Charlotte Goes Mobile

Charlotte Goes Mobile

Sorry that it has been almost two months since I've posted any photos of the girls! I guess I've been kinda busy. The garage is keeping me occupied (see below), as well as just helping Carol and all the other stuff of life.

Charlotte is nine months old today. She's been standing holding onto furniture for about a month now. This week she started letting go for a few seconds. She has already developed fairly good balance. And when she falls, at least she sits down rather than just toppling over like a tree. She can also "cruise" a little now from one object to another (e.g. from hanging on to my knee to holding on to the ottoman). And then today she crawled 10 feet for the first time! So long to the days when we could just put her somewhere and trust that she'll stay there.

Audrey continues to develop language with amazing speed. I keep commenting on it because I find it so fascinating. We also moved Audrey to a twin bed a month or so ago, which she loves. She looks tiny in it! Her crib is still in her room. When we have time we'll move it to the other upstairs bedroom and put Charlotte in it, but for now Audrey is enjoying having two beds in her room. The crib is now her trampoline.

Carol signed up for the Danskin Triathlon back in March with a goal of training a lot for it. That didn't quite work out, but she did make it to the gym twice almost every week. Although she had last minute doubts about whether she was up to it, she ended up competing and did just fine. Her times were about what she was expecting. I'm proud of her for completing it.

I'm about to change jobs. The contract I'm working on ended mid-August but I've extended through September. They want me to stay another year, but I need to get back to a "real job". I'm used to working in software companies, not in IT, and I prefer the benefits of a full time permanent position. Previously I would have said I prefer the security of such a job, too, but there is no such thing anymore. Getting laid off every once in a while is just part of the deal in my profession. I haven't started looking in earnest yet, but I expect to find and start a new job by early October.

Garage has Roof, Windows and Siding (almost)

Garage: Roof, Windows & Siding

The garage project was kind of on hold from mid-July through mid-August. Summer activities got in the way. But two weeks ago we got the roofing done, last week we got the doors all in and this weekend my dad helped me get started on the siding. I think we're about half done with that. 5 of 8 walls are mostly done, but the hard parts are left to do: the door and window tops with more cuts and the difficult high parts.

We're looking forward to getting the siding all on and trimmed out. Then we just have to paint the whole thing. If we're still feeling ambitous, we'll paint the house at the same time, in the same colors (it's looking like we'll go with brick red with white trim).

I wish I had kept track of my time for the project. It entails lots of fun little things like getting home from work and moving 1.5 tons of siding out of the alley and into the yard by hand (delivery trucks can't get into the yard). But it's going to be very satisfying when it is all done.

Of course, once we get the exterior all painted, then we have to finish the interior: electrical and plumbing and drywall and paint and trim, etc.