capital punishment

i learned this month that it drives jesse crazy when people don't capitalize things. he hinted at it when he mentioned my blog the other day. "there seems to be a wave of girls who don't capitalize things or punctuate as a 'style,'" he said disdainfully.

don't get me wrong, there is certainly an important function that capitalization serves. and at work, i am impeccable about capitalizing things.

I swear I know how to do it.

i could pretend that i don't do it here because of some sort of rebellious spirit, but i'm really just lazy. and really, if it bothers the husband that much, perhaps i will start writing properly on this-here forum.

now, i don't mention this because i think you are all-consumed with whether or not i should capitalize. in fact, the great question ("to capitalize, or not to capitalize") doesn't phase me.

what i find interesting is that i thought we had reached a point where i understood everything about my husband. but for three-and-a-half years of our marriage and this blog, i had never heard of this pet-peeve.

and i kind of like that i learned something new about him. So honey, I promise I will try.

working overtime

it's been a lot of hard work around here.

learning how to play by ourselves.

holding back the excitement at a bestie's wedding.

filling out endless paperwork to finally start a new job. (hooray, husband!)

growing up to be of average height (around 50th percentile), slightly above average weight (97th percentile) and stellar intelligence (demonstrated by head circumference that is just off the charts) at just four months.

gearing up to (hopefully) move for the seventh time during our three-and-a-half years of wedded bliss.

trying to roll over.

and finally doing it for the first time.

holding back the urge to post that picture of the baby's plumber's crack for almost two weeks.

and learning how to get rid of our old blog template that is apparently hardwired to this blog. you will notice that i need to do a lot more hard work around here to finish that one. ideas?!?

until then, we'll just keep chipping away at the important things. like getting dressed in the morning.

for father's day: reflections a day or so late

the summer after i graduated from high school, i dated a boy for about half a minute. he was handsome, funny, crazy smart and completely inspiring. one night we sat on my parents' trampoline and he told me all about the happenings at his job -- working at the movie theater.

a little boy got lost and couldn't find his parents. he approached the strapping at-the-moment boyfriend and asked him for help. said hunk proceeded to take the chap up on his shoulders and walk him around the theater while they searched for his parents. he kept the kid laughing until the parents were located. all was well. and he described all the events like they were truly blissful.

so things didn't work out between us at the time, but we stayed friends. and he kept on being wonderful with children. he gave my nephews the best birthday presents and piggy back rides. they adored him and so did i. and i knew i wanted to marry someone like that. someone who, like my daddy, understood the importance and honor of being a good father.

luckily for me, i did. i really think my husband is one of those men that was born to be a father.

don't you? happy father's day to you men out there.

(p.s. in case you didn't catch it, jesse was aforementioned summer boyfriend. clear now?)

snapshots (sort of)

i blame the rain

thank goodness we have a holiday tomorrow.

i know, i know

i'm not a great blogger. the posts are becoming increasingly less frequent and interesting.

you just have to accept that.

but i feel you might take pity on me for some of the following reasons:

• i am working full time these days. and it is awful. luckily, i have a very attractive live-in nanny. (i don't want to get too descriptive, but i think he might kiss me if i play my cards right.)
• penelope is getting over her first sickness. this is terrible in itself, but even worse knowing that jesse is the one taking care of her all day while i am at work. at the height of the illness, i came home at lunch for some hardcore snuggling. she cried until i gave her back to jesse. i might have cried a little on my way back to work.
• we are moving to boise next weekend (hooray!)
• we are moving next weekend (ugh... packing...)
• i am throwing a bridal shower for the sweetest libby in the whole wide world (hooray!)
• i am throwing a bridal shower the same weekend i am moving (ugh... what was i thinking? last time i checked, i do make my own social schedule.)
• i am changing my work location (see boise note) and cutting my hours, but still retaining about the same work load. i will be overwhelmed, but now i will only overwhelmed for five hours a day at work, and the rest of the time at home with the little one.

isn't this just how life seems to go? busy, busy, busy. i am seriously craving a nap. and some downtime with emily dickinson.

p.s. did i mention it has been snowing here? SNOWING in late may. at this rate, this little girl is going to outgrow all her summer clothes before the sun comes out.

mothering through the generations

i am learning how to be a mother. unfortunately, there was no specialized training to prepare me for this venture (though aunthood certainly helped). this is unfortunate, because sometimes i think i make a better student than functioning adult.

yesterday, i was reminded that i come from a line of wonderful mothers. and not to be too biased, but i really think i am learning from the best.

(can you believe that my sweet mother is my age in this picture? what lovely young beauty! and how precious is little cameron?!?)

and sure, i may have accidentally dropped the remote on my baby's head while nursing her. or maybe i did call her a poo face angrily and (kind of ) meant it because she wouldn't stop crying. the good news is that while i am learning on the job, i get to learn on the best.

happy mothers' day to mothers (and aunts and sisters and friends and inspiring women) past, present and future.