Elliana has hit the 8 month mark!

  Bryson's second interview in Chattanooga on the 19th seemed to have went well. He is hopeful to hear something about at least one of the two jobs he's interviewed for in the next couple of weeks. However, T.V.A. is notoriously SLOW about these things! So, we are just being patient and seeing what happens.
   Elliana continues to get better and better at this crawling stuff. She's still not exactly up on hands and knees, but boy can she cover some ground! I find myself constantly going to get her out of something she shouldn't be in. She's very 'busy' to say the least and I can imagine I'll be running crazy with her in the next few weeks and months as she learns to crawl even better and then walk!
  We got to spend a lot of time at the Rogers over the weekend. It was beautiful and sunny weather. Bryson and I even got a short fishing trip in with Chris on Friday (though the fish weren't biting). Elliana really seems to enjoy trips home, but she inevitably gets way off her schedule and becomes quite the bear by the time we return home. It usually takes a couple of days to get her back on track, but I'm just very thankful she likes her schedule as much as I do! I don't know what I'll do when she outgrows naptime.
   Bryson and I got to go on a hot date all by ourselves Saturday night! It was the first time we've been able to go with just us two since before Elliana was born....eight months ago! We spent a couple of hours in Chattanooga. Most of our trip was spent running errands, but hey when you have a baby at home there always seems to be something needing to be picked up. It was nice getting out for a little bit. We appreciate Mammie, Pappy, and Inga for watching Elliana for us.
   We also dropped off our taxes to be filed with Ben Hill in Trenton last weekend. Hopefully we don't owe the government any more money; and even better, maybe we'll get some of our hard earned money back! It would be so nice to pay off a big chunk of college debt if so, and that's exactly where it'll go if we get a return. One of these days we'll get to spend it on something fun...well maybe one day anyhow. :)  I guess that's all I've got for this post. Nothing too exciting going on here lately. I slacked on my picture taking this past weekend too, but I'll add a few to the bottom of this post.

chowing down on a cracker

Always a crumbly mess, but she loves them!

Very excited to have Pappy playing with her. :)

She really seems to have a soft spot for her Pappy, but then again I think it's a mutual thing.

Inga and Elliana taking advantage of the pretty weather

She really crashed hard after we got home Sunday night

 

Elliana's first Valentine's Day

We had a long and relaxing weekend this past weekend. Bryson was off on Monday for President's Day (one of the great benefits of having a government job!). It was so nice to just chill out at home. We only left the house a couple of times to go to Wal-mart and for an early Valentine's dinner together at Red Lobster. Dinner was so good! We hadn't eaten there since I was pregnant with Elliana, and I had almost forgotten how much I liked it. Of course Elliana got to tag along too; even though she didn't get any shrimp! :)

Elliana in her fluffy coat, so cute!

Elliana sporting her Valentine's outfit

My Valentine's roses from Bryson, he's a sweet one

Elliana loved her stuffed Valentine's puppy from her sweetheart...her daddy!

These two are the best!

This kid loves a bath

Got to love the little piggies!

February in full swing

Marianne and Chris, a.k.a. Mammie and Pappy, came up to clarksville Feb. 2 to see their favorite grandbaby! Elliana was excited to have some different faces to interact with. (I know she has to get sick of seeing me all day every day) It was a short trip, but I appreciate them coming up and I know Elliana had a blast!

Bryson's interview in Chattanooga Friday seemed to go very well. He is hopefull some good will come out of it. We expect to find something out in the next couple of weeks. I added a picture of him in his new suit. All I can say is I would definitely hire this handsome man!!! :)

 It's becoming apparent that Elliana is an animal lover (woman after my own heart!). Lately anytime she sees a dog, for example, she gets really excited and definitely wants to get her hands on them. It's really cute! I've got a few pictures of her getting to know her pooches.

playing with her dog, Tootsie

                                          Checking out 'Famous Amos' Aunt Bella's puppy


Feb. 6, was my granny's (my mom's mom) 77th birthday. We had a dinner for her on Friday and mom and dad's house. She opened a few presents, ate a good dinner, had birthday cupcakes, and played with her great-grandbaby. She said it was a good day!

Opening presents with her sister, Ocie

                                                                                                         the birthday girl saying good night to the sleepy baby

                                            She's just the cutest little granny ever!


Here are a few extra pictures from out trip the the mountain this past weekend.

                                           Mom (nana) with Elliana and her moose

                                          My dad (papa) with Elliana

                                       Pap (Chris's dad) with Elliana on Sunday

                                        Uncle Brodie....I think he's quite smitten with her

Elliana's almost crawling and we may be moving in the near future!

  Elliana is now 7 1/2 months and has really been working hard to crawl lately. She's finally figured out how to get her hands and knees under her at the same time. Now if she can just figure out how to get those hands and knees moving, she'll be off. I really need to finish baby-proofing the house!

  Bryson has an interview in Chattanooga Friday. We are excited about the potential of moving closer to home. If he were to get the job, we're not sure where we would live yet. Probably lookout mtn., or maybe Tiftonia. Anyhow, we'd be much closer to family which would be a nice change. If he doesn't get the job, we'll be in Clarksville a bit longer which is fine too. I guess we'll see how it goes. I am just praying God works things out in a way he knows is best!