Change is Good

Wow.  So much has happened since my last update.  Things can get so busy around here that I forget to blog, but I wanted to give a quick update on what is going on in the Lankster household.

• Lilly.  She is growing SO quickly.  She is finally in 6-9 month clothes, which is great since she is 8 months old!  Lilly is sitting up by herself.  She is (almost) crawling - she can get up on all fours and sway back and forth.  She can also propel herself forward as well, but she can't put it all together to make it across the room.  I give her about a week!  In addition, she is starting to say "ba ba" and we are competing for the next words to be "ma ma" or "da da."  I think I am losing that battle though, because she LOVES her daddy!  She is also starting to mock us - she loves shaking her head "no," particularly when she is eating (what a mess!).  Although she has quite a bit of stranger anxiety, she really is a pretty friendly little girl and very laid back.  She is sleeping well and is growing like a weed.  With the medications all ironed out (for now), I think she is doing really well!
• Olivia.  Olivia is getting ready to start preschool!  Are you kidding me - she can't be that old!  She starts preschool next Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and she is VERY excited.  She picked out her backpack all by herself and she can't wait to go to school and meet some friends.  Olivia is also attending a weekly Funny Bugs/Wiggle Worms class at the Little Gym on Richmond Road.  While her transition was difficult - she probably cried through the first 3-4 classes - she has finally become acclimated and participates with the other kids.  She is always talking about how much she enjoys the class and she tries so hard (although she doesn't have much coordination - my daughter?  Never.)  I am very proud of her.  
• Me.  Yes, I do have an update on myself.  I am no longer practicing with Stites & Harbison.  As of a week ago, I started as a _____ with the court system. _________ ?  Yeah, I know what you are thinking.  I spent 6 years as a torts and insurance defense lawyer and decided to try something new.  Without billable hours.  This opportunity arose and I seized on it.  I have been working for ____________ for about a week and a half now and although I am struggling to catch up, I love it.  The issues are interesting, the people are great, and I can do what a love - researching, reading, and writing - without the weight of billable hours on my shoulders.  The job, unfortunately, is temporary, but it gives me a chance to try something new and rejuvenate my career while still finding time to spend with my family.  In the end, it just became too hard to juggle private practice and my life at home.  I was beaten down - so I am very excited to be given a new opportunity to hopefully better find that balance.

Well, that is us in a nutshell.  A lot happening in a such a short amount of time.  Enjoy some of the new pictures!

Olivia on the beams at Funny Bugs/Wiggle Worms class...

Going to the next station...

She loves her teacher, Ms. Ashley...

Showing off for Daddy and Uncle Chris!

So proud to get her red ribbon for trying so hard!

This girl is going to be crawling soon! 

(and as you can tell from the bib, our spitting up issue

 has never resolved.  Oh well.)

Sitting up all by herself!

(Oh, and for anyone who is curious, we called a wildlife refuge and sent our rabbits to a better, safer place to grow up.  Jake and Maggie were never going to give up!)