toes...

Livi loves her toes. She can't go long without sucking on them. (She didn't learn that from me. Ryan, maybe?) She's constantly trying to take of her socks to get to her toes. They are pretty much the cutest little toes I've ever seen.

Ryan's been working 60 hrs a week at a contract job. (Leaves at 6 a.m. and gets home at 8 p.m., MTWTFS.) Livi gets so excited when she sees him. She has the biggest grin on her face, starts drooling, and gives the occassional squeal of delight. Sweeter greetings I have never seen.

there's s'no days like snow days...

We're snowed in. Well, not currently, but we were snowed in from Friday until Monday and will be again beginning later today until at least Thursday. I must admit, it's kind of nice. We packed up on Friday morning and made the trek to my parents'. They have a generator* (and a big house) so we figured we'd stay here during the Great Snow of 2010 -- just in case. Plus, it's nice to have other people to take care of Livi. And my parents have vehicles with four-wheel drive, too -- again, just in case.

So, I've relaxed, eaten too much, took some naps while Gramma watches the baby; this is the life! And now, I'm sitting in the office working while my mom plays The Man at Mahjong tiles -- if she wins, it's her way of sticking it to The Man. If she loses, she says The Man beat her down again. She suffered a bad beat-down today and is retreating to work on her Christmas letter. See how entertaining this is?

And you wonder why I don't stay at my own place...

*My mom just informed me they don't have a generator, they have a propane heater. Crap. Ignorance was bliss.

normal is just a setting on a dryer...

I remember reading that book title once. I didn't read the book -- just the title. Because at that time, my life was normal by all accounts. My daily activities were set, and I could be as gluttonous with my time as I wanted to be.

But now... Now is a whole different story. When I wake up in the morning, I have a list of things in my mind that I want to get done during the day. Work trumps them all, of course. Well, Livi trumps them all, actually. But work is a close second. I usually get 100% of the things Livi needs completed. Bath time, play time, nap time, diaper changes, feedings, etc. Work -- I get about 85% of those things done. Everything else -- cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, combing my hair, etc., etc., etc.... well, I'm lucky if I get 5% of that done. Thankfully I've got a pretty laid-back husband who doesn't care if I cook, clean or get out of my pajamas. I'm still waiting to get surprised by the What Not to Wear team from TLC when I make a quick run to the grocery store in my glasses, sweat pants, carhart coat and old tennis shoes.

I'm learning to not get stressed out by this. I'm sure there will be plenty of time later in life to 'have it all together'. In the meantime, I enjoy my time with my baby and am grateful that I get to work from home. I listen to music and pretend I'm the put-together gal I used to be, and I sometimes look at cookbooks and convince myself I'll try that recipe one of these days.

Maybe in 20 years.