The Blogger Returns

Yes, folks, it's true - I've returned!Now that I've had a two week break, I feel ready to blog again. Yea! While I've thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone else's updates, and although I really haven't been up to anything too exciting over the past two weeks, I'm still excited to update. Rest assured, this will be a random blog peppered with our recent to-do's as well as thoughts I've had over the last little while.

If you're reading this update via Bloglines or Google Reader, might I suggest you visit my actual site? Simply because I'm SOOOOOO excited that I've changed the template on my page. I've been aching for a three-column format for a long time now. Too long, actually. Something about taking a two week break really inspired me to make some long-anticipated blog changes. Can I tell you how much I love the new set up? Because I do. I really like that all my links and the archives are on the right side, while the other "fun" stuff is on the left. It's a little crowded, but I really love it. Thoughts?

Everett and Juliana have been wonderful lately. Everett still really loves his sister and Juliana is content to pretty much let Everett roll on top of her head or legs and then two seconds later give her hugs and kisses. Everett's been insisting on "holding" her quite a bit lately. And she's happy to sit next to him too.

Everett is turning into a smarty-pants, which is fun to watch. The poor kid can't say his "f's" or "g's" very well (or actually a few other sounds either), but it's so funny to hear him try. He still loves Curious George and Calliou. And holy cow has he been on a "The Incredibles" kick lately. Now that it's freaking hot as blazes outside, Everett's turned into quite the nudist. He loves to play in his pool naked and if I'd let him, would play in his sandbox naked as well (all together now - Ewwww!). Thankfully, I at least demand that he puts on a diaper to play with the sand. On Saturday he was outside "helping" my parents with yard work and decided then too that naked was the best way to go. And as much as he enjoys getting dirty and sweaty, he also loves to take a bath. There was one day when he took three baths in less than 24 hours. Oh, and he now loves Nursery! He's been pretty good about going in without too much of a fuss since December, but he's really come into his own with Nursery during the past two months. I'd venture to say he actually looks forward to Sundays when he can go to Nursery. Whew!
And Miss Juliana is a cutie. She is now 9 months old, has four teeth and is only now starting to crawl. Everett crawled at 6 months on the nose, so it's been interesting to see Juliana continue to just sit there. She's a funny one though since she will only crawl on super soft surfaces like beds or couches. Put her on one of those and off she'll go. Move her to the floor or carpet and she just sits there and cries. Is that weird or is it just me? She has almost completely shunned the bottle. I think she only drinks maybe 8 ounces a day. The rest of her liquid intake comes from Everett's sippy cups which she likes to steal. I got her her very own pink sippy cup, but whenever I offer her that one (which is EXACTLY like Everett's blue one that she keeps stealing), she looks at me with an "I'm supposed to drink this?" look and won't touch it. Hmm... She's been standing a lot more, which makes me think that yes, this child will walk someday. Other than that, she is content to sit (usually with me) and observe the mayhem that is her older brother. Chill and laid-back don't even begin to describe this gal.

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Last week Will and I were on the other side of town trying to make our way to the interstate (they'd shut down the on-ramp we were going to take), so Will took some back roads to try to get us home. We were driving through a random neighborhood when I spotted this house under construction:

I was so excited, I made Will stop the car so I could snap some pictures. This folks, is a rough outline of my dream house. When we are ready to buy a house, or if we have the funds to build one ourselves, this is totally what I'd like to have. With Will's feet and back the way they are, stairs are a no-no for us. I am not an artist, but I've tried my hand at drawing up a floor plan for our future house and believe it or not, the outside would look a lot like this. I especially like where the front door is centered and how the house kind of makes a V shape. Plus, judging from the pictures (I didn't get to peek inside), it looks like the ceilings would be kind of high, which I like. I figure if we're going to have only one level, we may as well have vaulted ceilings. Who's with me?

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Ok, I LOVE Facebook! This may be really silly to admit, but I find Facebook stalking so much fun. I have reconnected with folks that I knew in high school and college that I never in a million years would have even thought about except for Facebook. I love catching up with people ever so briefly by reading their profiles, looking through their pictures and I'm a BIG fan of my friends who update their status pretty regularly. It's great! If you're reading this and aren't on Facebook yet or we aren't friends yet, what's the holdup??

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I got my hair cut almost two weeks ago and I love it! It's definitely shorter and it's one of those cuts that you can totally tell that I did something different to it. So why is it that almost NO ONE has said anything to me about it? I'm not dying for compliments, but I haven't even gotten uncomfortable, "Oh, you got your hair cut" kind of comments. Aside from Will, Paula and my mom, no one has said anything. Not even, "you look different". The general lack of noticing has led me to a few conclusions, any of which could be true.

1) People have noticed the cut, but think it stinks, and thus have refrained from saying anything
2) People simply don't notice me as much as I'd like to flatter myself that they do
3) Um, let's see...I'm really at a loss here.

So as you can see, with only two options that I can figure, I'm tempted to go with #1. Which is confusing since I think it's a nice cut and facially flattering. I'd post a picture right now, but I'm without a photographer and it's the end of the day. I need to take one in the morning right after I get ready. Maybe I'll put one up tomorrow and let you be the judge?

**UPDATED**

Ok, here are some pictures of me with my haircut. I took one with it parted either way. What say y'all?

Gosh, it's good to be back!