5 months hiatus

Well, don't take my silence as a bad thing.  Remember all those things (Baseball game, relaxing on the deck, going to parks, spending more time with my family, learning new recipes, etc) I posted about back in May that I wanted to fill up my days? Well, I'm happy to report that I was absent from my blog because I really was doing those things! I spent my summer truly living.  It has been so nice to have a reprieve from school and internships.  I had quasi-committed to going back to my internship this fall to do some very part time work.  I reluctantly called to cancel those plans because I honestly just don't want work to crowd my life.  I long to spend more of my life working to live, not living to work.

We got to sneak away on a weekend trip to Lake Chautauqua, which was the summer highlight to me.  Relaxing on a boat with my family was amazing.  Eating crab cake sandwiches while looking out on the water was heavenly. Taking Amelia to explore a new town brought us so much joy.

Most importantly on my summer bucket list was to work on making Amelia a sibling.  I'm happy to report that we were also successful in this area! We will be expecting Baby Walls #2 in early March.  We did not find out Amelia's gender during my pregnancy and we also won't be finding out this time. She's really excited to be a big sister, but she's not so sure about how to feel when she sees me with another baby.  Most often she cries, fights to get on my lap, and asks me to give the baby back to her parents.  Let's hope she adjusts better to a real sibling!

Our fall will be just as busy as our summer. We have many fall events planned.  We attended the fall fest at Patterson's farm, where Amelia was able to go in corn mazes, ride horses, eat apples, pick out pumpkins, etc.  We have haunted hayride tickets for this weekend.  Then the following weekend we have my work Halloween party and Amelia's daycare Halloween party to attend. I feel like as soon as we get past Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are right around the corner.  Can someone slow all of this down for me? March (and baby #2) will be here before we know it!

Okay, that's all for now.  I really should figure out how to post some pics here. Let's try this...

 This is Amelia at one of her daddy's summer soccer games

Amelia having lunch in Chautauqua

 Boat ride on Lake Chautauqua

 The three of us at an outdoor summer concert in Columbus, OH

Amelia riding the horse "Gabby" at the Fall Fest

Amelia and her daddy at a baseball game- July 3rd, 2013

Commencement

I happy to report that my Master's Degree is completed!  There isn't necessarily any monetary gain from this, but I do anticipate having a bit more time on my hands now that my evenings won't be monopolized by writing papers, reading articles, going to class, etc.  And after all, time is money, right?  Right.

Although I've always associated commencement with something coming to an end, the term commencement actually means "A beginning".  I've been thinking about what this new beginning means for me.  How do I want to spend this extra time? I'd really like to have an amazing summer. I'd like to take some day trips- parks, the zoo, a baseball game.  I'd like to be a good mommy who spends lots of outdoor time with my girl, jumping in kiddie pools, going to the beach, taking stroller rides.  I'd like to cook more at home, learn some new recipes, spend less money on eating out.  I'd like to put more focus on looking and feeling better, teeth whitening, getting back to the gym.  I'd like to reconnect with my husband, go on some dates, spend some time talking instead of yelling. I'd like to take a family vacation.  I'd like to have many nights of grilling and drinking with friends on our deck.

I guess I have a pretty long list of things I'd like to do, and unfortunately I won't be gaining THAT much extra time.  Most importantly, I'd like to have another baby.  I'm getting baby fever.  My big girl is 2 and I crave holding and cuddling an infant. I'd like Amelia to have a sibling. I want to complete our family.

So many thoughts whirling around. I just feel like I'm on the brink of lots of exciting days ahead. I think my husband and I need to write a summer bucket list!