New Job!

I am excited to announce that today I accepted a new job working full-time at Wilford Hall! For those of you not familiar with this area, Wilford Hall is a giant medical center located at Lackland Airforce base. I'll be contracting with the military, and I'm just thrilled to have a guaranteed 40 hours each week along with a steady schedule. I've decided to stay on PRN at Northeast Methodist (extra shifts=extra money=less debt!), not just for the money, but also because I absolutely love working there. We were just blessed that this opportunity literally fell into my lap.

The Whole Enchilada

No, really, that was the name of it. "The Whole Enchilada Fiesta," home of the world's largest enchilada. Jody bought us tickets to this local tradition and I must say it was quite a sight. The streets were lined with local vendors serving up all kinds of greasy food that I would liken to the Tri-State Fair, but with a New Mexico twist. There were giant corn dogs and ribbon fries, but instead of cheese on a stick there were tacos al pastor and giant chile rellenos. I'm pretty sure we spent most of Taylor's budding college fund on greaseball food! Then there was the main event, the world's largest enchilada. We weren't able to get a good viewing spot of the construction, so we checked in from time to time to take pictures. The rest of the time we had to park it in the shade because I didn't have a hat and I had forgotten how intense the sun is once you're up around the mountains. I swear my head was about to catch on fire! Once you got away from the sun it was totally bearable, but in the meantime it was torture! Since I was a total weenie about being hot we left before the tasting of the enchilada (we asked around and no one really felt it was something you HAD to stick around for, the consensus was that it was pretty mediocre in taste.).

Ok, connected to the tow truck is the tortilla press. The shiny tank to the left of the press is the giant vat of oil that they fry the tortilla in after it's pressed. Yes, those are the local firemen present to oversee and be sure this whole thing doesn't turn into a giant nasty grease fire.

In between tortillas the crew sprays the giant press with oil. They make 3 corn tortillas and layer in between them the rest of the ingredients.

Here it is getting a layer of sauce. Mmmmmmm, I can only imagine how bad for you this is!

Taylor was not exactly entertained by this whole thing the way we were!

Taylor Goes on a Trip, Again!

This past weekend Jody had a business trip in Las Cruces, NM. The original plan was that he was going out of town, I was to work all weekend, and mom and Dan were coming down to watch/spoil the baby. Well, there was a slight change in plans, and mom and Dan weren't able to make it, therefore I wasn't able to work. So, since I had no plans for the weekend other than eating cereal, Jody suggested that Taylor and I hop on a plane and come hang out with him in Las Cruces. It was a nice little getaway, complete with a local enchilada fiesta (see next post!). Taylor had her first experience in a hotel, and as usual she did great. I did stick her in bed with us for about an hour in the mornings because she would get cold in her crib. It was right by the a/c unit which would either freeze us out or not blow cold at all making it hella stuffy. We opted for the frigid choice, but that meant that poor Munkie was a popsicle by morning!

Taylor models her new hat that we got from the vendors at "The Whole Enchilada."

Dressed up for dinner, Jody said she looks like a swami in her new hat.

Jody and Taylor snoozing in the morning

Biiiiiiiiig stretch. I guess she was calling her peeps before she fell asleep ;)

Taylor showing off her new standing skills. She likes to hula.

We Are Fam-i-ly!

This weekend Taylor got to hang out with a LOT of family while we were in Dallas. Here are a few of the highlights.


Mom and Taylor - these two were joined at the hip pretty much all weekend long!


Taylor and me with aunt Jenny (she is the original Jenny, I actually shortened my name to Jenni as a kid because I wanted to be like her!)


Taylor meeting MY grandparents for the first time.


She was definitely captivated by the noises Grandpa was making for her.


Hanging out with Aunt Cella. These two are going to be trouble together!

Dallas Trip

After Dad and Deanna headed back to the WD we loaded up and headed to Dallas. Jody and Dan went for their annual hunting trip, and so I decided to go and hang out with my mom. Taylor got to experience her first airplane ride (not completely sure if it was worth the hassle of hauling all of her junk through the airport yet.....). We lucked out and she slept through the entire flight both ways, saving us from all of the people that gave us the stank-eye as they saw us boarding with an infant. But Taylor and I had a great time relaxing at "Lovie's" house, and Jody and Dan had a blast chasing after the elusive, but oh so ferocious grey squirrels of Indiana.


Sleeping happily on the first flight. The way home was a bit more of a challenge because the a/c went out on the plane.


Hamming it up for all of her aunts. As soon as the cameras come out she eats it up!


My burrito baby. See Vickie, she isn't sweating ;)


Adorable new dress from "Lovie"

More Grandparents!

Last week my dad and Deanna came to meet Ms. Taylor (I would have posted sooner, but we've been a little busy and my computer's been in the shop). We had a VERY eventful time, complete with visits to the Alamo and Market Square. And, if you ask them they will probably say that they are STILL full from all of the food we ate (what can I say, I didn't get this figure from starving myself!).



"Papa Val" meets his new grandbaby.


Taylor with Gigi (aka Deanna) and Papa Val


A new friend! I have a feeling this is the start of a long tradition of spoiling from Gigi!


After the carriage ride downtown. We were surprised to learn that apparently every stinkin' hotel down there is mega haunted.

Two Months

Today Taylor had her two month checkup, along with her first round of vaccinations. She weighs in at 12 lbs. and is 22 1/2 inches long! She is in the 50% for size and 75% for weight. Not too bad! I have to admit, I was very nervous about how she would do with her shots. Fortunately our little monkey was a total trooper. I did laugh because it took about 2-3 seconds after the needle was in for her to realize what had happened. At first I thought that just MAYBE she wasn't going to cry. Alas, I was dead wrong, once she realized that the shot hurt she screamed her little lungs out. Insensitive mommy here couldn't help but crack up because of the delayed reaction, and then the uber-surprised look on her face once she realized what was going on. Poor baby. But now we are back home and she seems to be ok so far (we'll see if that lasts once she's alone with Daddy for the night. Poor guy always manages to get her when she's crabby.).

Showing off her Care Bear socks from aunt Cella

Half grin....

So happy, poor kid didn't even see it coming that she was about to go get her little legs poked!

Hook Em Horns!

Taylor got all dressed up for her first game day. I hate to report it was anti-clamactic, the game aired on pay per view, and we were too cheap to buy it. Yes, she will be wearing orange every Saturday for the rest of the season!

Our OTHER Baby

I realize I have already posted this pic on Facebook, but I had to put it up here too. This is by far the BEST picture ever taken of Alice. It totally shows her personality! Jody and I both crack up every time we see this. It just doesn't get much better than this!

Back to Work

As you all know, I started back to work yesterday. I must admit I had a lot of dread and anxiety about dropping our baby off, as well as some fears that I wouldn't remember how to do my job. Monday evening I had a complete meltdown (bawling, feeling guilty, etc.), and I think that actually helped me to get it out of my system before the dreaded drop off yesterday morning. We got to the daycare center, and met Taylor's morning teacher. She is a retired grandmother who walks over every morning from a nearby retirement community. I think she could tell I was nervous, because she wouldn't let me really get much of a word in edgewise and kept going on and on about her grandkids and great-grandkids, and how she is eventually going to retire altogether and travel the country. By the time she was done with her spiel it was time for me to leave or else I was going to be late to work. I only had time to kiss Taylor on the head and run out the door. So, fortunately, there was no time for a sad tearful goodbye. Just an, "Oh sh*t, I'm going to be late!" Work was great, fortunately it's like riding a bike. The day was nice and busy and so the time flew by very quickly. When I returned to pick up Taylor she was hanging out in a bouncy chair that had been placed inside her crib (does that seem odd to anyone else?). The afternoon teachers said that she did very well and hardly cried at all. I'm so glad that the whole first day experience went off without much of a hitch, it really makes me feel a lot better about going back to work.