M.I.A.

I have this theory that when people go long periods of time without posting anything substantive on their blogs it is because they are pregnant.

REST ASSURED, friends, that is not the reason behind my lack of substantive posts lately!

I just thought I'd check-in and give everyone a quick family update since posts have been sparse!

-Little Miss C is growing and talking our ears off. Tonight in the bathtub, she learned to say the word "shampoo" and she thought it was hilarious! Every time she said it she just giggled! She's also started saying "it hurts" to tell us where something hurts! We're thrilled that we may not have to play the guessing game on that much longer! Woo-hoo! She had her 15-month check up last Friday (even though she is almost 16 months!). I don't remember the exact pounds and inches, but she's in the 93rd %ile for height, the 76th %ile for weight, and the 60th %ile for head circumference. We are completely smitten with our little sweetheart!

This pic was taken before church on Sunday morning! I knew I'd get in trouble for doing a post and not including at least ONE picture of C!

-R is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on finishing grad school. YAY! He had a 30 page paper due last Friday, and it just about pushed both of us over the edge. He wrote, and I edited. After he pressed the submit button, our weekend got exponentially better! He's taking one class this summer and two classes in the fall...and then he will be DONE! He continues to keep me laughing!

-Gx3 are enjoying the pretty weather and all that is budding in the backyard. Gretchen gets a kick out of chasing the birds (bless her heart!)! We've opened up a new corner of the backyard that used to be fenced off, and ever since then there has been some serious vermin hunting! Someone killed a grass snake and left it on the porch for me last week. I almost peed on myself before I realized it no longer had a head.

-And then me. Life is good. I begin and end MOST days with a smile, so that is a good thing. That doesn't mean that everything is always rosy! On the contrary! I just believe that the Lord has given me a peaceful attitude, and for that I am SO thankful! As far as work goes, I'm in charge of (leading?) two GRANDE state initiatives that roll out in May and June, so that is adding some stress. I want to do a good job, but I am not used to being "in charge" of directing others. I'm learning as I go. I'm still very much enjoying my 80% schedule. One extra day per week with my best girl has made a HUGE difference!

SO that is the update from our little world! Not much else to report! BTW, just because I'm not posting doesn't mean I'm not checking in with all of your blogs. Your updates come to my phone, so I get them wherever I am!

Flor-i-da!

Howdy! Our posse just returned from a whirlwind trip to Florida! We left on Friday around 11:00 and rolled back into the driveway about 6:45 last night. Just in case you are wondering, we did NOT drive. I loathe long car trips--especially long car trips with a 15-month old! Thanks to our tax refund, we were able to fly out of DFW instead! Woo-hoo!

R's brother and his family live in South Carolina and we don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd like. R's parents drove and the rest of us met them there. We had a lovely condo on the beach on Okaloosa Island. It is between Ft. Walton Beach and Destin. The weather was cool AND C was sick with an ear infection, so we only got to do the beach and pool one afternoon. Also, thanks to C's doctor, nurse, a few phone calls, and a Walgreens, we got her on antibiotics on Monday!

This baby girl seriously loves the water. She very much enjoyed throwing sand and running into the waves! She wasn't scared at all! (Isn't her new swimsuit the cutest? Gap Kids Outlet! And she's so long, we had to get her a 2T!)

BTW, I know my pink hat isn't the cutest thing ever, BUT I am trying to set a good example for my daughter. With her fair skin and Ryan's history of skin cancer, it is NEVER too early! And on top of that, it kept my afro-hair under control!

The grandparents (R's mom and dad) kept the kiddos for us on Sunday night and we all went to "Howl at the Moon" piano bar! After an hour of music (and smoke) and only one drink, these hard-partiers were in bed by 10:00! It was nice to spend time together!

C even got some super-c0ol sunshades! She didn't keep them on for very long, but I think they are cute anyway! This picture was taken on our patio. We spent a lot of time "ou-side" (outside) because that is where C wanted to be. The patio shielded us from the wind, so it was a nice compromise. We did have a couple of "pool parties" in the HUGE bathtub off our room, though!!!

Everyone else is still there, and it was back to work for us today. We can't wait until our next get-together! C can't wait until her next trip to the beach!!