Chaos I Tell You

This week has been very hectic.  I started back to work on Monday and Gram and Pawpaw started their new full time job -Daycare Workers.

What can I say?  It's going to take a little time to get back in the swing of things.  It took forever to get logged back on the State Farm system on Monday.  Since I was out for so long they moved me to an inactive status.  Three long phone calls and an overnight processing later, I'm up and running.  I have over 1,100 emails.  I think the end total was close to 1,200.  Talk about info overload!!!  I'm taking this week to go thru them all and to figure out what has changed since I was gone.  I'll go back on rotation on Monday.  Here's to hoping handling claims is like riding a bike...

The great thing about SF is that they're letting me work from home right now.  Eventually, I'll have to go into the office 1 day a week.  I'm going to start 4/10s, so I'll have one day off during the week to give our Daycare Couple a break.  Not sure what day it will be, but I'm hoping for Fridays or Wednesdays.  More to come on that later.

Gram and Pawpaw are easing into their new duties as well.  They got here super early on Monday and have since tried to get the arrival timing down.  They come to our house everyday to keep Erin.  This week is our trail run.  Next week, we're going to start on a regimented routine.  I've been trying to juggle getting ready, working, and feeding her and I think it's time to have a concrete plan instead of the ad hoc approach we've had.  Momma needs her structure!!  I know I'm too "Type A".  I just feel better going to bed at night knowing that there is a plan in place.  Crazy!

Erin is being a toot and not rolling over when we want her to!!  She does it when we least expect it and never when the camera/video is out.  Tommy still hasn't gotten to see her do it.  I've seen it once, and she has done it a couple times for Gram and Pawpaw.

Roxie has enjoyed having Gram and Pawpaw here.  They bring Max so she has company during the day.  (When she's not sitting in Gram's lap!)  Monday she was very out of sorts and stayed upstairs with me all day.  I would come downstairs to check on things and she would be on my heels.  The minute I went back upstairs she was with me until she heard food wrappers downstairs.  Then she was out of there so she could beg along side Max.  (And FYI - the begging pays off.  The old people are suckers!)

Chaos I Tell You

This week has been very hectic.  I started back to work on Monday and Gram and Pawpaw started their new full time job -Daycare Workers.

What can I say?  It's going to take a little time to get back in the swing of things.  It took forever to get logged back on the State Farm system on Monday.  Since I was out for so long they moved me to an inactive status.  Three long phone calls and an overnight processing later, I'm up and running.  I have over 1,100 emails.  I think the end total was close to 1,200.  Talk about info overload!!!  I'm taking this week to go thru them all and to figure out what has changed since I was gone.  I'll go back on rotation on Monday.  Here's to hoping handling claims is like riding a bike...

The great thing about SF is that they're letting me work from home right now.  Eventually, I'll have to go into the office 1 day a week.  I'm going to start 4/10s, so I'll have one day off during the week to give our Daycare Couple a break.  Not sure what day it will be, but I'm hoping for Fridays or Wednesdays.  More to come on that later.

Gram and Pawpaw are easing into their new duties as well.  They got here super early on Monday and have since tried to get the arrival timing down.  They come to our house everyday to keep Erin.  This week is our trail run.  Next week, we're going to start on a regimented routine.  I've been trying to juggle getting ready, working, and feeding her and I think it's time to have a concrete plan instead of the ad hoc approach we've had.  Momma needs her structure!!  I know I'm too "Type A".  I just feel better going to bed at night knowing that there is a plan in place.  Crazy!

Erin is being a toot and not rolling over when we want her to!!  She does it when we least expect it and never when the camera/video is out.  Tommy still hasn't gotten to see her do it.  I've seen it once, and she has done it a couple times for Gram and Pawpaw.

Roxie has enjoyed having Gram and Pawpaw here.  They bring Max so she has company during the day.  (When she's not sitting in Gram's lap!)  Monday she was very out of sorts and stayed upstairs with me all day.  I would come downstairs to check on things and she would be on my heels.  The minute I went back upstairs she was with me until she heard food wrappers downstairs.  Then she was out of there so she could beg along side Max.  (And FYI - the begging pays off.  The old people are suckers!)

Tricks Instead of Treats

Exciting day here in Spring, Texas.  Miss Erin Grace Mize rolled over for the first time!!!  She and I were having tummy time in the living room.  Tommy was at the table on my computer.  She's been rolling up on her side for a while now.  She did it then stopped and looked like she was thinking about rolling all the way over.  Sure enough, she did it.  I got to watch the whole thing.  I hollered and Tommy came running.  Of course, she didn't want to do it again.  We put her back on her tummy and she would go up on her side, but wouldn't roll over all the way.  (Don't worry - we'll be practicing this week and I'm sure I'll have it on video before the week is up!)

Cul-de-sac Halloween party tonight.  It was cute.  We set up tables in the culdesac and all the kids trick or treat and help themselves.  We live so far back in the subdivision that we don't get much foot traffic.  There are always a couple of brave souls from further back in our section, but the turn out is never huge.  I say this but we have a ton of kids on our street, so I should say the turn out from other then our street is low.  The 5 year old next door brought Erin a trick or treat bag the other day to collect her candy.  Of course, she removed the candy that she already had in the bag before she gave it to Erin, but it's the thought that counts.

Happy Grandparents



Erin snacking on her hand instead of Halloween candy!



Trick or Treat Daddy!

She should have been a Wiggle Worm instead of a cow!

I would pay $1 million to know what she was thinking

at the exact moment this was taken!

Tomorrow is my first day back at work since July 9th!! I have mixed emotions on it. Part of me will miss being home with Erin, but part of me is looking forward to getting into a routine. I'll be working from home until after the first of the year. Pawpaw and Gram will be coming over everyday to keep Erin. I'll be upstairs working, so the transition won't be so hard. I am not cut out to be a stay at home mom. Hats off to those that can do it. I'm too lazy! Most days Erin and I don't get dressed until lunch time! Tomorrow will be a rude awakening.

Tricks Instead of Treats

Exciting day here in Spring, Texas.  Miss Erin Grace Mize rolled over for the first time!!!  She and I were having tummy time in the living room.  Tommy was at the table on my computer.  She's been rolling up on her side for a while now.  She did it then stopped and looked like she was thinking about rolling all the way over.  Sure enough, she did it.  I got to watch the whole thing.  I hollered and Tommy came running.  Of course, she didn't want to do it again.  We put her back on her tummy and she would go up on her side, but wouldn't roll over all the way.  (Don't worry - we'll be practicing this week and I'm sure I'll have it on video before the week is up!)

Cul-de-sac Halloween party tonight.  It was cute.  We set up tables in the culdesac and all the kids trick or treat and help themselves.  We live so far back in the subdivision that we don't get much foot traffic.  There are always a couple of brave souls from further back in our section, but the turn out is never huge.  I say this but we have a ton of kids on our street, so I should say the turn out from other then our street is low.  The 5 year old next door brought Erin a trick or treat bag the other day to collect her candy.  Of course, she removed the candy that she already had in the bag before she gave it to Erin, but it's the thought that counts.

Happy Grandparents



Erin snacking on her hand instead of Halloween candy!



Trick or Treat Daddy!

She should have been a Wiggle Worm instead of a cow!

I would pay $1 million to know what she was thinking

at the exact moment this was taken!

Tomorrow is my first day back at work since July 9th!! I have mixed emotions on it. Part of me will miss being home with Erin, but part of me is looking forward to getting into a routine. I'll be working from home until after the first of the year. Pawpaw and Gram will be coming over everyday to keep Erin. I'll be upstairs working, so the transition won't be so hard. I am not cut out to be a stay at home mom. Hats off to those that can do it. I'm too lazy! Most days Erin and I don't get dressed until lunch time! Tomorrow will be a rude awakening.

Tricks Are For Kids

Big discovery at the Mize house.  Erin has discovered her hands.  She's been using them and chewing on them constantly for the last month, but this weekend she figured out they were there.  (I'm going on record now to say that her punishment when she's older might be sitting on her hands.  The way she always has then in her mouth will make that punishment cruel and unusual for sure!)

Several times this weekend we would find her just staring at her hands and wiggling her fingers.  It was so cute.  I haven't snapped a picture of that yet but I'm sure I will.  It seems that every facet of her life is now on video or in pictures.

She also started laughing out loud.  For the past week she's been making noise that sounds like a laugh.  It's confirmed.  She was actually giggling in her little pink Bumbo chair yesterday.  She really does like it.  I think it's a combination of things.  She's sitting up on the kitchen table and we're right there talking to her, so she gets happy.

God really has blessed us with a happy baby.  We are so thankful.  Not that we would love her any less if she wasn't, but it's just so fun that she is!  We've been blessed with a relationship full of laughter and smiles so it seems so fitting to have a smiley baby.

Even Rox has been smiling this weekend.  Tommy cooked ribs in the backyard and Roxie has been working "clean up".  She is more than happy to help him scour the backyard for drippings.  (She doesn't want another grass fire!)