Help for James

Hi. A lot of people have been asking me for James' address because they want to send him something, and they also ask what he needs or wants that isn't available in Afghanistan. I talked to him this morning and he asked me to try to send some soccer balls and volleyballs and writing instruments (pens/markers) so they can give them out to the kids in the local areas. He said there is 1 ball to every 200 or so kids in the location he is currently serving, and past efforts to give the gifts to the schools (like paper and other school supplies) have been sold by the principals and directors. But he said if the Army guys show up with a bunch of balls and there are a ton of kids outside, they can just hand them directly to the kids if the products haven't been sent through the Army - at least that's what I understood him to say.

So I have decided, at James' request, to try to collect as many balls and pens and things to send over to James and then his unit can distribute the things out. If any of you are interested in helping, let me know what you want to do. I can send you James' address by email if you want to send something directly to him, or if you have another idea let me know.

Photo Shoot - (One for Daddy)

I have a small confession to make - we put Maiby through a lot in order to get some cute photo ops. Today, for instance, we dressed her up in a special onesie, painted her nails, and put on some pearls. Another time we put her in the cupboard, a basket of fruit, and in the middle of the dinner ingredients - sad to say on those occasions, the camera on my phone was the only one I had available, so I can't include those pictures for a while.

The funniest thing about today's shoot was that James doesn't like the onesie; Maiby was given one from my mom at a baby shower and every time she wore it, James would say it was 'scandalous' and that she is too young to wear animal prints. It was pretty funny, but I don't think that animals prints are inappropriate for kids, and this photo shoot was mainly to show James how cute they are.

The last picture is a rough one of Maiby's new trick, 'taco tongue.' She inherited that ability from James, because I am unable to do it.

Not Much to Report

Hello all - I don't really have too much to write today, but I just feel like adding something. Last night I was working on the quiet book and ran into a snag, or at least made a whole page into a bunch of snags. It was pretty sad, but at least I have plenty of fabric for that page to try again (and a time or two after that) if needed, since I bought enough to make two, but after cutting out the pieces for one discovered I have enough for more than two - who determined the sizes of fabric needed, that's what I'd like to know!

On a better note, James is doing well. And I would be doing even better without him if the post office would cooperate with me a little more...I am waiting for 4 letters in the mail, and have not received them yet - it's been 2 weeks since the first one was sent, which is WAY too long. Hopefully today (which of course I tell myself every day and then my hopes are dashed as soon as I turn the mail key in the slot). Oh, the woes of the military wife.

Maiby and James

James sent us a picture in an email yesterday and Maiby was sitting with me and she got really excited to see his picture. It was so fun I had to video it, and I hope this works here since it's my first try...

Security

Hi everyone. I was talking to James yesterday and he wanted me to change the security settings on the blog - so that's the reasons for the invitations. I hope you are all doing well!

Quiet Book - this is for you, Debi

I mentioned the quiet book I am making for Maiby in my last blog, and Debi asked me about it, and since I don't really know how else to contact you, hopefully you check the blog again! Originally I started making one myself without a pattern - I looked at hundreds (and I don't think I am exaggerating) of websites - any that had anything to do with quiet books, but I didn't ever find quite what I was looking for. So I decided to just wing it and make sure that as Maiby grew up that she would realize it was made with love and call it good. But one day I was at Joann's for their pattern sale (99 cents each) and looking through the book for Halloween costumes and checking on other things I might want a pattern for and found a Simplicity or McCall's pattern that I really liked! So I bought it and am finished cutting things out and started working on the first page. I haven't done the cover yet because I am adding a few of my own pages that I really wanted in a quiet book, so I may change how it's put together, but I'm waiting until the pages are done before I decide.

Time

I can't believe how fast a month goes by! Maiby is now 7 months old, and has discovered her ability to do a "taco tongue" - it's super cute, but she won't let me take a picture of it. She still doesn't want to be on her belly, so my hope is that she learns to walk faster than it is taking her to even attempt crawling. But she is the joy of my life and we have been having a lot of fun. I am working on a quiet book for her, but it's difficult to get it done because we leave the house for the afternoon (naps and computer time at Grandma's) and by the time we get home it's time for dinner, bath, and bedtime. And the bedrooms are so close to the table where I sew she doesn't always stay asleep when I start sewing...one of these days it will get done!