Growing

So I took this a week or 2 ago - it was some of the best bed-head we've had in awhile! She woke up in the morning looking like this. It was awesome :).



We also saw the pediatrician last week for her 1 year physical (a month late because we were gone). She gained a couple pounds and a couple inches: 18 1/2 pounds (still haven't broken the 20 pound mark...) and 26.3 inches. She's still 10th percentile for weight but moved up to around the 20th percentile for height. We're still using her bucket car seat and haven't graduated yet to the toddler one because she's still in the height/weight requirements for the smaller one. We're getting there...

She got 2 vaccinations that morning and had a blue bandaid on each let. I called them her blue badges of courage (flashback to freshman English and reading the Red Badge of Courage). She actually pulled both off. Here she is carrying the second one. She did great for her shots though. Of course there's some tears, but I was proud of her.

She's adjust really well to her full-size crib. She had been sleeping in our room in her pack-n-play, but when we came home we just put her in her crib instead. It's been good for all of us for her to be in her own room.

She just keeps growing! She's learning new things everyday, and it's just amazing to watch. I talked to her doctor about how she's not wanting much to do with a sippy cup. He said to maybe try a cup and see how she did. So I did, and now she'll drink from a cup (with me holding it of course). So that's good. Her babble sounds more and more like comments and sentences - we just don't know what she's saying. She keeps saying "jabba, jabba, jabba" - it's pretty cute. She's say mamma and hi every once and awhile. I have a feeling when she starts getting her words, it'll come fast! She's walking better and better. She's figuring out how to take things apart and put them back together. She loves the dishwasher and pulls out silverware and even figured out how to climb on the door when it's down. She's just been a fun baby. It's been such a blessing to watch her learn and grow!

Such a pretty dress...

Right before all the staff left the summer project we had a banquet with the students. We put such a pretty dress on Liv, and I tried to get a picture of her... here's what I got :).

Thanks Auntie Jill for the dress!

NMB 08

So I feel like there's so much to post about, that if I don't do something I'll get more and more behind and just give up :).

Here's what I WILL miss about North Myrtle Beach (NMB): We had 3 apartments that all connected by our living areas. Our door connected to the guys apartment which connected to Casey and Tim's apartment. At times both doors would be open and all 3 apartments would be connected. We called it the commune :). Liv would frequently crawl to the boys apartment, and when the door was closed she's bang on it with her hands. She got used to seeing everyone. Here's our "family" picture below: Tim and Casey, Dan and Paul (Diddy, guy #3 wasn't there), and then Aaron and I and the baby. We had a great time living (practically) together (since we lived in such small spaces).
Here's what I WILL NOT miss about NMB - I called it our "easy bake" kitchen: small fridge, bar sink, no counter space... it was fun... I did very little cooking :). Our kitchen here at home is as big as our whole living area.
Here's the guys that Aaron worked with this summer - a great group! From left to right, Cole, Aaron, Zach, and Peter. They really enjoyed each other.
Here's all the students from our campus that were at NMB (excuse the fuzzy picture). In the back, Liv, Aaron, Dan, Dan, Johnna, and J.D. In the front, Me, Lauren, Alana, Casey, Kayla, Kaitlin. It's a fun group!

So behind!

Hello! We're back home, and I'm so behind on posting pics and our adventures. So, it's late and I'm going to bed with a promise to get some stuff up soon. We got home a week ago - last Sunday afternoon. WOW it is SO good to be home! So good! So when you leave for 8 weeks, you have 8 weeks of stuff to put away/organize/toss/look at for a few days as you figure out what to do with it... We're getting there. Anyway, more coming soon! With love, the Joneses :)

Things to remember

Liv has continued to grow, and it seems like she keeps adding new things to what she does. So I just want to post a few things so I can remember them for the future.

• If she wakes up on her own, she's super happy. She babbles a lot in her pack-n-play when she wakes up in them morning and just keeps going until we get her up.



• After her naps we have a "post-nap" cuddle. She's really content to hold her bunny blanket and suck her finger and just cuddle with us for a few minutes until she wakes up a bit more.



• When we get her undressed for her bath at night and pick her up naked, she gets really happy and kicks her legs as we get her. She's learning to like water and her baths.



• She's becoming SUPER social. She looks at people and waves at them and cranes her neck in the check-out line at Wal-mart to see if anyone is looking at her. It's pretty funny.



• She's starting to shake her head back and forth but doesn't seem to know what it means yet. (I'm sure the understanding that it means "no" will come soon enough :).



• She's continuing to take more and more steps, and it's like you can see the wheels turning when she's standing - "Hey, I can move from this position!"



• She's getting more and more affectionate. It's so sweet. She'll hug me and pat me with her little hands. She'll give spontaneous kisses too.

And now for some pictures!

A few weeks ago I got Liv up from her nap, and apparently it wasn't long enough cause she just konked out on the floor which she never does.

So I guess my child can be bribed and/or kidnapped. We live in close quarters here and have a connecting door to the guys apartment next door. Sometimes we have the door open, and Paul bribed the baby over with Cheerios. He was pretty proud of himself :).

Aaron and I went to this outdoor shopping area with stores and restaurants in Myrtle Beach. We were given the recommendation to get the frozen hot chocolate from this place... I had to get a picture cause if you know me, you know I'm not at all a metal/rocker chick. I'm not sure I even know a Kiss song. But the frozen hot chocolate was good :).

One of the fun things about being here this summer is that one of my best friends is here as well and lived just on the other side of the guys that live next door. So she came over a lot and was SO good with Liv. Liv would crawl over to her and reach to get picked up. She just loved Casey. Casey just left a week early cause she's due in 4 weeks with their first child. We can't wait to meet their little boy!

Happy 30th Birthday Aaron! On June 28th, Aaron celebrated his 30th! Liv is trying to figure out what in the world is on his head!

Last Friday, our staff team went to a water park together. Liv grew in her love of wather. Here we are having fun with daddy...

And wiped out on the ride home!

So there's a few things I've been wanting to post. Talk to you soon!