It's always random with me

Christmas went really well (for the most part). Zander slept a lot...after screaming a lot. I think it's a growth spurt. It's really hard when you get used to a calm baby that takes regular naps. All of a sudden the crib is no place to nap anymore. The car? Great! The car seat? Even better! Someones arms after staring at the blinky Christmas lights? It doesn't get any better than that! On the other hand, he's been sleeping GREAT at night. Last night was the first time he got up after less than 11 hours, but it was still 9.5 hours, and I'm ok with that! So we're trying to get him back in the crib to nap...it's taking a little time, but he realizes that if he screams and we don't come get him, he might as well go to sleep. I know, it's harder on me than it is on him! Today he tricked us and tried something new...
falling asleep watching Baby Einstein!

I'm really lucky Dave is home this week and next. I don't know if I could get through this stretch of "acting out" if he wasn't! But as much as Z cries and fusses, the raspberries he's been blowing have been totally worth it! He's talking up a storm!

We've had this phone for a couple of months, and it kind of sucks. The functions aren't the easiest, and the clarity is terrible. Of course I lost the receipt. Bring on Christmas! I went to the store two days after Christmas, said "We got it as a gift and it doesn't work well!" and what do you know...I got a full refund, no questions asked! They didn't even look in the box to see if everything was in there! It was, but still! We got a new phone (after reading reviews online) and so far we LOVE it!!

After making Dave get up early on his vacation, I told him he could sleep in yesterday. I got up with Z and took him to the store w/me. Later in the day, Dave said "Let me know when you want a day to sleep in because that was great!" HA! My plan worked!!!

Ok, I think that is it. I'm going to try to update this more often.

Try.

I did it!

I met Rachael Ray!

I've been a fan for a while, and Tuesday she signed books at Border's in Minneapolis.

Yep, I drove to Minneapolis to meet Rachael Ray. We got in line at 8am, got our "you're in" wristbands at 9am, and waited until the signing started at 1pm.

She was more beautiful in person than you could ever imagine, and she was sweet and friendly.

And I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!

She asked me to pose with her after we told her we'd driven 4+ hours. I wish she hadn't been signing her book at the time! But, she certainly didn't pose with everyone! It was listed as "no" on the rules!
(sorry for the quality of the photo. my friend was very excited and a little shaky!)

A perfect job for me?

I am patient sometimes. But when I am driving, I can't stand it...I am the most impatient person you'll meet. Seriously. I even yell at myself sometimes because I'm being ridiculous. So today I saw something that made me think "I could NEVER do that! It would drive me crazy!" But maybe it would be a perfect job for me. It would teach me patience like nothing else could.

You know those flat-bed semi's rolling (slowly) down the highway with the "oversized load" flags waving?

Have you ever seen the safety truck following behind them with their lights flashing, making sure everyone sees the overstuffed semi?

Imagine having to follow a slow semi for your job.

If that didn't teach me patience, I don't know what would!