The First Seven

I found this on a friend's blog. I thought it was an interesting and different idea.

The first SEVEN people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For YOU.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
- What I create will be just for you.
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
- You will receive your item before the end of the year.
- You will have no clue what the item is going to be. It could be a story or poetry. It could be a piece of handmade jewelry or a cheesecake. I may draw, paint, collage or crochet something. I might bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that in order to receive a gift, you have to re-post this memo and make and send out seven surprises of your own, so if you aren't gonna follow through and make something for seven others, you get nothing from me. And you need to send me your mailing address!! Ready, set, create!

stupid grammar

Does it bother anyone else that the plural of Mabry is Mabrys and not Mabries? And why do we say Phillips, Adams, and Oakes instead of Phillipses, Adamses, and Oakeses?

If I had an extra $50K to blow...

... I'm thinking tree tent... NOT! Seriously? Tree tent? Seriously! They're one of those things that I can't help but be curious about even though I want to barf in my mouth at the same time. Maybe it would be cool for kids' camps, but family vacations? Oh no. Did I mention they go for $50,000?!

Okay Great-Grandma O, Here ya go!

That's right, she's sitting up all on her own.







Recognize this onesie? It was mine. I found it in one of the boxes you sent.

This girl is ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Mmmm. Yummy Apples, Pears, and Bananas.

Tastes even better off the bib.
(her cute little legs)

This is a continuation of Jessie's post about the CRAZY weather we've been having. Notice the sun beating down? Can you also see the rain that's still pouring? Sheesh, this Northwest weather! I'd happily give Mother Nature a dose of this Liquid Sunshine where HER Sun Don't Shine.

Sorry they're late!

Not that you were on the blog today... or will have time to check it out tomorrow, but here are the pictures I said I would put up. They're only 24 hours late. I'm not sure what happened-- All those pics that I thought disappeared into nothingness have shown up.

So here are a few more pics of us stroller skating.

She's having the time of her life. Can't you tell?

And this would be one of my #1 complaints about Fort Lewis: All the dumb ducks and geese. Just a moment ago, the entire flock was on the road and could care less that they were stopping traffic. Once I saw an MP with his lights on, trying to "pull over" a flock. Or at least that's what it looked like. I totally could have had a picture of it, but Ryan was driving and he didn't feel like holding up the long line of fellow Madiganers behind us.

They were REALLY happy to see all the birds. Dax is curious. Libby wants to make "friends."

When I stopped to check on Elayna, Libby had to check her out too.

Haha! I gave her water. This was the face she made EVERY TIME she took a drink. You'd think she'd stop drinking it.

THIS is our new stroller! It's an Inglesina Zippy. Not that a name means anything. What matters to me is that it's a glorified umbrella stroller. Something comfortable with all the perks of a regular stroller but that will fold like an umbrella stroller.

Oops, forgot to rotate it. But see?! Isn't that SO cool.
Here she is again, covering her face while she sleeps.
Diaper changes have become quite a challenge. As soon as she's on the table, she's wrestling her own feet and flipping from one side to the other. I have to practically sit on her to get the deed done. When she dropped another deuce this evening, I was seriously afraid of how that change was going to play out-- Luckily, executed with minimal damage.

What's that smell?!

Okay, so people warned me about how awful her diapers would smell once she started eating solid foods. Apparently I didn't take them seriously enough. Little Miss Elayna Vaye dropped a deuce this morning and it completely blew me away. Then we went and ran errands. After errands, I went to put her down for an afternoon nap and was AGAIN blasted by this foul odor. Maybe that'll teach me to close the diaper trash lid next time. Ugh.

RYAN, I guess I lost the photos in transit from the camera to the computer when the battery died. I had a whole bunch more but they're nowhere to be found. We'll be sure to take more pictures today and have them posted for you tomorrow. Can't wait 'til you get home!

Dear Daddy,

Mama is mean. She makes me take lots of naps when I don't want any. Instead of screaming in my crib for twenty minutes, I've recently decided to just cave and give her what she wants. But in return, I've shown her just how mean I can be while teething and nursing at the same time, a lot. But I still love her and don't like it when she sets me down... EVER. I miss you and can't wait for you to come home.

Mama's a NUT. She got this crazy idea to take Jessie, Connor, and me STROLLER SKATING. I think she had a little too much fun and plans to do it again. Heads up, you're coming with.
I'm still in shock. But Connor was absolutely unphased.
Seriously, the woman never ceases to surprise me. While the weather was nice--er awhile back, we went on lots of walks.

The walk was so long, Dax & Libby could have cared less that the Mama left the gate wide open. There are tons of extra pics, but she forgot to charge the camera battery and it was quite a feat to get these few photos up. I'll make sure she puts up more pictures for you later.

Love & Miss You!
Elayna Vaye
xoxo