like her momma), and she gets so involved in her "tasks" that she can't even hear people talking to her (much like her daddy). She does look so much like me, but when she is busy working on something, she looks just like Steven.

I am beyond grateful for what life looks for us right now. I was able to take 9 hours this semester, and I adore all my classes. I am spending more time than ever working with my grandma. She and Davie get a long splendidly, and I am so thankful for all the conversations I've gotten to have with her in the last 6 months that I've been able to work there. We have re-arranged the schedule quite a few times now to try to accommodate for some quality family time with Steven. I think we've finally figured it out. Davie and I are going to suck it up and go out with Steven on the weekends as much as possible. This should be interesting, but part of me is really excited. I hope the weather holds good things for us.

So, no - I am not pregnant. I didn't get a new house. I didn't get a new car. I'm not looking at doing any of those things in the near future. But I am content. We are making things work for us. I am happy, and that is the best kind of news.