Life changing

Woah. Something life changing is happening to me next week. I’m cutting my work hours down to 2 days in the office, mixed with a few hours at home each week and a few nights a month at work. I’m extremely excited about this. The situation has it’s pros and cons as all do, but I’ve been wanting to do something like this, for oh, about two years in March! Here’s what I think about it.

Pros:

1. More time with Ella

2. Less driving. Yay! And maybe I’ll avoid some of those treachorous wintery roads that make my drive to work like an hour. Boo.

3. More time at home. Maybe I’ll finally get around to dusting. Maybe.

4. More time to do other stuff. I have been a neglecting granddaughter and now it will be no problem to shoot over and pay my grandma a visit. And you know we’ll be regulars at all Ella’s favorite places, the zoo, the libraries, It’s Playtime …

5. More freedom. I love, love, love the fact that I can do parts of my job at home. When I’m watching TV. When I’m in my pjs. When I feel like being productive. Whenever I want.

6. Less time sitting at a desk. I love computers. I do. I love the Internet. I love designing. I love organizing. I don’t love sitting at a desk for 8 hours staring at a wall and a screen. I’m craving a little more balance.

7. Can eat lunch with work-from-home hubby.

Cons

1. Less money. Of course there’s that. Who would like that? But so worth it. And I’ll probably do a little freelancing on the side …

2. I might drive Steve crazy. Poor hubby has his dream of working from home and here I am intruding. It really wouldn’t be a big deal but he works in our loft and hears everything downstairs. Must build wall. Soon.

3. Will see some people we like a lot less – my coworkers, Ella’s friends at daycare. But the beauty is that we get a little of both worlds still. We’ll still be there two days a week …

Yeah, way more pros than cons, pretty exciting.

First time sledding

Yes, Ella had a lot of firsts this weekend. Not only the haircut, but she also had her first sledding experience, and her first swim lesson, which she seemed to really enjoy. As soon as we got out of the pool she said “Mommy, swimmin again.”

Here’s a look at her first sledding adventure with cousins Finn, London and Grant at aunt Sara’s house.

It looks like it takes a team to get little Ella situated just right.

Oh my gosh, did I just send my baby flying down an icy hill?

Lazy sledders just want pulled around.

Let’s see how many we can get on one sled …

Aaaahhhh!

First haircut

Ella had her very first haircut on Saturday …

They’re going to do what now?

Gettting a little long and scraggly …

Who cares about a haircut when you have fruit snacks?

After: Rockin the new cut.

And very happy.

Ella and Daddy

I haven’t seen too many photos of my husband from when he was a child. But recently my MIL dug up some old photos and now I really know where Ella’s looks come from. Check out the similarities.

Steve’s on the right. He’s pictured with his older sister Angie and cousin Don.

I love this one. He’s on the left here. Again with sister Angie. Nice Crayola pants Ang!

With Santa, and you guessed it, sister Angie.

Now here’s a few random pictures of Ella the past few months.

On the fourth of July, with daddy. The facial expression is even similar to Steve’s in the Crayola pants photo.

On a trip in August. Her hair was becoming more blonde, just like daddy’s was.

At a pumpkin patch in October … her hair has even grown in like his, longer in the back and shorter in the front. That dreaded M- word …