First Steps

Elisa is finally walking at 15 months! If I was a good mother, more organized and with more time on my hands, I would have a video or something to share, but I don't. We've been very busy lately and she's keeping up as best she can. It is so cute how excited she gets about walking when we praise her and then next time she's cool as a cucumber. She still can't get to standing without some assistance, so if she falls in the middle of the floor its on her knees until she does.

She is also starting to demonstrate imaginative play and nurturing behavior. I am fascinated by how she does these things without having them shown to her! Last week she found a pacifier in her toybox (she never took it but we've never put it away). She immediately got excited, took it to her doll and put it 'in' her doll's mouth. So cute! Now this is a favorite game for her. Another time I found her in her room making a 'bed' out of blankets for her stuffed animal. The best, however, is when Brandon caught her 'bathing' her doll in the dog bowl. Hmm...don't think we'll encourage that one.

All of this is very exciting to me as I anxiously await her transition from 'baby' to 'big sister'. So glad we finally got to walking before I am too pregnant to carry her everywhere! Hopefully she'll be as loving to a new baby as she is to her doll babies.

On the downside, thanks to everyone at ETBC who suffers through our distracting display of discipline on Sunday mornings! This girl has an independent spirit and sitting through the worship service is not her idea of a good time just yet.

Bamboo Fun

In keeping with my renewed resolution to get more done on the computer, I played around today with a fabulous ditigal tool my wonderful mother-in-law got me for Christmas. It is called Bamboo Fun, by Wacom. I am ashamed to say it has taken me this long to play with it...but this thing is great. We got the full Adobe suite this year and this tool is really going to make it easy to take full advantage of it.

Here is my very first try, about 15 minutes...

This is going to be very fun if I ever fulfill my resolution to start digital scrapbooking I think! That is my actual, not too neat, handwriting. Cool, huh?

something to talk about...

I'm still thinking about Valentine's Day. Although I'm a few days late, I wanted to share my thoughts on some comments on marriage I enjoyed from my Real Simple magazine this month. While we all know this magazine doesn't have a Christian perspective, I felt the tips from their readership in the 'your words' section really reflect sound moral committment and some ideas I could relate to...

• Choose to stay in love! It doesn't always come easy, but marriage is a committment best complimented by love. And love is often something you choose by your words and actions as you support and encourage your husband from day to day regardless of how you may be feeling. We try to follow John Heller's advice of saying "I love you" every night before we fall asleep.
• Have something to talk about! My husband and I are two very different people. For a long time, I thought we shared few interests in common. However, we've found one common ground that's good for us both. We both listen to NPR when we are out and about. At the end of the day, we'll often say, "did you hear the piece about...?". It's nice to have something stimulating to discuss and share that doesn't have any bearing on the stresses of our real life and it keeps us up to date. (see my NPR feed on the right for randon headlines of the day)
• Playfulness! One of my favorite things about Brandon is his playfull personality. It makes him a fun husband and great dad. I am not very silly and I am thankful for his little made up songs and dances to remind me to find joy in the little moments.
• Sex and money! The question here is "what is the secret to a good marriage?" While love, trust and communication are all good answers - these two are deffinately key things to get right. So try to get 'date night' in the budget!

It's so easy to be busy being mommies. Let's not forget our first love. I know my husband, like my Lord, deserves my best efforts, not the leftovers.

Pictures!

The day after my last post, I was forced to download pictures because I ran out of memory. So, I am immediately sharing them with you! By the way, thanks for everyone's comments on my last post. I think Christina had the best idea. I will definately be sending Elisa down for the summer. (who am I kidding? I can't part with this cutie for that long! maybe a just a few weeks...)

This messy face is due to trying to bribe her to stay awake with M&M's. I guess it didn't work!
She gives great hugs! This Eyeore is great. When you push his 'tummy button' he sings an adorably depressing song called 'gloomy place.'

Elisa loves to read books, even by herself!

Daddy took her to the park for Valentine's Day! This mischieveous look says more than I can about the troubles I suspect we will have with this child.

She loves to swing. Who doesn't? Thanks Daddy!

bogged down blogging

So the reason I am constantly putting off posting on my blog is that I want to show you pictures!! However, it seems like the only time I can be on the computer sucessfully is at work and I don't have the pictures here. (To be truthful, there are over 300 pictures on my camera right now, haven't taken them off since December).

As I am determined over this pregnancy to move my IPA (income producing activities) more inside the home. This means I MUST figure out how to be more productive online. Right now it is very hard. Elisa only takes an hour and a half nap-or less. During that time, as baby number two zaps my energy, I also endeavor to be napping. In the evenings I am focused on cooking, cleaning and family time.

It is hard, almost impossible, to spend any concentrated time in the office when Elisa is awake. She wants to be in my lap, pounding on the keyboard, which is a little counterproductive! Hopefully this situation will resolve itself a little as she gets older. Anyone have any ideas, encouragement or commiseration to share on this topic?