Living La Vida De Keri and Sammy...: July 2014

-A non-Ian Post-

As I wrote in my last blog post, I was laid off from Bally Technologies. I worked there for over 1.5 years and was recruited to work there. Well, let's just say it didn't work out. I really enjoyed being back in gaming, but what I found was the same frustrations there were at IGT. Maybe slightly worse. The "good ol' boys club", the "don't speak up too much about moving forward because we are comfortable where we are". What frustrated me the most is that I feel like I might have reverted backwards. I was hungry when I came to Bally, I was excited. I left a really good job/contract with Microsoft, I was working for a great vendor. But I felt that being a Business Analyst would give me the opportunity to grow even more. But in the end, it took a lot of wind out of my sails. The day I was laid off (day after my birthday), I was upset, but not because of loosing the job, it was because I was worried about the effect it may have on Ian's routine (OK SO I GUESS I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID "NON-IAN POST") as well as not being able to contribute and leaving all the stress on Sam.

When I found out I was pregnant with Ian, I made a promise that I would not let my tiredness, my bloated feet or cravings effect my work, and in all honesty, I don't think I did. I worked my butt off up until the very last day. But the day I got back, it was one of the hardest days I have ever had in my life. The feeling of not wanting to be there was so enormous that I couldn't even tell you what I worked on that day. I can tell you though, I had my annual review. What a stupid idea that was to do to someone that is emotionally drained. It took everything in my being to not stand up tell them to go where the sun don't shine and walk out. The last four months were really hard, I was put in a position of not really wanting to be there and I think a lot of it was because of the review.

Then the other day, I saw this Ted Talks. I had seen this one before but it really spoke to me more now than it did then. Here is a women (Sheryl Sandberg) who knows what it's like to work in a mans work force. A women who like me had to return back to work after having her first baby (and then second). She really does an amazing job in this talk and I will continue to remind myself that I kick ass and that anyone that I work with or for is lucky to have me!

Link to Sheryl Sandberg's Ted Talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18uDutylDa4#t=893

Yesterday was Ian's 7th month birthday! This month was full of milestones and tons of activities!

Stats at his 6th month visit on June 25 (my birthday)
Weight: 17lbs 13oz
Height: 27.5 inches
Head: 17 3/8 inches

This month was very busy for the little guy but he took it in stride. He is still enjoying my cooking! Thankfully Ian is a great eater and giving him foods has not been a problem. I will say that he likes to have his foods mixed with other foods (peas with carrots). I can't say I blame him, eating just peas sounds boring to me too.

He is sitting up on his own for long periods of time. It's been really nice to be able to have him sit on our laps and not have to constantly hold him. He loves to sit on his play mat and reach for his toys. He has rolled over a few times but he still get a little confused to where his arm should go. He does get a little frustrated when he can't seem to figure it out, but I keep telling him that he knows how to do it, so just roll over. :) We officially have TWO teeth! And right now we are working on another one (I think the canine). It's messed with our sleeping through the night but the last couple of nights he seems to be back into his habit (THANK GOD!).

I think Sam had a nice Father's day. We went on a nice hike half way up to Mount Rose using the hiking backpack that my mom and dad gave Sam for Christmas. Ian fits perfect in it and seems very comfortable....He did fall asleep on the way down. :) Everyone on the trail was wishing Sam a Happy Father's day, it was really nice.

We went and visited his great-grandmother (Baba Sophie) and his Uncle Steve, Auntie Sus and cousin Connor a few weeks ago. It was a quick visit filled with lots of comings and goings but it was really nice to be around everyone. Susie is due really any minute with Baby #2 so it was the calm before the storm. :)

This last weekend, Steve, Susie and Connor came to Reno to visit. On Saturday we all took the train from Reno to Truckee. Sam met us up in Truckee with our NEW (perfect timing eh?) car and we drove to the lake. It was so much fun and I cannot wait to take the train again in the winter time when there is snow in the mountains.

Updates with me, well, I'm looking for a job again! I was let go from Bally the day after my birthday. It was not really a surprise because my work load was really diminishing but at the same time, I was really upset that they would do something like that to me after really only being back at work for 4 months. They gave me a nice severance package and I'm already working on some of my contacts to see about picking something up really soon. It's been a little internal battle because the sound of being able to spend time with Ian is very tempting, but in all honesty, it isn't good for him or me. He does so well at the daycare, he has an amazing schedule, and Ian is very social. I think if he had to hang out with me every single day, he wouldn't be happy. I wouldn't be happy because I too need to be around other people. I have played with the idea of consulting, I have so much experience that I think I would be able to help people out that really need to focus on business needs of their own, but it also scares me because I really don't know where to begin with that.

Sam is doing really well. Working hard as usual. He still has overnight trips but unlike last summer, he is usually only gone one night out of the week. We are hoping to go to Edmonton sometime at the end of this summer. It's now just a little bit more complicated because of my situation. But I would really like Ian to meet his Grandfather Harold. We would also like to see the rest of Sam's family, especially Ben! Ben was so great to Ian when they came up to Reno for Christmas. I am really excited to see how Ian interacts with him.

We haven't done much with or to the house lately. We had been and still plan on updating the bathroom but the two quotes we got were just out of budget we had originally planned so now we will need to save up a bit of money and do it maybe in the spring. I do have plans to paint the cabinets in the kitchen. I'm looking forward to that because I think it will really spark up that kitchen!

Here are few pictures from this past month!