Into my fourth week at Starbucks...

I've discovered something relatively recently: I like working.

I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before, I guess some part of me still assumes I'm a student or something, with more urgent things to accomplish like papers to write or tests to study for, but I like being productive. I like feeling useful and needed. I like getting dressed and leaving every morning. I like having a pile of green aprons in my back seat. Occasionally, I enjoy reclining in my bucket chair and watching a whole season of a TV show in a day (Side note, have any of you seen White Collar? It's on USA Network, and I am currently obsessed), but if I were to do that all the time, I might go crazy. 

I really like working at Starbucks!

Of course I'll make the best out of any given situation, but I can't help but think that this job fits me pretty well. I get to interact with people on a daily basis, am presented with challenges that are easy enough to overcome (your quad venti half caf three pump extra hot extra foam white mocha will not defeat me.) And as a bonus? Free coffee. Yes, yes. I like the free coffee.

I like my coworkers and their funny creative drinks. Like Jeff, who works a lot of the same shifts as me (who worked for Bux about 10 years ago and then took a break to do some other things, but came back to it eventually) gave me a drink he created called a "Lazarus" the other day. "I won't tell you what is in this," he said, "but it'll raise you from the dead." It had something to do with multiple shots of espresso, caramel syrup, and whipped cream. It changed my life. 

Every time I go, I have fewer questions. The espresso machine is still a little scary, to be honest, but I can bounce between making drinks and working the register and brewing coffee and doing whatever else I need to with relative ease. I still have a lot to learn... goodness knows I do, but I will pick it up soon enough. 

And do you know what the best part about working at Starbucks is? 

They spell my name right! (Related: does anybody remember the Siobhan/Chiffon debacle of 2010?)

Okay, that's not really the best part. Really, the best part about working there is that I get to continue doing the things I love to do, like editing, teaching piano, and babysitting on the side. It's a little like being a superhero: One person by day, another by night!

I've been able to see Miss Emma and Miss Lily a few times since starting at Starbucks. And, honestly, I miss those girls. So much. Lily spit up on me the other day, and although it was still pretty gross, it was oddly like coming home.

I can't believe I have things to update you on already, but Lily can crawl (although she doesn't do it very well yet) and has two words: "Mama" and "Uh-oh!" She loves to be loved on, but won't hesitate to push your face away, like, "Enough of that! Go away! I have things to DO."

Moments later, she attempted to requisition my phone for teething purposes.
"You guys gave me a toy phone, Stefanie, but this one is MUCH SHINIER." 

Miss Emma is learning how to write. Her favorite letters are H and E. And honestly, she is the bossiest of all bossys. She loves to tell me what to do. I do it anyway, because I can't deny her a darned thing.

What a big girl! I gave her ice cream after dinner because she was so good for me!  (And because I can't deny her a darned thing...)

Miss Lily has FOUR teeth now. Count 'em: FOUR.

Also, LILY FREAKING LOVES BATHS. (Which, really, I already knew!)

And in case it wasn't already obvious, Lily is the most expressive baby I know! She loves to smile.

But then she pulls out faces like this that make me laugh so hard, I make them my iPhone background.

Apparently I took her toy away while simultaneously kicking a puppy and telling her that Santa isn't real.

I had the pleasure of babysitting the girls at their grandparents' lake house recently. It was a gorgeous day, but pretty windy, so the video below has a lot of white noise from the wind. If you watch it, you will find irrefutable evidence that both of the girls are the most adorable and most precious girls on Earth. (Emma found plastic eggs, so we went on an easter egg hunt while Lily hunted for ones she could chew on!)

Emma is Lily's favorite person, and Emma loves her baby sister more than anything. I do so love these girls!

Of course, Katie would tell you that I couldn't possibly love the girls as much as I love Gabrielle, our apartment's petite doggie mascot (who is currently chewing a bone underneath my desk). 

To be honest, I would beg to differ... but come on. 

Look at that face.

Could you say no to that face?

(She wants you to throw the toy, in case you hadn't gathered that.)