Yes, I am pathetic when it comes to keeping up on a blog.

This year we are participating in a life course entitled 'Change.' This course involves moving back and forth across the world and gaining new family members.

It began when we traveled half-way across the world to enjoy Christmas with our families in Idaho. Then the course really got going when David departed for Iraq leaving Jonathan and me to stay with family. Alone. Without him. I took a class at BYU-I. Jonathan got to know his grandparents and cousins, and he loved every one of them.

Our little boy is talking. He says knew words nearly every day. He will imitate whole sentences if someone will say them one word at a time for him. Every now and again, he will help us say a prayer over a meal. By the time David gets home, I anticipate Jonathan will be talking in whole sentences.

“Papa, where did I come from?” The six year old boy looked up at his father questioningly. His father paused in his methodical way of stocking colorfully striped boxes filled with candies and cookies onto shelves.

He hesitantly replied, “Where did you come from?”

“Ya, where did I come from?”

“Well, your mama and I...made you.”

“How?”

“...We made you in Mama's oven.”

“Like a gingerbread man?”

“Kind of. But we baked you in Mama's oven.”

“Oh. Okay.”

This is about to be my longest post ever. I'm taking a writing class, and I'm finally beginning to work on a story I've been thinking about for a while. Here is the first scene I've begun to work on.

Quick synopsis: This is a story of a girl who works for her uncle in his bakery. He’s known as the gingerbread man because he is famous for his gingerbread. Here is part of a scene somewhere near the beginning where the girl and her friend discover a well of magical molasses. They’re both kids. It's not finished.

We've made it to over four months now and the baby is still alive! Hurray!

I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. The ultra sound could not have been any more obvious. We've got a nice little picture with legs spread wide and a little something popping way out there. It's a boy!

Wow! It's been nearly two months since I've updated. Here's what's new:

On Tuesday, I took Jonathan to a playgroup. He tottered about playing with toys more or less ignoring me. The lady next to me was holding a little baby, and she let me hold him.

I've been having some strange dreams lately. This last one occurred Sunday morning when I awoke feeling anxious. It went something like this:

Jonathan was two years old, and we had a one month old baby. David and I decided we'd take a family vacation and see some obscure European country. We arrived acting like regular tourists seeing all the sights. And then I was kidnapped.

Jonathan is learning to talk! He's been able to say Momma and Daddy for some time as well as sign for food, drink, please and cheese.

Today I took Jonathan to a play group at RAF Akrotiri for the first time in months. At first, he just sat with me and watched the other kids. After a while, he stood next to me. I eventually took him over to a house-like toy where he could spin some toy birdies and open and close a door. He ended up playing in that for quite some time - especially once a little girl with blond curls came over with a bag of Cheetos.