This month has just whizzed by. I cannot believe that next weekend is the 4th! I think I have been looking forward to July that I haven’t been paying to much attention to the month I am currently in… Things here are going really good. Abby and I have been staying home a lot as a way to avoid the heat. We didn’t even go swimming once this week! It’s to hot to even walk to the pool! Today we had a heat index of 108* Crazy!!
Abby is still working on her walking skills. She is getting faster and more stable when she is holding on to our hand but doesn’t quite feel confident enough to go at things without touching something for support. She will walk short distances between things (short meaning less than a foot) but has her arms out ready to grab hold. She is so darn cute though! I know I am biased but I just have the most adorable little girl! She has so much personality and I just love to see what she will do next. She is starting to test limits and will pause and look up at you right before she is about to do something just to see your reaction. I guess I am getting prepared for toddlerhood when I find myself starting to say “no”
This week is going to be a busy one. I have the opportunity to teach a class on Tuesday night regarding American Politics. It will be at church so I have to stick straight to facts and make sure it doesn’t turn into a discussion (with accompanying opinions being shared) but I am really excited. I am working on making it not only informational but fun. It really makes me feel like I am using my schooling and all the work I did before becoming a mommy 24/7. Then on Wednesday the 1st my parents are getting here!! I am so excited for them to see my house and all that has changed since they were last here. We are so proud of our little home and it will be nice to have them here. I have a lot to do before our company arrives but I work best under pressure!
Hope you are all doing well. I so miss having friends and family nearby.
Have a great weekend if I don’t write before have a Happy and Safe 4th! Happy 232nd Birthday America!!
Jeff and I were playing with Abby tonight on the floor and practicing her walking. Well after many failed attempts we had some successful ones! She would walk back and forth to each of us and then fall into our arms! Of course her first successful try was as she was going towards her Daddy! She did great though I think she personally could care less. She is also getting a lot less wobbly as she walks while holding our hand. I am sure any day now she will be zipping everywhere! I will let you know when she actually is walking! —Thanks for indulging a very proud Mommy
Recently Texas weather has been in the high 80s and 90s so here at the Browning house we broke our our swimwear and hit the water! Abby loves to play and splash. Here are some recent pictures from our adventures. Some are from the pool in our subdivision and the baby pool we set up in the backyard.
We had our first overnight company! The Brownings decided to visit us. Jeff’s parents and sister drove in from Pensacola, Florida. They arrived Friday night and stayed through Monday. It was so great to not only see them but to let them see our house. Friday night we all went over to our friends the Halls for a backyard bbq and bonfire. It was so much fun and I realized that it had been a long time since I have had smores! Saturday was a full day with going on a boat tour of the Houston Ship Channel, eating some real (I will honestly say –the closer you are to the border the better the food is) Mexican food, and then we went to the drive-in to see Night at the Museum. Sunday we went to church and then showed them around our area and looked at homes for sale. Jeff’s older brother is considering moving to Texas! It was a busy weekend but so much fun. I wish we had family closer!
I still can’t imagine that this little person who amazes me every day is my daughter and that I am someone’s mommy but I love every minute of it! Oh, I will admit that when she woke up at 5am this morning ready to play that I was less than excited but all she has to do is get one of her grins and I will just about melt. I love this ity-bity stage! I know she will get older and drive me a crazy but I will just enjoy her now when the worst thing she does is pull my earrings or drop Cheerios everywhere.
I don’t think before that I understood this power that a child has over their mother. This unbreakable and incomprehensible connection of love and devotion. I always thought that people who did evil things to children were wicked but now–my heart just literally aches if I watch the news or hear about these parents who don’t take care of their kids. I can’t even watch CSI or Law & Order if a kid gets hurt or taken. We watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button last week (GREAT MOVIE!) and at the end I just cried. Nothing bad happened but it was just so beautiful and I realized and really thought about how much life Abby has before her..all the wonderful things that will happen and the not-so-wonderful. It was beautiful actually.
Anywho–Last Sunday! The day was just really good. Jeff woke with Abby and let me sleep in little more and then had breakfast waiting when I came out. We went to church which was really great to hear about mothers and think about my own wonderful mum. How lucky am I?! When we got home I was able to take a nap and just relax.
That evening Jeff made me an amazing dinner. He asked a few days before what I wanted and here was our menu: Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Fresh Corn on the Cob, and Buttermilk biscuits! I am just salivating at the thought! I was delicious and he cooked it all and watched Abby! He then presented me with a gorgeous necklace and Chocolate Covered Strawberries! The necklace represents a mother’s arms with a single pearl in the center to represent Abby.
Do I have the best husband in the world or what?! The day was just great and I think the best part was that besides the gifts and fancy dinner it was like any other Sunday. Jeff will watch Abby while I take a nap or make breakfast. It made me realize he always treats me good I love you Jeff and thank you!
I haven’t posted in awhile because nothing really has happened to post about. No news is good news I suppose but doesn’t give much inspiration for blog posting.
I don’t know if I have shared it on here but my baby sister Amy is doing a summer internship in East London, South Africa this summer. She is a Public Health major at BYU and will spend the summer researching and participating in the retention of volunteer workers. Pretty Cool ( I helped her come up with that idea *pats self on back*) She left on Sunday and this morning we got our first email from her. I will post it for all of you!
———- May 6, 2009
I made it!!! I don’t have much time because we’re all sharing time at the internet cafe. Its soooo awesome here! I haven’t seen a ton but I’m taking a few pictures. London was great. We saw Buckingham, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, and Big Ben from a distance. Amazing for about 3 hours available.
Its so crazy to think I’m in Africa, but I am!! Our host family is awesome!!! Their house is really big and is pretty nice and old kind of like a house in England. I took pictures. Their names are Kathy and Cornelius. Cornelius is a professor and a super smart guy. He’s written a few books. They sound really cool. I’d like to read them for sure. Kathy teaches high school. I think she’s a social worker. Anyway, they are super nice and laid back. The weather is great. Really warm and kind of cloudy today. It was my first time in a taxi. That was interesting and fun.
Well thats about all I can say now, I’ll email again soon! LOVE YOU!!
Well, we had our housewarming party Friday Night! It was so much fun! We had over 10 people come over! I We played Guitar Hero and had a great time! It was so nice to get the adults together without the kids. We also had Jeff’s birthday cake that night (Yellow Cake w/ Chocolate Frosting–his favorite). I even made everyone sing
Yesterday, we celebrated Jeff’s 26th Birthday. After letting him sleep in, he got to open presents (New computer monitor, movie, Ipod dock) We then went out for Japanese and Sushi for lunch. It was really good and because it was his birthday he got to order whatever he wanted It was a nice day and I think he enjoyed himself. We had BBQ for dinner and stayed in to watch movies. It is what he wanted to do so that’s what happened Isn’t it nice to be king for a day?
Today was a good day. After returning home from church we had an easy and quite delicious lunch of Chili Cheese Dogs. Sometimes you just gotta love the food that is the worst for you. Then Jeff was a saint and volunteered to watch Abby while I took a nap. It was so nice to have some quiet time! I was able to read a bit and then take a 1.5 hour nap! Thank you honey!! After I woke up we went for a drive. One of my favorite Sunday activities. We decided to just drive up a road near our house and see where it took us! (FM 529 for my Texas friends). It was wonderful. In no time we are in the middle of thousands of acres of Cattle Ranches and it was beautiful! It made me miss the Midwest but I am glad that we are not far from the “country”
When we returned home we made homemade pizza and then tonight we watched “Marley & Me” It is a must see for anyone who has ever loved a dog! I read the book and have to say that I was not at all disappointed with the movie.
I am so thankful for my family. I love spending time with Jeff and my little Abby. I am so glad that there are simple moments like a Sunday to make you realize that.
I love you Jeff and thank you!
