Oregon Vaughns

So, I got the image loader to work for one photo and one photo only:

Eleven days ago I founded Andy Vaughn Consulting, LLC. Online, I was able to register my business name, pay for a year’s membership with the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce, and contact all my old clients. Hunky dorey.

I purchased a P.O. box, inquired about starting a new business account with my old employer CU, and spent over 50 hours doing a rebranding and redesign for my business/blog. Holy crap.

It’s easy to forget how much time is spent administering a small business. Face-time networking, selling, creating/maintaining accounts, etc. Actually finding time to code and design is a luxury – let alone spend time with my two beautiful girls.

Solution

Scheduling. I’ve found it to be imperitive to our familial-success by keeping a schedule. By letting Stacey know when I plan to workout in the mornings (before she and Lily wake), when I plan to stop working (this is harder than it sounds), she and Lily are able to hold me accountable and trust me to still be a good dad.

I haven’t been perfect. I think we’ve been successful, though.

After all, the main reason for working is to support those that you love, right?

Looking forward

I look forward to taking Lily swimming again. Hopefully this weekend.

Tonight, Stacey and I are getting the VIP treatment at the Corvallis Knights’ game, and I’m being presented in front of the Chamber (*grrr* too bad my website is still down).

I’ll keep you updated on the success of the new business, and let you know of any pitfalls to watch-out for (don’t use 1and1.com website domains).

Update: Since andyvaughn.com is currently in-transfer, I have put up my new business site at: andyvaughn.net. Cheers!

Now that Andy is working at home, Lily and I have a new schedule too:

-Wake up at 8:30

-Have Andy help me watch/dress Lily while I get ready to go to the gym

-Workout and shower from 9-11 (Lily goes to the playroom at the gym)

-Come home, put Lily down for her nap

-Have lunch with Andy

-Get work done!

It is now almost 2pm and Lily is still sleeping.  We got a late start this morning and didn’t get to the gym until 9:20ish.  All-in-all, this has been a good schedule for all of us I think!

The picture loader button still isn’t working.  I need to have Andy check it out when he gets the chance… Sorry, no photos today!

She is crawling all over the place and cannot be stopped!  Wires, remotes, shoes, purses — all the things she wants in her mouth.  She is a big eater too, which is no surprise.  Everything that I eat, she wants to eat.

Lily also had her first swim yesterday!  We took her to the Timberhill pool and played in the water.  She did really well and seemed to enjoy it.

Andy is now free and unemployed!  Working at home and I couldn’t be happier.

I was going to upload a few pictures I just took, but the loader isn’t working.  Will try again later.

So, Andy and I are (and have been) pretty much deaf the past week or so.  Our sinuses and ears are totally clogged.  We are constantly having to ask each other to repeat things and there are many misunderstandings and confusions.  However, sometimes there isn’t confusions.

Stacey to Andy: Do you have to go to the bathroom?

Andy: I don’t know.

Stacey: No, I said ‘Do you have to go to the bathroom.’

Andy: I know… I don’t know.

“I bruised the animals, I am a control freak with the mozerella.”

(Or, this is what I thought he said to me while I was driving with my clogged ears / sinus.  He totally denied that these were the actually words.)

We are home from Vegas!  I don’t know how much I will write about it now, but here is a bit:

Days involved hanging out with Nana (Lorna) and Chelsea (Andy’s sister).  Nights involved Nana and Lily going to bed at 9pm, and Andy and Stacey going to play poker until 5am, 6am, or 7am… Then, baby wakes at 7:30am to play!  Yikes!  We are wiped.  Andy is already asleep.

I was so refreshed from going 5 days without checking a computer or really being on the phone much.  It was so excellent, that the first thing that I did when I got home was checked the computer!  I am all caught up on the blogs I read.

I will have to update you all more later about our wonderful trip.  It was great.