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!

The Earthquake that DID happen and the fire that didn't...

Yesterday, we went to visit our sweet neighbors, the Strawns, who moved to Duarte, CA two weeks ago.  Mihret is Abby Jane's very first playmate- they played together outside almost daily while Carrie and I enjoyed mama time.  We loved getting to see them and their new home!  

Ironically, their new home is only about 20 minutes away from where the epicenter of the quake was yesterday, as opposed to the hour and a half or so that Malibu is!  We only felt it for a few seconds, and I thought at first that I was dizzy, and that was why things were shaky.  All things considered, it was a good first (and hopefully only) earthquake experience!

As to the fire, a Hooters was built on College Street in Auburn my senior year.  Every morning I passed the construction on my run, and I prayed down fire on it- something as crass as a Hooters does NOT belong in our sweet Auburn!  Good wings, schmood wings.  But the fire never happened.

However, Emily Kloess York called me this week to tell me that the Hooters on College St. is now closed!!! Apparently it has re-opened in Opelika, but that would now make it Opelika's sin, not Auburn's... just kidding sweet Opelika friends!!! In all seriousness, Hooters does not belong anywhere, much less in sweet small towns.

Four days and counting...

Until we fly South for the first time with Abby Jane and join my family at the beach for a week, then play with Jake's family for a few days before returning to Cali.  We are fit to be tied to be in the south, be with family, see little nieces and nephews, play in WARM ocean water, and don't get me started on all the food I'm excited about!!!

But there are two small things I need advice on: 1. a 5 hour flight with a 6 month old, and 2. a three hour time change for almost two weeks!  Some of you have passed some tips on to me, but I want to hear it again.  She's in a sweet-natured, mostly laid back stage right now, so I think we're going to be fine.  But I do want some strategies in place, since we are fairly regimented in our schedule here at home.

ALSO, we were so honored and blessed to have Jeff and Lyndsay Rutherford (Jeff and I were dear friends in high school, and he married one of my best friends and roommates at Auburn) spend time with us Saturday and Sunday before starting their trip up the coast to Monterey, Napa, etc.  It was such a teaser to have a short visit- we love time with them so much!  Thank heavens the Tennessee game is not far away... This picture was before we put Abby Jane to bed to have some adult time!

Have I ever mentioned...

That Abby Jane sleeps like she's laying out?  This is how she sleeps about 90% of the time!

This has been an eventful week in Abby Jane's life.  Her Mimi (Jake's mom, Sandy) came out for a few days earlier this week to spend some time with us girls while Jake was gone.  We had a great time, including some swimming, playing at the Country Mart, and doing some shopping.  I even got to get away to do an errand ALONE while she stayed with Abby Jane!

Jake came home last night (YEA!) and we left about 20 minutes later, leaving Abby Jane with her first non-grandmother babysitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A precious student who Jake works with and goes to church with us was gracious enough to watch Abby Jane while we went out with some dear friends, knowing full well that it had potential to not be a delightful evening with our child.  But according to her, it was fine, and Abby Jane was asleep when we came home (yes, with hands behind her head) and slept through the night like normal.  We were so thankful for Nicole!

Last, but DEFINITELY not least, Abby Jane has two new California friends!  Lucy Hoff made the earth more beautiful on July 13th, and Sammy Roberts started breaking hearts yesterday. Until now, Abby Jane has been the token mascot of our small group.  Now she's going to be the old lady next to these youngest additions!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

A flying baby!!  This was from a beach picnic after Jake got home on Saturday.  I'm particularly fond of the enthusiasm on both faces!!

Yesterday, we psyched ourselves up to put Abby Jane in nursery for the first time!  This was a really big deal since Abby Jane's previous time away from us consists of once or twice when grandparents were in town.  We did not expect to make it into the sanctuary before our buzzer went off.  But she did fabulously and made it the whole 1 1/2 hour service without fussing!!  We were so proud!!!  We are entering a new phase with our sweet little girl!

This is Jake's last week to be away at school- this is the week they start the classes and material for the fall semester.  We are so proud of him starting his second year of his Ph.D. program, but we can't wait to have him back home again!