So FUN!

This morning, a photographer came to our place to take some photos of Kid A. It was an amazing, wonderful time -- Kid A had a meltdown about 10 minutes before the photographer was due to arrive, and we were able to get her down for a nap.* And thankfully, our place is somewhat hard to find, so our photographer got a teensy bit lost, which bought us a slightly longer nap for the babe. When we were ready to get started, we brought her into the nursery, swaddled, thinking we'd get some sleeping photos, but she woke up pretty much right away, and once we got her unwrapped, she was so taken with the novelty of the big black camera and the sound of the shutter that she didn't fuss. She proceeded to be an absolutely delightful angel of a Gerber baby for the next 90 minutes. TM and I had such a great time, and Kid A graced us with smile after smile after smile. Yay yay yay!

*Thank heavens we didn't have to actually go anywhere for the photos. It was wonderful to be at home, with all our stuff, able to change her (and ourselves!) in a flash (so to speak), and not worry about getting her to a location on time. I cannot wait for the (digital) proofs to arrive!

Ok, now for the other, work-related news. The day that the CFS director gave us the news about the "potential" layoffs, I decided to dig up the email I received at the end of September from a neighboring county, indicating that I am on their eligibility list for an interview. I called them up, in a spirit of gathering information about when they are looking at interviewing/hiring. The HR person I spoke with said, "Oh, we were planning on sending you an email today or tomorrow to set up an interview!" Wow. I mean, really. Wow. The timing could not have been better. Within two hours of the most dismal news I could have imagined, at least a window of opportunity had opened, just a crack. What I really have going for me (as does my friend who was hired along with me, and who also has an interview pending), is that this county has hired a large group of new workers, all of whom we have been in trainings with for the last 2.5 months. Not only do we know all of their new workers (many of whom we already knew, through being classmates or having interned together), but this county has been the lead host county for these trainings. It is even possible that my current county did not actually pay for our trainings, but the host counties (four in all) may have footed the bill. This is a huge selling point during my interview: "You have already paid to train me, therefore you should hire me."

My plan is to prepare like crazy for this interview, so that I stand the best chance possible of receiving an offer. In this whole process, there is very little that I can control, but the one thing that I am sure of is that I can prepare my answers. Not that I know what the questions are, but I know some of the points that I need to make, and I am going to write, whenever I can, some social-work-y paragraphs. If all goes well, it is possible I will transition seamlessly from layoff to new job. Please send whatever prayers, visualizations, good thoughts, etc. you feel comfortable with my way! Mama needs a new job!

Yesterday, I met a good friend, who happens to work for the other county, at the Farmer's Market near where we used to live in Oakland. It was great to see her, and Kid A was delightful. It was a beautiful day, and people were out in full force at the Market. There was a zydeco-flavored band playing when we got there, and Kid A really seemed to enjoy the music. I also had a great time talking with a lively and exuberant 5-year-old girl who was fascinated by my knitting. We spent a little time walking along Lake Merritt, and then we headed back home.

This weekend has been all about sleep for my little one. She took a gigantic nap yesterday when we got home -- three hours, I think. She woke up this morning at 5, but was ready to go back down at 6, and slept until I got up at 8. She napped again for about 30-40 minutes (and likely would have slept longer, if we hadn't awakened her for the photos) at 10, and went back down at a little after noon. And who knows how much longer she'll sleep?!

I am absolutely LOVING having DVR. I have been able to keep up with my shows, and I'm stoked. Grey's Anatomy was awesome this week, as was Survivor. I'm even watching Top Chef, The Daily Show and Colbert, even 30 Rock! Ah, life is good ...