ARGH!!!

Okay, so my phone bit the dust AGAIN. ATT has given me a new one but I've lost everyone's numbers! Please send me a text or email with your info. Thanks!

Happy Anniversary!

How we spent our 5 year anniversary:

NOT ON THE SAME CONTINENT

WAY WAY Past Due

Okay, so I'm not on top of it! Cut me some slack, people. I think it goes without saying that we're in Melber, still staying with the Phillips. We'll be moving in with the Mabrys by the end of the month. (David & Priscilla are building a log cabin, where Elayna & I will get the 2nd floor. We won't be moving back in with them until after the start of the new year, most likely.) We've been busy with unpacking (still), visiting family, seeing friends, and just "chillaxing."

Elayna & I drove up to Morton this past weekend. We visited Dad & Maggie Friday evening during dinner with the Johnstons. Jovie's One Year Birthday Party was on Saturday. There were lots of babies there, and Elayna got to play with people her own age for once! It was so neat to see who could do what, developmentally. Elayna had the lead in some skill areas but not in others.

She's getting so big so fast! Nothing stands in her way when she's on a mission to nowhere and everywhere. She thinks she's got dibs in everything and is beginning to ignore my nuh-uh's, which of course result in stronger methods of disproval and redirection. She understands "no" and will sometimes throw a fit when I say it. She's so spoiled by all her greats and grandparents.

Her vocabulary now consists of:

"mama"

"dada"

"buh" --bye

"hiiiii" --hi

"eH!" --hey!

"eee!" --more (definitely not encouraging that one)

"uh oh" --it's a game to drop things (Thanks a lot, Grandma, Granny, David, Randy, and Renee)

She's also waving hi and bye. She yells a real sharp "eH" to get your attention. Of course she's cruising along furniture and can crawl with the best of them. Still does her "wounded soldier" crawl on surfaces she's not too fond of. Or she'll just walk with her hands and feet instead of crawling. She's funny. She crouches and stands, but falls when she tries to jump or really move. She hits her head on EVERYTHING.

Elayna's also learning a few signs. We're working on: please, eat, and more. Her "more" resembles "yay" when she claps her hands together. Oh, and she's nearly perfected patty cake. Whenever she hears something that even remotely sounds like patty cake, roll 'em up, or throw 'em in the pan, she starts to pat and roll. She even does it when she's bored or just hanging out. What a ham.

So that's what she's been up to. And just recently, she's slept through the night. Two, to be exact. Before, we were sharing the back room. She was waking up two and three times during the night. If I didn't move, she would lay back down. Then it got to where I'd play opposum while she'd scream her lights out for 15 minutes or more until I got up to rock her for literally 5 seconds and then put her back down. Other times, I couldn't put her back down. So now I'm sleeping in the middle bedroom, where she can't see me. And she's sleeping through the night! Hallelujah! PLUS, I put a book and some plastic cups in the corner of her crib, so when she gets up in the morning, she plays quietly while I get a little extra snooze time.

I've only had time to ride Noodle once since we've been home. Hopefully, there will be more time later. I know there will be for sure when the cabin is built and Noodle is out at the Phillips' place.

Oh, and I've joined a gym. Renee keeps Elayna for me while I go get my skinny on.

Well, I don't think a post can get any more random than this one. Just wanted yall to know I haven't forgotten about the blog and we've been pretty busy.

On a more serious note: Two good friends of ours have suffered serious injuries in Afghanistan. They're safe and back in the States. Thank God they're both alive. Please keep them and their families in your prayers. Both have long, painful roads to recovery. You can read about their stories on Jessie's blog or this news article.