3 Mazacs

Ok, Sabina and I were talking about changing the spelling of Eliana's nickname to Elli or Ellie instead of Eli. This is mainly because Eli is most commonly pronounced ee-lie as in Eli Manning.

So, whaddya think? Should we change it to Elli or Ellie? Please post comments to help us out.

Here's what Eliana looks like, to help you out. (Just an excuse to put yet another picture of Eliana on our blog) This was in her blowing bubbles phase.

Eli got a scan to check her spine. The machine Angel is operating shoots two needles into the spine. Just kidding. It's just two little wheels on either side of the spine that she rolls up Eli's back to check the muscular tension and see where it's not balanced on both sides.

During our small group on Tuesday night, the guys took over the sofa. Brad promptly renamed the sofa - the Brofa. Nice. (Sabina wanted me to clarify b/c she didn't get it at first - brothers on the sofa=Brofa)

Our small group is a group of six married couples from church (two were not there that night) who meet weekly to hang out, study the Bible together, pray, play Wii, eat corned beef hash, plan garage sales, share crazy stories, eat Oreos, watch Dave Ramsey, and challenge and encourage each other.

Our group has been together since August 2007 and will meet until the end of May 2009. After that, we'll join another small group. This is now our second married small group (we'd been in singles small groups before we were married). It's been great to have other couples to share life with as we go through job changes, new children, personal struggles, and big decisions. The best part is seeing how God shows up in all of those situations.

Yep, Eli now can rollover from her front to back pretty much whenever she wants.

Ok, so I messed my back up a little over a month ago. It started getting better so I did a little too much and messed it up again.

Anyway, during the whole recovery time I was working from home as much as possible so I could rest, stretch, ice, and heat it.

Here's one of my creative work positions that allowed me to get some things done while resting my back.

Here are the new PJs that Tita bought Eli. They are all one piece in the back, but have a slit in the front so you can put them on. The front flap hangs over the pants to make it look like her shirt is untucked. Eli looked like such a grown up with her "adult" pajamas that had no buttons or zippers, so I just had to put on the matching hat that came with the outfit. The hat took her down a notch and made her look like a baby again, so I felt better. She's growing up so fast!
Check out how cute she is. We couldn't pick just one picture, so here are a bunch for those picture lovers out there. :-) ~ Sabina :-)

This picture was taken one morning during the time when we phased Eli out of the swaddle and the pacifier. That's right, she now sleeps without a swaddle and without a pacifier! She truly is amazing!

This night she had slept in the swaddle but with her arms out and free. Overnight she managed to wiggle her legs completely out of the swaddle. And, in the picture it looks like it caused her feet to fall off (don't worry, they're still attached).

This was Eli's very first time in Waumba Land which is the environment for birth - 4yrs at Watermarke Church.

She stayed for both services because she liked it so much. Well, really, it was because Sabina was serving in UpStreet leading her small group of 2nd graders at the first service and then both of us went to "big church" together during the second service.

For the Fourth Of July we went to visit the 'Rents in North Carolina. Kevin and Jackie, my brother and his wife, were there also. Kevin's birthday is July 4th so it was a party weekend.

We played frisbee golf, went flying in a Cessna 172rg with dad, had filet mignons on the grill, homemade carrot cake, and almost burned down the neighborhood. Seriously, the very first firework (sounds weird in the singular) that was lit left a little burning ash that landed in the top of a pine tree. We thought it would go out, but instead it began to catch the tree on fire. Fortunately, with lightning quick assembly of two hoses, Dad was all over it and saved the entire Hickory metropolitan area from certain disaster. Whew!

The four of us drove up to the mountains during the weekend, so the first picture is me and Sabina on top of Grandfather Mountain.

The second picture is the birthday boy holding Eli in her Fourth Of July outfit (that Tita bought her) while she was singing the Star Spangled Banner.