My Good Samaritan

Saturday Jeff and I spent our afternoon at Target, perusing the aisles, buying stuff we kinda sorta need that are fun (a shelf thing for the kids' bathroom), instead of things that we really need and are no fun (a shredder). We were looking for a highchair for Julianna and they had exactly two to choose from, both of which were horrible. Jules is starting to stretch out her legs and wanting to stand up, and we found a Baby Einstein "exer-saucer" (think stationary walker) that we wanted to get, but they were all out. We make our few purchases and start to head home.

On the way home, there is a section that has 3 lanes at a stop light, and the right hand lane is turn only. People are alllllways getting "stuck" over there trying to get back over to the left because they don't want to turn. We're in the middle lane, right where we need to be and up ahead of us there is a silver beetle in the right lane that is starting to slow down. I can see that they have their hazard lights on, but to Jeff (in the passenger seat) it looks like they have their blinker on to get over. There's plenty of space for them to get over, if that's what they're planning to do, and Jeff make a remark about what a great driver they are if they can't even get over with all that room. As we get closer I can see that the Beetle is going slower and slower, coming to a stop, and as we pass I see that it's a lady all alone and she's completely come to a stop in the lane.

"Something is wrong with her car...I bet she ran out of gas," I said. "Ugh, that sucks," said Jeff -- he speaks from experience having run out of gas a time or two himself. The light ahead of us is red, so we have to stop too, and I look in the rear-view mirror to see what's going on with the car. There's a car behind her, so I figure they're going to stop and help...then they get a clear spot in the left lane and swerve over, leaving the Beetle alone again!

"Babe, no one is stopping to help her," I say. "Uhhh...she'll be okay," said Jeff. I can see in his face, all he's thinking about is how he needs a nap before he has to go in to work that night. "We should help her...what if that were me, wouldn't you want someone to help me?" A big sigh from the passenger seat. "Pull over and I'll get out."

So I pull over into the right lane and he hops out onto the grass to run back and help. I pull into the CVS parking lot that's on the corner and wait for a second. Sure enough, the girl had run out of gas. She said she thought Jeff was just out running and wasn't going to stop to help...although, I don't know who goes out for a run in jean, Converse, and a fleece jacket? Anyway, he pushed her car about 200 or so yards into the parking lot and she was VERY grateful. Her husband is a Houston police officer and that's who she had been on the phone with previously, and he was on his way to help her out.

So that was Jeff's good Samaritan deed of the week, pushing a car off the road single-handedly. We also made it home with time for him to take a good nap before going to work out and head to work.

Now if your car is ever stranded on the road, you know who to call!!

WOW!!

I can't believe that it's been soooooo long since we wrote anything about our family!! That's what happens when (a) the only working computer is in the closet of an infant who wakes up when she hears the keys tapping and (b) there aren't enough hours in the day!

Our Christmas was fantastic -- everyone got more than they bargained for. Jayden got a scooter and a Leapster LMax system, Jules got some new toys and clothes, Jeff got his annual "Dilbert" desk calendar, Jeff and I got our external hard-drive, a toaster, and a Wii! Last month, we bought "Guitar Hero" and everyone loves to play it.

Jeff got me a new hard-drive for my laptop and it's all fixed now!! I promise you, this will lead to more posts because the laptop is stationed downstairs. The only thing it's missing is Microsoft Office, and hopefully we can get set up with that soon.

We signed Jayden up for t-ball and he got drafted on the Astros!! We're super excited about him playing, especially on the Astros...this home's favorite team. So far, they're supposed to have had 6 practices, but they've only had 2 because of all the rain we've been getting down here!! Their opening season is March 8. We defininately think that Jayden is the best player on the team -- he has great throwing technique, he can catch, he's a great hitter, etc. Jeff and Jayden practice almost everyday and he just gets better and better. I can't wait for him to get his "jersey" so we can see him in his whole uniform!!

Julianna is 5 months old now -- isn't that insane?! She's rolling over from her belly to her back, she's laughing, she's reaching out for toys to grab them, reaching out for us when we're near, turning around when she hears our voices or her name, and starting to eat baby cereal. She's such a great baby and still absolutely gorgeous!! When we went for her 4 month check up, she was 26" which is in the 94th percentile, and she was 13.5 which is in the 50th percentile. She's been wearing 6-9 month size clothes because most of the 3-6 month stuff is too small! I can't wait to go get her first Easter dress -- can't wait to dress someone in frills :)

Jeff's getting into the groove at Exxon. Once he saw his first gains with his stocks, he was hooked into the market and has bought a few shares of different stocks.

Well, here is a short update. Don't worry, there will be more soon!!