its just about midnight and im waiting on brandon to get out of work, babys sleeping, and im getting a chance to get the blog caught up. as i mentioned earlier some of the things we have done this summer i left out some pretty big milestones in the littles life.

first and most important, he started crawling. it was the last week of his fourth month. he just started scooting everywhere. it started with his toes pushing himself around, which evolved into getting up on his knees and rocking back and forth and then nose diving forward, and has culminated into this half crawl half bear-walk {no knees involved, on all fours, just those fours include the feet and hands...wierd}






and due to the ever-present acid reflux we started little on gerber 1st foods. he has been taking rice in his bottle for moths now, however the whole "spoon" thing was new to him. at first we tried something sweet, like peaches {beacuse he is our little georgia peach} and he refused it and made some rather unruly faces, so we tried something salty, grean beans...no deal. he has decided though, that he prefers just plain oatmeal. so until he has mastered the spoon {which, at this rate, appears to be late 2010} we will stick to the plain ole oatmeal. and just for your viewing pleasure (and because i know youre curious)heres little peak into what it looks like...






and finally a new friend. elliotts first best friend, for the moment we will ignore the fact that he resembles ronald mcdonald and that a million other kids think he is only theirs, and that he isnt an actual friend personified. it started on a trip to look a homes that suddenly took a turn for the worst when little started screaming in the back seat. we were 30 miles from any life form (we were way out between frankenmuth and vassar???) and as we came upon a town {if we could call it that} that only consisted of a gas station with a mcdonalds attached. i ordered my usual, a hamburger happy meal and much to my suprise the people at mickey ds finally formulated a toy for babies (okay maybe not really marketed for babies) a little stuffed ronald mcdonald. remember the child in the back seat? who is screaming his head off? (which really is nothing. he has screamed for 4 hours straight so 30 minutes is something i have mastered tuning out...please dont tell child protective services) well i handed him the toy and never heard another peep out of him. this little, foreign made, horrendously constructed toy has been a sanity-saver (and THAT is how they should have marketed it) fast forward 2 weeks, we are at the grand opening of my husbands sonic in birch run and liz from human resources walks up to our table where elliott is sitting and picks up the ronald and states "oh im so glad you got one of our toys, ive wanted to see what we are putting in the kids meals" turing red i scramble to grab it from her exclaiming that it is not one of sonics toys but rather a competing companys toy {insert emarrassment} :(
























>

and yes, i understand that this post contained many, many photos of little and his friend but i want you to understand, this is just how serious their relationship is. and one final photo because who in their sleep isnt reaching for ronald mcdonald?

time to think outside of the box

day 63 of living-outta-the-box{es}...

as most know we have moved back to michigan from the ever-missed georgia {insert sad face}. we felt like god called our new little family back to michigan where elliott hugh could grow up around cousins, aunts & uncles, grandmas and grandpas. so in two weeks time we were packed up and ready for the adventure ahead. we joke about how in the next three years there is no telling where we will be....we are a family that likes a change of scenery :)

god works in funny ways, im not sure why he called us back, and while i know the reason isnt to live with and stress out my inlaws, that is exactly where we are. i am trying to be encouraged knowing that this is all a part of his plan and that he is holding out the best house for us, because we deserve it? no, but because that is how amazing his love is. so while i contend for the shower, washing machine, and the one toilet in the house, i shall fill you in on all the "happenings" of living outta-the-box (or in my case, suitcases).

while it sounds like all we have been doing this summer is house-hunting, i impart to you that there have been sunny days and we have tried to show elliott everything living in the midwest is about......

like hanging out on the lake. on fathers day we spent the afternoon with my dad and mom. and although they have been divorced for 15 years they get along like old friends (this includes step-parents, which in some families this situation can be awkward) after the cookout dinner, papa took everyone out on a boat ride, which was elliotts first time :) he watched the cousins jump off the boat a hundred times anxiously waiting for the day he can do it...




















we celebrated birthdays on the beach. my nephew kaden matthew turned two and we spent the day at bluebell beach. elliott got to sport his new swim outfit, and spent hours entertained by watching uncle kollin and aunt keeley splash, swim, jump around, argue with each other,
and smash a "cars" themed pinata.















we welcomed a new little into our family. on july 30th, 2009 at 2:13pm my sister jenna (and her husband scott) gave birth to a sweet little girl, madelyn margaret weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces, she is now the baby of the family. we love you little maddie mae and look forward to watching you blossom into a beautiful little girl.










we learned to drive. okay, it was more like riding but whose telling the story here? uncle kollin was sweet enough to drive elliott and kaden around the front yard, which both enjoyed...






until the ride was over and we had to go in...





there are so many other things i need to update you on, but it will have to wait until later. at 5:30 i have cheerleading practice, which i enrolled my 6 year old sister in and volunteered to coach...so its off to practice i go, with elliott in tow.

just another day in the life of a "wish-i-had-a-house-to-blog-about" mama