Starting the new job - July 13 - August 8

So we made it back to Bartlesville in one piece. Clint started his first real job after 23 years of schooling. Fortunately he really likes it. It is great to be at home together as a family working on creating a somewhat normal life. The first weekend we needed some major marriage maintenance. We had been apart for 3 weeks and then had some not so nice moments in the mountains. So Clint and I dropped baby off at Grandma’s and planned a romantic getaway in Tulsa . We got a couple’s massage at a spa, a suite at the Ambassador hotel and ate dinner at the Polo Grill. It was Sawyer’s first night with a non-parent. I think he was ridiculously spoiled while we were getting ridiculously spoiled. So everyone was happy. But since then we went to the lake, spent a weekend in Stillwater , and started working out again (it has been 11 months for me ugh). One of the best things is Clint and I spend a lot more time together. We also work about 2 miles apart. We grab a picnic in the park a few times a week and have a real lunch date once a week. I know we are cheesy and here is my confession. We decided to try every restaurant in B’ville. Not that big of a challenge. So on our lunch date we have to try someplace new. We then rate the restaurant 1-5 french fries. If you ever need restaurant advice in the thriving metropolis of Bartlesville, OK come to us!

Sawyer is growing like the weeds in our front yard (I have to keep apologizing to the neighbors because we haven't gotten to it yet.) He is not walking yet, but he is very close. He also is into copying me. It is so cute. He is into everything. He can't do anything though without a wooden spoon in his hand. It is hilarious. On the somber note Heather left August 5th and we had to start day care. My heart rips into two every morning. He is right across the street from my office so I can check on him regularly throughout the day. I think I annoy his teachers, but it is worth it to me. He seems to be having fun. Everyone says it is the hardest on the mommy. We will see how long I make it . . .

Colorado (July 2 - July 13)

I am going to do another post later of pictures of the cabin. I don’t want to brag or anything, but it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Clint, Doug and the crew have done an amazing job. To be honest I am speechless.

Our week in Colorado was not the best week. I am just going to be honest for the sake of history. Here’s a little summary. I got to see Clint for the first time in 3 weeks – good/bad (I’ll explain later). I got to see my friend Kaitlin’s new house in Denver and eat dinner with her – great. Sawyer had his second cold ever which started the day we left – bad. Sawyer was cutting teeth – horrible. We went to Breckenridge – good. We went to some of our friend’s wedding – great! My husband was a workaholic on the cabin so I didn’t see him when we were up in the mountains—bad. He was grumpy because all he wanted to do was work – bad. The outhouse on the side of the mountain and a crawler was a little tricky to maneuver – bad. We didn’t have any emergency room visits – good. We did get in one great hike while we were up there – good. We blew a tire leaving town – bad. We didn’t blow the entire engine like last summer – good.

All in all it will be nice to get the cabin mostly built. Ok honestly it will never be done, but I have made it a requirement for my husband to have a better work/play balance when we are up there, but trying to tell Clint what to do is like trying to predict the weather in Oklahoma.

Clint Is Still Gone - (June 21 - JuLy 1)

So I am trying to catch up on the blog. Our life appears to get more complicated with every day. But back to the beginning of the summer . . . Through a series of unique circumstance (which I believe were ordained by God) I found out one of my high school friends, Andrew, lives here in Bartlesville . We haven’t talked since high school so it was great to get reunited. Andrew’s new girlfriend (they were set up via facebook) was planning on coming to Bartlesville to spend the summer getting to know each other better not using Skype. I included the note about their internet relationship because they are the two last people in the world who ever expected to meet someone that way. It makes their story even more cute. Heather is a kindergarten teacher in Midland and needed a job for the summer. It was perfect. She watched Sawyer all summer. She even lived with me while Clint was gone. Sawyer loved Heather and we will miss her greatly now that she is gone. But she and Andrew fell in love over the summer and hopefully she will be moving to Bartlesville next summer!

I went to the lake and I spent a lot of time working on the house. Unfortunately we are still not decorating/painting/remodeling yet. We are still trying to get the house clean, deodorized, organized, spider free, . . . My parents spent a weekend busting their @#$% and we still have a way to go. But I will have to admit it felt a lot homier for Clint’s return.

But the highlight of the three weeks of being by myself was having lots of time with my baby. Sawyer and I really got to have good quality time together. He is such a love. Sawyer had not been talking at all (only the little aaahhh babies say) and the doctor was slightly concerned. On my birthday I was very grumpy. I was alone and Sawyer woke me up at 5:45 a.m. So I was getting ready in the morning feeling sorry for myself with a fussy baby. He crawled over to me, grabbed my leg, looked up at me with those big chocolate brown eyes, and said MaMa! Yes his first word ever was mama on my birthday. I couldn’t believe it. And it wasn’t babbling. He was calling me by my name. Now he says all kind of stuff. His favorite word right now is Dada and Heidi. Unfortunately I am no longer MaMa, but MMMMM. So that made my birthday, actually my year. It was extra redeemed by the fact that some of my favorite people in the world came to stay with me. Julie, Shepherd (one of the prettiest boys I have ever seen), and Ashley came to help me celebrate since Clint was gone.