Hello, tongue.

Miss Grace is 12 weeks old today. She weighs 9 pounds. She's eating 4 oz of neosure 2 times a day, and gobs of breastmilk whenever she can get it. She's going longer between feedings, sleeping for long chunks of time, and is smiling responsively.

Tonight she discovered control of her tongue. We were smiling and flirting with each other, as we often do, and I stuck my tongue out at her, and she thought about it for a second and tentatively stuck hers out, as well. Then she smiled sooo big, and continued to practice this new skill in response, back and forth for several minutes. It was hilarious to her apparently, and I must admit I was pretty delighted.

goodbye, friend...

My mechanic died today. That may not seem like such a big thing to some, but Darrell was my friend also. Many people liked to stop in to University Phillips 66 at 25th and Iowa and chat with Darrell. He approved officially of Delores the Taurus. He reassured me when I was convinced that one of my cars was on its last leg. He chatted with me about life and such when I stopped in and hung around, drinking a cup of coffee and smoking a cigarette in the garage, where customers "weren't allowed".

He agreed that my last boyfriend was a dumbass for not sticking around when I learned I was pregnant. No matter that said ex-boyfriend was not the father, Darrell was supportive in his own way... shaking his head and saying "He don't know what he's missing, girl."

Darrell followed along from a distance at the drama that my life became during the year of my illness. He admitted later "I thought you was a goner, girl."

He agreed with me that life holds it's own little miracles, and was happy and excited for me when I brought in pictures of Grace in-utero, or at least he nodded happily and pretended to see the baby in the blob ultrasound pics I was proudly flashing around. He always greeted me with a smile and a "Hey girl!"

Darrell shared with me just a few things about his own life as well. I know he was really proud of his sons... as painful as his love for them could be as they, too, faced their own challenges.

Darrell and I didn't know each other very well. But we were buddies, in the best sense... the kind of pal you meet at an unexpected place, like the gas & service station that you frequent because it's close to work and the people there are super nice and pump your gas when you're too sick to do it yourself.

I wish I'd gone in and gotten that much needed oil change that my dad paid for in advance a few months ago. I got busy having a baby and changing jobs and had a BP gas card and I'm a stupid girl who doesn't place oil changes very high on the priority list. I'm very sorry, though, that I didn't stop in and see my friend one last time.

Nobody puts Boppy in the corner...

Two months old... just entering 10th week.

Gracie is still amusing me on a daily basis, which is good, I suppose, since I can't seem to get anything else done.

m constantly amazed at the biology and mechanics of breastfeeding, it's a current obsession for both of us, I suppose.

I started this great new job, and after a few weeks I am already behind. I wonder now if my life will ever be caught up. I wonder if I'll ever be on time to an appointment.

Will I get there fast enough when Grace cries to hold her, feed her, change her?

My new job demands quick responses as well. Quick responses, speedy follow up, and timely summary and reporting of the previously mentioned responses and follow up.

In other words, I am now constantly running around like my ass is on fire, often with one bra flap unfastened and my hair all amuck.

Crap, I'm supposed to be somewhere in 35 minutes. I look like hell and my lovey is cranky and won't let me put her down.

Thank goddess for slings. wish I could pull a Britney and just drive with her in her sling.
She's gonna rail when I put her in her car seat.

Is it Friday Yet??

Take Back The Night is tonight.

I'm not going.

I don't want it back.
They can keep it.

I'll take back 9-11 am, thankyouverymuch.

I'm gonna start Take Back The Late Morning... we'll have a march. In our jammies. With the cast of The View leading the way. And coffee and doughnuts.
Things to chant while marching:

"Stay in bed if you're horny!
Take back the late morning!"

"We're here,
We're lazy,
Get used to it!"

"Rooty Tooty
Fresh & Fruity...
We'll stay home and watch
Judge Judy!"

"2, 4, 6, 8...
Call in to work
and sleep late!"