Today is one of those happy “anniversary” days. One year ago today, we went to the OB and saw Anna for the first time on the ultrasound. She was this tiny little peanut-looking thing, with a tiny little light pulsing in the middle—her beating heart! And so this baby became more than a blue line on a pregnancy test; we knew for sure that there really was a baby in there, we spread the news to our friends and family, and the adventure began.

Unfortunately, what should have been a joyful day was derailed by another event—we had to take our sweet Sasha to a specialist veterinarian in Little Rock because she has cancer. We found out yesterday that a growth which was removed from her tongue last week, and thought to be benign, was actually a malignant melanoma. Up until just a few short years ago, malignant melanoma in dogs was almost certainly a death sentence. But now, caught early enough, it responds remarkably well to a new type of vaccine. The doctor thinks that Sasha’s cancer was caught very early; she didn’t feel any enlargement in the lymph nodes, and her chest x-ray was clean. So she thinks Sasha is a perfect candidate for this treatment. We are going ahead with it, but it takes a few months to work, so we have to endure a bit of anxious waiting before we know if she’s going to be ok. Fortunately, unlike chemo, this treatment has no side effects. Sasha’s a tough little dog; she’s gotten through a lot already, and I hope she’ll get through this too.

Next July 31, I want to celebrate both of their lives.

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… of my budding musician! She even knows to put it in her mouth—she’s a genius! (What, you say it’s because babies put everything in their mouths? Nah. It’s because she’s a musical prodigy.)

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The Clarke Meg Pennywhistle.

When I first started playing pennywhistle in 2003, the Clarke Meg was just 3 dollars. It is still just 3 dollars. It’s hard to believe.  I’m probably about to order a bundle; I always put them in my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and I like to keep some on hand for people who are interested in starting whistling.

So I’ll take this opportunity to make a plug for the humble pennywhistle. If you already know a bit about music and would like to branch out, you should try pennywhistle. If you know nothing at all about music and would like to start playing an instrument, you should try pennywhistle. If you think you have no musical ability whatsoever and there’s no way you could ever play an instrument, you should try pennywhistle. You don’t have to read music and you don’t have to put in long hours of practice; just keep it handy and pick it up and toot on it.

At 3 bucks, you haven’t got much to lose. You can’t even buy a gallon of gas for that!

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…and Anna is 4 months old today!

She already knows her colors, of course:

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I think Anna is learning how to splash in the bathtub—on purpose! Up until now, she has just wiggled around and made a splash or two at random. But last night, she pulled her little legs toward her like a froggy and then came down with a big splash. I laughed. She looked at me, then slowly raised her legs again… splash! I laughed. She smiled. Then she did it again… splash!…I laughed again, and she let out a little mini-giggle.

It’s so much fun to see those little wheels turning in her brain and see her learn something new, even if it is just splashing mommy in the bathtub. I know that one day it won’t be quite as cute and I will get very wet and possibly a little annoyed, but right now it’s adorable!

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… and I just wanted to get Anna’s picture in it before she outgrows it. That is all.

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… sleep?

Nah, just kidding. Actually, I have a question for the moms about getting stuff done.

I’ve almost figured out how to fit in the “regular”chores (stuff that needs to be done on a daily or weekly basis). I don’t exactly do Flylady to the letter, but I like some of her methods, namely the ones about having routines. I try to have a morning routine that includes stuff like making up the bed, putting away clean dishes, putting away my stuff in the bathroom and wiping around the faucets, etc. Then I try every day during Anna’s naps to do something that needs to be done weekly, like various cleaning chores and laundry (such as bathrooms on Monday, bedroom on Tuesday, etc.) I haven’t ever actually gotten all this done in a week, but it’s a start. Oh, and I exercise, which also has to be done during nap time.

What I haven’t figured out is how to fit in “irregular” chores. For instance, I do have time to put away the dishes, but I don’t have time to clean out the tupperware cabinet so I don’t have an avalanche when I try to put away said dishes. I do have time to vacuum and dust the bedroom, but I have to work around that pile of stuff on my desk that I don’t have time to sort through and figure out what to do with. And anything outside the house—the garage, the flower beds, the car—forget it!

So, moms of little ones, what works for you? Any tips? Things you’ve tried that have worked or not worked? I know I’ll have to figure this out myself, but I’m looking for ideas here. And I have only one kid and no job; most of you have multiple kids and at least a part-time job! I can’t imagine how overwhelming that is.

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Last night we got to visit with my college friend Diana, her husband Tom, and their three boys. We all convened at my parents’ house and had dinner out there. It was the first time they had seen Anna, and the first time I had seen her younger two boys. (They live in the DC area now and don’t make it down this way too often, understandably!)

I took my camera and soon discovered how hard it is to photograph three active boys! (Becké and Anna W, y’all have quite a task!) Most of them were blurry. I got one of all three together, or at least the tops of their heads:

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I exercised six days this week! Jogging twice, step aerobics video twice, toning video twice. If I could just keep that up for a few weeks, I would probably see a big difference in how I look and feel.

I think I deserve a slice of that leftover lemon pie in the fridge!

Oh bother.

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David, Anna, and I traveled to Tulsa this weekend for my niece Addison’s first birthday party. (Sasha had to stay behind, but she had rather nice accommodations.) Happy birthday, Sweetie!

Addie had her own little cake to get into!

She got lots of presents that make lots of noise. (We, however, did not get her anything that makes noise. Andy and Jennie, remember that when Anna turns 1! )

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