Four years.

December 30, 2005

Four years.

We started off as two college students, totally in love. Young and excited for life, unabashed and unafraid of the challenges that lay ahead. A blushing bride and eager groom.

Forty-eight months later, and we're now two college graduates, parents to a spritely little girl and a boy on the way and soon-to-be homeowners. Lightly seasoned with experience -- a little wiser, a little more cautious. More self-aware, less selfish. Version 2.0, if you will.

But still excited for life. And just as in love as ever.

Happy four years, Dilly-pie. You're my whole world.

Here's to many more.

Buying a house.

Well, we put an offer on a house and it got accepted! Wahoo. Just in time for Christmas. Which isn't necessarily a good thing, because HELLO, EVERYTHING IS CLOSED AND ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE OUT OF TOWN.

But it's OK. We'll get through it!

Hopefully the inspection goes well and all that jazz. I'm excited to have a pretty, new (to us) house and not live in a "compartment" anymore (my little cousin used to call his apartment a "compartment", which couldn't be more appropriate). I was getting a little worried about having another little person join us in this teensy space.

So. I will probably be absent as I attempt to de-clutter, pack and clean my compartment in the next few weeks. Oh yeah, did you know the seller HAS to close by the 15th of next month because it's a short sale and the approval only lasts until then? Yeah. Talk about pure craziness up in here. I'm trying to keep calm, but I think I got a little too excited yesterday and pulled a muscle in my left buttock. So that's extra fun.

Anyhoo. Maybe I'll have a fun update for you about the woes of apartment move-out while pregnant. Our first experience with that was stinking hilarious. Another story for another time. I promise I'll tell it, though.

The temperature in Provo, Utah ...

... is currently at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

That's right, 0.

The temperature in Mesa, Arizona?

41 degrees.

This is precisely why I live here.

Makin' dough.

And not just cookie dough, mind you.

A few months ago, I was talking to my friend Jae and said, "Man, I wish I could do some freelance writing work or something from home." And what do you know? She just so happens to be a freelance writer from home! I had no idea. She gave me all the info about the company she writes for and told me I should totally do it, too.

Well, I put it in the back of my mind and kind of forgot about it. Until late last month, when I realized Christmas was upon us, we were putting offers on houses and should one be accepted, we'd be flat broke, and also that I was getting bored. One can only make the perfect ginger molasses cookies so many times before feeling like something's missing from life.

So, I went and applied to be a freelance writer. Sent them some of my stuff from KPHO and my "There's no wrong way to mother your child" post from here. And they liked me, they really liked me!

I started writing on Thursday and so far, I love it. I log into the site and go through over 100 thousand titles to write about. I pick one I know something about and can research thoroughly, and then write an article for it. Submit it to a copy editor, and upon approval, get paid either $7.50 or $15.00 depending on how in-depth the article is.

It. Is. Awesome!

I can do it any time of day. I don't have to get dressed or even shower. I get a whole week to write each article so I can stop writing and tend to Bubby's needs without feeling interrupted (a week is a lot when you're used to writing news articles in 15 minutes or less). I can write as many articles as I want which means my earning potential is unlimited.

I am so happy I was led to this opportunity. I feel like I'm able to keep up my writing skills and make a little cash while staying at home with my little ones. It's perfect for me.

Oh yeah. It feels so good to be making dough of the non-fattening kind.