We moved!
We have been talking about moving for a while. The tiny, tiny two bedroom house we were renting in Morro Bay for the last couple years was perfect for us in the beginning. We didn't have much when we married, but we quickly grew into our new home and managed to fill it up to the brim with our own sense of style and charm. Then, with the expectation of a baby on the way, we realized there wasn't any room left for a third and all that comes with a little one. We tried to find a place in San Luis Obispo, closer for both of us to work, but there was nothing to be found to suit us. I did fall in love with a nice condo in SLO, but when I told the owner we were expecting a baby, she said we were not what she was looking for. So I called HUD and reported her for discrimination! Ha ha!
Then, on the way to visit Natalie's parents one night, who lived about forty minutes away, I decided to take us by a house I saw in the classifieds. It was half-way between our house and theirs, and the same distance to SLO we were already used to. It was perfect, so here we are! A nice, big three bedroom, two bath house in the middle of an apple farm in Templeton! Out in the country where it is so peaceful.
The only thing I can't seem to adjust to is the lack of broadband availability. I've been so spoiled with having a high-speed internet connectionfor the last five years, going back to dialup is ruining the internet for me! Our only alternative is satellite (we had to get DirecTV, too) but I don't want to spend $100 a month for internet access.
Promotion
Natalie came across a company memo for a position we think would be perfect for her. Right now, she is General Manager for Denny's. It took some convincing for her to take this job in the first place, its not what she wanted to do after getting her Bachelors Degree in English, Minor in business, and a Degree in Culinary Arts ala Pasadena School of Culinary Arts' Le Cordon Bleu program. You don't usually spend $50,000 on an education to work in a Denny's restaurant. But it was a necessary step on the corporate ladder. Now, a regional training position (She loves to train) has opened up covering from Morgan Hill to Long Beach (California) and all of Utah. Its 40% travel, but she can work from home, which would be good for the baby. My schedule is pretty flexible, so I can be home when she is traveling, and her parents are only 15 minutes away.
She had a phone interview a couple weeks ago which went well. Now, she has a panel interview on December 10 where she'll have to give a five minute presentation on something other than Denny's. What could she tell them about the company they don't already know? So, she's going to teach them how to make perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies! Samples included, do you think bribery will work?
D-Day
The date of determination was not as expected. We weren't able to get the ultrasound done that day, but rather a couple weeks thereafter. But it was an AWESOME experience. Watching the little one moving around inside Natalie's belly was cool.
Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for...
It's a BOY!!!
As the ultrasound technician was explaining she would try to determine the sex of the baby for us, POP, clear as day, there he was, proudly showing off his manhood. No shame, just like his daddy. "Okay, don't get too excited, that could be the umbilical cord." POP, there he is again, and again. He must have been happy to see us!
Now we get to start buying baby furniture and decorating his new room!
Some friends of mine have just had their first child, too. Makoto and Sydney Takigawa have brought to life little Kai Ethan Takigawa, a boy born November 15.
Congratulations to the DoSyd!!
There's so much more, but I'll save it for other blogs!
Wish her luck, think good thoughts, and keep us in your prayers!
