Basement Dweller

I believe I'm becoming one of them, working on the home computer all work week for the duration of this blasted job search & application process. Understandably, the basement is the coolest room in the house- though, a suitable place for the home office and playroom- so, I descend the stairs every morning [after the boys leave] in full sweats and socks to start yet another day of online searches and reaching out to contacts, etc. And I am content to drive to Austin's daycare to pick him up @ 5p without the A/C turned on in the car just to thaw out.

The home office conditions are just fine. But on the search/application front- not so great. Sooner or later, I have to hit upon something promising that's going to yield a satisfactory offer, right? Where I want that job and they want me, right? Something mutual? I do believe I'm doing this the right way- leaving no stone unturned but being somewhat selective, to be fair to all involved. It is a quite comprehensive search. Never in 14 years of post-college life has it been this difficult. Granted, I don't like to move around professionally too much, either. Grateful to have many weeks of paid severance and PTO payout (about 8 in total, I'm only on week 2 now) but I don't want to rest from this process for a minute b/c those weeks will FLY by, morph themselves into the Fall and then even scarier, the holidays. If I thought snagging a job in the slow summer period of vacations was tough, the Nov-Dec timeframe is even more worse.

Funny, at one time I was hoping to have some overlap between the severance & PTO arrangement and a new job. Because I mentally have that $ spent already. Now, I'm just hoping for as little gap as possible. Even for Mr. and Mrs. Saver-crazy (ie, us), the current state of affairs makes me more bummed out than $$ nervous. Just not going to be spending unnecessarily for a while.

Onto happier, more carefree thoughts- last September before Austin arrived, I said 2008 was the best summer ever. Correction. THIS one has been the best. Because last summer I was working and lumbering around hugely pregnant with A, and thick into a hated potty-training process w/L. 2009? Not so much on the work [or baby or potty training] front, as already discussed. But the rest of it is excellent. I'm really 'working the system' here- kids in daycare, still I'm home all day and not commuting anywhere, able to do chores and many gym visits during the week days, have daytime TV keep me company, you name it- all while pulling in my salary. What a scam (for now, I can still laugh about it).

Our weekends have been full and fun. Since my last post, we've continued hitting the pool, playing with friends and neighbors, visiting with both sets of Grands, and a "Mom and 2 Boys" VA to NJ road trip to see family and friends. We've been extending and accepting a wealth of invitations for visits. It has been wonderful; and the outlook for the next several weekends is just as packed with anticipated events. Our favorite time of the year is approaching (Fall) and we're brainstorming on some of the things we'd like to do. Football starts TONIGHT! with the first Redskins pre-season game- my heart beats faster thinking about a new season upon us (not just Redskins, but local ACC and SEC college ball, too).

Boys are great; Logan continues to get smarter every day and generally more fun, what a hilarious little guy. He keeps us laughing. Still pretty temperamental, but nothing out of the ordinary for a pre-schooler. Has gotten better from days of being "2" that is for sure. He looks forward to a trip to DE beach next weekend with Graham grands (for all of us, not just him) and then a fall trip to GA to see Tobin grands and family. And speaks often of his birthday when he'll be 4 and @ the same time, Santa arrives. (gulp. 4)

Austin is closing in on 11 mths old. Talk about a fast first year! He's crawling well- moved away from Army crawl and now really on hands and feet, crab crawl, trying to figure out how to keep himself up on his feet and pull himself up with help of furniture. The baby gates are going up! He has 2 bottom teeth, but his top four center teeth look like they're all going to come at the same time. Ouch. He'll eat ANYTHING. Just bring it in huge volume and keep it coming. If you take a break feeding him, he'll protest. Loudly. He is still very affectionate, and laughs at his big brother. He likes to destroy whatever Logan is working on, whether it be building train tracks or lining up Matchbox cars, etc. Doesn't make for a happy Logan, but he's beeing pretty ok about it. (And is very affectionate with Austin generally). Austin has 6 weeks left of mama's milk. I want to "deliver" him to his 1yr visit at the pediatrician, get the official "ok to give Whole cow's milk" thumbs up, and I am D.O.N.E. At that moment, my Medela br. pump and all related accessories get posted on Craigs List for sale. Will not be sentimental to see all that go. I might keep the Boppy though- it has made a fun "loungey" pillow for floor play, too. Austin still does not say much- but he babbles an awful lot, been able to make out Dadadada but not Mama yet. Geez. I'm not worried b/c he is trying to communicate with us and vocalize.

Well, I guess that is about it. I'm going to post pix in the next post. This one is too long, but a good catch-up.