Up and Running

Well...I made it to Henderson, moved in with my sister, moved out of my sister's into a house I found to rent. Moved all our shipped stuff into Roy and Ella's garage, then moved it out of their garage. Unpacked almost everything, found a doctor for me, visited almost everyone at least once, and have completed a Scrubs marathon, and a "My So Called Life" marathon. I have gotten and gotten over a bladder infection and a stomach flu. I have changed all our insurance over and set up renter's insurance. I've licenced my Jeep with Kentucky plates. I have changed our address with everyone I can think of, set up internet, and balanced my checkbook. Oh, and I finally finished the book I started before I left Washington. Haha. All in a month.

It has been one whirlwind month...and I still have so much to do. I have to find a dresser and a computer monitor. I have to find a vet, and a pediatrician. I have to get my KY driver's licence, but there's no rush on that. I have to finish unpacking, put up my pictures so the house looks semi-decorated, sort through all my clothes and make a goodwill pile and an attic pile. Do the dishes...really gotta do those dishes....it's getting ugly in there. Probably go through my kitchen and make an attic pile (or goodwill pile if I think I can bear to part with the things I never use...of course, if I do that, I'll probably want to use them right after they're gone). Lots of laundry to do. Take all the packing paper to the recycle center. Review my January budget and see if I'm anywhere near being on track. Make a February budget (because I am aware that it's already sneaking up on me). Oh, not to mention find a job.

Patrick will be home in three weeks...which is a week sooner than I realized...I must have lost a week. Probably dropped it in the snow somewhere. I'm so sick of the weather here....I miss Washington. I hate this below-freezing weather and snow. Snow is all fun and games when you're a kid, but when you're an adult, it's just another mess to have to clean up. My entryway looks AWFUL, and I no longer have a swiffer....so I'm going to have to buy a new one (it's a good thing we're getting that housing money because, I'm going to need it).

Hmm...the baby is napping, and I REALLY wanted a nap after staying up till 2 finishing that book...but I think I'm going to get started on the dishes and eat lunch so that I'll be able to feed her without starving when she wakes up. Haha. Have a great week, and say a prayer for me....that I don't lose my mind.

Huh!!!

If I ever get another cat, it will learn this!

Craziest thing I've ever seen...except I won't say "good" for unrolling TP.

Wow...

Ok, I'm officially a facebook junkie. I have loved my xanga...but lately have been neglecting it. Mostly because my mom is sick and off work, so I know she's not going to be reading it. Generally I post for her because everyone else I talk to on Facebook (actually...I don't see DK on Facebook either). So here's the latest for everyone who still comes by here.

Rebecca is walking like whoa. She's a very busy child and loves to toddle around. I'm so SO happy for her to be getting out of the baby stage and into the toddler stage. I am MUCH more fond of toddlers than babies. I'm not very good at having people depend on me...and the more independent she gets, the easier it makes things for me. I KNOW, I KNOW..."someday you'll miss that." I'm sure I will miss some aspects of it...but I will never understand why people see tiny babies and say "oh, I miss having a baby around." That just isn't me. I LOVE her to pieces...but I am ready for her to be older. I never claimed to be the average woman. lol.

So what else...well, she's getting a couple more teeth, I think. At least she's been cranky like she's getting more. She's also learning to eat lots of foods. She's starting to finally get the hang of the cup, I think. She's at least doing better. I think it was my fault. I was confusing her, but once I figured out how it might be confusing her, I fixed it. So what else? Ummmmmmm...she's going to be 1 in just about two and a half weeks. Unbelievable...exciting too, though.

We've been thinking of buying a house. We both really want to, but are still open to not doing it, I think, if things don't work out...at least I am. I think we both are open to the possibility. We don't really want to RUSH into it, but at the same time...we don't want to mooch off our families for too long while we're looking either...so the sooner the better in that aspect.

I've been really stressed about the HUGE transition that is coming up in just a few weeks for us. We're going to be apart for two months while I'm home looking for a job and house to hopefully have in the works by the time he gets home. We're looking forward to the extra income we'll have while his enlistment approaches it's end in March. Here's hoping I can find some work ASAP and that it will be enough to sustain us (and then some, hopefully). If it is, then when he starts part time work or school (either way), we'll be making quite a bit extra that we can use to start our snowball back up. PLUS, it's coming up fast on tax time! I LOVE tax time. Especially now that I don't have to file the Mary Kay stuff, It is quick, easy money for us. We pay in enough every year to get a refund...and NOW, we have that wonderful bundle of joy that brings us a wonderful bundle of money every year! AND with the first time home buyer's credit, we're hoping that 2010 is going to bring us down another debt. My Jeep will be paid in full after we get our tax money...or shortly after, anyways. We'll have a fully funded emergency fund (which I know is not really how Dave would do it, since we still have debt...but we really want to play it safe). We'll have a home (also, not how Dave may have us do it...but at least we're not walking full on into the range of stupid), and we're hoping for more income than we had here...even if the benefits may not be as generous.

I'm starting the Certified Dog Trainer Program and the Certified Veterinary Assistant Program both around the middle to end of January. It will be about 15 hours per week added to my plate. HONESTLY, I probably spend that much time on the internet alone...so it shouldn't be hard to work it into my schedule...I'll just have to work on my Facebook addiction in the meantime...should be super easy once I'm home...hopefully...it's the games that get me. Anyways, I'm SUPER-excited about those programs. They could also help me get a job in a zoo (I asked) because they teach you about animal behavior in general (THEN focus on dogs...but the same principles apply to all mammals). We'll see. I'm fine with working in a kennel my whole life (as I think I've said before) as long as it doesn't put us in the poor house. lol. So We're continuing on our way to being debt free, I'm on the path that will lead me to a job I love and can be passionate about, and we're going to be nearer our lifelong friends and family. I will be able to keep in touch with the friends here just as I have the friends at home...so all that's going to change is which friends are farther away...

I'm in much better spirits about things. I'm just hoping now that we can afford to take a vacation within the next five years. Personally, I think when we're debt free (except the house), we should save up for a NICE vacation (like, one that makes up for the past 5 years we've had without a vacation). Haha.

Ok, enough word vomit. I have to go get some things done while that little one is still napping. Love love! I hope everyone is well! Glad mom is feeling better, glad things are looking up for my sister at work...things are looking up here...now if things will look up for my best friends...life will be great!

Thank you! Goodnight!!

Currently Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 By Activision Inc. see related

Better Pic of the Teeth

Here's an even better picture of her teeth (better than the one on Patrick's site, I mean).