Enjoying Florida

It was so fun to hang out back home for a few days- with built in babysitters. We got to play tennis with Joe and Heather, and I swam and jumped on the trampoline. Also, this was the first time Randy and I have been high enough on the totum pole to actually get to sleep in the guest room- rather than on the air mattresses lining the living room floor, filled with squirming children. The perks of having the youngest baby.

Randy flew back on Monday morning, so after I dropped him off I headed down to visit friends. They were all either pregnant, or had babies since I saw them last, so it was really fun to not only have them meet James, but to meet their cute kids as well. First I went to Titusville and saw Liz, my dear friend that I made at BYU Hawaii. She moved to Florida just as I left it, and now I got to visit her and George just as they are moving away as well. We didn't last long at the beach since it was so hot, but I just love the ocean, and I want my baby to grow up surfing and swimming in it. I guess as long as we have family and friends there we will always have reasons to go back.

We then headed to Melbourne to visit the Brodericks and had a great time hanging out and catching up with Vanessa- who has become this incredible mother. In fact, you may have noticed I am writing a lot more than usual. Vanessa inspired me to use this more as a journal so I can just print it up into a baby book for James in the future.

The Boyd's just had their baby and James was sure to promptly assert his dominance by trying to eat his tiny foot. I can't believe he was ever that tiny- well actually I never saw him that tiny- he was 2 lbs heavier when he was born. Still, just a month ago when we moved out to Herndon we met a family at church with a 5 month old baby named Bridger. He was huge and I thought James would never look like that. Then, last week when we were all playing ultimate frisbee at one point I looked over and saw Bridger and actually thought for a moment it was James. When did that happen? Every day he seems to change.

Lana made the drive up to Orlando. We met up and walked around Millenia Mall and caught up on life. Her kids were so sweet and patient. Little Ben is so precious. We stopped back in Gainesville for one last goodbye and a visit to the horses so my Mom could get an early start on brain washing her newest grandchild. I always love going out to see the horses. They were such a part of my childhood, and I miss it. As I've been starting to think back to and try to tell stories from my childhood (mostly horse stories of course) I'm amazed that I've forgotten the endings to most of them. I'll have to get my Mom to write them down for me so I can pass them on.

Savannah is right on route to Herndon and I was so lucky to get to spend some more time with my brother Joe's family. I decided they are perfect. Joseph is in first grade but reads on a 5th grade level or better. I just think it is so cute how their family always has a favorite song that the kids play again and again and dance to. It is currently the theme song from the World Cup. They read scriptures together and then spend time discussing how what they read applies to their lives. They run up and give hugs and call me Aunt Chrissy when I arrive. What is not to love? I just hope we can create a home like that for our family.

It was really fun to be home.