Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 20

It's a rainy Monday here in the greater Portland metro area. Boo. The rain and cool temps remind me that fall is just right around the corner and I'm not ready to let go of the sunshine and warmth of summer. Pitter-pattering musings below:

Football starts this week. We had our FFL draft last Thursday and I got a decent team for the season. I mean, it'll change as dudes get hurt and I get bored, but I'll be okay to start. Oh, my team name this year: "I've Got A Tim Tebow-ner"...I love puns.
Our new feeding technique, aka staggering, is working so well right now! Ellie hardly barfed at all this weekend. Sure, it's a little tedious to feed her solids and then wait an hour before giving her a bottle, but it's cutting down on her spitting so much and she seems happier too.
I am excited for my extra-long Labor Day weekend next week.
So, I've been doing Pilates at the work gym and it kicks my butt. But I do like it.
I have decided on a color scheme for Ellie's 1st birthday. Why so soon? Because I think I'ma end up making the invites, decor, etc myself. I know, that's crazy. But see...this is likely the ONLY birthday where I can control the theme. Going forward it'll be all cartoons and crap of Ellie's choosing. So I'm doing the party the way I want to do it this year. Boom.
I need a nap. Scratch that - I need a Nap Day, where I can just sleep off and on all day long. That is my fantasy.
Sometimes I get a little bit of paranoia that I'm pregnant again. I know I'm not, but I still worry. I never did before I had a baby, but now that I have, I worry about it.
Our salad bar at work is awesome, but I can't stomach (PUN!) paying $3.50 a day for nommy salad. Why does it have to cost that much?
We are caught up on this season of Entourage as of last night. It's really good this year.
I haven't heard the new Kanye and the All-Stars single, Monster, yet. But I need to...Kanye himself said it's amazing. So it must be, right?

Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 19

'Tis a gymkatatastic Monday here at work. Our newly remodeled fitness center opened today with a super-fun open house and demos of the new equipment for us worker nerds. I am stoked about this new facility, except it means that I am officially out of excuses to not work out. Not with a fully equipped and awesome gym just down the stairs from where I sit all the live-long day. Sweatin' to the oldies musings below:

I went with Ellie to the outlet mall on Saturday. The husband was spending the day and evening in Seattle for a football game, so we girls went shopping. I spent way too much money, but got lots of clothes in the next size up to last her 'til next spring.

Oh, and Ellie started fussing really loud as we were finishing up our economic stimulus and I found out why when we got to the car. She pee-pants'd herself, aka leaked through her diaper. Yep, that sucked.

I wish clementines were on sale more often. I love them.

My engagement ring needs a good cleaning. And my car needs a good oil change. Ugh, maintenance of this stuff is such a first world problem.

Pandora on the iPhone is awesome. I love it. I use it in the mornings while I'm getting ready in the bathroom. The acoustics in there are pretty solid.

My new nickname for Ellie is "the Terrorizer" (thank you, Will-Ferrell-as-Dubya for the inspiration)...she rallies around the house, screaming at the top of her lungs, chasing us from room to room. Terrorizing.

Boris is not as happy about the human puppy's swift moves as she is. He just sits there and stares at her, like he's not sure what to do. Terrorized.

I'm writing down my weight loss goal for posterity's sake, and also to motivate me: 15 lbs in 3 months. Boom.

We have no plans for Labor Day weekend and that is awesome. And because Ellie's daycare takes the Tuesday after LD off as an 'in-service' day, I get a 4-day weekend of NO PLANS! Maybe she and I will rally out to Tillamook that day.

No more teeth have appeared in the baby's mouf, but man, they've gotta be RIGHT THERE! I wish they'd just come out already. I think Ellie does too.

I kinda want to be Joan Harris (from Mad Men) for Halloween. I wonder if they sell non-cheesy MM character costumes online.

Also, as we rapidly approach fall, I'm considering going darker with my hair. I thought about blonde-izing it, but I think darker would be less work since it's already heading towards full-on auburn anyway.

Saw the cover art for Tay-Tay Swift's new album...could be better. A lot better.

NBA season starts in a couple of months. I'm excited...but I'm wondering how much fun Ellie will be at the games now that she's fully mobile. I have a feeling we'll be spending more time cruising the concourse than actually watching games.

I am totally intrigued by the new spin-pin thingy from Goody. I keep seeing the commercials and I really want to get a package of them to see if they work. I hate bobby pins.

PS: Here's my new Mad Men Yourself avatar. Not bad, eh? :)

My Stress Solution, aka Free Gift Card From Work

Okay, so at my company (hereafter called "Initrode"), we have a pretty sweet incentive program to encourage us employees to be more proactive about our health. I think of the program as a win-win-win: Initrode saves money on insurance premiums, which trickle down to us in the form of cheaper policies, AND we get gift cards for meeting program goals.

Honestly, I'm the most motivated by the gift cards. Okay, and the $250 credit I get on my monthly premiums next year for completing the incentive program.

Part of my health assessment (one gift card!) and subsequent health assessment review with a coach (one more gift card!) led me to realize that I need to take charge of my stress. See, I have anxiety - yep, officially diagnosed by a MHP and all that - so it's really best if I manage stress myself or else I have to get Happy Pills and I don't want those. The health coach told me that if I can complete a program for managing stress called - wait for it - My Stress Solution, I can get a THIRD gift card! Yahooeeeeeeey!

So a few weeks ago, I started this program. It's self-directed and really easy. Every week, I get an email reminder to go to the program's site (via a portal provided by Initrode) and read some articles about stress management and document current stressors and take a quiz or two to identify how I respond to stress, what causes me stress, etc. I'm about halfway through the program now and ironically, I'm stressed out. About my gift card.

I only have until the middle of next month to submit my completion of the program to qualify for that third and final gift card. If I don't make it, I don't get the card. That stresses me out. Normally, I'm all for some good ol' fashioned irony, but seriously. I haven't given up on My Stress Solution, but I'm not sure all the work I'm doing is going to negate the stress I feel when I think about missing out on that last gift card.

Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 18

Happy Monday everyone! Today is a milestone day in our house...Ellie is officially 2/3 of the way through her first year of life :) That's right, we now have an 8 month old little lady on our hands. I use the term "lady" loosely, however, because she's quite the pistol and isn't overly concerned with being remotely ladylike. Ah, to be a baby. Musings commence:

Along with reaching 8mos of age, Ellie is now full-on crawling. Yep, our lives are never gonna be the same. The husband put cabinet latches on all the low kitchen cabinets and we are shutting off the doors to our office and 1/2 bath downstairs. Outlet covers were installed weeks ago when the scooting/rolling commenced.
We need to order the photos from our 6mo shoot tonight. At least that way our Christmas shopping is done for just about everyone on our list.
Big news on the work front. I have an interview for a great job (still at the same company...same group, actually) this week so fingers and toes are crossed. I need a change of pace!
Ellie being 4 months away from her 1st birthday reminded me that I'll be 30 in 4 months. Oh gads. That sounds so old.
I discovered this weekend that there is a good, always sunny spot to plant roses in our backyard. So I'll be working on that.
Kanye West is the best tweeter in the universe. #predictingkanyetweets
I have an obsession with picture frames. I would own a thousand of them if the husband would allow it.
Madden '11 is released tomorrow. Oh no.
But, I also have a 90min massage scheduled for tomorrow evening, thanks to the husband. He's the best.
Last week, I wanted a Blizzard. This week I want a blackberry shake from Burgerville. Damn.
The gym at work opens in two weeks...time to shape up, no excuses.
I think my fantasy football draft is in a couple of weeks. I should check with the Commish (aka the husband) about that. I have the first pick!
Hard to believe summer is almost gone. This time of year I tend to overlisten to Dashboard's "Dusk and Summer" CD because I'm lame like that.

Monday Musings, No. 2, Vol. 17

I didn't post last week (man, this is getting to be a familiar start to my posts lately!) because the Little Lady, the Boris dog, and I headed out to Lewiston while the husband was in Israel for work. I had already taken last week as vacation, so I figured why not go see the family since the mister is halfway around the world? Musings are go:

Driving over 300 miles with a baby and a dog and just yourself in the car is interesting, to say the least. Ellie is not a fan of being in her carseat for longer than a couple of hours at a time, so stops were frequent and necessary. Luckily, I wised up for the return trip and drove home after her bedtime bottle, arriving back in Portland in 5.5 hours while she slept the entire way. Best. idea. ever.
The little lady is not so little anymore...we have an official EIGHTEEN pounder on our hands now! Her little rolls and chub are so amazing, I just love them. And they are good padding for her, since she's all over the place these days.
The weather is so nice today. I wish I weren't at work.
Ellie's at her new daycare for the first time today. I think it's going well...I haven't gotten a phone call yet to the contrary!
I still love my iPhone. It was my link to the outside world when in Lewiston, since we stayed with my g-rents and they don't have internet service.
Also, if you are in Lewiston and have not had the Big Kahuna from Southway Pizzeria, get some. Thank me later.
When will Ellie stop barfing? Srsly.
I really want a Blizzard, but I also want to lose 8 more pounds. Decisions, decisions.
The best part of back to school time is the sales on snacks. I love getting a bajillion boxes of granola bars on sale.
Product Pimpage Alert: The Aveda Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque is INCREDIBLE. I highly recommend it. My skin is smoother than ever.
FUBSU and your lame-ass school president.
Football season is almost upon us...getcha popcorn ready, child please.