Noelle always makes a big deal over Rara’s suitcase… she loves to see if there are any surprises inside.  Thanks for babysitting this weekend – we really appreciated all of your help.

Someone watching me eat for a change at 6:00AM… the next night she didn’t wake up every two hours!!! She looks so confused!

Noelle is getting the hang of eating out of a bowl… we are so excited! She is eating almost everything that we are now!

Mike, Mama Kay, Grandma, Noelley, and Uncle Stephen – we had a great dinner together Wednesday evening!

Noelle riding her white car with all the Ponds cheering her on!

She got really excited when she saw Uncle Steve!

To view the photo album of our BU tour, click here.

“I love Baylor!!!”

Noelle couldn’t stop staring at Judge Baylor – it was really cute!

The Pond family – we are so happy!

Hold on Noelle, the wind might blow you off!

These are our good friends, Rebekah and Victoria. Thanks for coming to Waco with us… Sunday morning we went to UBC to hear author Don Miller teach, and of course, nothing beats worshipping with the Dave Crowder Band!

We went by “The Big White House” Melissa lived in sophomore year at Baylor.

The girls were so good with Noelle, and she loved all of the attention…

…until it was Mommy and Daddy’s turn – haha!

She loves being thrown in the air these days, and when I say love, I mean nothing compares!

One more family pic in front of Pat Neff Hall.

This is the Burleson Quadrangle where we have memories of many outdoor concerts and picnics. Melissa had most all of her classes in Draper, a portion of this building.

Daddy and Noelle.

We had supper with the Prince family at their new home in Mansfield. Noelle loved being totally pampered by Mrs. Sharon Baron.

Rebekah and Bo had fun playing dress up with Noelle – if you take a baby pic of Brother John and put it up next to this one, you’d be surprised how much they look alike – we were amazed when we saw this pic!

This was a day we will never forget. Noelle bug, we hope you had fun visiting Baylor for the very first time!

“I’m usually not a morning person!”

I love how straight babies sit!

Noelle always plays “creatively” with her toys… she uses her pacifier as a shaker – creative I tell you!

…see her excitement for reading already – genius! We had a great weekend and headed back down to Waco… lots more pictures to come!

John came over to do laundry and watch Grey’s… thanks for the bar-b-q!

Look – I can stand on one foot! (:

I’ll karate chop you, Bart!

“Thanks for playing with me Crazy Uncle John – even if I was a little fussy!” (understatement)

He is so cute!

Pictures of Drew watching TV – isn’t this hysterical!?!

Michele made this awesome lamp shade for Drew… she is SO creative!

Sunday we went to our beloved church, University Baptist Church, in Waco. We yearn for a church home like UBC here in Arlington. Many of you have extended gracious invitations for us to visit your churches, and we thank you. The diversity in our faith stretches Mike and I to continually be honest, vulnerable, and real with ourselves and you all, which makes me nervous but most of all, gives me hope!

We thought UBC would be the perfect place for us to put Noelle in the nursery for the first time and “let go.” It was awesome! Noelle played so hard and had the time of her life. Everyone was so loving and kind to her, and she did great. Mike and I so enjoyed fully devoting our energy to worship!

Phil and Stephanie with the Ponds. It was so great to see the Shepherds who had come down from Minnesota for a wedding, and we all ended up here together. Erin came up from Austin to help lead worship – the saw was amazing might I add (she freakin’ played a hand saw like it was a violin with a bow), and it felt like old times!

Isn’t this beautiful!?!

“I don’t care what kind of jewelry it is (Big Phil, you crazy!), I LOVE IT!!!”

Our dear friends Denise, Wanda, and Linda Brown had us over to their beautiful new home Saturday night. These women have dedicated their lives to the service of others by the way of Jesus Christ. We admire them as salt of the earth and are blessed beyond measure to have them laying hands on our family and covering us with prayers.

Our silly little daughter – she got so sleepy!

This was the first time Linda met Noelle! Thank you all for your friendship – it means more than words can say!

The Pond family went to Waco last weekend to celebrate M&M’s 4th wedding anniversary. We stayed at The Bed and Breakfast on White Rock Creek with our friends The Stricklands. It was their treat for our baby present – Thank you so much! Your bed and breakfast is so beautiful!

Noelle loved being outside on their gorgeous property…

Noelle was a little nervous on the swing at first, but she soon got the hang of it with Blake as her teacher.

Blake and Kaelyn are pros on the swing!

Mike and Blake showing Noelle how to play the guitar – she LOVED watching and singing with them!

Kaelyn, Blake, and Noelle on Sunday – we didn’t want to leave!