Sweet Hughes: Birthdays, Grammies and ugh school

SO I never intended on going pretty much the whole month of September without posting, but I have the same excuse as always...school. We are in the LAST round of classes before our practicum (pretend you're a nurse for 5 weeks in the hospital) but since it is 5 weeks and it is what it is...there is a lot of (questionably necessary) work and the blog went to the back burner. Besides, ain't like there is a whole lot going on, especially since John got back into his MBA course work (3 1/2 classes to go!). Like I've said before, we'll be real adults again soon. Real soon. please.

Graduate to high chair

Anyways, there was some excitement in September that is my BIRTHDAY! JK, but seriously I love birthdays and always have. I can thank my parents for always planning some awesome parties when I was a kid and always sending me birthday love no matter where I am or have been. Birthdays should always be celebrate I believe. Someone got to enjoy (hopefully) their life another year and it's time to celebrate.

This year we were fortunate enough to have my mom here to visit! No soapboxes here but let me just say I miss my mother dearly but when I do get to see her it is all the more special. As per tradition with John's family, we get together for dinner and have dessert and presents. To keep things simple yet lovely, we had dinner across the street from our house at lake Robinson. We have hardly spent time there so it was high time. It was absolutely gorgeous. Only had to bring the food, otherwise totally free to be there. It was wonderful, it really was.

While mom was here, she babysat for Ellie while I had class obligations, but then we cooked together and did some shopping together. You know, spent a little birthday money and had a lot of fun. I kinda paid for having so much on Tuesday (and maybe Monday but I don't know that grade yet!) when I took an exam, but you know what? Family is priority sometimes and the grade was OK. So...HA! I don't regret it.

What else? Ellie is 7 months now. That sounds crazy, a little. She is such a little monkey. I now have to watch out where I place things because she has the grabby hands that go for anything in proximity. She hates to be on her stomach so she flips as soon as she can. Crawling delays? She eats a little baby food now and actually likes it. She laughs, giggles and smiles which is more than anyone could ask for. She "says" momma but it is mixed in with a lot of other M syllables so who knows if she knows what she is saying. I like it none the less. We are working on dada, but she and John usually just make the raspberry sounds together (you know, the fart sounds :) It is just as cute, just with more drool. I'm loving this stage, so interactive and fun.