Plans and change

Ahhhh, September. It's almost Fall, which is by far my favorite season (I also turn 30 years old on the 25th. Holy shit). There is something about this time of year that makes me feel awake and alive. Summers here are usually hot and humid (especially this summer thanks to countless heat waves and oppressive humidity), and it just makes me feel in a fog, like I am half asleep. But Fall is crisp and cool, and I just feel... awesome. Pretty soon it will be time for apple picking, cider, hay rides and Halloween... I love it all. And I can't wait to share it with my children.

We had a really great day today. The weather was beautiful and very Fall-like. Jason and I grabbed some coffee and we took the kids for a scenic car ride around the lake so Hannah could get a much needed nap, then we headed to a really great playground in Brookfield called The Kingdom. It's a massive wooden playground, built to look like a castle. The kids had a blast, and so did we. We also went hiking on some trails there, then headed home and made lasagna for dinner. It was just a perfect day (minus the meltdown Mason had in the evening due to forgoing his nap).

Now to the homefront. So many stressful and exciting things are happening around here lately.

Jason just interviewed with a law firm in New York City that would pay him a good wage. He interviewed for 2 whole hours, and he said that he thought it went very well. We hope to hear something back sometime this week.

We are just weeks away from writing our business plan for our company. We hope to get a small business loan and really start getting the ball rolling with this. I am so excited! I have such good feelings about it, not to mention I am so proud of Jason for all he has done so far. This business (which I can't really talk a lot about for the time being) is his brainchild. He has been in this field for a while, so he knows what he is doing. This is exciting, yet very stressful. I just want to have the loan and get started with it. I am more than ready.

Speaking of jobs and money, last week I was offered a job. It sounded great. I had two different interviews there, and  everyone there seemed friendly, the office was about 5 minutes from my house... it seemed perfect, until they told me how much they would pay me. After we did the math, we realized that half of my paycheck, if not more, would go directly to child care. And it just didn't seem worth it.

Then I realized that's all I could get, especially after being out of work for 4 years.

I want a career. I don't want to work menial jobs anymore. So, I just filled out my application to the local community college. I am having my credits tranferred (I am just a few semesters away from my Associates degree--depending on what classes transfer), and I am starting in January. After I get my Associates, I will transfer to Western Connecticut State University, and I am pretty sure I am going for my BSN, then the Masters program at Yale to become a CNM. I am so excited!

Jason also finally agreed to have a third and final child. I am sure most of you know how happy this has made me. We plan to start trying again no earlier than 2012. It really depends on how finances are at the time (especially if our business takes off or tanks), how school is going, etc. But it feels really good to know we will have the 3rd child I've always dreamed of.  I am not anxious at all to wait a few years to TTC. Mason and Hannah are a handful, and I cannot imagine having another right now. If we get pregnant in 2012, Hannah would be at least 4 and Mason would be 6, if not older, when the 3rd was born-- I think that would be PERFECT. I want Mason and Hannah to get a little older, more independant, Hannah out of diapers and potty trained, before we add to our family. Not to mention I want my body to be in tip-top shape before I ever get pregnant again. I am enjoying how I look now but I would also like to lose a few more pounds, really get back into shape and enjoy it for a while before it's all gone again. A bigger age gap would also allow me to have time alone to bond with the baby. After I had Hannah, I had a hard time juggling a newborn and a toddler, and I NEVER want to go through that hell again. In fact, I have this vision of me snuggling my new baby at home, while Hannah and Mason are at school. Ahhh, heaven.

I feel this buzz of excitement in the air -- it's hard to explain -- but I just feel positive change is coming our way! The future is an open slate with so many possibilities, and I can't wait to see what will happen next!

So, that's the latest. I will definitely keep you posted!