catch-up

We've been busy! Here's an update on all that's going on.

We're getting organized and prioritizing.

I kicked it off by going through my closet and drawers to get rid of everything that didn't fit or was ugly. When it was all said and done, I purged 4 large trashcan-sized bags of clothes. Some I took to the Buffalo Exchange for some cash and the rest went to Goodwill. I couldn't believe I still had thong underwear in the back of one of my drawers. I hardly wore it before and I'm certainly not going to wear it now!
Matt did his part by finding a box of socks in the attic and pitching half of the stained or holey socks. He also (with a LOT of help) purged paper. Bills and receipts from 2003 no longer need to be kept! He just loves to reminisce about the past. Before throwing the bill away, he had to tell me all about the dinner that was charged. He's still holding onto letters that he wrote via telegram from when we was at sea.
We're writing down the projects on post-its and posting them on the mirror in the bathroom. I know it's not the best to look at, but it keeps us focused.

I joined a gym! I'm the same weigh that I was when I came home from the hospital, nearly a year ago. Poor Penny and I have gained weight because we don't go running together anymore. Penny's on her own now (however, Matt walks her). I'm working on getting a routine for exercising before work but it's a challenge to coordinate it all with Bella, clothes, towel, toiletries and shoes. I've forgotten one of these things (not Bella) at least once which was frustrating. The semester officially starts tomorrow so I can't walk around barefoot or in running shoes anymore.

Bella is an ergo baby! I bought an ergo baby carrier and Bella loves it. It's much easier on my hand when she's strapped to me.

I have dequervain's tenosynovitis, which is an inflammation of the sheath of the tendon in my left hand/thumb/wrist. It is really painful and has been going on for while. I just thought I was carrying Bella too much, but I'm not. I get to go to a physical therapist to work on it and a hand surgeon after that (no surgery, just a steroid shot).

Bella's latest is to play peek-a-boo. She doesn't completely hide herself, just her own eyes. It reminds me of a moose hiding behind a tree (a moose it too big to hide itself behind a tree!). Anyway, she covers her eyes either with her hands or a toy, then *surprise*, she moves her hand or toy away and laughs and laughs. You don't even have to react because she'll still laugh hysterically. Of course, it much more fun if you play along. Her laughter is contagious. It's such a full laugh - I love it!

My laptop died...peacefully in it's sleep. It just won't turn on anymore. We're going to get some professional help to get it to turn on one last time to back up all the pictures, then we'll bury it. I'm not terribly bothered by it since Matt has 3 laptops and one netbook...except that they are all old and not mine.