Summer Days

I thought I would post a few random pics from the last two weeks.

Sydney on the slide!

A little fun with the sprinkler!

Fun at the Herndon 4-H Fair!

Ready for a ride! Daddy will pull me with his bike!

Stopping by the woods to get the dirt out of my shoe!

Below (Blogger is being a pain!) : Syd made a new apron!

The bump starts to make its appearance!

Feelin' Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

I'm facing a dilemma: law school or no school. Yep! I've pinpointed the procrastination. It isn't that I'm so wrapped up in my Summer fun that I don't want to study. Okay, well, maybe it is a bit. It is that I'm scared of making a mistake, a huge mistake.

On one hand, I'm dying to get into law school. Okay, rejection is also a very scary reality. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm very limited in the schools I can financially attend and they are highly ranked. William & Mary, for example, has an acceptance rate of 24.1% and George Mason a frightening 20%! I KNOW I would make a great lawyer! I could possibly make a difference. If not in the lives of others, certainly in my family. I would be setting an example for Sydney and future baby. It would also provide job security. Setting those things aside, personally, it would mean the world to achieve the goal.

As you know, I graduated from college this past June. The first college grad in my family. It took me FOREVER, but when I crossed that stage, I couldn't stop the tears. I know, I'm a sap. I had never worked so hard for anything in my life! So, multiply that times ten for law school.

Then there is the other hand! IF, that is a big IF, I managed to get into a school, it is no joke. There will be lots of studying and stress. I worry about many things. First, I've decided that I will have to leave my job. There is no way I can do both and still have time with my family. The idea is that school will replace my job so that I can be home like I would be if working. So, obviously, there will be a significant pay reduction in the household. This is why I can only pray I get into an affordable school. I don't know about you, but I'm just not that excited about coming out of grad school with $97-106K in debt.

In addition to the financial stress and school stress, I'm sure Marc will be stressed. He's behind me 1000% and I cannot tell you how that feels. I love him sooo much! Our family is so important to me, which is why I don't want to risk harming it. He tells me I'm being silly and that we'll be fine, like always. I just don't want to be selfish. I want to be the best wife and mommy I can be. I don't want my kids to look back and say, "Mom was never there." I also don't want to miss out.

Am I being selfish?

Ode to Starbucks

It has been four months since I have had a cup of coffee, not that I wanted it. The bleah of morning sickness really deterred that desire. Then, after I started feeling better, I still stayed far away in fear. That is, until today. I just had to take a chance.

I popped into the Starbucks next to my office. I used to go there all of the time. When the cashiers know your drink, you visit too much. :) I got a wide mouth smile, "Hellooooo" from one this morning.

I ordered my drink, tall vanilla mocha, and waited. I know I must have looked like loon when I took it off the bar and smelled the cup. I just LOVE that sweet creamy smell. MMMMM! I held it for a few minutes before I took a sip. I'll admit it; I was scared. I waited until I got to the parking lot, just in case I had an upset. :) Talk about HEAVEN ON EARTH! I felt like pulling a Julie Andrews right there in the parking lot. Picture it: There I am in my favorite jeans, which are starting to look ridiculous on me, and my blue sweater twirling in the parking lot with my cup singing, "My mouth is alive with the taste of coffeeeeee!" Okay, so I won't quit my day job.

So, I've been sipping my wonderful cup of heaven for the last half hour and it is almost gone. What a treat for a sunny Friday!

What makes you go Julie?

For me

I looked at the calendar today and realized that today marks the 17th week of my pregnancy. WOW! Time is just whizzing by now that I am hardly sick. I remember being sick with Syd well into the 26th week. Bleah.

I have my monthly appointment next Thursday and the U/S the following Thursday. I wonder what it will be???? I'm very curious. Sydney has been asking for a "baby broderr." She's been so very sweet. When I'm sick, Sydney comes into the bathroom, rubs me on my back and says, "It's okay, Mommy. Mommy's sick. It's okay." Isn't that just too cute? Last week she followed an exceptionally loud heave with "Bless you." Ha ha! Thankfully, those moments are first thing in the morning and then, I'm great for the remainder of the day.

The next exciting thing is the baby movement. I recently starting feeling the little squirmy squishing and popcorn feeling, which is unmistakable. It is soooo early this time. I guess when you recognize it from before, it is easier to tell the difference between the baby and gas. :)

I Got It!

I've been watching dance shows for a while now since they started popping up on tv. I have managed to watch most of the 'So You Think You Can Dance' episodes this season also. Up until now, it was just simply something to do. Sure, I found it relatively entertaining, but I just didn't "get it." I was never touched by the dancing, until last night.

Last night, Lacey and Neil performed a modern dance choreographed by Mia Michaels. Mia introduced the number by saying that her father had passed away and the dance was to represent her reunion with him in heaven. It was so sweet and made me cry.

Marc on the other hand looked at me and said, "I didn't get it. I didn't think it was that good." Maybe it is a pregnant (read: hormonal) girl thing. You decide! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ0fsmBJDhk

Me too! Me too!

Check check check it out! Tib made a new header for me too! :) Isn't it great? She offered and of course, I wasn't going to tell her no! :) She is beautifying the web world and saving us from standard templates! :)

Thanks, Tib! You are the BEST!

She does all of this, exercises AND has four adorable kids! :) I don't know how she does it.

Because You Just Never Know!

Warning: Random Post! Then again, aren't they all?

This morning, I was craving doughnuts. So, I stopped by the Dunkin' Donuts next to my office. I was standing in line when a woman walked in. I instantly recognized her and called out her name. She looked at me with an i-have-no-idea-who-you-are face. Why would she remember me? The last time I saw her was SIX years ago when she was installing my office phone system. Yet, I could remember her full name and could recall it in a split second. This is pretty rare. I often have trouble remembering names of people I've met or places I've been.

She exclaimed, "Wow! You have a memory!" I confessed I really didn't. I concluded that, in that brief period of time when Mindy was installing our phone system, she made a lasting impression. She was such a sweet, sweet person.

I want to be more like that. I want to make positive impressions on people, even if I just meet them once. You never know when your paths might cross again.

Who will you impact today?