Pain in the arse...

We have been thinking about moving for some time now....Actually every year right around this time we get the itch to be somewhere different. When we moved from Las Cruces to Rio Rancho it was this time of year...and a few years ago we almost moved from this home and...yup it was this time of year. A couple of months ago we began a semi-extensive search of different areas we wanted to live and Justin even began applying to several jobs. We looked in the Phoenix area, around San Francisco, Southern California (which is Justin's dream area!), and Salt Lake City. The Phoenix area proved to be a complete bust in terms of employment....the other areas all produced job offers which we were excited about. Justin even had job offers in Farmington, NM but ultimately we decided it is in our best interest to stay here. Justin recently took on a PRN job on the geriatric psychiatric unit where he had been a social worker, and he is continuing to do the psychiatric consult liaison job (which is an on call gig). Full time/day time nursing gigs are really hard to come by in this area and there really are not a lot of jobs to be had unless you have connections already established within the unit. Neither of us really wanted to work as a "nurse" so the PRN thing gets Justin some experience as a nurse without the full time job of a nurse. We are both continuing on with our respective school programs which is plenty of work in and of itself!!

Given that we planned to move we began looking into renting this house to a good tenant!! This has been a complete pain in our arse....People are so flaky!! It has been hard to have people come in your home - look around - evaluate it - and then there is just the creepy factor!! We had a few people set up times to come see it and then they didn't show up, we had a few that I think came to see it out of sheer boredom, some who totally flaked out, a few that called and inquired if we did background checks or credit checks (uhhh BIG red flag, right?!?) and then a few that were genuinely interested. We've had one man calling/emailing 6 or 7 times a day asking to come see the house....ummm no ...you are creepy. We had quite a bit of interest so we are hopeful that this home is getting a wonderful new occupant!! We are going to miss this house so much!

This meant that we had to look into housing at whatever destination WE headed to - so we headed to Phoenix (because that was our first choice of where to move) to look around and they had so many great options in Gilbert and Scottsdale unfortunately the job situation there was not good. Farmington had very few viable options for housing and so we ultimately decided that Farmington was not a good choice. Salt Lake had some nice housing options but we were not sure about the weather there year round. We just kept coming back to how nice it is here in Rio Rancho! We get nice summers, mild winters, beautiful fall weather, we are close to an airport, we are within short driving distance to snow/rivers/camping areas/large(r) cities, the cost of living is soooo affordable, New Mexico is VERY nurse practitioner friendly, and we have professional connections here.

So we decide to stay here.....we've started looking for someone to rent our house....soooo it's time to MOVE!!! We found a 5 bedroom house just a few blocks from where we are (because we love the area we live in) in the Cabezon housing subdivision. This gives us TONS of space - a master bedroom, Ellie's room, an office, a play room and a guest room! There is a huge back yard that is landscaped, comes with an island grill, has an very oversized jacuzzi that can be used as a pool or jacuzzi, the kitchen has an island/double oven/huge refrigerator, and is just in general what we've been dreaming of come each year in October! This house also gives us the option to expand our family without cramping our style in terms of housing space. We are stoked....

I know Ellie will love having a lot more space as she gets older....and I think it will save all of our sanity!

Ellie Bo Belly is almost 8 months old!

In a few short days Ms. Ellie Bo Belly you will be 8 months old!! I know this isn't a "birthday" people typically make a big deal over however 8 months is a BIG deal! The time has flown by so fast and getting to watch you grow has been a true joy and one of the greatest successes of our lives.

You can do SOOOO many things now - lets recap what 8 months means (this list was made several months ago and I'm updating it to see what has changed/stayed the same):
* You crawl like a jet!! You can get places in a few seconds flat!!

* You now sit up without any assistance and can sit up in a chair or on the couch.

* You stand - at first this was super wobbly but now you pull yourself up and stand like a champ!

* You walk holding on to things - put you at the edge of something and you can go and go and go.

* You LOVE LOVE LOVE to jump --- gosh you could jump for hours if our arms and shoulders could keep up!!

* Your STILL smile lights up a room!!!

* You HATE: having your diaper changed, getting dressed/undressed, going in your car seat, bed time being in your stroller for more than 3 minutes, sun in your eyes, when your dad feeds you too slow, not getting attention, things with strong odors, and loud noise.

* You eat "food" without a problem -your food choices have now expanded and while your ultimate love is still sweet potatoes you now love turkey & sweet potatoes, chicken & rice, apples & blueberries, mixed vegetables, chicken & apples, green beans, oatmeal...oh and paper! Also you have taken to licking walls?!?
your not favs: bananas, apples, rice cereal, and carrots (These also have not changed)

* You have toys you LOVE: your cell phone, photo book that crinkles, your "dollar bill," monkey keys, DVD/VCR player, DVD cases, plastic cups, plastic lids, straws, wipes packaging, our work/UNM badges

* Things you love to try to play with but shouldn't: Electrical cords, leaning shelves, the laptop, our iPhones

* Personality: Charming, Stubborn, Inquisitive/Nosey, Loving, Joyful, "too smart for your own good," - these are the same!

* Things we are working on: not yelling, learning what "no" means, using a spoon, and drinking from a sippy cup while sitting up

* You've outgrown 2 BIG plastic tubs of clothes, your lamb swing, your bouncer, and your crib is nearing its retirement (You are simply toooooo tall and VERY soon it will have to go)|

* Favorite things to "watch": Veggie Tales, Romy and Michelle's High school reunion and Pushing Daisies

* NEW archenemy: sliding glass doors -- sometimes the glass is still confusing!

* You have resumed letting me hold you and rock you to sleep - mostly because you've been teething and not feeling well - but I will take it!

* Biggest "Places" you've gone thus far: Salt Lake City & Phoenix

* Nap times: 12 noon, 2 pm, and 5:30-ish pm

* Sign that you are getting sleepy: The area around your eyebrows turns red, you start rubbing your eyes, you lay your head down, and you start acting "wacky"

* Favorite blankie: Flower print one with your name embroidered on it (this has not changed)

* You LOVE to go swimming

* You love to splash around in the bath tub

* Foods you've tried that are not doctor authorized: whip cream (+), sour cream (-), chicken broth (++), mashed potatoes (- -), bean juice (-), coconut popsicle (+), rice (+) [note: this you tried on your own after you grabbed it off of my plate but we will still count it]

* Fav sleeping position: on your belly with your little behind up in the air and now you also sleep on your back and side (or as your dad says, "Like a little adult")

* Big upcoming trips: Disneyland!! Tucson?!? San Diego!! San Francisco!!

* Big trips we planned to take but had to cancel: New Orleans

* Favorite song: The ABC's as sung by mom

* Nicknames: "Ladybug" "Lady" "Woman" "Ellie Belly" "E. Sophia" "Bug" "Bugz" "Ellie Bo Belly"

I think these are the highlights of you Ms. Ellie Bo Belly!!!
 
And....
 

Of you I still approve

Big easy....Big no no

One of the perks of getting my Ph.D is that it has come with so many blessings! I applied with the anticipation that I would be selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow which would afford me, essentially, an all expenses paid doctorate degree. I get my tuition, fees, books, and equipment (computers/printers/ink) paid for and another great perk is a travel budget. Yes, a travel budget. I have to attend a few health policy related conferences per year but its all on the RWJF dime - free conference fees, airfare, hotel, food, and per diem.

Justin and I have always wanted to go to New Orleans but, for some odd reason, never have gone. We found a conference there the first week in October and so we were super excited. All of the arrangements were made - we were staying at the Marriott on Canal Street - we selected our flights - researched all the super cool things we were going to do......

.....and.......

then......

The girl got sick....she's been teething and acquired a really bad ear ache --- therefore we definitely could not fly. We decided to drive....this did not pan out either....a 20 hour car ride with a teething, earache-ing 7 1/2 month old  is NOT a good idea. I think the following picture shows evidence that she did this on purpose (just kidding - she's been miserable poor thing)

So the Big easy was within our grasp....and for free nonetheless.....but it ended up simply being a big no-no.