Run a Post-Baby Race- Check!

I did it! I completed my first post-baby 5K, the Alger Heights Halloween Run. I ran it with my sister while Jon and Baby Scarecrow cheered me on.

As you can see, I went as a pumpkin.

Katie was a little more creative and made herself a leaf.

Blurry Bear

We are just so excited that I finished!

Okay, I will tell the time, although a bit of an ego hit. 

31:08

Yay! 

Naked Baby and Other Adventures

I may laugh now, but I'll probably turn red from

embarrassment when I'm older

Working on my bald spot

Donuts and cider at Robinettes

That is one big apple

Touch

Dad has cold fingers!

Mom + Harrison = Love

The Bear wanted this pumpkin

Aunt Katie wanted a warty one

but this one called to us.

A New Venture

Wow. After a long struggle with the State of Michigan'd department of education I am happy/nervous/excited/unsure to announce I am set to join the rank of teachers yet again. I have been hired at a National Heritage Academy Charter school in Kentwood. Here are the logistics:

I will start as an full time ESL Paraprofessional with the idea of graduating to a half time ESL teacher when I FINALLY get my Michigan license.

Positive Things: another income, a resume builder, a fun challenge, an in home babysitter (Aunt Katie)

Negative Things: full time, missing the Bear, having to find a part time (non family) day care

Lots of feelings on this. Misgivings on leaving the baby in non-family hands. Wishing I could just be the half time teacher right away. Excited to get back into a school setting. Anticipating setting up our little family in our own apartment after the new year. Lots of thoughts floating around right now.

Oh, not to be outdone, Harrison cut his first tooth today! Bottom front tooth has popped up. Time for the tooth brushes :)

No Sleep for You

Not much to say. Three points of interest:

1. I am in the 'process of being hired' for the job that is in my field. I'd say I'm 60% excited and 40% nervous that my certification issue will get in the way. So for now I'm not getting ahead of myself.

2. I have a 3rd interview (really?) for the seasonal job

3. Harrison had a total of 1 hour and 15 min of nap time today

I'm scared of what is in store for tonight...

Sleep Chronicles

Baby Harrison had an amazing time in California. He was an excellent flyer and quite a good vacation sleeper too. Kellie's apartment had an ideal nook for a pack and play, in fact it was part of the hallway :) He managed 12 hours stretches- not sleeping through, but connecting to add up to 12 anyway :) He also seemed to adjust to California time fairly well too.

Instead of hauling his stroller from home I rented one through a travelling baby resource. They were to deliver the stroller and pack n play the day I arrived. They did...but the stroller looked like it was from the 1970's, ugh. It took way too long to fix that, one thumb down for delivery issues, one thumb up for price.

We can't wait for our first family vacation next fall. Maybe the Bear will be up for a visit to Disneyland by then :)

The view from Santa Monica bluffs, 2 blocks away from their apartment! Jealous. However...where is the sun? Its a Laura curse, whenever I go to Cali the sun never shows its face. Bah.

In other news, I have 2 interviews tomorrow. One is for a job actually related to my degree, another is for a job, well, less teaching and more retail. Wish me luck :)

A View of LA from a Stroller

LaLa Land

Well we made it here to Santa Monica, CA. Harrison is currently sleeping in his rented pack n play which is neatly tucked into a dark hallway. I'm relaxing on Kellie's couch, finished All About Eve and had a big bowl of cereal for dinner. Everyone else has gone to Not-Scary Farms for a Halloween Haunt. I was happy to stay here and rest my feet. I've been walking all over the city. Today we visited the new mall which is a mixture of inside and outside space, hit the beach and promenaded around the promenade. I was tempted by several sparkly thing at Anthropologie and JCrew. I resisted, sadly.

Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80s so we'll head out to Malibu and see Point Doom. A true beach day. Harrison has had his feet in the sand and yelled at the seagulls but he hasn't touched the ocean yet. Tomorrow he'll put a little toe in.

It's been a fast week already. I'm already gearing up for next fall when Jon, the Bear and myself get to apartment sit this sweet gem while the honeymooners are away.

By the way, the flights went fairly well. Harrison slept mostly, ignored the in flight movie (Letters to Juliet- who can blame him?) and only shrilly screamed a couple of times. Lets hope it goes the same on the way back :) Pictures will be posted upon return, hold your horses ;)

Tummy Time with the Bear

Baby has been a fitful sleeper lately. He'll go down well and stay put til around 12, feed then sleep. But from 3ish to 6ish he's a tiny ball of gas. He wakes up and cries from gas pains. I try not to feed him just to get him to sleep but I tend to break down any way. Ugh.

But happily mornings refresh me :)

Harrison is so so excited for LA by the way! Jon is packing him some special onesies for the trip. He's also bringing his baby trunks for some ocean swimming. He's excited to see his grandparents and Aunt Kellie. But he will miss his Aunt Katie who has cuddled him a LOT this past week :)

A laughing Harry