A lot can happen...

Well.  Okay.  Hi.

For those of you who follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you know that a lot has happened in the Parker household in the last few weeks.  In all the hoopla and craziness, I haven't really had a chance to sit down and document it all into a cohesive, comprehensible story. 

So, while I have a moment, I'll fill you in. 

In mid-January, Geoff and I made the decision that we felt it was important that we start looking for employment outside of North Dakota.  The San Francisco Bay Area, to be specific.  This is where I grew up and where my family is located.  We felt strongly that this is where we wanted to be and what would be best for Will and our family going forward. 

So, we started looking for jobs.  We determined it would be kind of a "first come, first serve" situation job-wise.  If I got a good offer, we'd go and  Geoff would keep looking and vice versa.  So, after a somewhat long interview process, I was offered a job as Manager, Customer Support with LiquidSpace, Inc the final weekend of March.  LiquidSpace is an exciting start-up based out of San Francisco and I'm thrilled be on board with such a great team. 

I put in my (short) notice with Allegiance on the 1st that my last day would be the 8th (so I could attend a quarterly conference with my new company that next week).  Geoff and I, foolishly, undertook the task of moving in 7 days.  We sold nearly everything we owned and gave away most of the rest because we opted not to bring a moving truck.  This was a good and bad idea as I really didn't care about most of my stuff enough to carry it across the country - but it's also really hard to prioritize your stuff in that way.  I flew out to California on the 9th with Will and we left Fargo.  Geoff stayed behind to finish emptying our apartment and load up the car with the belongings that were coming with us.  He then drove the 24 hours to California (with a pit stop in Utah) and joined us in California on the 12th.

We went apartment hunting that weekend and didn't find anything we could settle on.  But, I had to travel the following week for training (back to Minneapolis where winter was refusing to let go!).  So, I left while Geoff continued house-hunting and selected a three-bedroom townhouse for us in the town that I grew up in.

I came back on the 19th and we moved into our new place on the 23rd (less than a week ago!).  The place is perfect!  It's a large three bedroom that gives me room for a dedicated office (I work from home, primarily), lots of room for Will to play, and a two-car attached garage.  We are pretty much settled in now and really happy to be in such a cute town by the water (and about 20 minutes from my parents).

It's a little surreal to me to be back in the town that I grew up in (although my parents moved the year I went to college, so it's really been about 9 years since I've been back).  It's a wonderful, beautiful, safe, and happy place to be, however, and I'm very happy to be back.  

I've got lots more to share about our adventures and, especially, Mr. Will as he hits his 18-month mark.  He's a hilarious little man and the absolute light of our lives.  Here are a few pictures to catch you up, and I hope to be much more present on here going forward! 

The garage sale.  I'll miss my cute pumpkins and decorations.

Naptime at IKEA.

The sunset from a park nearby our new house.

Daddy and son being silly while out to dinner with the Gam Fam

Exploring the park nearby our house.

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Day Twenty-One: Something You're Proud Of

Something I'm Proud Of

Once upon a time, the Christmas after Mr. Will was born, Geoff bought me an acrylic paint set.  As a bit of a left-brained individual who struggles cutting a straight line with scissors, a gift centered on artistic creativity was unexpected. 

However, I'm always up for a challenge and to learn something new, so I embraced it and rolled up my sleeves.  I'm not one to be able to do abstract (impressionistic, perhaps), I had to find a photo that I could paint.  I decided on a newborn photo of the little man's feet. 

Below is the result.  I was really proud of this - and I really enjoyed doing it. I know the proportions are a bit out of whack, but it still far exceeded my expectations. I'll admit, I haven't done much since, but mostly because I'm unwilling to take on people, and I don't have a lot of photos of landscapes or other pant-able items.  But, I'm hoping to do more in the future!

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Day Twenty: Something You Wonder "What If.." About

Something I Wonder "What If.." About

Graduating high school and going to college is a bit of a crazy time.  Not only are you bidding most of your friends adieu and moving into a dorm with strangers, you are faced with what feels like the weightiest decision of your life - what are you going to major in (and subsequently DO for the rest of your life!). 

I changed my major 5 times.  I started school as a pre-music major (with plans to major in Media Music or Vocal Performance).  I quickly changed to pre-nursing.  Then, after doing poorly in organic chemistry and feeling like I'd never qualify for the nursing program, I changed to a major in dietetics.  Shortly after that I realized that Public Relations would be a really great fit for me.  So, I changed to a pre-communications major and started the pre-reqs to PR.  At this point, however, I was a junior in college looking at another 3 years to get my degree.  Upon further review of my credits, I realized I could get my sociology degree in a couple semesters.  So, I changed to a sociology major and kept a minor in communications. 

If I'm being honest, I LOVE sociology.  It was a natural science for me.  I did great in my sociology classes and wrote some research papers I am still proud of to this day.  I often think about going back and getting a masters in sociology and going into research.  I also think that a thorough understanding of sociological principles has had practical applications in my work life (although I am very glad I did keep my minor - as that has been very helpful as well). 

However, I regularly wonder what would have happened if I'd pushed myself harder to get into the music program, or if I'd stuck it out in nursing or, even, if I'd invested the additional couple of years into a PR degree.  I'm quite happy with my current career path and have no doubt I'll be successful wherever I end up.  But, one thing I do know, I'm not going to be a nurse or a dietitian - and I would have been good at that, too, I'm sure. 

So, I wonder "what if I'd majored in..."

If it weren't so expensive, I might consider getting some additional degrees.  But, it's just not realistic. 

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Day Nineteen: Things You Want to Say to an Ex

Things I Want to Say to an Ex

I feel like this prompt is meant for someone younger than myself.  Someone who hasn't been happily married for going-on 6 years.  Someone who is still pining over some love lost.  Someone who is still bitter of a bad breakup or bad treatment by a  boyfriend.

I am none of those things.  To be honest, I'm a girl who was pretty lucky in love.  The relationships that I had leading up to Geoff were all mostly positive.  I was treated pretty darn well (for the most part - I mean, teenagers are still teenagers) and the cases where I wasn't, well, it was a long time ago.  I'm not still sitting around wishing I could "let him have it" or "wondering what things might have been like if" because I'm with the one I want to be with. 

Geoff makes me feel beautiful and funny and smart.  He accepts me for my [many] faults and loves and supports me in all my kooky endeavors (heck, he moved to Fargo for me - that's LOVE).  He is the one and, although I wouldn't have admitted it all those years ago (8 now!), he was different from the minute I met him. 

So, sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a list of things I want to say to an ex.  Except for, I suppose, thank you for treating me well and loving me while I was growing up and learning about love and waiting to meet my man. 

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Day Eighteen: Something You Miss

Something I Miss

For those of you how have only known the Amanda that has existed for the past few years, it may come as a surprise to know that just a few years ago I was very fit.  I went to the gym 6 days a week (for over a year straight) and could keep up with the best of them. 

I miss that.  I really do love to exercise. I miss feeling like I can move with ease and run and jump and be active without difficulty.  I think probably the biggest trial when trying to get back into shape is how clunky and uncoordinated and simply not fit that you feel. 

Okay - so I wasn't quite THAT fit. ;) But, admit it, Jake (a college friend and roommate of my bro) and I look pretty convincing.  Cougar tailgating - something else I miss!

Last night, as a matter of fact, I signed up for a 30 day trial with a local gym and have the goal to get there 5 days a week (I did make it to my first day yesterday).  I did day one of this 4 Week Beginners Running Program (thanks, Pinterest!).  It was hard.  Embarrassingly so.  But, I'm going to stick with it because I know the results are worth it!

If I can make it through the four weeks, I'm considering signing up for the Fargo Marathon 5k or 10k.  We'll see. 

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Day Seventeen: Shuffle iPod - First Ten Songs

Put Your iPod on Shuffle, First 10 Songs

So...[this is a moment where I wish the superellipsis existed - I'd so be using it] here's where things could get embarrassing.  No,  not because I have a bunch of Backstreet Boys and Demi Lovato on my play list (although, that's true, too), but because I don't have any songs on my play list.

I don't have an iPod or an iPhone anymore.  Although, that's not really relevant.  My phone (Samsung Galaxy SIII) can handle storing and playing back my music like a pro.  I have just never loaded my music onto my phone.  I almost exclusively use Pandora when I am listening to music these days.

Having said that, I will go to Pandora and put it on shuffle and tell you the first 10 songs that play (full disclosure: I did skip Christmas music, but at least three came up).

1. Take Me Out: Franz Ferdinand
2. Glad You Came: The Wanted
3. Black Horse & The Cherry Tree: KT Tunstall
4. Follow Me: ANGO
5. Bubbly: Colbie Caillat
6. Turn Around: Flo Rida
7. The Girl Got Hot: Weezer
8. I'm Your Man: Michael Buble
9. Secrets: OneRepublic
10. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin': Journey (Quick, Mama G - how many "na"s!)

 That was fun! 

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Day Sixteen: Your Body

Your Opinion of Your Body and How Comfortable You Are with it

Well, this prompt is a TALL order.  My body and I have worked hard over the years to develop a relationship wherein we both get along.  Oftimes this means my brain and tongue want lots of delicious, fatty foods while my body itself wants healthy, nutritious foods and exercise.  I often find myself giving into one or the other - but never really balancing the two. 

However, my present weight or activity status aside, a lot changed about my relationship with my body a couple years ago.  Being pregnant and have the opportunity to give birth to my precious baby boy changed everything.  I once thought of my body as more of a status symbol or a reflection of my real value.  With this mindset, what my body looked like was extremely important.  The number on the scale reflected more than the mass of my body - but how good that body was.  I reflected how beautiful, how loveable, how precious that body was.  I WAS WRONG.

My body is amazing.  It has the power to create life.  The power to nurture another human being into existence.  The power to walk and talk and dance and carry around my son.   The power to smile and help lift another's burdens.  The weight on the scale is just a reflection of how much this body weighs.  Not a reflection of how wonderful and valuable it is. 

While I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a goal to lose a few pounds and get more active, those goals have so much less to do with making me feel prettier or better than they once did.  I just know that I'd be doing my own self a favor by having more energy and being healthier moving forward. 

So, my opinion of my body?  I'm so grateful it's mine.  It can do amazing things.  It has taken my abuse for years and years and still remains strong.  I love my body.  (I may not love my figure, but those are two different things, in my opinion).

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