Trips, Holidays, and Loads of Fun

In mid-December we went to Utah to attend the wedding of Becca, one of my mission companions. Liliana handled her first airplane trip like a champ - although she refused to nap either at the airport or on the plane. We had a great time visiting with family and friends while we were in Utah. Liliana got to play with her cousins, Kaden and Daxton, and I got to spend time with my parents, and my siblings (Renee, Joey, and Ren's husband, Larry). David and I really enjoyed the spirit that was present during the beautiful wedding ceremony. It was only the third live sealing I have been able to attend and it was wonderful.

Upon returning to Washington we were hit with a long stretch of cold, snowy, and windy weather (must be the effects of global warming). The iced over snowy roads made for interesting driving conditions when we went to David's extended family Christmas Eve party. Also, as a result of all the snow and ice, a number of flights were canceled at the airport. This made our plans for flying standby to California to visit my grandparents impossible. We were told that Christmas day was a good day to fly standby because most people were already where they wanted to be so there was usually some space available on the planes. However, with the tens of thousands of people who hadn't made it to their destinations, that changed everything. We have been continuing to check flight availability and we're hoping to make it to L.A. tomorrow so Great Grandma and Grandpa Jovet can spend some time with Liliana (and us, if they're interested).

The day after Christmas we had a little game night with some good friends and their spouses who all happened to be in town for the holidays. Then yesterday we attended my Grandma Thompson's Christmas party and got a picture of Liliana with Santa (my great Uncle Joe). I thought Liliana was going to cry or at least be unhappy about sitting on his lap, but she just kept looking at him like she was trying to figure him out. We even got her to turn around and smile for a picture!

Well, the new year is fast upon us. Liliana will turn one year old in less than a month! David will finish his last class this quarter and graduate in March! I should be done with my degree by June. After that....the sky is the limit! I wonder what new adventures await us this year...

Giving Thanks

Liliana's first Thanksgiving has already come and gone. She tried a little of almost everything on my plate and seemed to like it all. We celebrated Thanksgiving with David's family at his aunt and uncle's home on Angle Lake. Liliana was one of three babies in the family who were celebrating their first Thanksgiving. Liliana, being a curious kid, picked up a set of 1 pound hand weights after dinner (I guess she wanted to work off some of those extra calories) and was holding them up and out, showing them off to anyone who would pay attention. I managed to snap a couple of photos before she held them up too high over her head and the weight carried her backwards. Her face changed from a big grin to a look of complete surprise as she tipped over and ended up lying flat on her back. After a taking a moment to let what had happened sink in, Liliana began to cry very loudly. I'm pretty sure she was more upset by the shock of what had happened than hurt.

Liliana has a seventh tooth coming in now. She decided to try out that new tooth on me one morning when I was nursing her. Let's just say that I let out a yelp, she drew blood, and I refused to nurse her for a little while after that. Luckily for her, she hasn't tried to chomp on me again because I won't hesitate to wean her instantly if she pulls that once more!

My great aunt Deb gave Liliana a little rocking horse. Liliana has figured out how to rock it back and forth as well as bounce up and down on it. She really likes to play on that toy. The other day she got a little confused between trying to rock it back and forth and trying to bounce up and down and she started shaking her head back and forth, not going anywhere. It was pretty funny to watch.

We set up our Christmas tree on Saturday. Liliana enjoys pulling the ornaments off the bottom branches, but doesn't seem to pay much attention to the tree as a whole. Luckily David and I were thinking when we purchased our decorations on our first Christmas together and bought all plastic decorations (the ones that look glass, but are kid friendly).

Liliana has begun to say, "hi" in response to others who say it to her. It sounds more like, "eye-eeee" but it is really cute. She is also waving like a champ now (before she would only wave sometimes - I guess she just had to be in the mood - but now she'll do it any time someone waves to her. Another thing she is doing is standing without support - though she gets nervous and sits down and soon as she realizes that she's doing it. It is amazing to see how much she is learning and growing. I can't believe that she's 10 and a half months old already! Time sure does fly when you're having fun.

Love me, Stranger

At church on Sunday David and I were sitting in the back row of the chapel and Liliana was crawling around on the floor and playing with some quiet toys. A brother in the ward that Liliana has only really seen once before entered the chapel and she immediately lifted her arms up and smiled at him to pick her up. David and I both had to fight back the laughter because she has never done that to strangers before and she really doesn't even raise her arms for us to pick her up either. The brother bent right over and picked her up and she seemed very happy to be held by him. Babies are so funny!

In this picture Liliana is wearing a dress that my dad brought back for her from Hong Kong. She looked so cute in it!

Chompers

Liliana is sprouting new teeth like crazy. She's just had her two center teeth on the bottom since July, but few weeks ago I noticed something white flash when I was pushing her in the swing at the park. I stopped the swing and checked out her mouth and, sure enough, the corner of her tooth was poking through on the top. However, it wasn't one of her center teeth - it was the next one over on the side. I've never seen a baby get side teeth in before their center teeth. It looked pretty funny for a few days until the center tooth next to it pushed through the skin. Now the other center tooth and the incisor next to it are on the verge of breaking through and will probably make their appearance in the next day or so. Liliana will have gone from two teeth to six teeth in a matter of a few weeks. I am already getting nostalgic over her loss of the "gummy grin". She is looking less like a baby and more like a toddler every day and I can't believe how fast it is happening.

I'm enjoying my Achievement Day Leader calling at church. I get to work with the eight to eleven year old girls on different activities that help them complete the requirements for the Faith in God award. For a bit of insight into what we do, you can check out our ADG (Achievement Day Girls) website.

David is applying for graduation for next quarter and will only have one more class to take to complete his degree! It will be nice to not have both of us in school come March - and I'll only have one quarter left at that point. The goal line is near!

Random wandering thought: I love the Fall in Washington. The deciduous leaves are turning yellow, orange, red, and brown. Yet we maintain a lot of greenery from the abundant evergreen trees. The air has a crispness to it and carries the wonderful smell of fallen leaves. Thanksgiving is fast upon us (which just happens to be my favorite holiday - family, focus on blessings, great food, kick off the holiday season). God truly has made a magnificently beautiful world for us to behold, care for, and inhabit.

Goodbye Grandpa

Where do I start? A couple of months ago my grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It hit with a vengeance and Grandpa Thompson passed away last Tuesday. I have been so blessed to have had all four of my grandparents throughout my childhood and into my adult life. I guess I took it for granted that they were always around because I have learned so much about him in the last week since his passing that I just never knew before. For example, while I was aware that he was an extremely talented musician, I didn't know that he played his violin in the San Francisco World's Fair when he was nine years old. Also, I did not know that his work for Boeing as an engineer included helping with the lunar lander and assisting with the engineering that fixed the oxygen problem in the Apollo 13 mission. I also learned this week that the violin my mom plays was originally my grandfather's and that he gave it to her when she was big enough to play an adult sized violin, rather than the child-sized one on which she had learned. I knew my grandfather was an avid family history buff, but didn't know that he had a chair in his back room that was covered in a sheet that came over on the Mayflower. I knew my grandfather loved the outdoors and had been involved with the Boy Scouts for most of his life, but I was not aware of the extensive reach his scouting activities and projects had. I am so grateful for a grandfather who accepted the gospel and grasped the iron rod firmly with one hand, while clinging to his family with the other. He was a pioneer in the gospel and I thank him for the testimony he instilled in my mother so that she could in turn instill it in me.

I am glad I had the opportunity to get some pictures of my grandfather with Liliana with my grandfather at her blessing back in March, while he was still healthy. I will always remember how much Grandpa Thompson loved babies and let us all know that they were the real reason he attended all the family functions (though we knew he loved seeing us too). Though Liliana won't remember him, I know his life has laid a great foundation for her and the generations that will follow.

I am sooooooo thankful for the Plan of Salvation and for my knowledge of it. It has made this temporary separation from my grandfather bearable for my family because we know that we will all be reunited on the other side. Grandpa has simply gone on ahead and will continue in the Lord's service on the other side. I love you, Grandpa, and told you so many times. And even though you weren't the type to openly show affection or emotions, I know you love me too.

Change of Plans

Well, my practicum placement at the preschool has fallen through, so now I'm just taking one class this quarter and we only meet once a week for three hours. To be honest, I'm actually quite relieved. I get to be with my baby and don't have to stress about not spending enough time with her. Things started falling apart a couple of weeks ago when my first placement fell through and then my back-up placement just didn't get cleared fast enough - which worked out for the better since part of my child-care situation fell through at the last minute as well. David's Dad was going to be watching Liliana in the mornings until he had to leave for work a little before 3pm and then a good friend of mine was going to watch Liliana in the afternoons until I got home. My friend had some problems arise at the last minute and wasn't going to be able to watch Liliana in the afternoon and I didn't want to leave her with just anyone. When everything hit the fan Tuesday evening, I just started stressing out and crying. I asked David to give me a blessing. We had a really good conversation and prayed together before the blessing and I knew before he even gave me the blessing that it was the right thing to do for me to pare back and just take the one class this quarter so I could be with my baby. I felt so relieved and everything worked out fine with getting withdrawn from the practicum, even though I was passed the official withdrawal date (since I was without a placement in which to get my practicum hours, there was no way to complete the class, so the school was willing to refund my tuition - for which I am soooo grateful).

This morning David was holding Liliana and she turned, looked at me, and said, "Mama". She has been making the "mamama ma ma" noises for awhile, but I never really felt like she was necessarily calling to me until today. After she said it, she leaned my direction, as if she was expecting me to come pick her up. She was hungry and ready to feed, and since I'm the "food lady", she probably figured she better get my attention!

Later this morning, while I was getting David's lunch together, Liliana was crawling around the kitchen. I realized that things were quiet and looked around to see what she was up to. She had climbed into her bumbo seat (a little foamy baby seat that sits on the floor) all by herself! I took a picture and we'll get that posted on our family website.

Oh, I am sooooo relieved to be staying with my baby. This actually works out so well, because if I am able to get my placement in the preschool/childcare center near my home next quarter, once Liliana turns a year (2 weeks into the quarter), I can just take her to the center with me and pay 50% tuition since I'll be an employee. I had originally been planning to take her with me to the center this quarter, but was informed that the employee discount only applies to babies over 1 and that full-priced tuition was about $340 a week - ouch! Since I'll have completed this other class, my coursework will be a bit lighter next quarter as well. We'll see what happens. Whether or not I'm able to graduate in June now, I know I'm exactly where I need to be and that Heavenly Father will guide me in what is best for me and my family - as long as I'm willing to let Him.

Shake Your Booty

Yesterday Liliana randomly started "dancing" (kind of shaking and wiggling back and forth) when I was singing to her. It was so cute! I started clapping, which made her stop dancing and clap too. Later in the day she was playing with a toy that makes music and she would do her quick little wiggle-dance to the music. It's so fun to see her learn and do new things. I am going to have such a hard time being away from her while I'm at school or at the preschool for my practicum. I just have to remind myself that it is just a ten week quarter for the Practicum and then one last ten week quarter for my student teaching. Come March, I'll be done. I've got to keep my eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel and not get all flustered by the stress and sadness at being in school and away from my baby. I'm so close I can almost taste it. I really want to set the example for my children by completing my four year degree (even though I'll have actually taken about 6 years worth of college classes by the time I'm finished). I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.....