Since I can’t think of anything else to blog about, I guess I’ll just do one of those “what I’m been up to” posts.

1) Working at my day job: I’m still enjoying it, still learning a lot, and it’s still feeding my family. Rock on!

2) Eating: I have no special cravings, and I can eat just about anything. Although I have been in the mood for a good steak most days. Must be the baby girl wants her protein. Which is good, because I’m told increasing protein in my diet can help prevent pre-eclampsia, which is what I had at the tail end of my pregnancy with Luke.

3) Researching childbirth: From what I’m reading, all signs point to “I can do this!”. I can’t really explain why this is such a strong conviction for me, to have a natural birth. I suppose this is my way of nesting. I’m not really into cleaning and decorating, but reading and researching is something I’m totally into. Yes, childbirth can be painful, but I have some experience dealing with pain and I am not afraid of it. It hadn’t occurred to me until today, but I believe the experience I had with my miscarriage has prepared me for this on some level. When I was feeling the contractions, as heart-wrenching as it was, it helped to know that there was a purpose for them. I’m not trying to be a superwoman or a martyr here, I just want to have a positive birth experience and be able to enjoy my baby without the effects of drugs and without the pain afterwards. Pain medication takes time to wear off, and surgery is hard to recover from. I don’t want to have to be dealing with those things this time.

 4) Waiting for my sister to go into labor: She’s due August 4th so it could be any day now! And when she starts those contractions, I’ll be getting a phone call so I can go down and support her and her husband for the birth. I’m super excited to be there and to meet my new niece. New babies are always fun. Especially when they’re cute, and my sister is known for making cute babies

That’s about it. I don’t do much else lately. Just enjoying the simple life and enjoying my family. We’re having a blast with Luke. He talks more and more every day. We’re starting to actually understand what he’s saying. He’s not fully potty trained yet but he is sleeping successfully in his big boy bed. And he’s just super cute all the time (even when he’s throwing fits) but we’re too busy enjoying the moments to remember to stop and take a picture. We’re terrible at that sort of thing. Oh well. Life is good.

We have a fully functional kitchen at the office I work in. My coworkers have suggested on a number of occasions that I bake some of my famous chocolate chip cookies right here in the office. Today I finally granted their wish. I made the cookie dough last night at home and brought it in today. I was a little nervous about it because I would be using a different oven with different baking pans. (I’m very serious about my baking). I have a super secret special technique to the way I bake my cookies and it’s the reason they are all the rage. Really, all the rage – if you don’t believe me just ask around.

Anyway, they didn’t turn out quite like they would have at home, but they were still delicious. And the added bonus was that they were hot and fresh and they filled the office with the delicious aroma of chocolate chip cookies. Double. Yum.

*Update: This has become more urgent as my boss just let me know that her last day will be Friday. As in Friday, the day after tomorrow! So keep those suggestions coming! Oh, and keep in mind that I’m open to part-time help as well.

Okay folks. My boss is pregnant and due to have her baby Sept. 12. While she is on maternity leave I will be covering her position. We have been trying to find someone to hire to fill my position during that time. We’ve searched resume’s, we’ve interviewed, we even offered the position to someone but she turned it down. Now we’re scrambling and we need to hire someone ASAP.

Do any of you know someone in the Lansing area that’s looking for a full-time job? The position is entirely administrative, with lots of numbers and spreadsheets thrown in. It’s a temporary position but would start right away and probably go until April 15th. I need someone who is good with detail, learns quickly, and has a great attitude. Whoever we hire would be working directly with me. That’s a perk, right?

If you can recommend anyone, please email me at mindy(at)griddlebandits(dot)com. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

We are getting closer to hiring an administrative assistant at work, but until then I am working double duty to fill in for our finance manager who is on maternity leave. I feel each day like I’m just treading water, struggling to keep my head above the water. I’m a terrible swimmer. It helps that my boss is understanding of the whole situation, and is okay with me letting some things slide as long as I keep focusing on the most important stuff. With that said, I’m still exhausted at the end of each day. My brain is completely fried. I’m looking forward to the weekend to recharge.

I’m sure there were other things I wanted to blog about.

I baked some brownies last night. I wanted brownies, so I made some. I didn’t have a box mix on hand so I made them from scratch. I think I prefer the box mix brownies. Don’t get me wrong, the batch I made were sufficient for my brownie craving, they just weren’t the same as the ones I’m used to making.

Luke is so so teething. For Real, Dog. Two nights ago he woke up late at night (20 minutes after I fell asleep, of course) just screaming like a banshee. He could not be consoled. All he wanted to do was clutch my neck and dig his face into my shoulder. He wouldn’t even let me near him with the medicine. I went to grab the bottle and he pushed my hand away from it. I was finally able to calm him down with the help of television. Like father, like son (Okay, that’s actually more my obsession than Mike’s). He just sat there, so still. He didn’t try to get up and play or anything. He was perfectly content to lie with me and watch tv, clutching the remote control in his tiny little hands. It was so nice. I know he’s in pain and all but I seriously love the cuddling. And he only does it with me, not with Mike. Only Mama will do, I guess. Is it wrong for me to love the cuddling?

Luke is also starting to say more words. He was for a little while before but then backed off for a minute. For a couple weeks he would just babble on as if he was actually speaking complete thoughts. But now he starts to repeat things we say, and when he does it almost resembles real words. It’s cute to hear him try. We clap and make a big deal out of it. We’re such nerds.

Hmm. I’m think I’m going to have another brownie. Have a happy Fried-Day, y’all!

I had another “super fun” ultrasound today. They told me the amniotic sac is still there, though deflated and most likely detached. So things are progressing but I am not done yet. Still need to pass that sac. Apparently that’s when the real pain comes. Well, at least I’ve had a bit of a break and again am thankful for ultrasound technology to give me a warning of what’s to come. The doc wrote me a prescription for the good stuff in case ibuprofen just doesn’t cut it. Can’t wait.

Oh, and to add to the mix I am in charge of the big hairy software conversion at work so this week and next are going to require lots of prayer and hanging on for dear life. I’m really earning that Black & Tan, girls!

I’m having the kind of day accountants dream about – everything is balancing on the first try. The first time it happened I thought it was just a fluke but it’s been going on all morning! Of course I’ve probably jinxed it by announcing it so I can’t expect it to last, can I?

I’ve been dealing with some issues at work lately. I know. It’s unheard of, right?

Here I’ve been wishing my boss was a different sort of person, that he would change his personality. I’ve been crossing my fingers, hoping that if I sit and wait long enough or drop enough hints he’ll magically become a better communicator or time manager or smile more or whatever.

Well, in all my grumbling about my job this idea has only just now occurred to me. Ready for it? Here it is:

Pray for my boss.

Hmm. It seemed so much more profound in my head than it does there in print. Oh well, I’ll still give it a shot anyway.

This is crappy. I’m trying to stay at a job longer than a year, I really am. That is difficult to do when you are handed an $8,000 pay cut after only 10 months on the job. Just a tad difficult. Yeah. A little frustrated right now.

The office expansion is complete! We moved in this morning. Now the billing department is officially part of the team, no longer hidden away like a red-headed stepchild (No offense to my husband). It always helps to change things up a bit. I tend to get antsy after I’ve been in the same setup too long. Generally I just move things on my desk around and that does it for me. (I do this at home too, Mike will come home and discover I’ve rearranged the living room. Again.) This is a total change and I am enjoying the new perspective.

Yay for new digs!

So, I royally screwed up at work today. I deleted an entire client data file and yet my boss is more concerned with the hole in her fishnet knee-hi socks.

I love my job.