10 Month Update on the Partin Family

Well, it has been quite a while since I posted an update of Meredith, John and I for all of my faithful readers (I apologize--words cannot express the level of stress I have felt since August). Anyhow, we are doing well! Let's break it down for what has been going on for each of us:

Meredith-

*She is now crawling like a little excited puppy dog (as my bro-in-law so sweetly put it)...she gets really excited and flops around as she crawls and it is the cutest thing ever!

*She pulls up on EVERYTHING and sometimes loses grip causing her to fall :(
*She says mama, dada, baba, and we think, papa (this makes Ben smile :D)

*She loves no salt added canned peas, squash, puffs, and her white grape juice

*She has found her tongue and loves to click it, blow raspberries, and make whatever other sounds she can manage with it
*She LOVES paper and the crinkly sound it makes

*She has figured out the drop-and-let-mommy-pick-up-game...she loves it, I think it can get a little old (I say this with a smile on my face :D)

*When she is finished eating, she starts laughing and shaking her head

*When we tickle her, she tries to get us back by climbing up on us and trying to blow raspberries on our bellies...it is adorable and the harder we laugh, the harder she laughs (her laughter is my favorite sound, ever)

*She isn't too terribly fond of long rides which is why we try to time it right during a nap or bedtime...this limits the amount of traveling we do over an hour

*She is currently on her third round of antibiotics for ear infections...we are on our last try before visiting an ENT for a consult on tubes for her ears (please be praying for her)

*We think she somehow was the only one to dodge a really terrible bout of the stomach bug at her babysitter's house....we think because while she has had a couple loose diapers, they are not continuing....again, we think

*She loves buttons on remote controls, toys, etc and will pursue them HOTTLY!

*She loves talking to her Nana on the phone and smiles really big when she hears her voice

*She loves it when her Granna walks in the door and crawls faster than I have ever seen her crawl to get to her

*This is her first Christmas and I am pretty sure she will be more interested in the boxes and wrapping paper then what Santa has put inside those boxes and wrapping paper

*She is the love of our lives

John:

*He was voted in by the church as a deacon and we are so proud--elders of the church say that they believe he is one of the youngest ever voted in (we are so proud of him and he gets ordained on January 11th at 11AM...come join us at Emerywood Baptist Church)

*He has been the most supportive and busy husband and father trying to eleviate the work load I have had at work....he is my saving grace this past semester (thank goodness it is almost over)

*He came and returned to Trinity high to discuss the relevance of various classes to his profession--the kids loved him and listened intently (my physical science classes were anxious to see the relevance of what they learn in my class to every day life)

*He is doing well at work but is concerned about rumors of salary cuts due to the "budget crisis" during this recession (please pray that these rumors stay rumors)

Melissa:

*I am finishing up fall semester of teaching a whole new class load of Biology (10th grade) and Physical Science (11th grade)....EOCs are the second week of January...pray for my students and I :o)

*I am attending a new women's bible study and am so thankful for the supportive group of women I am a part of at church

*I am adoring every moment with Meredith and thankful that my profession allows for a two week vacation the next couple weeks.

We are doing well which is more than some can say--we are healthy, in a heated home, have food on our table, and have each other and people around us who care for us. We call ourselves blessed--in this holiday season, we try to remember to be thankful and let all that worries, stresses, and frustrates us to not consume us and attempt to turn it over to our Lord who gave us life and does everything to strengthen us in his love (which is most of the time more easily said than done). We pray that you are experiencing his love and enjoying this season which is for Him and us to share and celebrate.

Meredith ready to do some grading for Mommy

Paper Roller Coaster made by John and I as a model before my students made some this past week