So it is now 11:50 at night, I am awake and on my computer for one reason: I have a paper to finish. Why, you may ask, am I on word-press blogging then? Well, I am waiting on Microsoft Word to open my document I saved from my office computer on to my laptop, which lay before me in my…well, lap. And i have a few second to tell you about this wonderful laptop.

My laptop is back from the dead. It died in the beginning of December. I tried to fix it, but I couldn’t… it was dead. I called in the warranty, they tried to fix it but they couldn’t…. it was dead. Sony decided to replace my laptop, but they couldn’t… the stock room was empty.  So they cut me a check to console be but it couldn’t… my laptop was dead.(well okay it really did help) But then this morning, I had my dead laptop… as a last ditch effort pressed a bunch of random function keys while it was booting up and it let me boot up and format the hard drive. Literally, that is all i did, just a bunch of random buttons… I don’t know which ones for the life of me, I couldn’t tell you… but it worked. So now I have my computer back and some coin in my pocket for having to do the work to fix it myself…even if I don’t know what i did.

Yesterday, Afton got her first hair cut. I know, I know…she is growing up way too fast! In all honesty, Afton really only needed a little trimming of her bangs and the top of her hair. Her hair is so curly it looks short, but when it’s wet, it’s past her shoulders. Afton did really well getting her hair cut. She disliked putting the smock on, so we decided to leave that off. But after that, Brittany (our hair dresser) gave her two combs and we were good to go. That is until Brittany put the blow dryer to Afton’s hair…she tried to get away as quick as she could! Overall, Afton was wonderful and such a big girl about the whole ordeal! Here are some pictures:

Amy

The good and Kindly Shepherd

 He came one morning with a long white hook

out from the goats, the sheep he took.

According to the Living Book.

this is a response to a 22words blog challenge

Every once in a while, John will start to feel bad about me not having everything I want.  Even if I did have everything I wanted, I am sure I would only want more.  The bottom line is, I have EVERYTHING I need.  I have an amazing, loving, selfless husband who is such a great provider for our family.  We have a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes to wear, and then some.  I also have the most precious little girl who is so sweet, healthy, energetic, and beautiful.  And above all, I am in a marriage that is founded in Christ.  What more could I ask for?  No, I may not have everything I want…but God has given me everything I need.  Everything I have is a blessing from God!

John and Afton:  I love you more than anything and I am so thankful for each of you!  I hope you know that!

Amy

This is hands down the stupidest post i have done in a while( the only post i have done in a while too).

I was in an emo band in college “can’t catch simon” was our name, we were terrible. I thought i had put it behind me.

Then, today I came across this article and I came across the the emo band name generator. it is good fun you should try it. 

my band name would be Physical Underlying Satellite. 

that is something i guess.

jm

It has obviously been far too long since we have posted a blog.  It seems the older Afton gets, the busier we get.  But let’s get right down to the juicy stuff…the most important recent happening: the birth of my nephew, Bennett Aaron, who was born on November 14th at 1:46pm weighing 8lbs. 1oz and measuring 21″ long.  He is simply beautiful and I can’t wait to hold him in two days!  My brother and sis-in-law are so excited that Bennett is finally here and he is already such a blessing to them.  I know they are going to be amazing parents that raise Bennett in an environment that is Christ-centered and full of love.  

Brad, Jenny & Bennett

Bennett Aaron

Now to Afton, who is 15 months old and running all over the place.  Afton is so full of energy and loves to laugh.  She enjoys being outside, dancing and listening to music, playing the piano, watching movies, being chased/tickled by mommy or daddy, giving hugs, and reading books.  She is now starting to hold her own spoon to eat and is holding her own food to take bites.  We know it is inevitable that she grow up, but that doesn’t make it any easier.  Her vocabulary continues to increase all the time.  Some new words include:

moo=movie

ney=the sound her horse makes

mow=the sound her kitties make

bah=bath

beh=bed

rah=rock

bleh=blanket

sha=socks

sigh=outside

shi=sit

figh=high five

I’m sure there are a few more I’m forgetting.  Afton is doing so many cute things right now.  She walks straight to the bathroom door when it’s time to take a bath, goes to her bedroom door when we tell her it’s time to go to bed, says “moo” while pointing at the TV/DVD player when she wants to watch a movie, points out the window and says “sigh” (see above for translation), and walks to the garage door when I tell her we’re going to check the mail.  Everyday, I cannot imagine our lives without her.  Hopefully sometime in the future, Afton will have a little brother or sister to play with.  We are really looking forward to adding to our family…just don’t get your hopes up quiet yet!  I will close with some recent pics of sweet Afton.

Amy

What I love about Afton:

-I love her happy disposition (you can make her smile no matter what)

-I love her sweet smile, with her 4 (almost 6) baby teeth sticking out

-I love her cute laugh (real or fake), especially when she throws her head back to laugh

-I love her open-mouth kisses

-I love her priceless hugs

-I love the way she walks, like she’s been riding a horse all day

-I love the way she tries to run when you say, “I’m gonna get you!”

-I love the way she holds her favorite toys tightly and sucks her thumb

-I love the way she sits in your lap under a blanket when she’s tired

-I love the way she’s so excited to see me when I get her out of her crib or pick her up from the nursery

-I love the way she get’s excited about seeing people she knows

-I love the way she loves dogs 

-I love the way she barks like a dog

-I love when she sits in my lap and plays the piano

-I love when she sits in her little chair and watches a movie (at least for 5 minutes)

-I love how excited she gets when dad comes home from work

-I love the way she is so tan without any effort (and i’m so jealous!)

-I love her adorable curly hair

-I love how much she looks like a toddler already

-I love the way she passes her ball back and forth to me

-I love the way she chews on everything

-I love the way she knocks on doors

-I love the way she holds a phone to her ear and says, “hi” in the girliest voice ever

-I love the way she wants to be with me or her dad constantly

-I love the way she loves the outdoors

-I love the way she loves to “read” books

-I love the silly chomping noises she makes when she eats

-I love when she throws something down and says, “uh oh!”

-I love when she walks with me to check the mail everyday and gets to hold the keys

-I love how she dances at anything resembling music (including the sound of a toilet flushing)

-I love how she claps her hands anytime she hears clapping

-I love the way she “plays” my guitar (very similar to August Rush)

-I love the way she wakes her dad up in the mornings

-I love how she never meets a stranger

-I love that she loves shoes already (almost as much as me)

-I love the way she splashes water in the bath or when she’s swimming

-I love the way she gets on her pony backwards

-I love the way she can drink from a juice box now

-I love her gorgeous blue eyes

-I love her cute button nose

-I love her little belly that sticks out

-I love how cuddly she is

-I love the way she has serious “conversations” with us

I know there are so many other things that I can’t recall right now, but our daughter is an amazing blessing.  Everyday, we have such a wonderful time together and I can’t imagine our lives without her.  She is healthy and happy, and we are so blessed by her daily.  This first year has gone by so quickly, and I know that she will be graduating high school in the blink of an eye.  So I just wanted to take the time to list all the things I love about her before she is leaving for college.  Afton is our joy and we cannot wait to see what God has in store for her down the road.  

Amy

I am Glad my savior is the Lion of Judah and not the Tiger.

Post Hoc ergo Propter hoc

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

you think it’s so, but not.

“if ‘b’ follows ‘a’…”

some might say,

” ‘a’ caused the ‘b’ “

but, this is wrong you see.

      -j.m. ratliff

I (Amy) should first apologize for not updating in a few months. Afton keeps me busier every day and the summer is crazy being in youth ministry. Enough excuses though!

Afton…wow! She amazes me by learning something new all the time. She can say a few words (besides momma and dadda) now: hi, hello, dah (dog), and no. She also points at things and says something resembling, “what’s that?” We were so proud of Afton for taking 15 steps in a row by herself at Nanny and Poppy’s house on the first of this month. She hasn’t taken as many since, but she regularly takes 5-6 steps in a row. She will be walking any day now, and we cannot wait!

Grandma helping Afton walk

Afton is also starting to eat more table foods. She enjoys cheerios, breads of any sort, bananas, carrots, peas, goldfish, pretzel sticks, cheese, ice cream, pudding, and can eat half of a grilled cheese sandwich. Afton is always willing to try some new food.

Afton trying some of Papa's peach

She now has four teeth to help her eat all these new and exciting foods. Two on bottom and two on top! Afton’s teeth are coming in beautifully, and make her look so grown up. Her sweet baby face is gone now and she is turning into the cutest little toddler you’ve ever seen!

Beautiful Afton

Afton will say “hi” to anyone who looks her way and will smile at everything. She loves dogs too…especially her Aunt Donna’s dog, Daisy. She is such a people person, just like her Mom and Dad. Even though Afton is mobile now, she still takes the time to hug and give kisses. She is such a sweet girl!

Papa loving on Afton

Afton snuggling with Granny

Afton kissing Aunt Donna

Her first birthday is coming quickly, and none of us can believe that a year has gone by so quickly. Afton has changed our lives drastically, and we are blessed by her daily.

Afton and Nanny

Afton and Grandma

Amy