Update- finally

What can I say. I have been a blog slacker. There just are so many other things that take priority. But I guess I can give a summary of what we have been up to the past 6 months.

Marcus turned one in May. He is such a joy. He loves to smile and when he hears other people laughing around him, he likes to join in- like he understands what everyone is laughing about. He is such a happy boy. I get comments about that a lot. He loves to wave at people and say "Hi". He started walking at 13 months and now he loves to get all around. Especially when he sees an open door- he heads right for it. He loves to swim and play outside and look at his daddy's fish in the pond. He loves to take the lids off of things and has become especially good at using his teeth to pry things open. He keeps us busy but in a good way. He just brings such happiness into our home

Ross graduated from Nursing school in May. He is currently studying for his boards which he is taking soon and then hopefully he will be able to find a job. Maybe not his dream job, but at least somewhere to get experience right now. He is enjoying this time to be home with Marcus and it has been so nice to have him around. It will be an adjustment when he does start working. I love having him home everyday.

I am still working at John Muir. I just had my 10 year anniversary there last month! I have been picking up some extra hours whenever I can since Ross is home. The last several months have been a challenge getting Ross through school and balancing being a full time mom and working full time. But we were blessed and everything has worked out. I did get a vacation in July and went to Italy to visit my sister Liz. My mom, dad and brother came along too. We went to Rome, Sorrento- Amalfi Coast, Naples and Sicily. It was super hot and with Liz has our guide, we saw more than the average person would in a day. But it was fun to be with family and I love to go to new places. Italy is always a favorite destination of mine.

We did go on a family vacation to Florida in June. We visited Ross' cousins. Marcus loved his cousins there and enjoyed the attention. We did several activities around Jacksonville where we stayed and then we went to Cape San Blas which is on the Gulf of Mexico. We spent 5 days there and enjoyed the clear warm water and white sand. Luckily they were not affected by the oil spill. It was a nice little vacation. We also went camping- which Marcus handled very well. So we have been enjoying our summer. I love that I have so much energy this summer compared to last summer- when I had a colicky newborn! This month we are going camping and then going to Utah for a friends wedding. I just can't believe how fast the summer has flown by.

So we are doing well and I have been relieved how most things have worked out- I remember worrying that Ross wouldn't even get into nursing school. And wondering if my baby was going to be healthy. And how I would survive as a new mom. It was a year of a lot of changes but we are happy to be where we are right now.

(I will get Ross to post some current pictures. )