Stick A Fork In Me...

I'm done! I put in my notice, Hurray! And now, I'm still here. Boo.

Tick...tock...tick...tock...

Tomorrow will be 1 week since my notice and I fully anticipated 4-6 weeks until I was actually gone. But with my boss out of town this week, time is dragging by. It's dreary and rainy outside and all I want is to be home with my sweet girl, playing in the living room while I have a cup of coffee and read my bible. On the plus side, the larger percentage of the candidate pool is people who have recently been let go by another consulting firm here in Memphis, hence, people who won't have to give a two week notice and can start right away. I just wish I had a date in stone that I could look forward to. Now I know why it is customary to only give a 2 week notice. More than that is just awkward.

Tick...tock...tick...tock...

I'm Going Home...

I was never one of those girls who envisioned her wedding day as a child. I didn't know what kind of dress I wanted, I didn't have a place all picked out. It's not that I didn't think I would get married someday, I just never thought that far ahead. When Dave and I got engaged, things just fell into place. Likewise, I never pictured myself as a stay-at-home-mom. To be honest, I never pictured myself as a working mom either. Again, I just never thought that far ahead. When I got pregnant, I was working full time, so I just assumed I would go back after I had the baby. After Emily's first 3 months, I tearfully went back to work.

I was miserable. I tried to tell myself that it was good for Emily to interact with other kids at daycare. I tried to tell myself I would miss the adult conversation. The money was nice too. I had a whole list. It meant bupcis. I missed my girl! Dave suggested that I give it some time... some REAL time. Not 2 weeks. So I did. Eventually the sobbing turned into a dull ache. I DID enjoy the adult interaction. Emily DID enjoy the other kids at daycare. But I still missed my girl, more and more as she got older. Now she waves Bye-Bye to me in the mornings and it breaks my heart. When her daily reportcard from daycare said they were learning to walk with teachers help, that was the last straw.

So, after much deliberation, Dave and I have decided that I am going to stay home full time with Emily. I am SO excited to spend that time with her. I am excited to teach her things and watch her discover the world. I can't wait to take her to the park, and play-dates and to the zoo. I'm looking forward to being there when she takes her first steps. I am also excited for the freedom I will have to travel to visit family and friends without worrying about how many vacation days I have left. I can cook a dinner that takes longer than 15 minutes to prepare. My house might actually get cleaned and I will be smoking hot because I will actually have time to work out.

But I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared too. I know I am making the right decision, but I have never not worked in my adult life. Since I graduated college I have worked everyday. I am leaving the PERFECT career in an economic time when people are lucky to even have a job. I could not hand pick a better boss or better co-workers. They are such Godly men who care about my family and theirs and who have invested so much in me. I am invited to meetings way above my paid grade just so I can sit in and learn and hear about what is going on. I never have to work late. Not to mention, the benefits are amazing. That is why when I sat down in Tony's office yesterday my throat closed up and tears sprung into my eyes. It felt like breaking up with your best friend. Of course, he was so wonderful. He hugged me and told me he admired me and that he thinks I'm absolutely making the right decision. He said his wife felt the same way when she left her career to stay home with their kids. But that she will tell you it was the best decision she ever made, except of course for marrying him. Always the kidder.

So now the logistics of it all. Out of respect and admiration for my team I want to give them time to find, hire, and train a replacement. I work in an office with 2 other people so it's not the kind of place where I can just give a two week notice. We're estimating my last day to be somewhere around the end of August. Potentially I'll start part-time work in September if the transition takes longer. In 4-6 weeks my life will totally change. I am excited, nervous, happy, sad. Please pray that God will guide me through this transition in my life and I can find peace in my decision. And pray for Dave and the huge burden he has graciously accepted to make this possible. I love you baby!

Sometimes Life Really Is A Norman Rockwell Painting

I read somewhere that at 9 months, babies should be learning to put things in containers and take them out again, like blocks in a bucket. They should also be introduced to new textures. Trying to be the good mother that I want to be, I decided to let Emily help me make banana bread Saturday. It was a recipe for cute pictures.

Start with one 9 month old baby girl.

Add 1 plastic bowl
Add 1/4 cup of flour
and a measuring cupPut the bowl on your head

Yields 1 happy girl!

And 1 happy Mommy!

While Emily and I were inside baking, Dave was out front mowing the lawn. Which brings me back to the Norman Rockwell painting. I'm inside baking with my daughter, the smell of homemade banana bread wafting through the air. My manly man is outside doing yard work. Can we be anymore All-American?

Plastic bowl : $3

7 Large bananas: $5

Watching Emily bang on the window at her daddy: Priceless

Who's That Kid?

I know I sound like an old lady, but kids really do grow up way too fast. Tomorrow I am taking Emily to get some 9 month photos taken. She has had pictures taken at 3 months and 6 months too. You may think I'm crazy because who needs professional pictures of their kid every 3 months right? Well, in an effort to defend myself against the ever frugal Mr. Chambless I have assembled a quick pictorial history of Emily's first 9 months. This is why we need pictures taken so often!

One week

3 Months

6 Months

9 Months

Mr. & Mrs. Chris Sonnenberg

Congratulations Chris and Holly! What a beautiful couple! And what a fabulous day. I know the weather in California is picture perfect, but this truly was the most perfect day ever. Holly and I started the morning by going to get coffee and doughnuts, which I think was the only thing Holly ate until after the ceremony. All the girls got ready at my parents house with mimosas. We even had the hairstylists come to us. That was the best idea ever!

Holly and I getting ready at the church.

Holly with her ring bearer. I can't decide who is cuter!

Holly's maid of honor fixing her dress just before the ceremony started.

Me and my girl getting ready. She was very sleepy.

My precious Goddaughter, Delaney.

Ten minutes until go time and she is almost asleep.

Emily made it down the aisle but fell asleep during the ceremony.

She was not happy when we had to wake her for pictures.

The whole crew after the ceremony. Emily was very interested in Christie's flowers.

The ceremony went smoothly. Delaney carried Emily down the aisle and Ramsey, the ring bearer, ran down the aisle and then turned around and ran back up the aisle to his mom. So cute. Here is the happy couple at the reception site taking pictures before the party gets started.

Chris and Holly enjoying their first dance. They chose some romantic song I can't remember. What I do remember is that after their official first song, Chris had the DJ play a special song as a surprise to Holly. He played "I Want To Grow Old With You" from the movie The Wedding Singer. It was so funny and super sweet.

The bride and groom with my parents.

They were way too nice to each other. Although I kept thinking all day that Holly was the tiniest bride I've ever seen. I just wanted to pick her up and put her on top of the cake!

Emily was full of energy and was making faces at everyone all night.

Emily with her big cousin Delaney. Although we were calling them sisters by the end of the night. Dave and I almost took Delaney home with us she was so sweet!

Dave and I dancing. We'll call this the "Before" picture.

As the night progressed so did the sweating. It was crazy hot.

We'll call this the "After."

All the men dancing to YMCA. You know Dave bust out the James Brown splits.

Chris and Holly dancing the night away.

My Dad and I enjoying a father daughter dance. For the record, he dances like a white guy.

Emily having a dance with her Grandpa Gary.

Holly with her new father-in-law.
Dave spinning my mom. She was feeling her age by the end of this dance.

Ninjas, they're everywhere!

Daddy and his girl having a dance.

Emily and Momma having a dance. Someone is getting sleepy.
And she's down for the count. This was one of my favorite moments from the evening. My Grandpa held her for almost an hour while she slept.

The night was a huge success. Chris and Holly got married (Check). Everyone enjoyed the party (check). And no one got arrested or fell off the patio. :) My feet were aching for 2 days after all the dancing, but it was so worth it. Sunday after lunch Mom and Dad took us to the airport for our flight home. As much fun as I had that weekend, it felt good to be going home with my little family. Below is one last picture from the weekend. I took it while walking through the airport in Dallas (And yes, I am that moron in the airport that is not watching where she is going because I'm too busy looking at my baby). Emily has learned this new "Squishy Face." Dave and I always love pictures that have sound effects. You know, when you look at them you can almost hear the sound that goes along with them. Don't you just want to kiss this face?

Girls Just Want To Have Fun!

Ok people, I know you just want to see pictures of the wedding, but Rome wasn't built in a day. A lot went into the weekend and we're almost there. Here are a few pics from the Bachelorette party. Don't worry, we had the bride home before midnight. And as the responsible bridesmaid I was, I made sure she didn't have too much to drink. As for the groom and his men... well...let's just say Dave got home around 2:45am.

The highlight of the evening was that the table next to us contributed $100 toward our tab. Woot woot! We did the typical embarrassing stuff including an oddly shaped confection and making Holly get random guys phone numbers.