File it under things that make no sense

While going through the security lines at the airport yesterday, Dillon did a little skip through the security thing. The TSA agent made a big deal of this, squating down with his arms outstretched to corral her all while saying "I can't touch you, but you have to go back through!!"

Then, Corryn and I were going though. I didn't take her soft leather shoes off, so the same agent made me go back, take off her shoes and come back through the security screener thing.

So, apparently, happy, skipping 4 year old and infants with soft leather shoes on are now on the list of high risk fliers.

C-R-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

Oh my! Slow down, my life- you are going thisfastallthetime and I'm worn out!

Since my last post, it's been a whirlwind. Here are the highlights:

--Dave was gone for 5 days on job interviews, leaving the girls and I behind. It was so stressful traveling multiple places with 2 small children that we decided for him to go it alone. I confirmed just how much less stressful it was to be left behind with small children by getting my 3rd case of mastitis this year. Yep, that was much less stressful.

--I had my GI appointment to follow up on the wheat/gluten sensitivity that I developed while I was pregnant with Corryn. It hasn't gone away and had a lot of indications of being Celiac Disease, so I felt like it was important to see whether it was or not. I had an intestinal biopsy 2 days after the appointment, then got the wonderful news earlier this week that it is not Celiac Disease. It is a gluten sensitivity, but I don't have to be as diligent about avoiding it as I would if it were Celiac.

--Dave got a job offer from a hospital in Southern Illinois. It's a great opportunity with someone he really clicked with personality-wise.

--Unwilling to accept a job offer from a place I hadn't seen, we made plans to adjust our travel-home-for-the-holidays plans so we could spend a few days in Illinois. Having done both staying home alone with small kids AND traveling mulitple places with them in one month, I say it's a toss up as to which is more stressful.

--Accepted the job offer!!!!! It isn't a done deal- there are still contract negotiations, but it feels like that isn't going to be a problem. Dave has given them his "wants" and no one has balked yet.

--Colds for everyone, except Corryn. Teething for her. And sheer hatred for her car seat, though that's nothing new. It's just highlighted by how much more time she's had to spend in it.

--Traveled home to Arkansas for family Thanksgiving. Being dairy free for Corryn and wheat free for me ensured that I did not overeat at either of the dinners we went to yesterday. We are in the south and the reigning philosophy is that there is very little that can't be made better by the addition of butter/cream/ bacon grease, though care was taken by some of the cooks to make things without any butter. I appreciated it a great deal. It was wonderful to see and spend time with family, though a little overwhelming for the little ones. OK, a lot overwhelming- there were a lot of tears and consoling involved. Everyone wanted to hold Corryn and she wanted no part of it whatsoever.

There's definite good in there, though in the whirlwind it hasn't all sunk in yet.

Now for a few days of downtime. We're at my mom's. I get to shower uninterrupted. I get to sit and read a magazine. I get to take naps. How heavenly is that?!

Just a little dream...

I want a little house, far in the woods. One with a little garden with some flowers. And quiet. A little place where no one says my name, or needs me for anything. I get to sit for longer than 5 minutes. I get to read or knit, or better yet, have a complete uninterrupted thought. I only have to worry about when I eat. No one would cry or ask me questions. I'd get to take a shower when I wanted with no negotiations of "play with me for 2 minutes first." I'd get to sleep.

I wouldn't want to spend all my time there, it would undoubtedly get pretty lonely. But right now, after the day we've had, there is very little I wouldn't give to have a little time in that house in the woods.

9 months old

Late as usual- what can I say? There's a lot going on around here these days. My job ending soon, Dave interviewing for jobs, trying to arrange moonlighting opportunities, an upcoming GI appointment for me to follow up on the wheat problem I developed while pregnant. Of course, this on top of the demands of 2 young children. My head is often spinning trying to keep track of it all. Notice the lack of statement about housecleaning and laundry. Take from that what you will.

In any case- she's 9 months old! She spends a great deal of time standing, holding onto something, even cruising along things sometimes. I'm thinking of putting brick shoes on her to slow her seemingly breakneck race toward early walking.

She has 2 teeth now- so cute! She says "mamamama," she has big belly laughs, she claps and waves occasionally. She also has major stranger anxiety and cries when someone unfamiliar talks to her. She loves shiny, crinkly things, being carried in the sling and watching the trees move when the wind blows. She has discovered the new joy of splashing the water in the bathtub.

She weighs 17 lbs 10oz. I don't remember what Dillon weighed at this age, but just looking back at pictures, Corryn easily has a couple of pounds on her. I truly don't look forward to wrestling her into a snowsuit this winter, but it'll be fun to see how she reacts to the snow.

And for the bonus-

The view from the front window

How cool is this?

One of Dillon's friend's built this for her. It's made completely out of things found in our backyard.

Peaches promptly knocked down the first one, so he re-built it. I think it's pretty cool, as does she.

Milestones, full speed ahead

Less than 2 weeks after figuring out how to crawl, she has moved on to pulling up to a standing position. She did this even before figuring out sitting very well. Her favorite place to practice this skill is on the edge of the slippery bathtub as I am taking a shower. This, of course, concerns me a bit. Maybe giving her a rawhide to chew instead of keeping them from her would occupy her long enough for me to take a shower.

:)