Two questions for the Mama panel...

1. As my child gets closer to 1 year than she is to birth, I am realizing that I need to read some parenting books to prepare me for the stages to come!  I've read and highly recommend "Grace-based Parenting" by Tim Kimmel, and I'm currently reading "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie O'Martian.  What is your favorite parenting book- on discipline or anything coming up?  Keep in mind that my sweet girl leans towards the "strong willed" side (Dobson has a book on that)... though we like to call it "persevering".

2. Abby Jane was 17 lb. 7 oz on her 6 month visit several weeks ago!  So we need to start planning for that next car seat soon, since ours is only rear-facing.  What kind of carseat do you have?  I'm going to do some research on my own, but it's always good to know what real-life mamas like!

Car Wreck in the Canyon!

So we had our first California fender bender today, and I'm proud to say that I was not at fault (which was because we were moving forwards- I only have wrecks when I'm backing up).  A car in front of me on the Malibu Canyon stopped very quickly to make a turn.  So I stopped quickly to avoid hitting him, but the three cars behind me weren't so lucky.  Abby Jane slept through the whole impact and only woke up when I turned the car off.  We had damage to the back of our Explorer that we bought used in April, but it's still very drivable, mainly just cosmetic stuff.  

Two of the three cars behind me were driven by very nice Malibu residents.  We'll never know anything about the person in the last car who presumably caused all the collisions b/c they hit and ran.  So unless it turns out that the girl behind me hit me on her own, we're out $500.  She was nice and all, but I hope her insurance ends up having to pay for our damage!

THE MOST DISCONCERTING part of the whole thing is that the police never came to write a report!  I called 911 to ask for an officer, gave the specific location and my cell number, and they said they'd send someone.  About 30 minutes later, we flagged down a sheriff.  She wouldn't write it up and said she was surprised they were sending someone since there weren't injuries.  She said if we were in Van Nuys, they wouldn't send anyone.  What's that supposed to mean?  I said, "Well, I'm glad we don't live in Van Nuys!" A HOT hour later, one of the other girls called to see if someone was coming, and they said they had no record of the call and that they had no one available to send!!!  I normally am a big fan of police, but I didn't love sitting on the side of the road with my baby in the heat waiting for someone who wasn't coming.  Oh well, you live and learn.  And we're safe and sound!  Happy weekend, friends!

Good times...

I forgot to mention last week that our friends the Wades had a WiiLympics.  I sadly came home medal-less, and Jake was unable to make it, but here is a favorite action shot from Wii Boxing of two of my dear girlfriends, Gillean and Kathryn!  

We had a DELIGHTFUL time with Katie and Mark!  For any who don't know the connection, Katie has been one of my best friends since we were four.  It was so fun to have them see our little world out here and meet our girl.  The time went by WAY too fast, though.  Here is a pic of the girls in Hollywood.  We also hit up Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

On Saturday, we met up with the gang at the beach.  Here are the Wades, Jake R. (Sammy and Les were in the sun tent), and the Aufhammers.

Here are the girls- me, Gil, Kathryn, and Les.

Here is Abby Jane not being ladylike and making the first move on 5-week old Sammy in the baby sun tent!  We're going to have to keep a close eye on this girl!

Our hearts were at Jordan Hare on Saturday, so we sported our colors at the beach.  ESPN 360 is AMAZING!  We were totally able to watch the game online!  War Eagle!!!!!!!!!!

The Gross family and the Sheerins.  How refreshing and precious that time was with sweet friends!  They flew out tonight, and we miss them already!

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!