"Elizabeth took a few steps on her own tonight!"

Wednesday, August 12, 1992

     It was 15 years ago today that Elvis died. That seems like a lifetime ago. It was just before my senior year in college. I couldn't believe it when we first heard it on TV. For a long time it hurt to even hear any of his songs. I'm glad I had the chance to see him before he died. I wonder how much his autograph is worth these days. I'd thought the date sounded familiar when I was writing the check for the truck oil change. I didn't figure it out though til the evening news. [I misunderstood the little bit I heard on the news. It's not today, it's Sun. 8/16. I don't know why 8/12 seems familiar.]

     I tried calling Michelle Bridgeman yesterday & today but had to leave a message on their machine. She called back this evening. They'd been at a James Taylor concert last night & she forgot today. I gave her the phone number for the toy lady and also asked her if she'd like to go to Baby Superstore with us Fri. She said she'd call me back tomorrow but if I didn't hear from her to call her again cause she's absent minded.

     Dear Guy,

     I'll start with the best news first. Elizabeth took a few steps on her own tonight! Usually when I get her out of her high chair and put her down standing up, she'll either plop down & crawl off or grab hold of my hands so I'll go walking with her a little bit. Tonight after supper she leaned back against my leg & I was waiting for her to plop down when all of a sudden she started walking off. I should've counted how many steps she took but I didn't. I ran for the camera & she was crawling by the time I got back in the dining room. She stood up but only took a couple of steps. I decided to set the camera down & try to get her to do it so I set it on the coffee table pointed toward the hall. I helped her get started & then let go & she took a few steps. I didn't check the tape to see if it got on there. I sure hope it did. I started to get the tripod out then realized I'd have to put the thing on the bottom of the camera & didn't want to take the time. I couldn't get her to do it any more after that but I'm sure she'll try again tomorrow.

     Another storm came through about 3AM and I'm not sure what woke me up, it or Chief whining. I can't remember now if I went down there or not. I think I might have after checking on Ez. She finally settled down & fell asleep around 9:00 and slept straight through til 7:56 this morning! It seems like she takes so long to eat anymore. I didn't have time to do my medicine. We got to Toyota a couple of minutes before our appt. at 10:30. It didn't take them long to do it & we were back home about 11:20. When I put her back in the truck & was getting her juice cup out of the diaper bag in the floor, she started kicking her legs & kicked me right in the mouth. I know she didn't do it on purpose so I just grabbed her foot & told her not to do that because it hurt.

     I'm writing this while I'm watching 'White Fang' & it's not the kind of movie you can just listen to, in case my writing seems sporadic.

     Anyway, the oil change cost $17 something and they gave me a sheet with info on the 60,000 service that they recommend.

     Ez. went down for a nap at 1:32. I went to sleep after my story & slept for about an hour then kind of drifted for another 30 minutes. I don't remember what time Ez. woke up but I think it was somewhere between 3:45–4:00.

     Oh when I came back from Toyota there was a car next door & a lady came out. I asked if she was moving in & she said she was just freshening it up for whoever does move in. It'll probably be the end or beginning of the month before anyone moves in but you never know.

     I forgot to mention Mon. that Ez. reached up & pushed down the button on the water filter, so now I have to push it back to where she can't reach it. Something new she tried today was stepping in her Tupperware bucket. I tried to get a picture of it but of course she stopped doing it.

     I gave her a bath tonight & she kept trying to stand up again. She slipped once when she was on her hands & knees but didn't hurt herself or get scared.

     She was in the mood not to use her spoon today and she had this bad habit. After putting the food in her mouth she'd rub her hand up the side of her face, sometimes into her ear or hair. I didn't wash her hair just wet it down real good in the tub.

     I need to go let Chief out. It's 10:00 almost.

     Something else she discovered today was that she can go all the way around Chief's chair. She just pushed those pillows out of the way.

     After her bath we went down for her snack & it was 8:32 when I put her down. She didn't fight me brushing her teeth tonight. I don't know what I did different.

     I finally finished putting that quilt block together and started embroidering the words. If I finish it before you get back I'll wait about taking it to Ann so you can see it. Haven't really accomplished much this week.

     I was thinking in the middle of the night when Chief was whining that I need to watch for P.J. on the noon news so I could ask what to do about a dog that's afraid of thunderstorms. I was surprised that she was on there today. It took awhile to get through and I was afraid they'd be done by the time I did. But mine was the last question. She said not to baby him (I certainly didn't), just act like nothing out of the ordinary is going on. Or put him in his crate. And if that doesn't work to ask the vet about giving him a tranquilizer. So maybe I'll just try next time to just ignore him all together cause going down there even to holler at or spank him is like giving him attention.