Missing Home

Dear Family & Friends,

Ella & I are still visiting family up in Tennessee (about an hour east of Nashville). We've been having a lot of fun, but are lonesome to get back home with Jonah! Luckily that is this Friday! Jonah has been away training the past 2 weeks. Sorry that the information is so vague, but I'm sure you understand. Anyways, we're looking forward to spending a relaxing weekend together as a family.

Ella has learned the words dog & cat while she's been at grandma & grandpa Bruner's house. She goes up to the glass door everyday (numerous times), points at the animal & then says either "dog" or "cat". She's so cute. She still has "Ma ma & Da da" down & "Ba ba" for bottle. She's realized how delicious some foods are, so now whenever someone is eating a snack she fusses for a taste. LOL. She's a very active little girl & incredibly close to walking. We've been practicing a lot at grandma's & are looking forward to showing Daddy as soon as we get home.

Our plans are still to come up to Michigan in early August & we're looking forward to visiting with everyone again. It will be the first time that we've been together as a family during the summer up north, so we're pretty excited!

Well, I just wanted to send a quick update. I'll try & keep everyone updated more often than the past couple of months. Sorry that we don't have any photos. I forgot my camera on this trip & mom doesn't have the cord to transfer the ones from her camera. Anyways, lots of love! Please keep our little family in yours prayers. We are doing lots of traveling, moving, and headed toward another stressful year of being apart from each other.

Elizabeth

Happy Memorial Day & a big THANK YOU to all our military. We will always be grateful for the sacrifices you have made for us.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day everyone! 

Things are going great here. I got to sleep in an extra 30 mins than usual & when I came downstairs everything was nice & clean! :) I've such a wonderful husband. Then I was able to take an 1 1/2 hour nap! It's great to get caught up on

 sleep. Today we're going to spend time together as a family & just relax all day. Jonah is going away for 2 weeks starting next weekend

 for some training, so Ella & I will be flying out to TN to visit with my mom & grandma for a couple weeks. We're looking forward to our visit b/c we haven't seen them since Christmas. 

This past couple of weeks have been a lot of fun & crazy. We had Jonah's grandma D in for a couple nights & then his brother Josh & his family came in for a visit. It was great to get the 2 cousins together & just to be able to spend time together with our little families. The next couple months are going to be packed for Jonah. For those of you that don't know, Jonah will be deploying again sometime this fall. We plan to head back up to Michigan though to visit with family before he goes. We'll keep you posted on that. 

Here's a quick Ella update! She had her 9 month visit this past Wednesday: she's in the 95% for height & the 25% on weight. She's tall & slender; all I have to say is... those aren't my genes. Ha! She is crawling everywhere, eats about 3 meals a day, & walks from the couch to the ottoman. I'm pretty sure a big reason that she is so small is because of all the energy she has; which is great! She's our little energizer bunny. Also her two top teeth are coming in. Her Aunt Andrea discovered them while they were playing the upside down game one day. 

That's about it for now; I'm going to go spend some time with my hubby & little one! Lots of love!!

Ella's Baptism

We had a lot of fun visiting with family & friends up north! We made it back home safely out in So Cal. Here's some cute photos of Ella the day of her baptism. We missed those of you who weren't able to make it to this special event! A little Ella update: she's a little over 8 months old now, crawling, standing up, holding her bottle, and such a very active little girl. We were sad to leave Michigan, but it's nice to be back home together as a family. Lots of love!

The best Easter EVER!!

Hello Everyone!!

Wonderful News!! Jonah is home FINALLY!! :o) Our prayers were answered & Jonah is home safely. We were able to meet him around 3AM Saturday morning. We spent the rest of the day sleeping & admiring our little girl together. We got up early Easter morning & were able to make it to church. It was so wonderful to finally be able to attend a service together as a family. We will be heading up to Michigan April 4th-18th. We are so excited about seeing family/friends & look forward to visiting with you all. Our time together until then will be to relax around the house & just enjoy spending time together just the 3 of us. Thank you so much for all your love & support. Words could not express how happy we are to finally be together. It was a long 7 months, but we pulled through!

Wow, it's warm!

So, on our way to the airport today it was almost 80 degrees in San Diego. I'm sure my northern family/friends are lovin this news. Anyways, Dawn is here (my mother-in-law) visiting for the week & I've planned a couple fun things on our "to do" list. We're hoping to get to the zoo sometime, see the flower fields in Carlsbad, visit Balboa Park, some pre-birthday shopping (I'm turning 25 in less than 2 weeks, ewww I'm old), and just hanging out for the most part. This is great b/c I needed a little pick me up. Jonah is going to be home in 4 weeks & the anticipation is killing me.

Jonah called today & got to talk to Dawn & I for awhile. He's doing good, bored some, missing home, and just as excited about getting home as we all are for him arriving. He has been going out on some calls this week where he's been able to kind of take charge & be the control leader of the operation. He sent me a photo that was taken today of him out dismantling an IED.

Ella had her shots last week & she's doing great overall. She's such a cutie & I'm so excited about Jonah finally coming home to be with not only me, but his daughter as well. I look forward to seeing the two of them together. I know she's going to be a Daddy's girl b/c he spoils her already just like he spoils me. You're so wonderful Jonah. :O)

Jonah will be home anytime mid to late March. Please keep him in your prayers for safety & to get home to his girls safely. Here's some recent photos of the 2 loves of my life. :O)