Aaahhh . . The Smell of Fall! Happy Labor Day!

Yep! We're finally all here together in Croatia as a family, and it's been fall weather for the entire time we're here! I thought we'd at least get another couple weeks of warm weather, but I guess we're too far north or something. The high here tomorrow is going to be around 66-68 degrees (Fahrenheit). I've been walking around saying, "But it's August!!!" It's been raining a lot too.

So since I always do a monthly recap for you guys: The first half was (of course) in Alabama and crazy busy. Abby met all sorts of friends and family, and I got some great pictures for the baby album. Then last week we finally flew over here to Zagreb, Croatia, and were blessed with being in Business Class again. Abby behaved very well on the plane and got plenty of sleep (picture on left). I didn't get any sleep at all (What is it with stewardesses who wake you up to ask you if you want something to drink when it is obvious you're asleep???), so by the time we landed I was wiped out and slept like a ton of bricks. For the past week now pretty much all we've done is that I take care of Abby and unpack while Joel works, and then Joel takes care of Abby and helps me around the house some more. He's been spending his evenings putting things together for me - like the stroller, the crib, bookcases, etc. We also took a weekend trip to Aviano, Italy, to the military base to stock up on stuff. I'm happy to report that we managed to get everything in the car and didn't have to strap Abby's car seat to the roof! hahaha

We are making good progress on the house; it doesn't look like a moving van barfed all over the house anymore. But we still have a long way to go, and with Abby I have only a few solo hours per day while she's sleeping to really plow through things. Or perhaps shower and brush my teeth :) . But her room is done mostly (Abby napping in her crib on right) - we're waiting on a couple things to still be delivered. The living room and dining room look good and we can at least walk through our bedroom. We finally got the computer and DSL working. And I can't get a part-time housekeeper quick enough if you ask me. Just to have someone deal with the dirt and cat hair will be such a help. (I put an ad in this week's newsletter, so that should be fixed soon I hope!)

My next big house project is setting up my office. Especially since I start my new job this week! I will be writing the community newsletter weekly for the Embassy. I'm a little nervous about it, they expect a lot - I'm supposed to write these cover stories each week and they expect it to be 2-3 pages long! But I do have some great ideas that I want to try out, and I'm looking forward to doing it.

Our house is going to be great though, and I think I'm going to really like our neighborhood. (Joel winning the war with weeds above, left. That's our back yard by the way!) There is a tiny "corner-store/mom and pop store" just two blocks away, next to a coffee bar. Joel and I ate at a FANTASTIC steak restaurant two weeks ago. And we're not far from a huge park, once I get used to driving and not getting lost.

(Puzza is doing well also, he is loving all the room he has to run around and is absolutely fascinated by Abigail. He must think she's a new cat, he loves to curl up with her. We have to watch him closely to make sure he doesn't get carried away. Abby is taking it all in stride. That's Puzza enjoying the sunny windows on the right.)

I do have to say, our darling Abigail has taken the Embassy by storm. I've been there twice now with her, and EVERYONE has to stop and coo over her. Even the Croatian cleaning people stopped me so they could babytalk to her in Croat. Abby looked like she understood them perfectly also, it was very cute. Every one remarks on how adorable she is, and I have to say that they are all right. Even when we were Aviano, Italy, folks would stop me so they could look at her. So it's now a worldwide consensus. We apparently have the cutest baby in the world! (There she is at the embassy below, left.)

More baby news: Abby is doing well, and is really starting to smile "talk" to us now. She sleeps in her own bed for part of each night and for her naps during the day, and is up to eating 4 ounces at a time. She's also figuring out how her finger work, which is funny to watch. She likes when Mommy sings to her and to cuddle up on Daddy's chest when he holds her.

Coming up in September: lots of busyness. I'll be working from home on the newsletter, Abby will get even bigger and coo and laugh at us more and get spoiled by everyone we meet, Joel is working hard at work but thankfully is keeping better hours than Rome, and we'll finally get settled and get out more to meet folks.

Talk to you all soon!

Love,

Julie, Joel, and Abigail