Just Watch It!

Watch this video, please. It's guaranteed to make you smile today. Love those British accents!

The Great Inventory Debacle

I started the week off with gusto that would make you all proud. The dreaded annual inventory was complete. January was behind us. I was ready to take on February and my new(ish) job requirements. I had spring in my step and optimism (as promised) in my heart. Then Jordan posed a question, "Did-you-shut-down-the-computer-yesterday?" Her face was mostly buried in her shirt, as if to shield herself from my reply. I put off the inevitable bad news by returning with another question, but it only bought us about 3 extra seconds of ignorant bliss. "Was-I-not-supposed-to?" Apparently, I was NOT. And I was the only one who was unaware of this. Either those girls give me too much credit, or I don't always listen. The inventory we had painstakingly counted over the previous week was long lost. We should have cried, but instead, we laughed...And we started over. It only took us two days the second time. I wish I could say that it's twice as accurate, but I don't think that's really the case. It will have to do until that time rolls around again, mid-year.

On a positive note, Willa was a complete angel all week. I think she has finally acclimated to the work environment. Her naps came easily and regularly, and were uncharacteristically long. She played well in her new space, and was just an all-around delight. I take full credit for getting her into this routine. No Babywise cry-it-out nonsense necessary. And it only took me 13 months. Maybe I should write a book.

So despite how it sounds, the week wasn't all work and no play. We had our share of fun. And here's the proof...

My Birthday Non-Party!

Sean has kidnapped my baby and fled the county (of Gillespie). I have had almost an entire day at home by myself and I haven't done a thing productive! We still don't have any plans to celebrate my birthday tonight, and I couldn't be happier about it. Oooh, how I love a low-key evening, void of pressure and expectation! I would love to go to a movie (Slumdog Millionaire) and eat popcorn for dinner. Sean sure is lucky to have such a cheap date.

I've had kind of a rough week, between a seemingly endless manual inventory at Root, which revealed more upsetting evidence of the recession's toll, multiple nights of interrupted sleep, as Willa's stubborn 6th tooth finally surfaced and broke through, and of course the shocking demise of Domino (my favorite magazine and most coveted subscription.) Top that off with the big Birthday No. 32, and I am one big party-pooper.

I'm just kidding. This lazy day is exactly what I've been needing. I'm happy to catch up on some blogging, and good ol' E! TV. A few of my lovely friends brought over a gift certificate for a massage and a pedi, which I will be putting to use immediately. It's actually been a really good day! And even better now, since Sean just pulled up with my baby!

P.S. I just opened the door to greet Sean and Willa, who looked at me with her bright eyes and said, "Dada!" She's a little mixed up with her Mama's and Dada's, but for some reason, I find that to be completely irresistible!

Sign Language and Spoon Introduction

It's my birthday! Sean took Willa with him to the ranch so I could sleep in and have some ME time this morning. Well, I have spent my precious ME time working on this computer, trying to post a movie for your viewing pleasure. It's supposed to be as easy as pie, with the Flip Video Camera. But I've been working on it all week, and an error keeps occurring. So just this morning, yes, for my birthday, I have spoken with Flip Tech Support twice, and have spent a total of about 3.5 hours trying over and over again to save the measly 3 minute movie. Ugh! It's so frustrating! Anyway, I finally got it to work, even though I don't have a clue what I did this time that was different from my previous 75 attempts. Here it is, the finished product. (Don't get too excited, it's just of Willa eating breakfast.) Look how independent she has become. She doesn't want any help from me. She is signing more, too, although her form still needs a little work. I know what she's telling me, and that's what counts. She loves her baby! But the cat impression is my personal favorite...so cute! And the lip snarl? This is the first I've seen of it. Sorry...How about I just roll the film...

Still There?

Okay, I've been a very, very bad blogger. Period. No ifs, ands or buts about it. I've tried to put my thoughts into a post several times, but the truth is, I have been way too stressed to make any sense. Trust me, and be glad that I've spared you my incoherent ramblings and taken this little vacation from Sprouting Daisies. I'm back now, and that's all that matters, right? I'm still stressed, but who isn't these days? My worries are no bigger than anybody else's, but they are relative.

I have been swamped with work, between the loose ends of 2008, and Jordan's departure. (I know, it's not a departure, it just feels like one.) The Roadrunner is surprisingly going strong and there is even some talk about a couple of V.I.P.'s coming to check it out and (cross your fingers) give us some free press. That has naturally sent me into a panic. My other business, however, is suffering from this fledgling economy, and I can't even make a dent in my stack of past due bills. Supposedly, one quarter of American retail establishments are expected to close in 2009, and according to my Yahoo homepage, clothing is among the first luxury consumers plan to cut. Rest assured, concerned friends, Root has a very good chance of survival. But I am aware of what is going on in the world and realistic of all the possibilities. (Anybody know what a pair of alpacas is going for these days?) I am trying to keep my overhead costs to a minimum by taking advantage of my own dirt cheap (free) labor and being there as much I can, but that isn't as easy as I had naively hoped. Willa is only entertained for about 10 minutes in her brand new fully-stocked play enclosure, and wants to be up front where she can eat raw lima beans out of the jewelry display and make me completely paranoid that she might slink out of the front door and onto U.S. Highway 290. (Just in case anybody is wondering what the big deal is and why I haven't taken Willa to a sitter, well, stay tuned...I'll explain it in a future post, entitled The Scars of My Infertility, and you'll wish you had never asked.) I'm aware that I am a tad addicted to Willa's company, but I honestly just want what is best for her. And what is best for her right now is to be with ME! So what am I to do? (Don't answer that.) To make matters worse, in just two short months, I will be leaving Willa behind for the first time, as I travel to L.A. for several days of market. And there's one more thing... I am still breastfeeding, and this upcoming trip will also bring the dreaded, yet inevitable end to that!

It's certainly not anything that I can't handle. In fact, I feel better already. This venting has cleared my head and I feel like blogging again. You'll be hearing from me soon, with optimism...and new pictures of Willa!

Look Who's Walking!

The photos speak for themselves...Willa's walking! It didn't happen overnight like everybody said it would. She has been taking a few steps here and there over the last month. But as of today, she has given up crawling. The photos were taken today as she was strutting her stuff out in front of the shop. The adorable dress was a handmade, custom-designed birthday present from my friend, Sondra. She is so creative and talented, and always knows just what I like...I mean, what Willa likes. Check out her Etsy shop and buy a piece or two.

There's more...Willa has also mastered a couple of signs, 'milk', and 'all done.' Finally. Mastered. It is the coolest thing I've seen her do yet. I am so glad I stuck with it, because the ability to communicate clearly with a one year old child is nothing short of amazing. They say that once a baby picks up a couple of signs and begins to grasp the cause and effect factor, the other signs will follow quickly and easily. We'll see about that. For now, I'm just signing and talking and reinforcing by meeting her every non-verbal request. I'm going to try to get a video of her doing it, because words can not do it justice. Her gestures are perfectly precise, sharp, and intentional. And it is precious!

I have tried reading to Willa off and on, since her birth, but she has had no interest in it and doesn't sit still for five seconds. But lately, she has become fascinated by books and loves to leaf through them. So I have started reading her a story most nights before bed. She points at the illustrations and turns the pages for me. She still has a pretty short attention span, but we get further and further through them each time. Today, she was playing with a little board book while I was drinking my morning coffee, and she brought it to me and handed it over as if she wanted me to read it to her. I sat her next to me on the couch and read the whole thing. (All four pages.) We're making progress.

She seems to have "Mama" and "Dada" down. She points to the door after Sean leaves and says "Dada," for instance. She says "hot," (but that's old news) and meows when she spies the cat. Today, she pointed to a dog and said "dot" and "woof-woof." And my mom swears Willa repeated the words, "Alli" and "diaper." I don't know about that...I'm sure she's a prodigy, but still, I'm going to have to hear those for myself.

She LOVES bracelets and plays with them all of the time. I have a whole bunch of bangles in the bottom drawer of my bathroom, the one we allow her to rifle through. She puts two or three of them on and wears them around the house. Could this mean that she's becoming girly? Oh, I hope so!

But her favorite thing of all is dancing! Who would have thought that my greatest fear would be my daughter's greatest passion. Nothing really surprises me anymore. She dances to every beat she hears, even the beat of the washing machine. I'll try to get a video of this, too. It is hilarious.

An Austin Playdate

On Wednesday, Willa and I made an impromptu little trip to Austin for lunch and a playdate with Jenifer and Reyn. Sondra and Chloe met up with us for a little while, too. It was so much fun and a great escape from the routine. I don't know why we don't do this more often.