Update on us...

Ari continues to say the funniest things! Example: the other day she told her dad he couldn't put her to bed because he doesn't have boobies! I thought her statement was hilarious because she hasn't nursed before bed in a very long time now, years, in fact.

Speaking of nursing, shh, you didn't hear it from me, but I think she may have actually finished weaning herself. I think she hasn't nursed in over a week.

Ari started swimming lessons last December. She has had nine or ten lessons at this point. She loves her lessons, is jumping in the pool, and is starting to swim short distances. She is very proud of the fact that she is starting to swim without a kickboard or a noodle.

Ari and I talked about babies a few weeks ago. She says she would love to have a baby sister and that she would like her name to be Lisa. She said she would need to stop nursing because the baby would need a lot of milk to grow.

Speaking of babies, we have been TTC (trying to conceive) for 15 months. I just started all the testing. Blood work was perfect. I have an HSG tomorrow. It is a test where we find out if there is a blockage in my fallopian tubes.

My hope is to get some answers so that we can make the big decision. Do we keep trying? Do we turn to ART (assisted reproduction technology)? Do we sign up with an adoption agency?

As I told a dear friend the other day, you know how you feel when you're about to go down a really cool looking slide, super excited, but also nervous? That is exactly how I feel right now.

What else? We spent a long weekend in Austin, TX the second week of March. It rained almost the entire time and it was quite cold for Austin. We did get to spend time outside one day. That one day was enough for me to decide I love Austin! It seems like there are many parks/playgrounds surrounded by restaurants. You enjoy your lunch at a picnic table, you get to talk to your friends and your kid gets to play. We got to catch up with our friends and Ari had playmates for days. It was great all around.

Spring break is coming up. No earthly idea what we're doing. Hoping for play dates.

I am currently working on becoming a La Leche League leader. It will take a while, but it will be worth it. I am looking forward to helping out fellow mamas. I remember how helpful and encouraging it was to have support during those early days.

I am also working on starting a family and marital mediation practice. Running my own business is really not my thing. I hate uncertainty. I'd love to just show up to a job and not have to worry about how the business is doing. But... I have a BA in psychology. I don't drive. I don't have an MSW. I got tired of job hunting. And I am very much looking forward to helping families problem solve and hopefully stay together or separate as amicably as possible.

Daddy remains super busy with his five jobs. No, not exaggerating! We do get to have dinner with him most nights and Ari gets to spend time with him on the drive to school every morning and on most nights before bed. And that, to me, is priceless. That is what life is about. When she grows up, she will remember that we had dinner together, that we hugged and played a lot, that her dad is the silliest man on earth, and that we're a team.

I think that is about it for us.