Late-night blogging

I've got to stop blogging at 2am...but I always tend to fall asleep, get waken up by something JJ does in his sleep, then stay up for a little while. Ugh.

I get to add another to my list - I FINALLY used my crockpot yesterday!

I made beef stew for dinner, and it was SO good. I was terrified that I'd come home, find that I didn't put enough liquid in the crockpot and had consequently set my apartment on fire, but it was perfect! I was thrilled - and am now encouraged to use it more. I've fallen in love with it. :)

My mom read me the postcard I got from J on Monday. It sounds like it's a generic one, but I don't care. At least I got SOMETHING from him while he's gone. I've been really good at writing him everyday and sending letters to him three times a week...I don't expect to hear from him, but I hope he's getting the letters and taking in a little taste of home.

JJ's been super fitful lately. I'm pretty sure he's going through his Terrible Twos already - which isn't bad, since he's not a super bad kid. But he's into throwing things (especially when he's mad or doesn't need it anymore), isn't sleeping all that great, and he's been into throwing tantrums at the littlest thing. I'm not quite sure how to handle it just yet but try to be stern with him when he does something like that. I just don't know if it's getting to him that throwing things isn't nice. On a different note, he's catching on to things SUPER quick.

He knows that keys go into the door and the mailbox, that his comb goes through his hair, that his thermometer goes in his ear, that the water bottle is used to wet his hair in the morning, that DVDs and books go on the shelf...it's amazing how fast he's picking up on things. He's not really saying words yet (which is worrying me, since he turned 17 months yesterday), but he's babbling away and finding ways to communicate to me what he needs. He doesn't have any other developmental delays, and he was a late walker...so I'm thinking that he's a little behind because of all his ear infections. Regardless, I'll definitely be asking about it at his 18-month appointment in June, and we'll see an ear specialist if the need arises.

I'm hanging in there right now. I miss J - especially with Mother's Day coming up - but the separation hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would. It's been really easy to keep busy with JJ around, and J's already been gone a week (and it was a fast week). Work's been slow this week, but with the end of the year coming up (last day is friday), we'll be busy with grade checks and such next week. I had my first performance review at work today and did very well, which was surprising and encouraging. I hope to continue to do well at my job. I'm nervous about freshman enrollment, but I've got great co-workers who have been extremely helpful already. It's nice to be in an environment that's so open and supportive.

I should probably get back to bed. Before I do, I'd like to say that the recent death of a Virginia lacrosse player by a fellow player makes me sick. I can't imagine what that girl felt during her last moments, and I can't imagine what would possess the guy to do something like that. I'm trying very hard not to pass judgement against this guy, but it's so hard when the facts are slowly coming out. I just hope everyone involved finds peace and that the entire truth comes out.

Oh yeah. And Finals Week always makes me glad that I'm not in college anymore. But I'm REALLY starting to miss it...