Some things never change

This picture was taken a LONG time ago in Gettysburg. Moses loved to look out the window and watch life go by...
And, as you can see, this is still one of his favorite pastimes, even at night... :)
-H

One of these things is not like the others...

Ilana was "helping" me make an ice cream pie yesterday morning. Thanks for the help, Ilana! :)
-H

Reading and sitting

She got so excited when we got out the camera (what a ham!)...
She started "reading" to the camera (isn't she smart?)... :)
Then she ate the book (we weren't surprised, these days everything goes straight to her mouth)...
This is one of my latest favorite pictures. She was looking outside the window, after I changed her diaper...
-H

First day of FALL??

Here's Waco's forecast for today: Plentiful sunshine. High 88F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Happy FALL!
-H

What goes around comes around

I am so thankful for neighbors! When I was in 5th grade, I would go next door and play with the baby/toddler while the mom finished cooking dinner until my dinner time. It was so much fun! Now our neighbor, Robin, (who happens to be in 5th grade and lives downstairs) has gotten in the habit of coming upstairs around 5 or 5:30 every night to play with Ilana and Moses. They absolutely love her and it is so nice to have someone here to entertain my "dependents" so I can finish dinner. I guess all those nights of playing with our neighbor's baby has paid off. What goes around comes around. Thanks, Robin!
-H

a blast from the past

4/18/08:

9/18/08:

I guess some things never change! Happy 5th MONTH Birthday, Ilana! You've been a blast almost every day.
-H

New Seat!

This weekend we got Ilana a high chair for her to sit in. She's right on the verge of sitting up. It's one of those kind that straps onto a dining room chair - a major space saver. It makes her look so little, but I think she likes it! :)
-H

Ike Schmike

Lots of hype
A little bit of rain
A little bit of wind
Not even the worst storm of the season
Thanks for your thoughts!
Waco's completely fine!
-H

Us

Paul's loving his classes and I'm finally getting into a "housework/stay-at-home-mom groove." Something's going on with Paul's left shoulder/back/arm; it started hurting when he started swimming. My body hurts because I've finally started running again. We miss our life in Gettysburg TONS, but we are more sure with every passing day that we are exactly where the Lord wants us to be. Lyrics from a Caedmon's Call song seem so appropriate:

As I survey the ground for ants
Looking for a place to sit and read
I'm reminded of the streets of my hometown
How they're much like this concrete that's warm beneath my feet

And how I'm all wrapped up in my mother's face
With a touch of my father just up around the eyes
And the sound of my brother's laugh
But more wrapped up in what binds our ever-distant lives

But if I must go
Things I trust will be better off without me
But I don't want to know
Life is better off a mystery

So keep 'em coming, these lines on the road
And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load
Keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes

Hometown weather is on TV
I imagine the lives of the people living there
And I'm curious if they imagine me
'Cause they just wanna leave; I wish that I could stay

But I get turned around
I mistake my happiness for blessing
But I'm blessed as the poor
Still I judge success by how I'm dressing

So keep 'em coming, these lines on the road
And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load
Keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes

So I'll sing a song of my hometown
I'll breathe the air and walk the streets
Maybe find a place to sit and read
But the ants are welcome company

So keep 'em coming, these lines on the road
And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load
Keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes
------------------------------------------------------------------
How true is that of my life??!! Grace my feet and faith my eyes - I love it!
So, we're doing great. We're learning tons (whether it be in the classroom or in our apartment). We still know that the good Lord holds us right in His palm this day and always. We're already looking forward to Christmas when we can see all our family and some of our friends from the east coast, oh yeah, and maybe we'll even see a little bit of snow. :) Thanks for your prayers, Baylor is treating us well (besides the ants!). Here's another picture of sweet Ilana just for good measure.
-H

New "tricks"

Ilana is growing like a champ these days. Look at her newest "tricks"...

She leans forward on her arms and tries to sit up!
She grabs her toes all the time when she's laying down on her back (yes, she's still a chub)...
She reads. Well, she's always looking around and really observing a lot these days...
She even signs letters. Oh, this is just another one of her trying to sit up. :)
We're so proud of our little one!
-H

A typical day for Moses

After getting a bath in the morning (no, not every morning, just on this particular day)...
Robin, who lives downstairs, and her friend Abby come upstairs to play fetch in the hallway...
Our hall's CL, Jed, joins in the fun...
Now THIS is a Moses-sized toy!! Sweet dog, he'd play fetch all day if we'd let him...

Then they all lay down for a good nap (although no one ever seems to really fall asleep)...
What a life!

Robin and Abby work with horses so they are not afraid of Moses one bit and he absolutely LOVES them! I love this last picture, it almost looks like Moses is smiling and laughing. What a happy dog!
-H

The Bears

Baylor's mascot is the bears. They have actual live bears on their campus, right next door to the Student Union Building, where the mailboxes, etc. are. So, the bears are actually pretty famous. Their habitat looks a lot like a zoo. It's really nice.

Their names are Joy and Lady, both females, both named after former President's wives. We walk by periodically just to see if Joy and Lady are outside playing. One night they were! We had Moses, and although they didn't like Moses very much (bears hissing and dogs barking is not a good combination), we did manage to get a few pictures. I love the part of the sign you can see in the first picture, it says "Please stay on walkway, bears will bite." Really? :) Well, meet Joy and Lady. Aren't they cute?

-H