Ladies Night

Saturday night was Ladies Night. Sarah set the whole thing up. We all met over at Shelly's house (a lady I had met a couple times before.) There were six of us ladies there; Shelly, Sarah, Kim, Terry, and Brittany. I had met Kim at the birthday party for Alice, but I hadn't met Terry of Brittany before.

I was the first one there and had a few moments to speak with Shelly. She asked me what I thought about Alaska. Trying to be nice and honest at the same time, I was conservative in my answer. It turns out, her husband is in the Air Force and they had just moved up a month or so before I did. She and I share the same opinion about being here. I felt validated and understood for the first time since being here. We both feel that once we move away, we will happily leave Alaska and never look back. But we also agree that at anytime, God could say to us, "Today you will change your opinion." I just pray that if that day comes, I will be open to listen and not stubborn in my dislike.

When the other ladies showed up, we watched Jane Eyre, based off the novel by Charlotte Bronte. I loved it! I am very interested in reading the book now, which is a classic that I have never chose to pick up before. I am very 'one-track minded' when it comes to books. I don't branch out and read a new book unless I know and like the author, or a book is recommended to me by someone who knows what types of books I like. My Mom is the best person I go to for a new book or author. I trust her opinion and share many of her tastes in books. But I have also always enjoyed stories told (or movies set) in the 19th century, as is Jane Eyre. One of these days I may check it out from the library.

All in all, I had a great time with the ladies and can't wait for the next activity.

Joey is finally starting to feel better, getting rid of his cold. Even when sick, he is still such a sweetheart. When he sees that I am having a hard day, he will give me big hugs and say, "I love you way much, Daddy loves you way much, Nanny loves you way much." It is a sweet reminder.

Baby Nick took his first drink out of a straw tonight! I just wanted to see if he could do it, not really expecting him to be able to. When he got his first sip of slightly watered down soda, he was so surprised. He liked it so much he put a death grip on the cup. He got four or five more sips before I could wrestle it away from him without dumping both him and the soda off my lap!

Baby Nick transitioned exceptionally well to getting himself to sleep. He still screams, sometimes still for half an hour, but I don't think it has ever taken him longer than half an hour. The first couple times I laid him down, just to get a feel for how he would do, it was over an hour of him screaming before I couldn't take anymore. So my surprise was immense when I started again a week later and for every nap (and even at bedtime) Baby Nick decided he would fall asleep after crying for 30 minutes or less. We are starting week two. I have heard that it takes two weeks to make a habit, so hopefully, by the end of this week, Baby Nick will be set in a new routine and expect to get himself to sleep. Eventually, I would love to hear the crying cease all together, but since Bubba still cries for awhile at bedtime (occasionally) I don't think I will hear the end of Baby Nick's crying anytime soon.

For tonight....both boys are asleep! That is a very nice sound. Good night.