I don't think I ever posted any pictures from my 25th birthday last February. It was a blast! Jon actually threw two parties for me because all of our friends were available on different weekends. This was the second one with Robin and her ex boy and his friend, Eric, our good friends from the ward Jenny and Chris (who just had a baby boy named Grant!), and Jon's college roommate Jason and Crystal (who are pregnant!). We played my favorite game "signs" and so in the first picture we're all posing with our signs. It was so much fun. The Willison siblings are always the best to play that game with because they really get into it. They're good. Robin's couragous with the extravagant signs she always chooses. They always bring a good laugh. It was a very fun birthday, and right now I'm really starting to miss my old friends. If you're checking out our blog, know that we wish we could hang out with you. Oh, how bout everyone just move out to Indiana. It would be a blast!

This is Lincoln at 5 mo. I just found these pictures from our February folder. They're so cute. It's so neat to see how much he's changed. I love the picture in the bath tub. He's smiling so big, and the water looks really cool... After looking at these old photos and comparing them to how he looks now, I think he used to look like me a little, but now he totally looks like Jon. I'm not complaining, kinda. I mean it is fun to have your kids resemble you. But that could always happen in the girls, right? My chances of having a twin aren't totally gone, right?

Update on life in Indiana: We're still loving it. I really like Indiana. I enjoy the people, the culture, the climate, the scenery, the city, our ward, our home, our friends, our neighbors. Things are really good. Our lawn is green (I can't tell you how much of an accomplishment that is. It's hard work keeping a lawn green without sprinklers. Definitely something I miss about CA--the sprinklers.) We're definitely starting to feel what people mean when they say how demanding dental school is. Jon is constantly studying. I really get no time with him. Every two weeks, I get on average 3 days where he isn't studying (and that's counting the Sabbath). But hey, at least it's something. It's better than him being in Iraq and totally gone. I'm doing okay with it. I do a good job at keeping myself busy with fun projects or organizing or whatever. I'm such a home-body now. I don't leave the house unless I need to run errands. I can stay at home all day and be happy. Of course, Lincoln and I play outside in our yard. But we sure are good at conserving gas. I'm still trying to learn how to sew. I'm endeavoring to make our bedding (duvet and pillows, etc.) and the curtains for our windows. Right now I'm planning a baby shower for a friend. My dad stayed with us for a couple of weeks in October. A BYU students who has an interview with the dental school is staying with us this weekend. My mom will be staying with us in December when she moves out here. And we're headed to California for Christmas for two whole weeks. You could say things get a little busy. But we do a good job managing. Christmas will be a much needed vacation for Jon, and for our romance. Jon has taken up golf lately. He loves it. He also plays volleyball every Wednesday night with an amazing team. Our favorite show is Extreme Home Makeover. Good show, good morals, good people. Jon recently got called to serve as the Ward Mission Leader and I'm his Ward Missionary. I love it. Companions through and through. It's great working so closely with the elders. We have a good pair of missionaries right now... Okay, that's it. Love to everyone!

Just one more and then I promise I'm done!

Poor Saints. Maybe we should put Lincoln in some LSU gear. Now that's the team to be rooting for! They're kicking butt right now, and my family and I are loving every minute of it. My mom's such a die hard fan that she's gets so nervous during a game that she can't watch it unless she's with someone. She'd rather not go through all the anxiety and just find out the end score. It's so funny! Me, on the other hand, I love to watch football, especially if it's a team I like. I love to shout and cheer. Go Colts! We're 5-0 right now. Pretty sweet score. Did I tell you how much I love living here?

We got this idea from my cousin Caroline and her baby Dolly. (I must admit that I like playing with the cepia editing tool. It's fun to make different textures stand out. Picassa's great. I love using it.)

Lovin' that drool. Um um good.

We're practicing for his future modeling career. j/k! My mom and were having fun trying to take photos of Lincoln in different outfits and so forth. It was a lot harder than I expected because he doesn't stay still like he used to, and for some reason he doesn't smile at the camera anymore. I was really bummed about that. In time he'll learn. But I really miss those smiling shots. They just melt my heart-- he's so cute. Oh, and while we're on the subject of smiles I will update you on his teeth count. He has all 8 incisors now. It's amazing how much it has helped with his chewing ability. I'm fretting about those huge molars pushing through soon. Yikes! Just breathe dors. Right, got it :0)

"Oh yeah everybody! I'm walkin'!," says Lincoln. He started walking about two weeks after his first birthday. Right about when Konnor left. (Sorry Konnor.) He's really loving it, and so is Mom. Oh man, it's so great because now he's a lot more entertained and coordinated and funny, even. It's so hilarious. Just the last couple of days he's mastered the maneuver of turning, so now he does circles and giggles at himself. I'm starting to think that he's addicted to getting dizzy because he even does it in his crib. Except there's one very cute difference: instead of turning in circles, he grips the railing and whips his head back and forth and then totally starts laughing. He did it the other day when I was singing a hymn to him and I couldn't stop laughing. I laughed so hard that tears came out. Oh, it was great! Just some of the rewards that you get from your kids after all the hard work you do for them. It makes every sacrifice worth it.