Birthday Update, Happy Veteran's Day

Well, I turned another year older last Saturday, one more until I hit a quarter of a century. LeMar and I started the celebration Friday with a dinner at Olive Garden, just the two of us. Alyssa was at church for baby sitting where they offer "Parent's Night Out" once a month, child care from 6-10p for only $5. After dinner, we wandered around PC for a bit, then we went home and I got to open my presents. LeMar gave me a new iPod nano, the Nike+ attachment, and new running shoes! I had to open them Friday night so I could use them on my birthday when we did a 5k together as a family along with some of my friends from work. Alyssa enjoyed must of the race from her jogging stroller, but she did get a little fussy towards the end. She and I finished somewhere around 28:30, and LeMar came across the line a few minutes later. After the race we all went to IHOP for some delicious pancakes. Next we went to a picnic with my lab group at work. Then we came home and got some book shelves from some friends. We bought the shelves from them for the price of baby sitting their little rugrat sometime in the future. I rounded out the day with some homework since I had played instead on Friday night.

Also, I took my PFT this past Monday. Although I wasn't required to take it until December 21st, 6 months after Alyssa was born, I knew I was ready to take it and I figured I might as well knock it out so I wouldn't have to worry about injuries or anything. Well . . . I maxed it with a run time of 10:45. Our commander rocks: since I got a 100% he'll give me a two day pass!

Chatter Box

Alyssa is trying hard to tell us something

Happy Halloween!

I hope you had a spooktackular day. Here a few pictures of Alyssa in her Halloween attire; several of them were taken at April's house where Alyssa goes for day care. We will post more through the picture links to the right in the not too distant future.

Alyssa is now > 4 months old. She had her 4 mo check up on the 27th, and she is nearly 15 lbs! She also got her ears pierced on the 27th. She is doing great on her stomach, holding her head and chest up beautifully; not scooting yet, but I don't think it will be long. She wants soooo badly to sit up on her own, but she still needs assistance or something to lean on. She chatters, coos and laughs all the time, especially in the mornings and shortly after a nap. I can't believe how much she has grown and changed over the last four months; it has been incredible!

Online Classes Rock

I'm working on my Master's Degree by taking classes online, 2 this semester. With the crazy-busy life I'm leading, taking online classes rocks! This is why:

15 Things I've Done While Watching a Lecture:
1) Nursed Alyssa
2) Cooked dinner
3) Washed dishes
4) Folded laundry
5) Fallen asleep; later woke up 'n rewound to the last thing I remember
6) Checked e-mail
7) Written on our blog
8) Shopped on the internet
9) Written a grocery list
10) Txtd with LeMar while he's working
11) Pumped
12) Cleaned/straightened up the house
13) Prep-ed my uniform
14) Taken a bath
15) Used the restroom

Long time, no blog; an update on the last month's events

Please forgive me in taking so long to post again. You see, I went back to work on August 4th, and it has been pretty taxing. LeMar is working the midnight shift at work (8p-7a), Alyssa goes to daycare from 7a-4p-ish, and I work 0730-1630. We really just see each other in passing. When he isn't working, LeMar takes care of Alyssa at home. I love that they get to spend so much time together. She is quite the handful right now; yesterday he pretty much had to hold her the ENTIRE day. As soon as she was set down she would start to whine. However, our most exciting news: ALYSSA SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

I'm taking too classes online this semester; please pray for me that I may juggle everything. I would hate to spoil my 4.0. Work is going great; I have moved to the micro[biology] lab group, and I'm doing a really cool project with a bacteriocin (look it up if you care).

We had a fellowship night with our Sunday school class last night. I had a blast, and I would like to say that the women ROCK at Battle of the Sexes. Of course the men say the questions are rigged in our favor, and honestly there were a bunch of their questions that I didn't know either.

LeMar goes back to work tonight. He is really enjoying his job. He passed his check ride on July 21st, so since then he has been working on his own. It has brought him a lot of relief not having someone observing and critiquing his every move while on duty. It's also nice because he has more room in the car to take along food and all of the incidental gear he might need while working.

Now for some pictures:

First bath (7/15):


Trip to Florida Caverns State Park (7/22):




First bath with out crying (8/2):




Sleeping on/in the couch (8/4):


Lounging (8/11):


Crying (8/13):