Officially A Lawyer!

The event happened over 2 weeks ago, but between problems with a worn-out computer and house issues, I am just now finally getting this posted. I had the oppurtunity to go with Chris to his swearing in ceremony to the Bar. He was accepted and sworn in, took the oath, and it is now official. We attended it at the Civic Center and the newest partner from the firm was there to make a motion for his acceptance. Another new hiree like Chris was there from his firm as well. Kind of funny, but his wife's name is Carrie, too. Sounded funny when they introduced us all together.

It was somewhat of a lengthy ceremony, and we left Hadley with a friend. Sounds ridiculous, but it felt a bit like a date. We were all dressed nice, and as we got in the car to go there and walked in the building together, I thought, 'Wow, this is the closest thing to a date that we have had in a long long time.' Kind of pathetic, I know. But when you move to a new place it is hard to find a sitter. Anyways, it was nice to spend the morning with Chris, and it was relaxing to just sit in a chair for a while and listen.

Going to the Fair!

Today Hadley and I went to the New Mexico State Fair. It turned out to be just the two of us, but we had fun. We left in the morning before it got too hot, and we left in time to get her back for her nap. We enjoyed some lemonade and grilled corn (although I put too much cayenne papper on it). No worries, Hadley didn't eat the corn.

Do you see her little Deputy sticker? The police officers gave it to her and she actually kept it on all day!

She liked the horses, and reached forward to touch them, but then would pull away at the last minute. She had a lot of fun at the McDonald's Farm, a little fake farm geared for really young children. She got a basket and was able to 'gather' some eggs and 'pick' some vegetables and fruits. We put her basket down while she got to ride a tractor toy and someone took her basket. I think it was a mistake. I saw the girl toddler and her mom walking off with it in the distance, but thought, 'Oh well. We will finish without it.' Hadley got to sit on a tractor and a wooden horse that was wearing a real saddle. She liked seeing the fake sheep, and mostly just running around grabbing all the fake veggies. She did enjoy the apples that they gave them upon exiting.

She really liked the petting zoo, which took me seriously like 45 minutes to find. And it is not that big of a fair. But they had no signs and no one gave me a map when I walked in. Hadley was getting grumpy by then, but I knew she would enjoy it so we were determined to find it. She actually held out her hand and fed the goats, and she tried to bleat like them, which I was thrilled to hear because every animal she sees she thinks is a dog. She yells out, 'DOGGIE!' and then barks repeatedly. So this was the first animal sound I have heard besides a bark from her.

I think she had a fun day, and even though I only had her to talk to, I had fun with it being just my girl and me.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a nice Labor Day Weekend. Our friend, Roberto, came in from Houston to visit. We had a nice picnic with delicious Boston Market Food and felt like a nap afterwards. But we forced ourselves on a lovely hike instead. You would never know it was New Mexico when you get up into these mountains. Hadley had fun during the picnic trying to run away and invade other peoples' picnics. She enjoyed the dirt, and I lost count of how many times we had to fish pebbles and acorns out of her mouth. She fussed quite a bit in the backpack, so almost the entire way down Chris and I took turns just holding her in our arms. But we still had fun!Can you believe this is New Mexico?! Not what used to come to my mind. And it is really pretty close to where we live!

Chris and his friends had a guys night out, had a baby-free hike, and we all got a bit of relaxing in as well. As for our life, we are still house-hunting, and getting more discouraged every day. Chris got news that he passed the bar, and I must brag a bit...he did exceptionally well! I finally found a soccer team to join that plays during the week. Seems that Sunday is a popular day to play, and I told my friends I could play anyday but that one. I am planning on joining a craft fair in October, and am hoping to sell a lot of my etsy shop items there, so I try to sew when I get the chance.

As for Hadley updates, she is almost 17 months. For a while I felt like she was speaking new words a lot- every few days, but it seems to have slowed a little. She said 'up' today when she wanted down- is that really progress? But she also says 'ball' now, and she runs around the house with my soccer ball throwing it down, picking it up, and actually kicking it around too. She thinks it is really funny when I dribble it around her, and she tries to get it away from me. Tonight she really pulled a new one...she was coughing like crazy in her crib and I went in to check on her and she stood up, giggled, and reached for me to let her out. I laid her back down and left and the coughing started up again. Can you say manipulative?