long time overdue updates

Two full weeks since my last post?! Yikes! Here's what we've been up to in the past couple weeks:

* Rose's burns are almost completely healed! Yay!!!!

* I was in Washington (state, not DC) for work for almost a  week. I planned to get caught up on sleep, but ended up coming home even more sleep deprived than ever. (Stupid time difference vs. circadian rhythms!) But at least I came home (mostly) emotionally healed. I can now almost talk about how Rose got burned without crying. Almost.

* I took the WA jurisprudence exam - on my birthday. Blech! Let's just hope I passed.

*  We went apple picking at Mike's stepbrother's new house!

* Rose is pretty much fully transitioned to the toddler room at "school" now. According to Mike (who does daycare dropoff every day), she is now reaching for her teaching rather than clinging to him and crying each morning.

* Mike starts student teaching tomorrow!

* The change in schedule means that I have to do both dropoff and pickup. Gulp! Wish me luck with that...

* I played mahjong with friends, sewed a few more quilt squares for Mike's belated anniversary present, and had lunch with another friend. As you can see, I'm working hard to fit in time for self-care.

* I've also been trying to exercise again, but every time I start running, I end up getting sick! It happened again last week (and maybe being sleep deprived, stressed from taking an exam in WA, and getting the flu shot had something to do with it, but apparently I'm just going to blame the running). I think running is just a lot of stress on my body and I'm also making too many changes all at once (eat better! see friends! do hobbies! and RUN!). I've started looking into yoga classes and gym memberships so I can try to get exercise in a more gentle way, since I'm sick of being bed-ridden for a day or two within 2-3 weeks of each running attempt. Sigh.

* And Rose turned 17 months old!



Here are some photos from the last few weeks, in completely random order:

Remember when I was pregnant and said I'd never dress my daughter in all pink? Well, apparently the saying is true that you're a far better parent before you become one yourself! :)

Teaching the art of the "selfie."

She is so excited to finally be able to reach the sink faucet!

Her burns were mostly healed when I returned on 9/14 (above), and the scar is barely even visible now.
I am SOOOO thankful she was not hurt worse.

She's turning into such a little person nowadays. She LOVES seeing dogs and was pointing to one here.

Cousins Claire and Ella, as we hiked through their forest.

My two favorite explorers!

Claire asked me to take a picture of her under this tree.

After the woods, we hiked through a field.

Rose has learned to flirt for the camera!

She decided that she loves fettucine alfredo!
(I love her big, expressive eyes!)

My friend Marcy brought over some DELICIOUS cupcakes for my birthday. Her son Noah was so wonderful with Rose! He read her books, practiced animal sounds with her, and taught her to be silly by putting the tupperware lid on her head. She loves him!


Rose's two new favorite "games" are:

...picking up a tomato from the pile in the kitchen, making a bite mark, then hiding the tomato in our living room. So far I've found about seven of them. I hope I find any others soon.

...or giving "gifts" to the cats. It sure is sweet to watch, even if the cats are completely uninterested.

She also loves crawling through the tunnel my parents gave her.

And she is learning to enjoy helping me bake! (Finally!! I can bake again!!!)

And, last but not least, here's her official 17-month-old photo! Mike and I both think she looks SO similar in this one to a photo of me (at about her age) that we've seen, but neither of us knows which exact one. Maybe my parents will know so we can do a side-by-side comparison.

So for the very long (and very belated!) post! Have a great week, everyone!