Baylee

At the beginning of Spring Break, we took a 24-hour trip to Iowa. We were in the car slightly longer than we were actually at Josh's parents house, but it was so fun to see the Hammans and spend time with Baylee. Baylee is my little dog. We are not allowed to have her here on campus, so Josh's parents are keeping her for us. They have been so kind to take such great care of her. We recently found out that her liver is failing. The vet said she could live a few more days or a few more months. It is very sad.




I rescued Baylee 5 years ago from a shelter in Dallas, Texas. I got her just a few short weeks after my dad died, and she was such a great little companion through not only my grief, but also my adventures in Colorado and Virginia. She has been the best little dog I have ever had!


So when we found out she was sick we knew we had to go visit her, even if was just for a few hours.

Spring Break

Spring Break?!?! How cool is it to be in a world where Spring Break exists again?!?!

The other night as we were just getting started on a game of Catan with our friends, we noticed a giant pool of water growing in our kitchen. Our dishwasher decided to fill so full it was bursting out of all the edges. Josh opened the door and it was STILL filling with water... water EVERYWHERE! Maintenance came and showed us how to turn off the water valve. The next day, I went into the kitchen to get dinner started and the floor was soaked again. Even with the water off, the dishwasher had filled and was leaking AGAIN. Maintenance came again & we were given a wet/dry vacuum and told to clear out the water at least every 12 hours. This morning, they came again and analyzed everything. They decided we are going to get a new dishwasher! Hooray! This one hasn't been bad to us the past 2 months. But how cool is it to get a new one?!? Right now Josh is in the kitchen doing our dishes by hand. And I'm in on the computer. What a good husband!

So far, this has been the most productive "break" I have had in a long time. Check out how productive we have been so far, (even beyond cleaning the water from our kitchen floor!):

1. driven to Winterset, Iowa and back.
2. quality time with Baylee, as well as dinner & breakfast with the Hammans.
3. emptying our off-campus storage unit and closing our contract.
4. cleaning out the office (3rd bedroom).
5. round of Catan with our neighbors.
6. church Sunday morning.
7. grocery shopping.
8. cleaning out our on-campus storage area.
9. sorting Hunter's clothes and boxing up the ones he has grown out of.
10. starting our taxes... I think we are about 1/2 way through.
11. cleaning out file cabinets and filing the 5 months worth of paperwork that had accumulated in our bedroom.
12. watching 24 on TV-- we never get to do that! (usually we get caught up sometime during the week on Hulu.)

Yea, it is only Monday of Spring Break and we have knocked out lots of things on our "to do" list. Tomorrow, we are going to have fun!

9 months!

Dear Hunter,
You are 9 months old now. Your daddy and I are so glad that you live with us and that we get to be a part of all of your days. You are usually very easy going. You love people and like to be where the action is. You smile easily and your little laugh is so adorable!
Lately, your favorite thing has been to "raaaawwwrrr." You like to see how high you can get your voice and then see how low you can get your voice. Then you like the sound of making your breath really loud-- like you are "roar"ing under your breath. You say "dadada" all the time and sometimes you throw in a "ba" or a "ma" or a "na." You have 6 little teeth: you just cut the sixth one a few nights ago.

You have started eating Cheerios and it is so cute to watch you figure out how to get something from your hand to your mouth. You are very patient. You have had a few tastes of bread and even some mashed potatoes this month. You LOVE your sippy cup and get so excited when it is offered to you. For breakfast, you usually have a mixed cereal with a fruit mixed in, like pears or applesauce. For dinner, you usually eat a veggie or two and sometimes you have a meat. Your favorite is still carrots. You still eat breast milk five times a day, but that is beginning to change. Today your babysitter gave you a bottle and that went really well.

You sleep like a champ: usually about 11 hours at night and then another 2-3 during the day. Your schedule is very consistent!

You really love to play. Gone are the days where I could just set you on a blanket and then we would stare at each other. No, these days you are on the move. You love your "bounce bounce" (the door jumparoo thingy), your truck that plays music, your glow worm, and board books. You love your Baylor Bear (sic 'em) and your mirror. And basically anything else you can get your little hands on!

I love being your mom! You are such a sweet baby and you give hugs a lot. You love to cuddle and that always makes my heart melt! You have the most handsome blue eyes and I love when they light up. You are the sweetest baby I could ever imagine.

Today I took you to the doctor and this is what she told me:
You weigh: 19 lbs and 14 oz
You are: 28 1/2 inches tall

You are growing up! :) I love every inch of you!!!
Love, Your Mom!

sugar

For Hunter's 9 month birthday, we all went to Starbucks. Our Starbucks visits are much less frequent these days and we so enjoyed the yummy treats!

Hunter tried whipped cream for the very first time. This was his very first taste of sugar... so cute. It is unclear if he liked it or not.

mobile

Oh the changes! He is growing and learning more every minute! Check out this video of him manipulating his little body to get to the baseball!

In Christ Alone

This is my prayer for the day. It is a modern day hymn written by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

wake up!

Just went in to get Hunter up from a nap. I could hear him making noises and talking so I decided to sneak up on him with my camera. Here is the video:



Here are a few pics of him waking up the past few days:



Here is a picture of how I found him sleeping a few mornings ago. He knows how to get comfy!