A few things...

I promise to add pictures in a post later this week, maybe Sunday... but for now, I just wanted to record for posterity sake some milestones and recent thoughts, in no particular order and no particularly unifying theme...

1. I have been thinking lately about how lucky and BLESSED Marc, Madeleine and I are by having good health. I mean, really! Health. What a precious, precious gift. I have recently been more aware of how many around me really do suffer from the smallest to the greatest health challenges, and I truly feel for them and also feel so grateful that my little family has not as yet been through such. Being in public health I often think about the health problems of "the world" or large groups of people or countries... but so many near to me suffer from health challenges. My heart and prayers go out to them, and I am continually reminded of how blessed I am.

2. Round-abouts. Seriously??? Is this a difficult concept??? NO. It's a circle, you drive around it and get off when you want. Most importantly, once in the circle, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. You don't yield, people! You don't yield to those coming in the circle... you go round and round at your favorite speed. On my mission, I swore when I came back to the good ol' US of A that I would 1) start up a taxi driver's union for WOMEN, and 2) I would lobby Congress to build more round-abouts, replacing the annoying 4-way stops. Well, I may just change my mind about that last brilliant concept... especially if people can't learn how to drive in them!!! Drives me nuts going from my home to Roxborough nearby. I get to/have to go through this round-about on Walnut Lane, and everytime there is some daft driver who yields to me... yields to me! When they are the ones in the circle! I feel like jumping out of my car every time to direct traffic. Argh!

3. Madeleine rolled over today! From her back to her stomach! Adorable! My baby is growing up! We caught it on video and someday I'll post. The first two times she did it I missed it. First time I was in the bathroom. Second time I was right next to her but studying. The next few times though I was a totally captive audience and she really has it down now. Yay! She started really babbling and playing with her toes about 3, 4 weeks ago and this is just icing on the cake. All the above are SO RIDICULOUSLY ADORABLE. I take an average of 5 pictures per day. That's an average, folks.

4. We had a fabulous time in Utah!!! We love our families!!! Madeleine finally met the Tolley side... and she met my brother. So, all Uncles and Aunts are met except Uncle Brett and Aunt Sariah who live in California, and Uncle Jesse who is on a mission in Florida. We spent lots of lovely chill time with our families. Pictures to come. Shopping, FHE, hiking, jet skiing, waterskiing, hanging out at the condo, hanging out at our houses, playing games, and...

5. Madeleine got blessed! In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when a baby is born, a priesthood holder, usually the father, gives the baby a name and a blessing. Well, Madeleine was blessed in Marc's old home ward on Sunday, September 7th. It was wonderful. She didn't cry (my prayer answered), and Marc did a great job, despite the nerve-wracking situation: Madeleine is old enough now not to be the placid little babe asleep in Daddy's hands... instead, she was awake and squirmy! She jumped off of Marc's hands and Marc was afraid no one else had her, so the prayer ended possibly prematurely, but we're sure she still gets lots of blessings. It was a wonderful day, ending with a beautiful and delicious open house at my parent's home. Thanks to everyone (lots of them!!!) who participated in the blessing!

6. I have started school and I really like it! This isn't surprising, because, I seem to love the student lifestyle and can't get away. But I'm feeling more confidence now that classes have started and I've been able to correctly complete some homework assignments. I'm not a particularly smart lady, but I generally work hard. This is great, except that sometimes I question myself and lose confidence. However, so far, I feel great about the PhD program and love my profs (even though one of them gives a ridiculous amount of work AND went over 15 mintues on the first day of class -WH-HAT???).

7. Madeleine is getting babysat when I go to school. It's just 8 hours per week (I get to take her with me to my independent study, where I meet informally with one other student and my professor). Madeleine doesn't do so well though - at least, not as well as I'd hoped. Amy is SUCH a trooper to watch the little stinker. It's hard on three people: Amy, myself, and Madeleine, and yet I'm so grateful that we're all willing to keep trying. I know we all want the best for everyone, particularly Madeleine, so I'm sure this will get better every time. So far, this week is already better than the first week... Yay! It IS a blessing to have Amy babysit, and I know Madeleine will grow less attached to me and be able to make it without crying. We can do it!

8. Hooray for Madeleine growing up! Now, this is not usually what I think, but the one benefit of her growing up is that she's finally, finally eating a little less! Meaning, she's not nursing every 2 hours! We've got her to 3, sometimes 5 hours in between feedings! Phew! There is definitely some freedom in that.

9. I'm addicted to watching _Arrested Development_ on Fancast.com. Yes. Addicted. Thank you to Alex, Kristin, Anna, and Jon for that one. Oh man. Hilarious.

10. I bought jeans! And I fit into my old ones. This is a big step, both in buying something new, and in fitting back into the old. Big step.

Okay, Amen to all that! Some pictures to come (hopefully soon!).