Obama '08? Ask Angie.

My cousin's wife was just interviewed by Barack Obama's blog. "Despite her teacher's salary, (Angela) contributed $100 to this campaign." Obama called Angie today since she was the 250,000th donor.

In the blog interview, she says:
I was reading other people’s stories of why they felt inspired, and I was crying... When you read other people's stories, people saying 'I'm a single mother,' 'I'm a retired army officer,' when you see all the different types of people represented, that gives me so much hope. It's not just people like me; it's all different kinds of people that identify and connect with Barack and his campaign. People whose stories we’d never know. But now we can know and see that we really are all in this together.

Read the article here.

Go Angie!!

Stina's Slideshow

Stina came over last week and we had a good ol' time. From hot tubbing to hot gossip, we covered all the latest news.

View Stina's slide show here. Be forewarned, it's pretty much a bunch more photos of my baby girl being snugly. I love the "sepia" option on Stina's camera. It makes the photos look so cool.

Cheers Stina! and remember "Behind every great woman is herself".

Summer Time, Livin's Easy

Greenlake, a favorite Seattle destination. 3 miles around and plenty of people watching.

Stroller with a view

Dahlia with her toes in the grass. Grandma Candy.

Greenlake Wading Pool, maybe next year...

"Can I pleeease lick the baby?"

Muppet likes to lick the baby so I have to tie the dog to the bed in the mornings. In this pic, she is pulling as far as her leash will go. D started looking at the dog and bird a few weeks ago and doesn't mind either one bit. This is great because the (damn) bird squawks loudly and the dog barks when the baby is sleeping. When Muppet gets her way and licks the newest, smelly family member, D doesn't mind.

Projects Galore

The baby has been spending quite a bit of time in her baby jogger. We got the stroller as a gift from B's boss and it has all the bells and whistles. I try to walk 3-4 miles per day and I've been pretty good so far. I missed yesterday because my dad came over to "help" build a workbench for me in the garage.

I intended to do the hard work, but he ended up doing most of the heavy cutting and lifting. Thanks dad! You're a champ!

The New Workbench

I drew the workbench out on paper and bought the lumber and had it delivered. The final project is exactly what I wanted, so I am very excited to get rolling on my various projects. I still need to build that GD kitchen table so we're not eating off an Ikea desk... not that there's anything wrong with that.

Did he come over to build stuff or hold the baby? Hmmm.

While I intended the bowling alley floor to be used as my kitchen table top, I am a little hesitant because the piece of wood is so large. 8x4 feet is big and I spend my whole day walking between the kitchen and family room. I have another use for the bowling alley floor. I may use it as a desk top in the bonus room upstairs. I am thinking of making, yes, that's right, miss, er Mrs. handy woman here is hoping to make a desk and matching shelving. Have I been watching too many DIY shows or what?

This morning. Maverick says, "Is she going to eat me?"

The countdown to return to work is on and I'm trying very hard not to freak out, but I feel an emotional breakdown is necessary if not required. I don't want to miss anything. I don't want to miss one breath, one sneeze, one diaper change, her first time crawling, her first tooth, her first word...

So much happens on a weekly basis that I just can't believe I have to be away from her. She is my heart. She is my breath. But a paycheck is kind of vital.

"Ahhh!"

Radar Lake

The Infamous Radar Lake

In an effort to lose my excess pregnancy poundage, I've been logging major miles on the baby jogger. I have been walking around Radar Lake with Pam. She says it's around 1.3 miles around, so I try to walk around 3-4 times 6 days per week.

Rollin' in Style

Today was gorgeous, of course it's always mystical and amazing at the lake. It was the second summery summer day today and I even managed to get a little sun.
I put D in a cute dress which she got at her baby shower. I love the hat.

"I'm sooo tired I can't shut my eyes."

Photo Album!

My first mohawk

Muggin' with Mom

Floating Angel

She said what?!!

You're just too good to be true...

Meet the Nanny

As predicted, it was a more difficult transition for me than the baby when our nanny came over for a couple hours this week.

The good news is that God sent the nanny from heaven. Her name is Brenna and I play soccer with her and her daughter, who is my age. Brenna also has a new granddaughter who is nine months old. Brenna is well versed in the ways of babies and children, having raised three of her own.

Of course when I left to run some errands I had Baby Einstein music in my head... and I noticed I was driving conservatively, so what did I do? I cranked up the crazy techno and drove like a maniac! Hell yeah!

Then I went to Target to buy wipes and pacifiers. I'm such a bad ass.

I was here for a while working around the house and Dahlia didn't cry once. Everyone was calm. The house was quiet. Brenna folded the baby's laundry, gave her a bottle and all three of us were happy.

bla bla bla Paris Hilton bla bla bla

Everybody knows I love(d) Britney and I have a special place in my heart for Paris (Hilton).

I'm sad that she's sad about going back to the pokey, but drunk driving kills. She needs to take a page out of Martha's book and use this time to catch up on her reading and correspondence.

When Paris gets out of jail, she's going to be even more popular... if that's possible. And I'm not saying popular as in people like her, I'm saying she's going to get even more press.

bla bla bla Paris Hilton...

The Nursery

You can find baby beds from $100 (Ikea) to $1,200 (designer European models). I refused to pay big bucks for a crib, so we went to Baby USA in Southcenter. It's a store of wholesale and discontinued baby gear and even there it's marked down. We bought an $800 crib for $300. We paid another $200 for the top-of-the-line baby mattress, which Dahlia will use for her crib and toddler beds and then her future sibling(s) can use it as well.

We got a $100 changing table from Target. It's good for holding things. We haven't changed her on it once since she's usually in our room or downstairs when it's time. Save your money and buy a dresser instead.

This $60 bathroom shelf from Target is perfect for holding Dahlia's tiny book collection, CD player and toys.

I knew I wanted this Japanese cherry blossom light in the baby's room for months before she was born. I bought it on the Internet, but they're featured in abundance now at Uwajimaya, Seattle's Asian market.

The flower stencils in the bedroom were painted by the previous home owners. This was their young daughter's bedroom. They work well for our little flower.

How to get a Tattoo

1. Choose your tattoo art.

Lauren the sorority girl never considered getting a tattoo until she saw the one Taylor Swift has on her foot.

2. Choose a venue.

Lauren chose this one by its location and she liked the fact that the tattoo artist was female.

3. Flash your identification verifying that you are over 18 and that you take responsibility for what you are about to do. Sign the waiver acknowledging that you could die or get some kind of disease and that you wont file charges in this unlikely event.


4. Try not to psyche yourself out while the artist draws the tattoo in pen on your skin. Remember, it's all psychological.

5. Breath deeply for 8 minutes while the HUGE, I mean... tiny needle permeates your skin.

6. Pay the woman. This dainty tat totaled $60.

7. Care for your skin while your body art heals. Cover it with Vaseline and follow the instructions of your tattoo caregiver. Lauren's happened to also be a former EMT, so she was in good hands. (Lets not ask why she changed professions.)

8. Flash your stylish tattoo as necessary!

Snuggle Bunny

Already June 1st?

Dang. It's already June first 2007.

I can't believe I have a kid and a house and have been married almost 5 years. I lead a charmed life. I'm not working for another two months and it's 85 degrees out in my back yard.

This is the dream.

Now for some photos : )

Quality time at home with B, Brody and Wayne from Australia

Muppet's Stitches... er staples; posted per reader request.

Daddy Airlines

Cute as a Button