Front Porch

My home is a construction site! We have been doing so much work to the house it is ridiculous. John has been busy doing something every night for the past 2 weeks. We have some guys John works with working on the roof, and in order to do that we needed to fix the front porch. Fixing turned into completely redoing because John has befriended a contractor who was sick of doing just paper work and knows nothing about cars. That, by the way, is my wood anniversary present. Then, while they were taking the shingles off some fell and hit our outside water spout. We had a lake quickly forming in our back yard and didn't know where the shut off valve was. A plumber friend come over and helped with that. Thankfully John has lots of friend in different fields of work. I am very grateful for that (I have very few friends).

And all this is going on while I am trying to get licenced for daycare. I'm just grateful that they haven't call to come and inspect yet because there are so many hazards in the yard alone. I am watching a friend's little girl for about 3 hours a day. She is 7 months old and so different from Addison. It's fun though. I really haven't gotten much of the million things I want to do done, it still just feels like a long weekend.

Happier note, Addison stood for about 15 second unsupported today.

Pictures

Here are some pictures a friend took of Addison while babysitting. She apparently thought she was a dog that day. I love her bright eyes!

Cereal Bowl

John doesn't always give himself enough time to eat breakfast in the morning, but when he dose it is usually cereal. He proceeds to pour himself a bowl that is already twice the size of a normal person's. Then if he still has time to spare, he will have a second human head sized bowl. He claims he dose this because he is hungry by lunch time. I'm fine with how much he eats, it's just expensive to eat that much. I try to encourage oatmeal or something else that is more satisfying, especially when oatmeal is way cheaper, but he just won't have that. It is too much work and he doesn't have time. I then kindly remind him that if he would get up when I woke him up he would have time. He doesn't like it when I do that. So anyway, for our anniversary I got him a new cereal bowl so he would only have to make one trip to the kitchen each morning.

Yes it was meant as a joke, but he has contemplated using it for that. It has now been officially deemed our popcorn bowl, it's a perfect size for that. Dad, when you come and visit again, you can use it for your ice cream, it might be big enough.

John got me wood for our anniversary. More to come on that.

5 Years

It was our five year anniversary this past Saturday. After John went and mowed someone else's yard, we spent the day vegging out. It was mostly movie watching and naps. John was sick and Addison is teething. I sware that girl can bite. We also had take out from Old Chicago, which is never as good as when you eat at the restaurant because everything just gets soggy. But here is an overview of the past 5 years:

We got married on September 20, 2003 in Casa Grande, AZ. We were sealed on July 13, 2005 in the San Diego Temple.

We have lived in 2 states, 2 cities and 3 different homes/apartment

John has had 3 jobs, I have had 5.

We have owned 6 different cars, 3 lawn mowers, and about 2 million DVDs

For travel destinations we have been to San Diego (of course), Newport Beach, CA (thanks mom and dad) and Chicago (thanks AIB) We still want to go every where else.

We have also had our first child. She is the best of both of us.

I have to say 5 years is a long time. Neither of us have loved every minute of it, but it has definitely been an interesting ride. We love all of our family and thank them all for the wonderful memories they have shared with us.

Holy Yeast

Yeah, so we got this in today to run some tests on. It is a picture of a regular sized container of yeast and one that is about 20lbs. We only need 1/3 of an ounce. Why someone would need that much instant yeast, I have no idea. (just to clarify, the baking industry usually uses some form of fresh yeast to do anything in significant quantities)

It's Official

I turned in my notice at work yesterday. Daycare ready or not, my last day of work at AIB is September 30th. I just feel stale here, and have for a while. I have learned what I came to learn here and that is bread. I feel like what was once my weakest point is now my strongest. I also hate watching my little girl grow through the stories of others. I have a friend who said it is so much easier on moms who work. I couldn't disagree more. I still have to do all the mom things when I get home, trying to shove them into the the 3 hours a day I get to spend with Addison. I also have a laundry list of house stuff, service stuff and calling stuff to do. It is harder. So I'm nervous and excited all at the same time.

I'm not writing this so people can congratulate me on my decision to be a "good mom." It has never been an issue of I wanted to work, trust me I want to be at home, it has been a money issue. I just wanted to let everyone know about it.

Manic

I just finished reading this book. It was great. It has taught me so much about myself. Before I kind of knew some warning signs of when I am getting down, but I never really thought about the ups. I am in no way blaming my behavior on my disease, I guess now I can simply understand it better. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"How could I ever hope to tell a normal person about the terrors of being happy?"

I have always hated the way I act when I'm "in a really good mood" and have never understood way I sometime just blurt thing out that I regret later.

"When you're headed towards mania, the slightest sensation hot wires your nerves."

This is when I get in the most trouble. Some of my past mistakes happened because of this. It is also a time of extreme irritability, and when I usually get into fights with people.

"The cruelest curse of the disease is also its most sacred promise: you will not feel this way forever."

Amen

I definitely recommend it to anyone who is bipolar or living with such a person. It just might help you too.