Yakity Yak

I have had a most fantastically busy week. Yesterday was particularly fun, because I socialized ALLL day :) Emily and I went and visited a friend of mine from college who was in town for a short time, and had a little playdate with her 18-month-old son. He was giving the terrible two's a trial run, so I don't think he had that much fun, but it was sure fun to catch up and chat about his little sibling on the way, and life as a part-time-working mom. J - come to town anytime! :D

Then I went to work, and I had one of those days where I got to talk to lots of co-workers, and technically they were mostly work-related conversations but it was fun to have a chatty day. Some days, I don't talk to anybody at all, so it was pretty fun. I've got some fun coworkers.

When I got home, my parents showed up at my house, and I made dinner for them and Emily. Then, I was off to girls' night, and I talked and laughed until after 10:00. It was fantastic, just to have a whole conversation and sit and laugh, knowing my daughter was safe and sleeping, and I could have a little bit of wine and not have to suffer the consequences in the morning. It was really, really great. I SO needed that! Travis had been really supportive in me finding time to have social time with my girlfriends, and he was genuinely disappointed when we put it together that he'd be out of town all week. It was great that my parents came down and helped me out. It's a long drive to babysit for one night, but they had so much fun with Emily that they said it was worth it. That, and they got a lot done in Des Moines and Ames when they weren't with me and Emily.

So, yes, Trav has been gone all week, leaving for work on Monday and heading to Moline with his coworkers until Friday after work. it's a little lonely without him, but I actually feel like I have company with Emily around. She's a good little buddy :) Her favorite thing now is pointing at things she's interested in: the butterfly print hanging on the wall, her red wagon, her milk, her tractor. It's so fun that she can communicate with me now! Especially since she doesn't know the word NO yet... and i am not looking forward to that day. She isn't walking yet, either, and I'm fine with that too because I can see that it's not for lack of balance (she stands really well on her own) or coordination (she walks all over the place if she's pushing a cart). And she's a lot easier to keep up with on all fours instead of two!