i.n.d.e.p.e.n.d.e.n.t.

I haven't taken much time to really blog other than post pictures. It might be because we've been so busy or it might be because as I find out about more and more people who read our blog, I get a little more nervous to write anything. We just moved to a new town and I'd like to give it some time before others find out how dorky we are over at our house. But I guess it is inevitable...

Enjoying some blue skies while lying on the driveway. Very therapeutic.

What I really want to talk about is little thing called residency.

Residency STINKS! People warned me but the preparation doesn't make it much easier. I try not to complain often (or maybe I do?) because I know that in the giant rank of world problems, having a husband who works a lot might not even make the list. But lest our family ever forget this time period in our lives, it should be noted that Andrew leaves for work not much after 6am and gets home on AVERAGE between 8 and 9pm (but last night, it was 10) which is when he sifts through masses of emails while trying not to fall asleep. We should enjoy this schedule because he has weekends free [cough] which is when he studies at the library. In January, he starts taking call shifts and some of those weekends will be taken as well.

Okay, it feels so much better to just lay that out there. Pity us for 5 seconds please. Now you can tell me about all the single parents who run the show solo all day, everyday. Or the army wives or husbands whose spouses are deployed. Or the people who would be ecstatic for their spouse to have any job and especially one they love. Now I feel so sheepish.

On the bright side, this is a tremendous opportunity for me to take on some more responsibility and independence, and to tell you the truth, that feels great. Like when I mowed the lawn yesterday or tried to fix the air conditioner by myself (unsuccessfully, but now I know a lot about air conditioners). There are so many times when I would like to consult Andrew for his advice/opinion or would love for him to deal with a problem that is not really in my realm of expertise. But I usually can't do that and I think he is so relieved when I take care of something without him ever having the stress of thinking about it. For someone like me who doesn't particularly like making decisions by myself or wearing the pants in the family, this has been like trying on a flattering pair of skinny jeans and deciding to switch over. Not that I'm running the show totally alone or anything. I'm just a little outside my comfort zone and that is probably a good thing.

The other bright side is that Andrew really does love what he is doing and where he is doing it. So all is good.

Next week I get to strip paint off the deck and refinish it all by my lonesome. Ain't no thang!

This little man and his brother make holding down the fort much more fun.