A Guy, Two Girls and a Pup

Tonight was a good experience at bedtime. Even though it took Meredith a long time to settle down at bedtime (probably owing somewhat to the 4 HOUR NAP she took this afternoon), she finally did enough for me to put her in her crib. BUT she wasn’t asleep. Normally, as soon as I put her down, she would pop up and immediately start crying. Tonight, she laid on her back and babbled softly and held my fingers for awhile. Then, suddenly, she let go of my fingers, grabbed her stuffed Tigger, rolled over and closed her eyes. AND FELL ASLEEP. Amazing. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel on this whole bedtime thing!

Eat turkey, not crayons like Meredith does…

So I glance over at the back door while we’re sitting here watching TV and I see a HUGE RACCOON peeking in the window. Who knew Seattle was the Great Wild? (Suddenly Devi’s howling fit at 4am the other morning makes a little more sense…)

I know the 3 people who read this are waiting on pins and needles to hear: Meredith’s rash is gone, thanks to a couple of restorative naps yesterday. She’s back to her old crazy self.

ALTHOUGH, she’s testing the limits of tantrums right now: whenever she doesn’t get what she points at or when she’s put down after being carried around, she FLINGS herself backward and starts crying and rolling around on the floor. Nice. We are working on cheerfully not engaging and ignoring until she stops (making sure she’s not hurting herself, of course.) Hopefully she learns pretty soon that tantrums aren’t going to get her anything. (Let’s see if she’s a quick learner!)

So today was Day 1 of the new job — the hard stuff is under my belt: getting set up on a new computer, meeting new people, etc. It was a little disorganized — there was no computer ready for me, for example! So the first couple of hours was me shadowing another developer and learning some of the system. When I finally got my computer, I got a chance to work on a small project to get started — nothing difficult, but slow going while I sorted through things. Tomorrow: I get the official tour of the place, slightly delayed.

We are keeping an eye on Miss Meredith, who’s been having a rough few days. At the end of last week, she had a little fever and was generally not feeling all that well. This weekend, she perked up and seemed to be better, but she’s got a rash ALL OVER! Based on what we’re reading, that’s not unusual for little ones to get viruses and break out in a rash when it’s over. It’s probably nothing serious (we were thinking chicken pox!), but we’re still keeping tabs on her until she seems to be all good. In the meantime, more teething and lots of general unhappiness — she’s not been a happy camper at all. :{

Kevin got back from Wisconsin Friday having had a more difficult trip than expected, I think. I don’t think he expected it to be quite so poignant, even though he’s leaving the only job he’s known for 10 years. He’s not quite done: still has through Thanksgiving before it’s official, but time’s ticking away quickly!

Just a little something to get you into the holiday spirit…

(You wouldn’t believe how hard it was getting Devi to learn that dance…)

(If you’re having trouble seeing the above Flash movie, try this link: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/ds8VE1gZ9EuIQiwqLxWq.)

So after about a month of non-stop interviewing, I’ve accepted a position with Pop, to begin November 24th. It’s technically a 3-month contract-to-hire position, but it’s a great company that I felt really comfortable with…AND they work with really awesome clients (like Nintendo!) So I’m really excited to get started! (After a week of vacation this coming week, of course…)

Meredith’s new shoes are really working out for her. They’re really nice and flexible with a nice rubber sole. You could tell the difference immediately when she began flexing her feet while walking. I think it’s finally clicked the last couple of days. Yesterday, she walked across the room. But the cool thing is that she fell a couple of times, and, instead of crawling from there, got back to her feet and walked again! Go Meredith!

On the job front, I heard back from the company in California at which I interviewed on Friday. Basically, they thought I was awesome and would scoop me up in an instant if I were a local. But they had reconsidered the position and decided that it wouldn’t work for a remote worker, which I would be. So I wasn’t rejected — the job was just removed. At least I was the top candidate. I’m Number One! I’m Number One! Still feeling positive, as I had a GREAT interview yesterday at a place that I would really like to work, so cross your fingers!

Otherwise, 1 more day of solid interviewing today, one phone interview tomorrow and Friday Kevin and I are taking the day off to go do the Underground Tour — stay tuned to Flickr for pictures!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled election day to give you a fast update on my job situation — one of the jobs that I had gone in for 3rd interviews for decided not to make me an offer. Not a surprise — I had a feeling that the 4 HOURS OF INTERVIEWING hadn’t gone as well as I had hoped. I’m following up on the other position, as well as continuing to interview (another 4 HOURS Wednesday afternoon AND Thursday morning — UGH.) And Friday I fly down to California to interview from 10:30am to 2:30pm. (Returning that evening — whew!)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled election day. Now GO VOTE!

The last few days, Meredith has been becoming Little Miss Social. The last few days she has started hugging and kissing us — she’ll grab my head and pull it toward her, then mash her mouth on my face and go “MMMMMM”. This afternoon, she started blowing kisses — well, not quite blowing them. Putting her hand up to her mouth and “MMMM”ing. Keeping them all bottled up for herself, more like. :> Still, so sweet to have her showing Momma and Daddy a little love.