Work, Birthday Parties, and Big Girl Bedrooms

Where to begin??  Life has been a whirlwind lately.  If you have kept up with my blog than you know that about a month and a half ago I started a new job.  That would keep anyone busy alone, but on top of learning a new job, I had to go to a business IT course called ITIL taught by HP. Think back to college, and a semester's worth of material.  Take that, and cram it into 2 and a half days with a test on the third day.  Sounds painful, right?  This course is a big deal to my company, so I knew I had to pass.  I did, and am ITIL certified!  The next week, I took my first test of the Epic Security Coordinator certification.  As an Epic Security Analyst, I give people the security they need to do their jobs in the EHR accordingly.  It's an awesome, challenging role that I love, and I have to complete my certification by our software upgrade in September.  I passed that test with flying colors, turned my project in yesterday, and have one more test to go until I am certified.  I feel like I am accomplishing so much in my career and have never felt more proud of myself.  It is a great feeling!

My personal life has been going quite fabulous as well.  Mini turns 2 in September, so the last few weeks hubs and I have frantically (ok maybe him not frantically lol) trying to plan her birthday party.  It sounds like 2 months is plenty of time to prepare, but for two working parents it isn't so.  I knew that I wanted her party to be fun.  Her first birthday party was all about the parents and the parents' family and friends.  Selfish right?  (I've been told that my party wasn't the first of its kind ;))  This time around is going to be all about her and her friends.  We found this wonderful place called My Gym of Colleyville.  For any parents in the Colleyville/HEB area, I highly recommend you check it out!  It is a gym for little kids, and they have classes throughout the week for different age groups.  They also have set times of "Free Play" where your child can just run around and play without structured activities.  Hubs and I have been wanting Mini to join some type of play group or pre school a couple of times a week, and this is perfect for our budget and schedule!  They also do birthday parties, so we decided on the My Gym for K's 2nd birthday party.  I am stoked!

So, crib talk now.  The big debate on when your child needs to graduate from the crib to the toddler bed.  We haven't quite reached that milestone yet, nor do I want to.  I love having my sweetie safe and sound in her crib, without wondering what the heck she could be getting into!  One problem we are running into is her throwing toys between the crib and wall.  Her bed has been positioned on the corner of the wall since she was born.  I have loved it in that spot, until she started throwing her favorite blankie and Lamby behind there.  It is not fun to move a 200 lb crib back and forth at every nap time.  Instead, we decided to move it flat against one of the walls.  Another change we made to her room is the letters that hang on the wall.  My sister made fabulous letters that spell out "Kate."  That is the nickname we decided to call her before she was born.  I can count on one hand how many times I have called her "Kate."  She has always been Kathryn, Mini, Mins, or K.  My sister helped me make new letters and they turned out awesome!  We also hung her toy bag that was attached to her crib on the wall.  She became quite good at pulling out toys while she was supposed to be sleeping.  Check out her new room, and let me know what you think!  :)

I am really loving the new layout of her room.  Soon we will be changing the crib to a toddler bed, and I can no longer call this space a nursery.  Sad, but at the same time so very exciting!

Oh, did I mention she is turning 2 in September?  Eeek! :)