Whew!

So today Gracie entered our home.

I feel as though I gave birth, started potty training and have to make sure everyone in the house in bonding correctly all at once. I'm totally exhausted and stressed out.

Is this normal?

She is still for sure the cutest thing I've ever seen, but I'm so worried that she's going to potty in the house that I'm not sure I can enjoy her... I'm so uptight about doing everything right.

I think I need to make a list just so I can relax. Then I'm going to put her in her crate and call it a night.

• Asia is at his first "Poker Night" tonight. This was one of his ideas for his midlife crisis issue - I'm all for it. There are for sure much worse things he could be doing with his crisis. I asked if he was going to come home smelling like cigars and beer and he said probably - although I know he's too much of a priss to engage in either one.
• The kids were supposed to have a BBQ at school today... I had arranged everything so Asia could be home to be with the dog - and it poured down rain. So much for a BBQ.
• I'm reading a great book by Eugene H. Peterson, Leap Over a Wall. It's about David, one of my very favorite characters in the bible. It's one of those books that I have to stop and read every other sentence to Asia because it's so good. I ordered three other books by him from Amazon yesterday.
• Speaking of Amazon - I'm totally addicted. You should see my wish list.
• Speaking of being addicted to Amazon, I was so thrilled to discover a place in my living room where I can keep my growing pile of books. I've been disturbed by their presence. As much as I love reading them when the house is quiet, it's difficult for me to relax when there are piles - especially in my living room. I realized I still had two empty drawers in my new entertainment armoire, so into the drawers went my book piles. Now they are totally accessible, but put away. That makes me a happy girl.
• I found a refrigerator that I am totally in love with... so in love that I think I'm giving up something more fabulous and choosing laminate countertops just so I can afford it. It's a JennAire, and may just end up being "le piece de resistance," if you know what I mean.
• If you don't know what I mean, look here
• Why is it that in decorating shows where they use phrases like "piece de resistance," they always tell me I need "a touch of whimsy" in my room? I'm pretty sure I don't have that covered yet in the design for my new kitchen. I need to get on that. Pronto.
• Maybe when I'm in Portland with Brooke next weekend, we can look for the whimsy for my kitchen. Whatdyasay, Brookie?
• Gracie absolutely adores her bed. She goes right to it when she wants to rest, which is more often that I ever imagined. She slept a TON today. Did I mentioned how stressed out I am about the dog? God - please help me sleep tonight. I need to sleep, or I'm not going to be a lot of fun to live with.
• The problem with Gracie loving her bed is that it's not her crate - which is where she has to sleep overnight in this whole crate training philosophy. I know, I know - why not put her bed in the crate? Well, because I don't think we're supposed to. AGH!
• I have twelve emails I need to go read. I'd better go read them and get some sleep. Who knows how many times I'm going to need to get up tonight.