Happy Birthday Aubrey!!

She is a year old today! I can't believe it!! I have some cute pictures to put up, but then it's back to packing and getting ready to visit California!!!!

Children's Museum

Look who's walking!!!

Wow! I couldn't believe my eyes when she took a few steps and less than an hour later she was walking almost 5 feet on her own!!! A little while later she was making her way to the end of the couch and trying to walk off on her own across the room. Pretty soon she's going to be running all over the place. She is just so amazing :) Just earlier today I was saying I hoped she started walking before we left for California so Jarom could see it, I guess she took that as a challenge!

Hope there were lots of Happy 4ths to go around!

Let's get it out of the way first - check out that beard on Jarom! It's his "thesis beard" and it will not go away until said thesis is completed. His adviser has given him an arbitrary early deadline of the end of August, as opposed by graduation in the middle of December. He is supposed to be dedicating hours previously dedicated to eating, sleeping, and breathing to finishing his thesis early. He's voluntarily sacrificed shaving hours as well. :)
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. Lincoln was an absolute war zone of loud bangs and sparkley fireworks. We contributed in a small way of our own so that Aubrey could have her first 4th in style. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they're banned back home aren't they? So sad :(
Speaking of home... have I mentioned how excited we are to be coming back home and be done with school for good at the end of this year? Once we find out when the magic date is we'll get a count down going *happy dance!*

Wow! 11 months old!!!

How did that go by so fast? I can't believe she's coming up on one year already. I saw a tiny newborn the other day and I couldn't believe how tiny she was, I couldn't believe Aubrey used to be that small - actually smaller! I couldn't believe how big she is now and how fast she is learning and growing. I can't believe my baby is almost a year old!!!! I added a fun little countdown to her big day. Not much to report on for now. Aubrey is still climbing on everything, trying to walk, and learning new things every day. Jarom has finished data collection for his research so now he starts his thesis. I am still reveling in Mommy-hood. We are fairly certain we'll be coming home at the end of this year. All in all, all is well in our little world!

We have teeth!

After a few months of wondering if Aubrey's first rebellion against her father would be to not have any teeth for him to straighten, we have the first 2 poking through.
Well, you're going to have to take my word for it because that was the best shot I could get and her tongue is covering those little suckers up.

"Mommy, what's with the camera right in my face?"

Anyway, thought I'd share the news. It totally caught me off guard because she hasn't been inappreciably more fussy and she hasn't been chewing things all that much. Not that I'm complaining :)

On another note, we survived the monster storms last night. Even though a few tornadoes touched down around south eastern Nebraska it was largely spared from damage. And the worst we personally got was a thorough scare. We were extremely happy that we moved to our current south east location though since the rest of the city suffered a lot of flooding, some lightning strikes, a fire, and at least one tornado that may or may not have touched down. Reports were mixed last night. But here in the south east the storms mostly just rattled their sabers. Have I mentioned how happy we are to be moving home at the end of this year?

UPDATE: cute and smart baby alert :)

*I wasn't pointing at my mouth or anything, it was all her!*

Its the little things

As everyone is well aware, Aubrey is adorable :) Just now she was taking her morning nap and about half way into it she popped open her eyes and vigorously kicked off the blanket I had draped over her little legs, looked over at me, then went right back to sleep. I was so tickled I just felt like sharing. Also, I have some pics from a little trip to the park. Have I mentioned how adorable she is?

Oh, by the way - it looks like it is definitely going to work out with the orthodontist we were talking to so we're coming home permanently at the end of the year!!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!

And another by the way - I'm just dying for those Laguna beach pictures!!! Someone please send me some