Summer Is Here!

Well, this past week didn't end up being as busy as I thought. Due to Elli getting sick again with those painful mouth sores (highly contagious by the way) our friends decided to have their kids go to someone else's house for the week. We still got their dog, but he spent most of the time outside because my stomach rolled over every time he came near me. He's a good dog, he just smells bad. So we got off fairly easy.

Elli is better now. She still cries when we brush her teeth, but I think that is just because she got out of the habit. Ruston just taught her to give him a high-five. If she is sad about anything, he simply has to ask for a high-five and she smiles so big. Life is good when daddy is home, she loves him so much. She also just learned two new words - "wow" and "um". Ruston will tell you that she got them both from me. I must say them more than I realize because she actually uses them correctly. If she sees a shiny new thing she gazes at it admiringly and says "wow!" Or if we ask her where something is she thoughtfully looks around and says "ummm" as if to tell us to wait while she thinks about it. She cracks me up!

Ruston started summer term today. I think he only has one class during the entire semester and then the rest of the time is clinic. The class is a business planning class. I'm excited for it because it means we are that much closer to graduation and the rest of our lives. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed our three years here. We've made great memories, but my two best friends are moving away this month and I am going to miss them so much. I wish them the best in life and hope that we will keep in contact.

Everything else has been pretty normal for us this past week. I'm still sick all the time, but it's worth every bit of it to be pregnant. Only one more month and it should go away. We are anxiously counting down the days until our vacation to Oregon this summer! We can't wait to see everyone and give you all hugs and kisses. We love you all and hope you are all well.

Happy Summer!

The Calm Before The Storm!

This has been a nice week. We had some time to relax, do some yard work, and plan for the coming week. Our friends Larry & Misty are leaving town this week to check out prospective schools and dental practice locations for after graduation. As a favor, we are watching their two older kids, Kaleb (7) and Mayson (4)...oh, and their dog Ziggy. I'm sure things will be fine. We love their kids and I have some fun ideas planned for the week they will be with us. The only drawback is that this is also the week that the people I babysit for are going on vacation to Paris (an anniversary present I think) and they are not taking their boys! So I will be putting in some long hours until their step-mom can come pick them up after work. Ruston is going to be helping out a lot and I think that we will both be exhausted after the week is done. But what are friends for?

Elli has been sick again this week. She's had a temperature over 101 for 4 days now. It looks like those mouth sores are back and they are really causing her pain. We aren't sure what to do. She is so miserable and walks around whining all day. I am going to have Ruston stay home from church tomorrow and be with her. This would ber her first week in Nursery, but I'm not going to let her infect any other kids. She'll just have to wait until she's healthy.

Other than that, this has been a really quite week. I'm finally starting to feel a little sick. I haven't thrown up yet, but it's irritating anyway. I'll be fine, that's just part of being pregnant!

We hope you all have a great week. We love you!

Back From Vacation!

Sorry this posting is late. We just got in last night from our vacation in North Carolina. The wedding was beautiful and we all had a great time at the reception - even Elli. She was such a trooper for us the whole trip. It's hard enough to sit in the car for hours at a time as an adult, but being strapped into a car seat is probably worse. She napped and ate snacks, we sang songs and played car games. It was a great trip overall!

Elli has learned a new word from the vacation too...buckle. Because she had to get buckled in all the time she started saying it when we got into the car. She tries so hard to say it right, you can really see her determination, but despite all efforts it always comes out "bubble-ck". That "ck" sound just won't go in the middle of the word like it should and it's so cute to listen to her trying to get it right. We love her so much and thank Heavenly Father everyday for such a wonderful little girl.

I went to my first doctors appointment this morning! I'm officially six weeks pregnant! I'm not sure when I started feeling sick last time, but I'm sure it will happen soon. Oh well, just part of being pregnant I guess. The doctor (Dr. Shawi) said that my due date will be January 8, 2008 - not the 11th like we had thought. That's good for me as long as the baby is ready then. I'll probably not expect it to come till later and then be pleasently surprised if it happens sooner. That's the safe route!

Ruston is enjoying his time off from school (sometimes I think he's enjoying it a little too much!) but has some plans for projects around the house. It's summer vacation, so I'm not expecting very much to actually happen, but here's to hoping! Happy summer everyone!

SUCCESS AT LAST!!

Hello Family and Friends!

We are so pleased to tell everyone that we are expecting another baby! We just found out yesterday (Sunday) and couldn't wait to get the news out. We'll have eight months of waiting now - one of the downsides to telling so soon - but news this exciting just has to be shared. I'm due January 11, 2008, but that could change a little since my doctor doesn't even know yet. We will keep everyone posted on changes. We love you all and thank you for your prayers. We knew it had to happen eventually!

Love,
Alesha, Ruston & Elli

Welcome Summer Time!!

We made it! Summer is here and Ruston is done with school...for three weeks. He's already seen the new Spider Man 3 (said it wasn't as cool as the last two) and been golfing several times. No tests, studying or clinic problems. Man, what would life be like with a vacation from your everyday duties? I guess all you moms out there can relate, huh?

We are sprucing up our yard with some new grass seed and flowers. The vegetable garden will come soon too. We were excited to see that a couple cardinals have built a nest in one of our trees and they have chicks. It's only 6-7 feet off the ground so it's pretty easy to spot. It's funny because after we spent all day looking at them (from a distance of course), as we were getting Elli ready for bed they came and perched by our bay window as if they were watching us! It's pretty cool.

Elli is doing great. She is learning how to walk up and down stairs. She is still very hesitant, but with a helping hand from mom or dad she can do it pretty well. Her animal noise knowledge has expanded to include owls now! The "hoo hoo" sounds a little bit like her version of a monkey, but we understand. She has really been enjoying her time with Shadow (the dog of the boys I babysit). This week she has decided that hugging and bodyslamming Shadow is a good thing. It's the funniest thing to watch this little tiny girl walk up nonchalantly to a black lab and then just tackle her from the side. Shadow rolls over and licks Elli who gets up giggling and smiling...ready for more everytime! They have a great time together.

I had a fun weekend (last weekend). One of Ruston's classmates in getting married soon, as I've mentioned before. Her bachelorette party was this past Saturday and we went to a country-western club/bar. Inside they had a mechanical bull! I've always been too chicken to do it, but since most everyone else was either pregnant, drunk or having a migraine I did it and it was FUN! I stayed on for 1 minute 52 seconds. The operator was taking it easy though. He said that full-blast the longest anyone has stayed on is 55 seconds, so I think I was on the easy setting. This will be a place where we take any family who comes out here though, it was a great time.

Only 12 weeks till we go to Oregon!! We hope to see you all then. We love you all!