Max & Kaylee

it is so nice out today! i mean, last week, there were some fairly nice days and we enjoyed walking outside almost everyday, but today is gorgeous! it's warm, a little breezy and super sunny! i am loving it! i can't wait for summer to get here! i love the hot, sunny days!

L, in her new sun hat! she got so excited when we tried it on her!

i know, i know...so i promised pictures/video of the first day of rice cereal, and i completely slacked. so i am finally getting some up today! no video yet (i need to edit it still!!), but at least i have photos up! and am in the process of taking more. rice cereal day one went pretty well. she made quite a mess of it and i think that more went on her than in her little belly! but she seemed to like it. and everyday since then has gotten so much better at eating off her little spoon and swallowing it down! we started another food yesterday...avocado...and she really seemed to like it! in a few days, i will introduce another food and we'll see how she does! the past few weeks, i've been having some issues with her not sleeping as well and being much fussier than usual. at first, i thought that she was just going through a growth spurt, but after more than three weeks of this and conferring with the pediatrician, we figured out that she wasn't getting enough to eat. so i have started supplementing with formula. we started this on friday and she has been so much happier since then. and has even been sleeping mostly through the night again (thank goodness...the past three weeks, she had been getting up 3-4 times to eat, which was totally unlike her...and making a tired mama!!!) she has also finally figured out how to roll from her back to her tummy. she hasn't perfected it yet, but has done it a few times in the past two days. pretty soon she'll be rolling all over the place...and then...crawling...yikes!!!

i was so blessed to get a phone call from max last week! it was fantastic and i can't wait to talk to him again! it was the first i had heard from him in three weeks, so it was great to hear his voice and get an update on what he is up to! his unit is at their destination, which i knew from the unit website. he had been doing guard duty for the past three weeks, at night, which he really enjoyed. he said it gets very hot during the day, so he really liked being able to work at night and sleep during the day. he says it is very sandy/dusty (which we knew going in), but that things are going well. he also mentioned that he will switching jobs...i'll keep you posted as i learn more about what he means by this!

day one of rice cereal...it was ALL over her face/hands!!

here are some pictures from our trip to chicago. i have been really bad at getting my camera out to take lots of good pictures that show a wide variety of events. so most of these were taken right around the same time. oh well. enjoy! and stay tuned, because tomorrow there just might be pics or video of L's first rice cereal adventure :)

L is very fascinated by chloe the dog! and loves to touch her.

L got a Mexican doll from a good friend, whom i traveled in up with people with. it was so kind of him to bring it for her when he was here. she loves it! she loves the bright colors and especially likes to touch the ribbons. it's cute.

L and her doll.

up with people (www.upwithpeople.org) came to minneapolis two weeks ago. my mom and dad traveled with the organization back in the '70's and my mom now works for them. i traveled three years ago, my brother traveled two years ago and is traveling again this semester. so they came into town two mondays ago and we had kyle, plus two other girls from the cast staying with us. it proved for a fun week filled with interesting dinner conversations, an exciting time watching the show with L and a great host-family day, in which we took our "host kids" all over minneapolis to show them around! L did great at the show - she loved the lights, singing, bright colors and dancing. on host family day, we went to the llama farm to meet buddy the llama (it was L's first visit out there!!! see picture below!), took them to the stone arch bridge and around minneapolis (they really wanted to see the skyway system...) and to the mall of america. it was a good day! it was L's first time to meet buddy, her first trip to the MOA and her first time to an up with people show, all in one weekend. she was a tired girl the following monday! the up with people cast headed out for their next city.

my mom, dad, L and i kind of became groupies and ended up following the cast to chicago. partly because my mom had work to do and partly to see kyle one more time and partly to see some family. it was a great weekend. L was a stellar traveler, once again, proving to be a fabulous road-tripper. it was fun to spend time with family, to see another up with people show and to see kyle one more time before he headed off on the remainder of his uwp journey! the cast is now headed to the philippines, which is awesome and i can't wait to hear stories. we just got back this evening and it is good to be home. my goal this week is to continue researching and applying for a part-time job, so we'll see how that goes! i have a bunch of photos from the weekend and i'll get those up soon!

i haven't heard from maxwell in a few weeks. i am sure they are super busy and i don't know if they have any internet to utilize at this point. i have a fabulous website that his unit keeps updated, so if anybody wants specific information on his unit and what they are doing, shoot me a message and i'll get you the link! i miss my husband a lot! but woo-hoo - one month down! i know that doesn't seem like a lot when you look at the fact that he'll be gone for a year, but still! one month down! it's the little things that count!

happy girl.

at the stone arch bridge, enjoying minneapolis on a beautiful day!

speaking of my dear husband, i had the privilege of hearing his voice for a solid minute last weekend! and got a message from him last week online! that's good, right?! at least i have heard from him. i know he is super busy, getting acclimated, taking classes and doing whatever else they are doing! and although it would be nice to hear from him more often, i am so thankful for what i am given. it was so good to just hear his voice for those 60 seconds. i miss him a lot. it's crazy that it's only been two weeks! oy vey! many many more weeks to go! lately, i have been missing him and there is this part of me that really wants to get all crazy and rant and rave at people about how much i miss him all the time. but i know that would not be productive, would not make me feel any better, and would probably just be downright annoying! so i am trying my best to be positive, to find things to do (baking, anyone?!) and to keep checking off the days as they pass. and i am also challenging myself to make the most of every moment, to enjoy it all. it's hard when you are counting down days and waiting so fervently for something, to really stop and "smell the roses". so i am working on being intentional to not get so caught up in the end, that i lose sight of the journey. because even though this particular journey can feel a little lonely, long and sad, it is still a journey and i am certain that God has lots to teach me through it.

little ms. L is doing well. she is finally re-adjusted to the time here in MN and has re-found her schedule during the day. we normally get up around 730, she takes 2 or 3 naps during the day between playtime and eating, then goes to sleep for the night around 730pm. she is only getting up once during the middle of the night still. usually around 1 or 2am. but a couple nights a week, she makes it all the way through. so i think within the next few weeks, she will stop waking up entirely during the night! which would rock! to get some un-interrupted sleep would be lovely! she loves having people (her grandma and grandpa!) around to entertain her. and tends to be quite the distraction! she has gotten really good at rolling from her stomach to her back, but is still working on the other way around.

the up with people cast (check out up with people at www.upwithpeople.org) is here in the twin cities this week. so kyle and two other students from the cast are staying with us. there are lots of activities going on and there will be two shows this weekend. it'll be fun to see a current show, and i am even going to take L one of the nights. i know it'll be past her bedtime, but we gotta live a little once in awhile. and i know she will love it. the lights, singing, dancing and bright colors will certainly capture her attention! plus, she has to be exposed to up with people at a young age :) i have taken a few photos lately. i will try to get them up in the next day or two. i am off to finish the biscotti i am making, and then get my precious girl up from her nap!