Just talking

Daphne has been "talking" for awhile but this weekend she stepped it up a notch. She spends the first half hour of her day telling us about all the things she dreamed about. Then she spends the rest of the day telling us everything she sees and thinks. It is so fun!

Food, Friends and Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great time. We spent the day over at Katie's cooking with Katie, Mary and Clare. It was great fun and I feel like I learned a lot about making Thanksgiving dinner. It actually made me really excited to do it all by myself one day. The turkey was the most beautiful turkey I'd ever seen. We made plenty of food cause we wanted there to be left overs for everyone to take home.

 We all made turkey hands and wrote what we were thankful for on them. I loved it and think it will be a family tradition, as long as I can get Johnny to join in with me.

See how beautiful everything turned out!?! Everything was totally from scratch except the cranberry sauce (and I think if there would have been cranberries on the island they would have been from scratch too). Mary brought decorations and made the table look amazing. 

So it goes without saying that it was a pretty successful holiday. It was a little bittersweet, because it is our last holiday on the island. We only have three weeks left here and I can't believe it. I think the thing I am most thankful for this year, besides my wonderful family, is the opportunity I had to come here and learn so much. It has been a wonderful adventure, and I'm going to miss it.

Four months full of love!

Daphne is four months old today. We had a doctors appointment today. She is getting so big, weighing 14.5lbs, she is 25 1/4 inches long, and her head is 16 inches around. She got two shots today and was not very happy with the doctor after them. She would calm down and then she would see the doctor again and would just cry. It was sad, but so funny. She is so smart and seems to learn a new "trick" everyday. She can roll over from belly to back, and I think back to belly is coming quickly. She has just started laughing.  I LOVE it. I finally found something that she got from me, her laugh. She loves to talk and make trumpet sounds. She is very good at grabbing her toys now. She loves to be able to see what is going on, which means I have to hold her up in a sitting/standing position. Everything goes directly in her mouth. She is so sweet and happy. Everyday I learn more from her and I love her more. I call her "my favorite girl" and it is the truth. She is the best and I love her!

She started the photo shoot off like this. Love the mad face.

She wanted to eat these flowers so bad.

I could eat her, those eyes are so beautiful.

My precious girl.

Taurus

We bought a car!!! This is our first official car. We used to use a car that Johnny's family gave us, but this one is all ours. It is a Ford Taurus. We got it from a Government Auction so it is in great condition even though it is almost ten years old. 

I love it. The moment I saw it I wanted it. You should have seen me during the auction, I was freaking out! It was nerve racking. I can't wait to see it in person. 

One more party

After three nights of going out I was pretty pooped, but Johnny couldn't miss the 4th Semester Banquet. It is known here as the Dominica Prom. I wasn't going to go because it was a whopping $125ec for a date to attend, but I had some good luck and my friend Katie did me a favor. She usually goes so she can write an article about it for the Ross newsletter, but she really didn't want to go. So I did it for her and she watched Daphne for us. I think we were both happy with the deal. 

I am no writer so I was nervous about the actual writing part. Katie is such a sweet heart and says I did a great job and suggested sharing the opening paragraph with you. So here it is, my first attempt at professional writing:

"As we got to the top of the Cabrits and came upon Fort Shirley my husband leaned to me and noted how the road has been long, hard and full of pot holes just like our road through medical school and that here at the end you could look back and see where we had started. How fitting on this night celebrating the end of a long hard road."

I feel like I spent most of the time taking pictures and taking notes for the article, but it was a fun night. It has been awhile since Johnny and I have had a night to ourselves. I did spend most of the time worrying about Daphne, but it was still a break. We had a nice dinner and had fun watching the videos some of Johnny's classmates made. 

Now the celebrations are over and we only have a few more weeks 'til we head back to the states. I can't believe how fast the time has gone.

Iguana Cafe

So I know from the name of this restaurant it doesn't sound very appetizing. I mean who would want to eat an iguana? But despite its name it was wonderful. We went with our good friends the Walpole's. Jamie was heading back to America so we had to go out with them. It was a fun night and we ended up staying at their house 'til way to late at night. We just couldn't stop talking. The lobster didn't hurt either!

Farewell

Tonight was the Farewell Banquet. My Farewell Banquet! It was so much fun even if the food took 2 1/2 hours to be served. My friends were there and we got to share in going back in time through pictures, laughing, singing, and looking to the future. I thought a lot about my time here tonight and I just can't believe its all coming to an end. I got the "Most likely to miss Dominica" award, and I think they got that right. I haven't always loved living here. Life gets hard here, but with all the negatives there are so many positives too. I miss America, and I'm so excited to get back, but Dominica is part of my life...a big part. I feel like I found myself here. As cheesy as that is, its true. We started our family here. I met people that changed my life here. In some ways I'm scared to go back. I'm scared I'll lose all the friends I've made, I'm scared I'll lose all I've learned here and lose myself in the hustle and bustle of American life. But life goes on right? Dominica will always be a part of my life I will look back on with joy and I will miss it, not some parts, but I WILL miss it.

Sophie

It is so amazing how quickly things can click with a baby. Daphne has never been interested in any of her toys (except her bouncy chair). Then last night she showed some interest in her Sophie, and then to day she is full on in LOVE. So now she plays with toys, just like that.

Loving my Sophie

Eating my Sophie

On to the next toy

Couple videos of Daphne being cute!

Daphne grabbing her foot and playing with her favorite toy.

Daphne playing with herself in the mirror for the first time.

Nevermind?

So I am completely shocked. I was out with a couple of friends and a student came up and asked me where we were going for 5th semester. I looked at her quizzically and said, "no we don't find out until Friday" and she answered with, "no, we got the email at 8 o'clock. So I rushed home to find out where we are headed.

Drum roll please........

We are headed to Mirimar, Florida

We were pretty shocked since we have been told that if you applied to Michigan, you will be getting in due to the minimal applicants. But we are not disappointed. The only reason we applied to Michigan was because the living expenses are a lot lower there. Now we will be in Florida during the beautiful winter months and will miss out on the cold winter months. We will still be close to the beach and maybe be able to go to Disney a couple times. I really am kinda excited to be going back to Florida! I loved it the first time and I'm sure I will enjoy it again.

Ross, you did it again.

Why have I not learned that when Ross says they are going to do something they are for sure NOT going to follow through. I even told myself not to get my hopes up, but of course I did cause I really want to know where  we are going. Apparently our new date to find out where we are doing 5th semester is on Friday......

yeah, we'll see.