the gingrich blog

heart talk...

may these words never leave my heart...

mom: "zu, i sure do love to kiss your sweet lips!"

zu: "mmmwahhhhh!"

mom: "you're so special to mommy!"

zu: "you make my heart happy, momma!"

and then at dinner (we went out to eat), j was asking him to not eat chips off of the floor and we quickly corrected him when he started to whine.  his response, "you're making my heart hurt!".

he's just funny!  i have no idea where he gets his words, but i love them, for the most part!

the verdict...

i'm happy to let all of you know that i'm trading in my sports bras and elastic, waist banded gym pants for real, grown up, work clothes!  what does this mean?  i've taken another position, same company, in the People Services organization (otherwise known as HR in other companies) as a Benefits Analyst.  this will be a huge change for me, but one i have prayed and prayed (and prayed) about.  

thus far, i've presented this as an easy decision.  NOT! this week has been a roller coaster FULL of emotions.  j + i worked and worked on the 'right' decision.  i have been ready to do something beyond fitness & recreation and get more into the business side of the corporate world.  here was my opportunity, but also a small chance that i could stay at home with my children - most mama's dream.  we were split seconds away from going with that one until i had a wonderful discussion with my sister who put it all into perspective to me.  (i literally don't know what i would have done without her, her time, and her wisdom.  she helped me beyond belief.)  bottom line, the economy is weak, and only getting weaker and the time isn't right.  what if j lost his job?  what if the car industry goes down and doesn't come back for years?  this is how j makes a living - R&D for the auto industry.  a risk taker, i am not.  poor, i'm not willing to be.  so - i've embraced this opportunity and refuse to look back.  

i'm excited, anxious, nervous, and quite frankly eager for this new position.  it's a promotion that came with wonderful support from upper management, which always feels good.  in this role, i'll be working with the dental, vision, life, medical, and wellness benefit plans for the employees.  it will be a lot of vendor management and relationship building.  it's all totally new to this PE major. i've always known of people working in a field completely unrelated to their degree...and now that's me!  woo hoo!  i truly feel that this expands my resume in a way that i couldn't see a year ago.

the hardest part of this transition is that the people who have made my days wonderful at work are not my direct co-workers anymore.  these people have become an extended family to me.  they have watched me grow and experience the best 5 years of my life.  i'll also have a completely different surrounding (a desk job) and one that doesn't interface with loads of people all day.  that'll take time to get used to...along with fixing my hair and applying make-up each day (a complete change) and wearing 'real' clothes.  oh my...a real grown up, i'll be.

well, be thinking of me as i go through a big transition.  this decision has truly occupied every bit of me (and j) that exists and it just feels good to have it behind us.  i'm blessed to have the support of j, my family, and all of my co-workers/friends!  your kind words have tremendously comforted me.  

now - off to buy some work clothes!  and i think i forgot to mention that i won't be working dinosaur hours any longer - regular hours.  2 more days of the 4am alarm clock!  yippee!  6am never sounded so good!

lots of squeezes...

while she's nearly irresistible, these two couldn't stop stealing squeezes from the sweet baby girl!  

we love to love them!

 

our valentine's playdate...

we went all out for valentines - really!  gramm's had us at their house and she made us a fabulous steak dinner, complete with a dessert.  the cherry on top was that our friend, GSP, was able to come over with her babies.  indeed, it was a playdate...and a lovely one at that!

   

playing together...

 

feeding each other...

 

loving on this sweet baby girl!

his nighttime routine...

zu has a way of 'ramping up' when the sun goes down.  as soon as you say "bathtime", he goes nuts - like SUPER CHARGED active!  this usually entails jumping on our bed and he's recently added a 'spin' to his routine!

    

and while he's going crazy, daddy protects em from flailing arms and legs...and steals a few squeezes from his girl!

while these times can be challenging, they are so wonderful...as long as no one gets hurt!

a celebrity in the making...

our little em will have a lil' feature in the san antonio express news on march 7.  be on the lookout!  they were looking for a cute baby room and hers fit the bill.  the photographer came out to capture some photos, in which i can't wait to see the ones that were selected (amazing what a really nice camera can do in a small space), but when he left, i couldn't help but snap a few of my own.  

 

by the way - i'm loving bows and she's got about 4 hairs to hold them in.  i think i've purchased the same $7 bow three times.  a girl needs girly goods, right?

be sure to watch for the paper next saturday!

(have i told you lately how much i love my camera?)

a teething baby...

some signs:

• lots of drool 
• different diapers (wierd #2, but isn't it all?)
• awful diaper rash
• sporadic fits 
• loves a wet washcloth 
• and lastly...fingers constantly in her mouth! 

 

a milestone - first taste of table food

this is what em thought of her first few bites of table food (rice cereal).  

     

      

5 months + a 1 week - feb. 10, 2009

she's still not a huge fan.  we keep trying, so she'll eventually get it.  isn't she expressive?  wonder where she gets that from?

sticking to a resolution...

when '09 dawned, i made a promise to myself that i would create gifts to give instead of always buying items that eventually make their way to a trash can - especially baby/kid items.  seriously, i have a craft room with every tool, 1000s of pieces of paper, enough embellishments to furnish a small store.

to stay true to my resolution, i've put some crafty skills to work.  my most recent baby gift - not much, but meaningful...i mean, i'd love to get it!  and if you're one of the 17 expectant mother-friends that i have, maybe you'll be just as lucky as cade's mommy was.  

 

the current status...

my heart is torn. i have no idea which way to turn. an opportunity awaits. a dream come true. either way. to do or not to do...

a pray-er, i am. an answer, i'm not aware of.

regardless...i liked this...

if i would have written it myself - forget the books, add crafty goods.  now...it's perfect!

taking all advice.