07-19-11 - Back to "normal"

Well, after Andy going to Haiti and WIRED, me going to Jax and him being off yesterday to spend a little quality time with the family, today is back to "reality."  Thankfully, reality is WONDERFUL, so that's not a bad thing.  :) 

Anna Claire has gone down to sleep, so I thought I'd take a second to blog.  There's so much that she's doing nowadays - she is walking really well.  She took her first real steps on her 10th month birthday, and starting last week, she's really gotten the hang of it.  She's walking probably 70% of the time now versus crawling.  My baby is growing so fast!  She's so cute toddling around with her hair hanging in her eyes half the time! (I don't want to cut her bangs if I can help it, but I may HAVE to!)   I don't make her wear shoes all that often - they slow her down, and I want her to feel comfortable learning to walk.   She's tough though - most of the time when she falls, she just scoots right back up and starts again. 

Last night Andy took her swimming for her bath.  He prefers to bathe her that way! :)  She was so cute skinny dipping!  He lit the tiki torches and I sat outside with them once I'd laid her clothes out.  She just laughed and splashed.  She stood up on the steps and already thinks that we should be letting her do her thing without us.....not yet!! :)  Needless to say, she slept well last night!

She's babbling a lot - Ma-ma, Da-da (sometimes meaning it for us and sometimes calling everything and everybody Mama and Dada), Bye-bye (accompanied with a cute closed hand wave).  She's also developing a little baby temper, which was bound to come sometime, but it's no fun being yelled at by a ten-month old. She likes to yell - happy, sad or in between.  I think she is going to be very verbal! (I suppose since she IS my daughter, this was inevitable! haha!)

She has taken a liking to a television show - Yo Gabba Gabba and it soooooo cute to watch her!  She gets SO into it - when the opening scenes come on, and you hear DJ Lance's footsteps, she STOPS what she is doing and becomes absorbs in it.  Then when the music starts - she starts dancing - waving her arms, clapping and yelling.  Adorable!  I don't really want her to watch a lot of television, and even with this she doesn't watch the whole show - she just plays and looks up occasionally.  She definitely likes it though.  I don't really want to get into the habit of watching lots of programming, even if it is educational.  I want her to have a chance to use her imagination and play with me and with toys - without being zoned out in front of the tube all day.  This will of course have to be a conscious effort though.

Hmmm.....what else.....Andy's growing a beard.  That's new and unusual - he's never grown one before - always made him itch and feel oily.  I think he may still itch and feel oily, but he's pushing through it.  He looks cool to me with it - kind of "edgy" - I like him either way! :) 

Oh, Andy's friend Justin has begged him to submit his resume for a youth position in Hendersonville, NC.  We are both happy here at Bethel, although there are going to be frustrations at ANY job.  He doesn't want to close the door if God is opening it though, so he is going to send it.  It's making me very nervous.  I am absolutely supportive - whatever God is leading him to do, I want him to DO IT - by all means!  But we are settled here, and we love our home and church family.  We have almost no friendships (close friends, I mean) so that would be no real loss.  Even Kim has been pulling away, and probably will continue to do so once Keith moves back.  But it's just a resume - and it would be a long shot at best.  Andy hasn't finished his Masters yet, and everyone has at least a Masters there.  But if God's in it, then it's the best thing for us.  It would be so hard to leave and get both houses sold and find another house that we could afford and really love like we love this one.  We LOVE our house - even though it isn't huge or fancy, we are so happy here.   I just need to keep praying that I would have peace, that I would remember that God provides for his people wherever they are, that any house can be a home ultimately, etc.  I do love the Asheville, NC area - it's beautiful, but being even farther from mom and dad would be a bummer.  Anyway - just getting my thoughts on paper.  I'm really not worried at all - the likelihood is slim that they would even consider him at this juncture, but still.  Also, I just love Ricky (our pastor) - I don't agree with everything he does and his methodology is different from mine slightly, but his HEART is so genuine - there is no pretense there and he takes such good care of my husband......that means everything to me!  I'm seriously loyal - and Ricky has earned my loyalty!

07-11-11 - 6th tooth

Today another tooth broke the surface - if you are looking at her - you see her front top teeth - it's the tooth to the left of her front tooth.  (She's already gotten the right side in several weeks ago.)  Hasn't been too bad overall - nothing a little Tylenol hasn't helped.)  Sweet baby is growing up wayyyy too fast!

07-10-11 - WIRED begins

Welp, (I know that's not a word, but hey, I'm tired....) Andy's off again - this time to WIRED.  Thankfully this is the last thing this summer that takes him away from us, and also thankfully this is here in Dothan.  Although he sleeps away from home, we'll be able to see him everyday and that works out great.  I really don't mind him doing this - its just a part of his job and is necessary and very productive.  Not to mention, it gives him a chance to recharge too.  Unfortunately, I think he's been too stressed with going to Haiti, returning from Haiti, school, etc. to relax enough to really recharge. [I must pray about this for him....]

I took Anna Claire to see him tonight and we stayed in the worship rally for a little while - until I felt like her baby ears had had enough of the loud music.  She absolutely loved the music and lights - FASCINATED her! 

Yes, he's growing a beard - I doubt seriously he'll keep it, but he's always wanted to try.  It's fine by me - I think he looks nice either way. :)  He can't stand it though - it's my prediction that it'll be gone after WIRED.....it's too itchy, and oily for his taste.  At least, that's my bet! Haha!  He may surprise me yet!

I am loving my iPhone - I don't like the operating system as well as the Android, but the camera is fabulous for a cell phone.  That's important to me because I very rarely have my "real" camera with me when Anna Claire is doing something adorable (which is constantly)!

I'm very tired and a little under the weather - probably better get to bed.

07-09-11 - Escape artist!

I guess someone wasn't ready for her bath yet!! :)  I put her down and off she went!

What, mom??

07-09-11 - crazy haired, sweet baby

Anna Claire is just growing like crazy. She and her daddy are so sweet together. Today she really started walking a lot to get from one place to another. My baby is growing up!

07-08-11 - Yo Gabba Gabba

Anna Claire hasn't ever shown the least bit of interest in television.....UNTIL now.  I was switching channels while I was in Jax last week and there was a song about "Magic Shampoo" that way playing on the TV Guide in the background and she STOPPED and watched it.  Come to find out, it was Yo Gabba Gabba.  Tonight we put it on through Netflix and it has the same effect on her - she absolutely LOVES it!  (I find it cute enough to tolerate, myself actually!)