Thanks, friends...

For the encouragement and ideas on tackling nursery, etc.  It's nice to hear other folks' experience- which means that they had some of the same challenges- or lack of experience- which means a future child might be more independent!  So it's a win-win.  I have fresh hope for this Sunday!

My dear childhood friend Katie and her husband Mark are flying in tonight for a long weekend- YEA! We're so excited to have them see our other world out here and get in some overdue time with them.  

In the background of all my thoughts this week is the over-riding emotion of anticipation that I know is tangible in Auburn this week!  I think the week leading up to the first game of the year is like the week before Christmas.  (Perhaps better, in some ways, other than the whole birth of Christ thing). Then the whole football season and all the games, tailgates, reunions, after game rolling of Toomers, and get-togethers is like one long Christmas day.  There are very few things on this earth that have as many wonderful aspects about them as football season in the Loveliest Village on the Plains.

Tennessee weekend is just around the corner!  We can't wait to be there!

Any thoughts?

So sweet baby girl didn't so much make it in the nursery through the service today.  As in the buzzer went off after the first song!  And though she made it through part of the sermon last week, she didn't make it the whole time.  

Her not being a huge fan of being with people other than Jake and I is the only drawback to me staying at home with her.  Her other legitimate reasons are: 1) never took the bottle, so couldn't leave her with a babysitter with no way to feed her until she got the sippy cup down at 3 months 2) no local family 3) dear friends out here who she knows and sees regularly have offered to babysit, but by the time she learned the sippy cup, she also started not being a big fan of being with people other than her parents.  

To her credit, she HAS been babysat a couple of times and HAS made it through the service before.  So we know she can do it, and the only way for her to get more comfortable with being with other folks is to... be with other folks... which frequently results in a sweet smiley girl becoming a good bit on the grumpy side sometimes... 

I'm doing MOPs this fall, and I'm so excited, but she'll be with the other little ones 6 months and up.  My goal has been for her to be good and settled so MOPs would be a breeze... but I think it will still be a learning curve for her (i.e. not a fun experience for her) until she gets more comfortable.  

Any tips or suggestions?  She's so sweet and friendly as long as she's with one of us, so we so desire for her to be that same little girl with other people...

Snapshots of our week...

Our first family dinner with Abby Jane in her new feeding chair (as opposed to the Bumbo she used to eat in)...

A walk with Lesley and three week old Sammy...

Her first ride in a shopping cart thanks to our pretty BuggyBag from Mimi (came with scripture sown in the inside- made me like it even more!)

Our 6 month check-up (90% in height, 75% in weight!) and vaccinations- see the four cute little bandaids on her legs?
Her new blow-up tub that goes in our shower.  That is the popular solution amongst Pepperdine parents for our lack of a tub- I know, it's tragic to not have a tub, but at least she does!
And, finally, a beautiful bed-head when she woke up from her nap.  Jake always gets onto me for fixing her hair when it's messed up before photographing it.  So this one's for him.  I was also glad to catch the sleepy eyes, too!  Have a great weekend, everyone!

We're Back!!

We got back Wednesday from a FABULOUS almost two weeks with both families.  Abby Jane turned 6 months old, started teething, kind of pulled up, said "Hi Dad" on cue four times, and best of all, played with lots of cousins!  Here's the Elliott side crew of cousins at the beach house on Harbor Island, SC (from left to right: my brother Greg holding Abby Jane (6 months) and Ashley (2 months), Katie (4), Scott (5), Ryan (3), and Ian (2).)

Abby Jane never lacked for entertainment or being offered objects to teethe on...

Abby Jane got to meet her newest cousin, Ashley... matching outfits are courtesy of Ashley's mom, Susan!Lunch time was loaded with entertainment, watching all those kids interact- Abby Jane watched from a safe distance with her Grammy...She loved playing in the warm ocean water- believe it or not, she lives at the beach, but it was her first time to get anything more than the tips of her toes in the water- the Pacific is TOO cold!

Our little family at the pool...

The whole gang- my mom was fit to be tied to have everyone under one roof!

A few shots from her 6 month photo shoot while we were there...

Then we went joined the Gross family, and Abby Jane got to play with Cade, who is 17 months.  Here they are with Aunt Betsy...

We have some priceless pictures from the two of them playing this day- they were SO funny! Great rehearsal dinner material...

Mimi and Pop Pop had a great time with the two grandbabies in the same place!

And now that we're home, she's trying really hard to crawl- oh my goodness!  By the way, she did great on the flights both ways- praise the Lord!