I know, I know...I'm a bad blogger!

OK, you would think that since I'm staying at home now that I would have tons of time to update the ol' blog. Not the case. So here is a quick update on what Ramona is doing now.

1. Crawling like crazy

2. Pulling up to standing

3. Waving

4. Clapping

5. Teething (just one for now)

6. Bumping her head on everything

7. Eating solid food? NOPE.

8. Getting spoiled by grandparents

9. Turning nine months old (I know! How did that happen?)

10. And Yelling (This baby is getting very loud.)

I was going to post a video of Ramona showing off all that she can do, but that will have to wait until another time. Sorry! Here is a picture to tide you over.

This is Santa Pope on Christmas morning.

The countdown has begun...

I FINALLY know when my last day at Freescale is, thank goodness! December 3rd is my last day as a career woman and December 4th is my first day as a Stay at Home Mom! We have not ironed out all the details yet. But it looks like we will be able to scrape by with me staying at home and maybe doing a little freelance design work on the side.

Lesson of the day: Getting laid off is not so bad, it's not knowing how much longer I'm going to have to work at the job I've been laid off from that sucks!

Countdown Until Freedom: 3 weeks

It's sinking in...

Yesterday was a hard day. One side of my brain is wondering why I was chosen to be let go and most everyone else gets to stay. While my rational side says, "This was obviously meant to be, something better will come along." I'm just struggling with feeling utterly replaceable.

And to make matters worse, Ramona had a HORRIBLE day yesterday! She scooted herself off our guest bed onto the carpeted floor, flat on her back with a giant THUMP! Luckly that bed is only 2 feet off the ground and not 4 feet off the ground like our other bed in the house. THANK GOD! Poor thing is fine, just got scared. (Me too). And then, last night in my sleepy stupor, I forgot to turn the baby monitor on after a night feeding and she went 6 hours unmonitored. I'm quite sure she woke up and screamed until she fell asleep. Because she does NOT sleep that long peacefully.

Sorry, sweet baby girl, Mama's losing her mind.
:(

Don't get too comfortable!

Doesn't God have a funny way of keeping us on our toes? Chris and I have been very comfortable for the past four years with me being employed at Freescale Semiconductor. Well, things are getting shaken up a bit. I found out yesterday that I will be losing my job due to the falling economy. In fact, they are getting rid of my position all together. We will not know when my last day will be until next week. To be honest, I expected it. Freescale was kind enough to create the position for me, so they can get rid of it just as quickly! So, now Chris and I are in limbo. Our original plan was that he would be staying home until January and then he would (hopefully) be getting a big raise and benefits at his job so that, wait for it....I COULD BE A STAY AT HOME MOM!!! Well, as I kind of expected in the back of my mind, Chris' raise will not be coming as quickly as we would have hoped. BUT, after calling his boss (a wonderful Christian man) and explaining the situation and asking him to pray for us, he is going to try to help us out so that I can stay home. Key word: TRY.

Dear Mandy's brain, please do NOT get your hopes up. This may or may not be what God wants you to do.

So here are a few things I'm worried about:

1. We pulled Ramona out of daycare. So if she has to go back there will be a long waiting list and we may not be able to afford it anyway.

2. Our medical benefits disappear with my job.

3. Should I be actively looking for a job if I'm trying to stay home???

And now for your cuteness fix, how about a rousing game of Where's My Pacifier?

Good bye, for now. I need to go cancel some luxuries. Good bye, sweet Tivo, you have served us well.

Halloween and Big News!

Well, we have big news! Ramona's last day of daycare was wednesday. Chris is going part time until the end of this year, so that he can take care of Ramona and be a stay at home Dad. He will be home with her Monday–Wednesday. And I work from home Thursday and Friday until 2009. This is very exciting for us. We worked with our budget and found a way to pull her out of daycare. This came just at the right time. She was sick for the entire month of October and I actually had to use the phrase "Should that baby be standing on that other baby?" when I dropped her off at daycare a few weeks ago. Not exactly comforting...

And now, I present... Ramona, the baby ballerina!

6:45 p.m. Just before we set out to Trick or Treat

6:55 p.m. Ramona doesn't understand what we are doing.

7:00 p.m. At home with her loot!

By 7:15 p.m. she is asleep and we are eating her candy.

Happy Halloween!

The Pumpkin Patch!

Yesterday we took a trip to Round Rock's Pumpkin Patch. Enjoy our photos!

We've been skunked!

Last night I went into Ramona's room and was overpowered by the smell of skunk. When I went into the living room to tell Chris, it was wafting in there too. I can only assume that a skunk was making his way around our house and spraying like crazy. Who knew a skunk took walks in the suburbs! So all last night (every time our air conditioner turned on) the skunk smell came back. Well, I guess I got used to it, because when I got back in the car after dropping off Ramona at daycare, my car reeked of skunk! Which means I most-likely smell like a giant skunk too! (My friends at work assure me that I smell fine, but I'm not sure I totally believe them.) Anyway, Chris has purchased the strongest bottle of Febreeze on the market. But, that is no guarantee that we won't still smell like the Skunk Family tomorrow. I'm giving Ramona an extra bath tonight.