Family Pictures

Being married to a photographer I often get jealous of all the cute family photos I see of other people's families. I want family pictures too! It hard to find the time and someone to take them for us, but we finally found the time. We did a double photo shoot with one of Jared's friends Devin Ashby and his wife. I figured now that our family is growing we should send out some Christmas cards. So happy we are able to capture this time in our lives and Ellie at this stage. She grows so fast, I blows my mind!

Ellie- 9 Months

Ellie is 9 months old today. The time has been flying by, she doesn't feel like a baby anymore. She is VERY independent and VERY mobile. She crawls everywhere and walks along the furniture. I have caught her standing alone 3 times now. She hasn't figured out the next step. I definitely think she will be walking by her first birthday. She keeps her self really entertained, exploring the living room, her toy box and terrorizing Rosie. Rosie is such a good sport, she lets Ellie crawl all over her and pull her hair. She now has two lower teeth. They are not quite all the way out but have broken through the skin most of the way. Teething hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. She hasn't woken up in the middle of the night or anything. 

This is kind of the way I think of being a mom, it's not as hard as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I have my bad days, but we are just cruising along doing our thing. Maybe it doesn't seem so bad because I just go along with Ellie's schedule. I have accepted that I can go on a run between 8-10, that way I can get Ellie home for her morning nap. I shower between 10-12 while she is asleep. I run errands between 12-2 to avoid meltdowns and get her home in time for an afternoon nap. That's my routine and I'm used to it. I also think I have been blessed with a really good baby (so far). I have realized I am okay with just letting her explore, I really let her do her thing as long as it is safe. I have realized that she is going to fall down and smash her fingers. As long as she isn't crying and bleeding and don't really freak out. There are going to be bumps and bruises and that's okay, she is a baby. 

Jared and I have loved watching her personality emerge! She is so funny! She is friendly, not timid, curious, lively, and AMAZING in ever way. 

We love you Ellie Belly.

Thanksgiving

 We all collaborated this year to put together a wonderful Thanksgiving. Katie hosted since she has the biggest table, although we all didn't sit there at one time. It would have been a miracle to get all 10 adults sitting at once when there are 6 babies among us. I tackled the turkey, wasn't as hard I thought it might be, and it came out really good. We had wonderful food, served hot!, Mario Kart and active babies. So thankful for our wonderful family that we have the blessing of living so close to. The holidays are always a good time to reflect on what we are thankful for. I am so thankful for my amazing family, I couldn't ask for a better husband and a more beautiful baby. Ellie is such a good baby, mothering her is easy (so far). I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for my friends, and the friendships I have made with people in Utah. I am grateful for the blessing the gospel is in my life, for the knowledge it gives me, and for perspective it gives me in my life. 

Ellie- 7 months

7-Months

15 lbs

CRAWLING

Ellie is a petite little thing, but I am not complaining, less baby to carry around. Ellie is on the move! She crawls all over the house and pulls herself up on everything. I dont know if one can ever fully baby proof.  It seems that they go for whatever is out. As long as it cant be swallowed or poison her its free game. Why cant babies play with the toys that are meant for them? 

THOSE CHEEKS!

DOWNWARD FACING DOG

3 Weeks in Salinas

Ellie and I had the chance to go visit my parents for 3 weeks. Unfortunately Jared stayed home, he wasn't able to get away from work and school. It was a long visit but so nice. In the past when we have gone home it is such a quick trip and so rushed. This time we were able to take our time and relax. The weather was amazing the whole time we were there. We spent a lot of time outside in my parents beautiful yard, and at the park across the street. Ellie finally figured out how to crawl while we were there. She had been scooting herself around for weeks. She finally got her knees up under her and she was off! She started pulling herself up to standing too.....crazy child! I love it though, she is so active and entertaining.

 Grandma's bookshelf, her favorite place to hangout

 Eleanor Ann &  Great Grandma Eleanor Goldman

 Meeting Uncle Ros, Aunt Lyndsie and Cousin Roxy....Roxy was a little jealous.

 Just swinging

 Playing with Grandpa

 Peek-a-boo with grandma

 Beautiful day on the coast!

 Uncle Will

 Amazing day at Mount Madonna

This was Ellie after a LONG day of flying. We had a flight fro San Jose to Vegas, then Vegas to Salt Lake. Two hour and a half flights. She finally fell asleep when we landed in Salt Lake, this is what she looked like when we got to the baggage claim. SO ASLEEP!!! So happy to be home with my hubby!

3 Years

3 years ago today I was sealed in the Sacramento Temple to the love of my life. Our wedding was amazing. We were the only wedding in the Temple that day, it was small and intimate and we were surrounded my family. We had a beautiful ring ceremony with even more friends and family that we will remember forever. I am so grateful to have Jared in my life. He continues to amaze me with his talent and ambition. He is an amazing father to our daughter and my best friend. I love you Jared!

Ellie-6 Months

9-13-12

Weight: 13.5 6 percentile

Length: 25"

Head Circ. : 43cm

We love that Ellie's personality continues to emerge and develops, she cracks us up. She is on the verge of crawling. Even though she doesn't crawl that doesn't keep her from being mobile. She rolls and scoots everywhere. She is a master of the downward facing dog pose, makes me think that she will walk before she crawls. She continues to try new food. She has had apple sauce with blueberries, carrots, plums, and peaches mixed with pear. All homemade might I add;). Her sleeping on the other hand has digressed. She has been waking up a couple times a night. NOT FUN. Ellie and I are headed to Salinas for 3 weeks. I'm going to miss Jared, but I am excited to be home for a while and see my family and friends. As always Ellie is a joy and we are happy, grateful and very blessed parents.

Ellie- 5 Months

I feel like 5 months snuck up on me. We are so lucky to be the parents to this little girl. She has such a fun personality! Updates on Ellie include:

Rolling over the entire living room. If we leave the room, we come back to find her on the other side of the room. It's time to start hiding the power cords. What's with kids finding power cords anyways, they are drawn to them!

She is eating solid food like a CHAMP! She eats sweet potatoes, green beans and bananas. I am pretty proud of her. I am also proud of myself because I made it all! Let me tell you, making baby food is so EASY! I just steam the veggie and then put them in the food processor. Add a little water and blend until smooth. I freeze it in ice cube trays then pop them out and store them in freezer bags. When its time to eat, I put one ice cube size of food in the microwave and warm it up. I have still been mixing some rice cereal and formula into the food, so it only needs about 30 second to warm up. With ONE sweet potato I got a tray and a half of baby food!!!! That will probably last me 2 weeks!!! The baby food at the store is almost a dollar a piece... I think. Not only does it save a lot of money but I know exactly what Ellie is eating. Veggies and water, that is all that is in the food....NO PRESERVATIVES!!!!

Can you tell I'm excited about this :)

Along with eating solids come real baby poop. I miss there infant, milk only diapers. Since I am cloth diapering, I now have to rinse the diapers in the toilet. Not my favorite thing, but the fact that in 5 months I have only bought one package of diapers helps put things in perspective. 

She is still sleeping through the night! She goes to bed later than I would like, but she is still taking a late nap, which I know she will slowly stop doing. She gets up pretty early and sometimes we go back to bed and sleep in to 9-9:30. Hey I don't have anywhere to be and I only have one kid! I don't know if we lucked out or what but she doesn't have to be swaddled to go to sleep. She sucks her thumb and rolls over and is out. She cries for maybe 10 minutes and then she is asleep. It seems to make things easier, rocking a baby to sleep is tiring. She seems to prefer putting herself to sleep. 

Until next time. We will see what kind of progress she makes in one more month.

 How you doin?

Being Mommy's model