Training Wheels Off

Zara has been "walking" fine for awhile but insisted on having a finger/hand/pant leg to hold onto while doing so. We've managed a couple steps at a time between handholds but that was about all. We knew if would happen that she would one day decide she was capable of walking without training wheels, really we weren't going to be walking across the high school graduation stage still holding her hand. That day was apparently yesterday. While I was making breakfast and Daddy was playing with her, she decided she doesn't need the help anymore and took off. We even thought she was walking to me before she decided her new found freedom was worth exploring and took a left and kept on going. I'm glad for this change since it might mean I have a free hand getting everything in the car in the morning.

Also, calendars only work when you put things in them since I referred to my celendar and thought the day was free. As excited as I was about finally going to book club and having finished the book, it was not on my calendar and I managed to commit to a work function and double book myself. The work function will be fun, the Women's Forum is hosting a golf outing to teach those that want to learn but have never had the chance. I am "instructing" which means I can't really skip it now that I've committed. Still want to get back to book club at some point though.

Cowgirl Up

Today I went to the Texas Conference for Women, our company buys a table and those who want to can request to go. This was my first time and several others were there including Erin and Alison who I spent the day with. It was interesting to say the least and not actually as much big hair as you'd expected. The conference covered various topics from small business to personal finance and organizing your life. The panel sessions were pretty much eh which was disappointing because the descriptions sounded good beforehand. It was also fairly annoying that at a conference for women the bulk of the expo booths were jewelery, hair products, etc. Lame and stereotypical all at once.

The best parts though were easily the keynote speakers in the morning and lunch. Format was each speaker got like 15 min and there would be like 5 at a time. Which was nice because it then covered several different topics or perspectives. The so-so speakers were some fitness person from Austin and Marion Jones, yup the Balco steroid former olympic athlete. She was supposed to be speaking about her personal journey and how difficult it is to regain trust. But she didn't really offer any insight into her personal journey or provide any actual details on HOW she is trying to regain trust. I'm sure she's been through a lot, but it wasn't all the interesting of a talk.

The BEST talks BY FAR were from three ladies in particular. First and I was surprised by this one, Judge Glenda Hatchett from the TV court show. Very interesting talk about how she became a judge and making your own story out of your life. The second was Dr. Jen Arnold a director in pediatrics at Texas Children's and star of The Little Couple on TLC speaking on her outlook on life. Sorry, don't think they are all cool for having TV shows, but they seriously had the best talks and seemed like the most genuine and intelligent women of the speakers. Lastly, Leigh Ann Touhy (as in "The Blind Side" inspiration) spoke about doing something, anything to give back and help especially kids in the community. Just a plain super engaging talk.

If nothing else it was a good day to just stop and reflect on a few things and have a good time with some ladies while doing so.

Book Discipline

...I forgot to post this earlier in the week, but Alicia's blog reminded me. I am seriously behind in books I want to read. I was actually forcing myself NOT to read The Girl Who Played with Fire for awhile because I needed to study for my Certified Systems Engineering Professional exam. I took and passed the exam last Friday the 29th which is only exciting because its done and not so much like it was really worth the cache that goes into it at work. It's also another item from my "development plan", catch the theme here. But its done, so full steam ahead reading!

I finished Fire on the flights to/from Norfolk (ok, so there is another plus to travel). But before I get wrapped up in Hornet's Nest to finish the Millennium trilogy which I really like, I need to read the book club book for the month The Stupidest Angel. I haven't gotten to go to book club for the last two months due to conflicts, so finally I get to go again. Yay, for not having a dumb exam to study for anymore to let me read!

Blotchy Blogging Baby

This week I had to head to Norfolk, VA for two days. I wasn't there for a business purpose really, but this month is my assessment at work and they take those "Development Plans" seriously. I had a training class on there that hadn't come to Houston, so off I go and headed to pretty much the only available choice to get it done before my review. Class was so-so, although there are lots of interesting people at my company and I met an a retired Admiral from the British Navy there. Funny thing is I was "cool" because I worked at NASA. But it wasn't all bad having to travel since I got to hang with Heather for dinner one night! Big thanks to her prof that gave them the night off. ;)

But I think there is a curse for moms that travel for work, this is the second time in a row Zara got sick while I was away. It started with a cold early in the week and turned into a fever on Tuesday for a couple hours when I picked her up from school early. Wednesday (the day I left) Daddy had to stay home for the mandatory 24hrs post fever daycare requires and then tried to take her back on Thursday, only to have them balk at the rash she developed and insisted on a doctors note to clear her. The rash was just sensitive skin from the remains of the cold, but didn't matter John had to spend the morning running her to the doctor and back to school for no reason. Ultimately, she was cleared, John got a little work done, Mommy got home Friday night, and we have a happy, healthy toddler on our hands again. It would be a lot easier if she would time her illnesses for when we were both home to deal with them.

Trick or Treat

Technically this was not Zara's first Halloween, but at a week old last year, there wasn't a whole lot of candy action. Growing up we always made our Halloween costumes and I figured I'd keep it up with Zara. For her first Halloween I whipped up a pretty rough starfish costume, a starfish because she used to just flail out and stretch arms and legs wide after a nap pretty much exactly like one. Our entry into costume didn't go so smoothly, the hat just made her madder so we ditched it pretty quick.

But we chilled out when we went outside and starting walking around to visit the neighbors. We trick or treated Ms. Carol all by our self even (standing only, still not walking without a handhold).


And after visiting all the neighbors we settled down in a driveway with a bunch of neighbors and gave candy away to the kids en masse while we got to talk. It works pretty well because you don't have to keep getting up answering the door and kids love it because one "house" covers like 6 of them on the street speeding their candy collection along. But while sitting there Zara had obviously figured out the whole Halloween thing as she systematically emptied our candy pumpkin into her trick or treat bag. Daddy's girl.

One-derful

Today was our baby girl's first birthday. There has been a lot of learning and growing over the past year and oh yea Zara did some that too. Our little girl has gone from being that tiny curled up ball in our arms to a happy bundle of energy. She continues to amaze us each and every day and we look forward to year 2 and continuing to grow with her.

For her birthday, we had a big (mostly adults) party with some great barbecue from Bay Area Meat Market and wonderful cake and cupcakes from Erin. Zara held up really well and loved all the people that came to visit her. Not only was today her birthday, but she has been walking holding our hand well for several weeks and this afternoon near the end of the party we even coaxed her into taking her first few steps all by herself. I believe it is truly official, we have a "toddler" on our hands!

Opening Presents:


Our first bite of birthday cake:


Having our cake and eating it too:


It's not a good party unless you are so tired you lay down under the table to rest.

Ultra-cool Urban Living

Growing up in the wonderful Pacific NW means a lot of cultural icons, Space Needle (of course), Tacoma Dome (largest wooden dome stadium), and other things like ferry systems and totem poles. One of the other buildings in Seattle that is a landmark is Smith Tower. I looked this up, but it was one of the world's first skyscrapers built in 1914 and was 6th tallest when built. But I had no idea that a remodel in 1999, turned the pyramid atop the tower was a private residence that a family lives in. Apparently, it used to have a water tank in there as most tall buildings also used to double as water towers. I think this is probably the neatest place I've ever heard of to live, especially in an urban environment. Go to the link to see the slideshow of the residence.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/10/20/garden/21WHOss.html?ref=style

Small Fry

Today was the Booz company picnic which is actually pretty good. We have a small office, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people-ish, so we have a good time and it is pretty tight. The funny thing is that over the last year we have had a gazillion baby emails sent out for everyone's new arrival, ours being one of those. So in addition to older kids, there are A LOT of 6-18month olds. We are coming up on Zara's first birthday next week, but it is kinda funny to see her around all the kids. She is the same or older than many but easily smaller. But she is ridiculously cute, so who cares. Incidentally, I only got an Honorable Mention in the dessert baking contest at the picnic today. The "winners" were the single guys that made jello shots. LOL, next time apparently, we need rules, like "must actually be baked" or some better judges. I didn't get a picture at the picnic of Zara but here's a recent one of her helping with the laundry.

Hale-storm

One of the links on this blog, over there --> that has been here for awhile is that of Wayne Hale's NASA blog. Wayne was one of the longest serving Shuttle Flight Directors and moved into program leadership and has been a big influence around the agency for years. While at NASA the last few years he kept a public, official blog with great stories and philosophizing about the agency. He retired a couple months ago and now works for a small space consulting company, but I just found out he now has a personal blog out there to continue the storytelling as he promised.

Here is the link http://waynehale.wordpress.com/. I am very excited about this blog because no longer being an official government blog, he is ...umm... more at liberty to talk frank. He generally was before, but I think it is even better now to have the shackles off.

Tour d'Houston

Last weekend my sister Mona and her husband Shaun came down for a long weekend visit. Little slow getting pictures up, but it was great to have them down and we got to have a lot of fun all weekend. They got to play with their niece a bunch and she got her first 1st birthday present. And since Shaun had not previously been to Houston, all the "Texas" things were on the agenda. In order of accomplishment, this means cream gravy at breakfast, a NASA tour, true brisket barbecue, and a purchase of cowboy boots. I think we hit all the big ones. He also requested a fried twinkie, but we told him he'd have to come back on March during the rodeo to get one.

They did enjoy the NASA tour and here we are in the Apollo Flight Control Room. Don't tell Shaun the phone doesn't go anywhere anymore.


We also went to the shuttle simulator in building 5 soon after the days run was complete. It happened my friend Lia had been filling in as pilot for the day and she let them try some of the leftover astronaut food from the day. Mona and Shaun are now experts in space food service and are ready to fly.