Just venting...you don't need to read only but the last sentence.

I need to vent for a little bit...Blogging is always really good for that right?

I love blogging, I miss it too much but I just can't find the time or the energy these days. There are plenty of days that I think of my blog and think that our family is missing out on a great record of the year, and at the end of this year when I go to publish my blog it will be a sad little book. That is one of my problems though is I think of things like that and it stresses me out. But I can't continue to compare my self to other's and their blogs and pinterest ideas and etsy's. Yeah I am a crafty person and I am certain that I could make all that crap I see and repin and like, BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME! So I just try to avoid it, like I have with my blog...just avoid it.

Right now I am so stressed out about life and everything that surrounds it and I feel like I can't get control of all of it. Since Jed started his night shifts back in May life has been beyond what I can handle. Around that same time work schedule picked up and I am swamped with work. Elliot continues to grow into a little terror, especially now that he is mobile. Today he pulled the DVD player off it's poorly secured stand and fell scrapping his little  head and leaving a huge goose egg...I am sure that is the first of many! But All of these things are just little things that continually add up.

About a month and a half ago I approached the bishop and told him I was so overwhelmed that I wanted to be released from the young women's...he said they would do it the following week. Well it still hasn't happened. Meanwhile I have just backed out and said I am unavailable, but every week I feel so incredibly guilty that I am not around to help. I would go but Jed works and that means I have to take Elliot, before then all it did was create huge contention at home and I hated that. So now I am really annoyed with our bishop and wondering why two weeks ago he released our secretary...I wonder if he confused her with me? Well either way I am still in the young women's and it not only bugs me it really stresses me out.

Last month we found out that Jed's company was being sold and he would be laid off. Needless to say we stressed about that. We didn't know if the new company would hire him back on and if so at what rate. Then, after his interview he was offered a promotion...to move to Fairbanks, yeah, not exactly what we were expecting. So for several days we talked about it and discussed the possibilities. If we moved to Fairbanks, I would have to drop my classes this semester and it would postpone my graduation by another year. I was so worried about it but also interested in the money that we could save. After all that stressing, Jed decided that it wasn't enough money and turned it down. He luckily will be able to stay in his current position at his current rate. The new company, in my opinion, is not quite as good as the former but at least he has a job.

We sold my car, just to start cutting down on finances and because I have talked about cutting back to part time when school starts. But that means that I have to drive Jed's truck with the camper on it. It is a huge beast and it is impossible to park, it is scary to drive and I think I am going to have an anxiety attack every time I drive it. But we probably won't get a different car until November, because we are trying to get in a better financial situation.

So like I said before I have thought about cutting back to part-time when school starts. I have two semesters left of school. Fall I am signed up for 11 credits, most of them should be fairly easy, but they are busy work classes. Spring I will have my final classes that will be 12 credits and I am done. It makes me sick trying to figure out how I will do all of this. I feel so much anxiety and stress about getting my degree done but then I think there is no possible way that I will be able to do it while working and having a baby/husband. I keep thinking about cutting back to part-time but my current job wouldn't allow me to do that so I would have to find another job and that is almost worse than just staying where I am and I know my responsibilities. But the other thing is I don't know how we would afford to live in Anchorage on one salary. Besides, I would still need daycare and how do we pay for that without me working? Or I work part-time for the soul purpose of paying for daycare...It is stupid.

I have suspected that Elliot had a food allergy for several months. I tried to ask the pediatrician at his 3 month appointment, again at 6 months he finally gave a referral after I practically begged him for one, for allergy testing. Meanwhile, I tried changing my diet while he was breastfeeding, then after he was weaned we tried 3 different formula nothing really making a difference. He is what they call a happy spitter, he isn't fussy, he sleeps through the night, and then some. But he seemed to spit up more than a little bit, and he continues to spit up at 8 months...which is basically vomit because he is eating solids now. He also has eczema in his knee pits, back, head and torso. It seemed like his doctor said it was just usual baby stuff and that I shouldn't bother because he would grow out of it.  But after waiting 2.5 months for his allergy testing we finally had it done and he is allergic to everything:

Wheat, soy, barley, rice, beef, chicken, turkey, peanuts, potatos, and peanuts. This weekend we switched formulas again and it has already made a big difference. Typically at the end of his bottle he would scream bloody murder, I thought it was because he was still hungery, but It was probably because his stomach was upset. So now we are working to find alternatives to his diet, which isn't too bad because he doesn't eat too much right now. But as he gets bigger it will be a pain...but I am not going to think about it. I am just glad we have a little more knowledge and direction.  

In addition to all of this, I have started some medication that is making me very hormonal and I cried today while watching the traveling pant movie...which I had never seen before, and I am sorry I did now. I also cried while watching the West Wing that I have been watching the serieson DVD. ..it makes me sad about America. I hate our country right now...just the government and politicians, Oh yeah and all of the people on Facebook that want to share their political positions! Didn't anyone ever tell you that you the fastest way to loose friends is to talk about religion or politics? I am here by deleting anyone on Facebook who shares anything about Romney/Obama (well except Wade, I have just learned to ignore most of his posts, but I like his other ones). 

I guess bottle line is I am overwhelmed and beyond stressed. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

6 Months

Elliot had his 6 month check up today. We were anxious for this appointment because of all of the skin issues he's had....but guess what? His skin looked amazing, better than ever! I hate when that happens, just like when my car makes a noise and I tell Jed about it, but it never makes the sound again. I guess that is okay though, because what ever we are doing it is working, and he's getting better rather than worse, and he's thriving.

Elliot is hitting all his milestone no problem, he's rolling over and all around. He can sit up, the Doctor said he has excellent balance (that comes from his daddy...not me). And they were impressed at how social he was, because he is a very very happy baby.

He is very average, he's in the 50th percentile. His stats are:
16.5 lbs
26 1/2 inches long
42.5 cm Head


The doctor didn't have much to say about the possible dairy allergy, he said it just come from trial & error and to watch him closely. My conclusion is, I am not going to go out of my way to eat dairy, but I am also not going out of my way to avoid it either. I've replace milk at home with almond or coconut but as far as cheese and other things, I'm going to eat pizza and ice cream...about as much as I did before I started the diet. But his skin is getting better so that is very good.

 He is now rolling around and he can cover an area slightly bigger than his blanket...but he hasn't ventured too far. I am not looking forward to him being mobile.

 After his appointment he had a slight fever, he had a good long nap, but then was really fussy for the rest of the night. Though, he looks happy in the pictures below, that didn't last very long.

 He was really fussing and at 7pm he started acting like he was tired, but I was trying to get dinner ready and Jed was running late for work, finally I decided to put him in his bed and give him his pacifier, let him cry himself to sleep. I put him down and he immediately stopped crying and fell fast asleep. I hope he sleeps all night. I had hoped to get more done tonight since he fell asleep so early. But I've only blogged, and tried to upload some videos.

We have been giving him foods and he is loving them! I don't know what is wrong with the video, everything from our video camera is now shaky! I thought it was how I uploaded the pictures, but now I think it is our video camera. I hope we can get it fixed, but sad that all the other footage is like that.

A year without buying something new

So Jed sent me a link about this girl who went a whole year without buying anything new, besides basic needs, and replacements of things she was actually using. I think her point was she hated consumerism, but it was inspiring. At first, I thought oh yeah, I want to do this! Imagine the money we'll save... So I can then go out and buy all the stuff I want. It seems a little contradictory though. I wish I could be better with my money but I started thinking about it and I would have a hard time defining what was basic needs, and I'm afraid that Jed and I would disagree on what is a "necessity". In my opinion necessities include an expensive hair cut, facial/makeup products, and what about clothes? Does this mean I could buy clothes at thrift stores like DI? Otherwise, I think I'd be naked at the end of the year... Just kidding I'm not that hard on clothes. Jed and I jokingly said we were going to do this, but then I doubted my ability to do so...in fact it gives me stress just thinking about it. I think I will settle for a tighter budget.  

I don't know,  could you go a year with out buying anything new?

http://www.adventure-journal.com/2012/06/britts-year-of-buying-nothing-new/

A few Firsts

Elliot is getting so big! We weighed him while we were at costco the other day with a scale, he was around 17 lbs...it is a big pain to lug him up and down our 3 flights of stairs to the top floor.  But he is getting such a fun personality. He is grabbing everything now. He freaked me out the other day because we have a tall rotating fan and I was standing near it and all of a sudden he grabbed the cage part and pulled it over! I was certain he just chopped off all of his fingers but he was happy as ever. I didn't even think his arms were long enough to reach it. We also have to watch all cups, especially those full of liquid.

He started cereals on April 27th and he now loves oatmeal. He is not a big fan of Rice. He seems to not like peas at all. The picture of him eating peas for the first time is the typical facial expression he made. However, we just fed him carrots yesterday (6/7/12) and he loved them. He got so excited about them and wanted more.

He has now mastered rolling from back to stomach with no problems. He struggles a little getting back, but he can do it. When he is happy he just rolls around on his blanket on the ground. If he is sad he will get to his stomach and just get upset and cry.

He is sitting up so good now! He almost has it all the way figured out, just occasionally he arches his back and falls backwards, but he's getting more balance each week.

His ezcema is an ongoing mystery. I cut out all dairy for a while and it made minor improvements. Then he broke out bad on his chin, so I decided to start eating dairy again. After a few days his ezcema got pretty bad again, but then we've been using some homemade lotion (courtesy of my parents) and his skin looks amazing, better than ever and that is with dairy. So now I am doubting the dairy allergy and thinking it's maybe just ezcema. Who know! We'll just keep watching it.

Elliot Loves day care. When we walk in to Ms. N's house and he hears the kids screaming upstairs he starts kicking his legs so hard and smiling/giggling. He then cries when I come to pick him up, and typically fusses until he goes to bed...that is not so fun for a working mom.

Failed Attempt

On Tuesday (6/5/12) I heard on the news that the Bore Tide was going to be the largest one of the year. So I got off early ran home and woke Jed up, we grabbed Elliot then got on the road. After only a short drive down the Seward Highway the traffic got heavy...then completely stopped around Potters Marsh. There was a line of cars as far as you could see. Apparently everyone else in Anchorage had the same idea and wanted to see the Tide. We turned around, we were already running late and there was no chance  we were going to make it.

We drove up to flat top, but realized we were ill prepared for that hike, so we took some pictures and enjoyed the sunshine. Elliot is so funny! He is the happiest baby (in public, at home he's kind of mean to us)

Day Trip to Talkeetna

 Elliot & I had the opportunity to ride the train from Talkeetna to Anchorage with Heath. I took half the day off work, Jed was working in Fairbanks so he didn't get to come.  Elliot was really good, he wasn't exactly thrilled with the train, he mostly wanted to be on the ground playing. By the time the ride was almost over it was 8pm and he was exhausted and just wanted to go to bed.

We rode the RCT (Royal Celebrity Tours) bus down. Then got on the train in Talkeetna and rode back. Heath had never been to Talkeetna so we were excited to spend some time there, but were disappointed to find out that we went straight from the bus to the train. So we headed back on Saturday. We drove down and ate at Mountian High Pizza Pie, walked down by the river and then went into a dozen gift shops. It was a fun day, and Elliot slept the on the drive. That was nice. When you get a chance to visit Alaska Talkeetna is a must see. I love it there, probably my favorite place in Alaska!

Alaska Winter

Elliot's First Valentine's Day (catching up)

I wanted to post these pictures forever ago, I am just discovering that I can create a collage on our computer...it is much faster to post than uploading several photos at one time! So I know this was forever ago, but I just wanted to share these adorable pictures.


Later that night when we were giving Elliot his bath, Jed noticed that he had yellowish stuff stuck in his toes. Jed was disgusted thinking he had poop stuck between his toes, which wouldn't be a big suprise if it was. Well, Jed hurried and put him in the tub but after scrubbing for a bit, we realized it was just paint.

Jed & I spent our Valentine's day shopping at Costco, getting Jed a new phone. Things sure change when you have a baby!

How do I get organized?

Since Elliot birth I haven't been able to get back into a good routine....I am so disorganized. I definitely don't have a house of order!! I feel like I'm drowning in all my mess. My home is a crazy disaster. My work is out of control and I'm falling behind on deadlines. I just can't figure out what's off and how to fix it.

When I do...I will blog about:

Elliot rolling over.

Our hike to flat top in the snow.

Jed going to night shifts, and me being left alone with Elliot for 4 days.

Our train ride with Heath from Talkeetna.

Me being released from young women's then being called again to the same calling.

Elliot's dairy allergy and my interesting food choices lately.

The 4.8 earthquake we had this morning.

Maybe I'll get to it, maybe not. But if you have tips of how to organize my life let me know.

Where'd my mojo go?

 Wow...I haven't been on the blogger site for a long time everything is different. I just spent the last hour trying to figure out how to update my blog. I think I finally got it...the one thing I can't find is my saved blog entries to edit before publishing.

I feel like I have lost my blogging mojo...I apologize. I used to think in blog mode, everything I did I imagined a blog entry but lately I haven't thought a lot about it. I am lucky I have been taking pictures...and that is only because I take pictures with my phone and luckily they turn out okay.

So here is a quick update (or not so quick):

We just discovered Elliot has a dairy allergy. I think I have known this for a while because my sister told me my niece had a similar rash, but I just wanted to believe the doctor that it was just cradle cap. We have been putting on the cream the doctor gave us everyday and still his head was really itchy and inflamed. Someone told me that straight olive oil was good for cradle cap so I tested it out...it worked great for the cradle cap, but then it seemed to enhance the eczema on his forehead and sideburns. So I decided to test it out and I drank a couple glasses of milk. That is when his eczema broke out in his creases. I had our friend who is a dietician look at it and she confirmed my fears that it is infact a dairy allergy. Now I am on day two of no dairy, no soy diet. We will test it out for 3-4 weeks and hopefully he does better. He seems to be okay, it's mostly a skin rash but it is itchy and uncomfortable. Hopefully he will grow out of it.

 

The pictures are not very clear but above show his little eczema rashes in his knee pits. 

So here is what is new with Elliot:

•  He started some oatmeal cereal and he loves it! He gets so excited when he sees the cup and spoon. 
• He is very happy and smiley with everyone, but gets bored easily and wants someone to be constantly in his face entertaining him.
• He loves to be outside and going for walking, but doesn't like it if you stop moving...anywhere, even in the car he doesn't like to be stopped at a stop light.
• He is really close to rolling over, but he just won't commit to it. He's done it a few times but just hasn't quite figured it out. Right now, he's closer to roll from his back to his stomach.
• He loves bath time, and has figured out how to splash his foot!

 

• Elliot's preferred toys are a crinkly book and empty cups. He gets really excited with anything that crinkles.
• He's gotten really good at grabbing things and bringing them to his mouth.
• He is getting really strong and likes to be standing up rather than sitting or laying down.  

New with Jed & I:

• I am now on a non-dairy, non-soy diet. It took me two days to figure out what I can eat. I had no idea that I ate so much cheese! So now I am craving foods that I don't really want, but just because I know I can't have them I WANT THEM SO BAD! 
• Jed is getting ready to go to Fairbanks for a week so he can train the new guy. He will be here this summer...yay, we will finally be in the same city for a summer, but he is switching to nights this week. Elliot & I are planning to do a lot of outside activities and hiking a lot while he sleeps. 
• Both Jed & I have been swamped at work! It is a crazy busy time and we are exhausted...I wish I could have a vacation....I am looking forward to memorial day. Except Jed will be sleeping!  

Elliot Yesterday

Elliot was very happy yesterday! I could hear him happily screetching as I walked up the drive way to pick him up from day care...he is getting loud. Ms. N says he likes to get particularly loud when the other kids are trying to take a nap. He loves watching the other kids at Day Care.

He continues to be such a good sleeper, in fact Monday night he slept for twelve hours, but that was after a rough weekend. At home he is a very happy baby. He likes to talk to Jed and laughs at him.
Lately he thinks it really funny when I sing "if you're happy & you know it"...he doesn't think it's as funny when Jed sings, but he will laugh and laugh when I sing to him.


Heath came over yesterday so that we could go shopping together at the thrift store where I get a discount...he helped keep Elliot entertained while I ate dinner.

Elliot wearing Uncle Heath's hat.

Tomorrow Elliot is coming to work with me...since his day care is closed and my boss & co-workers want to see him.

4 MONTHS ALREADY?!

Elliot just had his 4 month check up!
He is 14 lbs 10 oz
25 inches long

He is very average. I thought he was really big but apparently not. He is doing great! He likes to eat a lot and that sometimes stresses me out because I feel like I'm not keeping up.

I pump at work and most days I pump less than he ate that day at daycare. So far we still have milk in the freezer so I feel like the Lord has probably helped out. However, after this weekend I am exhausted (and probably dehydrated). Elliot got his shots on Friday so he was fussy and then just wanted to nurse literally all day and all night. I probably drank 2 gallons of water the next day and a couple Gatorade and still felt thirsty. He drained me! He is feeling much better, and I think that will do a lot to help boost my supply.

Elliot is getting to be so big and developing a little personality. He is showing preference to certain toys, for example he still prefers the balloon (now a new one that uncle heath got for his birthday) to any other toy. Sorry hilpy he is not as excited about the mat you sent him, he just likes to pull that down.

• He like a little ball that also has a ribbon to clip to his clothes and a stuffed monkey.
  

• He is talking more and more and doesn't cry too much, he will howl/sing when he is hungry, but it's not really a cry.

• He hasn't rolled over yet but he is getting really close, and he is doing much better with tummy time.
• He found his tongue the other day and for a week this was the only expression we saw from him...picture below.
  

• 
• He's not ticklish at all...more annoyed and will squirm away.
• He is not cuddly....at all! He just wants to be out looking around, not even when he is sick and fussy does he want to cuddle with us. I hope someday he will change his mind.
• He is interested in the TV, it will captivate his attention for a surprisingly long time. This morning I wasn't feeling well and was watching Steel Magnolias and he pretty much played quietly on the ground and watched the majority of the movie with me...well...he wasn't fussing that is all that matters.
• HE SLEEPS! Yes, he is a great sleeper, with the exception of getting his shots and the occasional weekend night when his routine is off. He will sleep a minimum of 9 hours a night, he is very routine oriented he wants to be nursing by 8pm and in bed no later than 9pm. He usually wakes up around 7:30, when I finally have to get him ready to go to day care. It is a huge blessing...and yet I still can't figure out why I am still so exhausted.
  

Overall, we are doing well. I have had a bad cold this weekend and Jed had a stomach bug this week but we are feeling better.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged much lately, but I would much rather play with this little guy than open my laptop.

I tried to upload a few movies of Elliot talking...the first one I love his skinny little neck, it reminds me of E.T.

Ummm....what can I say

Aren't we a beautiful family?

It's been a while...but I like that my last post was about my first day of work. It has gotten better, I shouldn't complain but really it is tough to do the working mom thing... you have all heard/lived that. So I will focus on the more positive moments in my blog!

We went to Fur Rondy downtown last weekend...please check my facebook page for pictures, I no longer have time to load them all up on my blog---so mom & dad you should figure out Facebook so you can see the really cool picture of the fur man I was telling you about, I finally got my picture with him this year. We took Elliot with us and it was great, kind of cold but we all survived.

Elliot has been in day care for two full weeks and it is going great! He really likes it there and I really like our day care provider!

He sleeps!

He actually sleeps a lot. He will sleep very consistently from 9pm-ish until 6am-ish every day. Well except the last few days I have had to wake him up at 7am so I have time to feed him and get to work. I am not sure if that is just a growth spurt but it has been consistent for two whole weeks now. I am not complaining.

He smiles a lot and is really vocal lately, he will make lots of happy sounds. He especially likes having his diaper changed (who wouldn't) & bath time.


He is starting to look more at toys and will watch us from across the room. But he is also wanting more attention and wants to see your face---so he doesn't like to be left alone or he will cry, and unfortunately sometimes he has to cry for a while when I am getting myself ready or busy doing something else.

We look a lot alike...especially our eyes ;)

We are busy

hopefully we catch up soon

First Day Back to Work

Okay so today was my first day back to work...I need to set my alarm for an earlier time, or I will never make it on time. It was one big hot mess!

I woke up, got dress, started feeding Elliot and thinking to myself...this is not going to be so bad! I can do this! I called the day care provider, confirmed that we were coming today, and I was just finishing feeding Elliot then I'd be on my way. Well, once I finish feeding him, I decide I better pump because he didn't eat very long and now the stuff is like gold because I won't always be there to feed him on demand. After pumping I decide I had better eat myself otherwise I will be too hungry and you all know how important food is for milk production!

So, I get some breakfast and start packing up. I get the diaper bag put together, which I thought I was so cleaver because I did that the night before. I get the pump ready to take to work. I go to get the bottles out of the fridge to take the day care and realize I had written the dates on all the bottles with a dry erase marker...which I always intended on buying a real sharpie and writing over those dates. Except I forgot, and now all the lettering is wearing off! I rush around the house to try to find a marker, or tape or something to put the dates on it. I spend way too long trying to figure it out and finally just pack them up anyway. I have no idea how much he'll need so I through them all in.

Now I am hurrying thinking I am going to never make to work...I pick up Elliot just in time for him to have a massive explosion in his pants, this can not wait...I change him. I pass up packing a lunch because at this point I am much later than I want to be. I put Elliot in his car seat and he starts to scream, adding to my stress. I get my boots on and realize I left the lights on...take the boots off rush to turn off all the lights. Get my boots, coat and gloves on, pick up the pump, the lunch bag with Elliot's milk, the diaper bag, my purse, the extra pack of diapers to leave at the day care and finally pick up his car seat.

At this point Diane Keaton pops into my mind, you know Baby Boom...the one where she inherits a baby and tries to balance her successful business career and a baby. There is one particular scene where she is carrying all this baby stuff and trying to get a cab...that is what I feel like.

Well, once I get all this stuff in my arms, I manage to get through the door and lock it behind me. I take two steps and realize that the warm weather has turned our stairs in to an ice skating rink and it is incredibly slippery! I rush back inside to get my ice cleats--still trying to balance almost everything...until I realize that is impossible I drop everything, get my cleats on and finally get out the door again. I get to the car and realize that I don't have the address...I have been there a few times, I am just hoping I can make it with out any problems. I do.

We get inside and immediately all the kids go wild because there is a new baby and person who they can show off too. I am trying to explain what I have in the diaper bag to meet his needs, and then explain about the bottles with the lack of dates and name. Ms. N is so sweet to try and help get it figured out and we start to do the label machine to label them...until it runs out of 'sticker stuff'--meanwhile the other kids are going crazy and it's getting violent. Poor Elliot is now in Ms. N's arms and wide eyed with a look of desperation on his face. I don't think there is anything in this world that could have prepared him for what was about to happen! Finally after 25 minutes there we decide we've done all we can and I need to leave so Ms N can get things under control again. I left sweating from stress and so sad that I left Elliot---I would dread staying there...I was dreading staying as long as I had to! Heaven bless the day care providers I don't know how they do it!

Once I got to work it felt like I was never gone...it was such an odd feeling. I didn't get much done, except a zombie discussion about the walking dead. I got caught up with all my co-workers and the latest office drama about the new girl. I went to get lunch with my co-workers, talked about valentine's day, babies, weddings and school. I pumped a few times and felt incredibly awkward even though no one was around...it is just weird. Overall, the day went quickly.

I rushed to go get Elliot and discovered that he was amazing for Ms N--all day he was good and only fussed a little bit, he smiled a lot an loved watching all of the kids play. He did soooo good right up until she handed him to me and immediately he cried and didn't stop until we go home and I could feed him. I don't know if I should be flattered by that or saddened that maybe he liked Ms N's place more than me.

But I survived the first day of being a working mom

....I am exhausted.

Elliot's Blessing

My great grandfather, James E. Harvey, was born in 1886. His mother hand crocheted a Christening gown for him by candle light in a dug out in Iowa. The christening gown was put into storage until my mother had her first baby and the gown was given to her. My grandmother helped my mom replace the damaged material in the exact replica of the original gown, saving all the original lace. This christening gown was then used to bless everyone of my siblings including my brother Heath. It is now a cherished family tradition. All but one of my neices and nephews were also blessed in the dress. Many of my cousin's and their children have also been blessed in it.

The christening gown is now 126 years old and has a lot of history to it. Many people initially question why a boy is wearing a dress to be blessed but it is such a fun family tradition that I hope Elliot will one day feel honored to have been a part of.

This is 3 generations, Elliot, Jed, his mother and grandfather.

I love the under slip almost more than the actual dress itself! The lace is so beautiful!

I was so worried for years watching my sister's bless their children in the dress...I got really possessive of the dress and wanted them to change their babies out of it the SECOND they were done being blessed...because I wanted to make sure that my children had the opportunity to be blessed in it.

Now I feel really bad because it was so fun to see Elliot in it that I wish I wouldn't have been so critical of them and I would have let them have their moment in the dress...Sorry you guys, especially Hilary!
Above Elliot is sitting in a little rocking chair that my grandmother gave me. It was her oldest sister's rocking chair who passed away as a young child. It is great to see Elliot surrounded by family history!
Jed was so great with Elliot and did a great job blessing him. I am very grateful to have a husband that has the priesthood, and he was able to perform that ordinance.

Trip to Utah

Things have been so busy around here that I haven't had time to blog! So for documentation purposes I will be doing three blogs posts tonight and I hope you go back and read all of them and get caught up!

Jed and I decided before Elliot was born that we would go home to Utah to introduce Elliot to the family and to bless him there. The trip was so great! It was so fun to see family and to see how excited everyone was to meet Elliot. Everyone was so excited to see him and hold him, he was spoiled rotten.

Aunt Hilary who particularly loves to spoil Elliot by sending him all sorts of fun blankets, outfits, hats and someday I really hope when he is 13 that she will send him a pink bunny outfit for christmas...which I will make him wear!

This is Elliot and his oldest cousin on the 'Hayward' side Jewell...she was so excited to see him she schedule two weeks in advance a time so she didn't have to fight anyone to hold him.

But the greatest part of all was just being home.
I love home...there is nothing more true that the phrase "There's no place like home"....I love the above picture, I love my mom's kitchen--the smell of the well water, looking out the window across the pastor of young lambs running, the sounds...I love it too much and I get really home sick when I think about it.

Below is mix of my two favorite things my mom in her kitchen! I love my mom she is the sweetest lady I know...and the best grandma! She was so great when she was able to come up here and help when Elliot was born.

above...a brand new baby lamb was born while we were there and it was fun to go out to the barn and see it, my parents still had my old rubber boots. In high school I spent a lot of time with the sheep and a lot of time in those boots, so much that I actually started to wear them out! Those are great memories! My dream is to again live on a small farm, but rather than sheep I want Alpacas!

Jed is such a good dad...here he is giving Elliot a bath at my mom's house.

While we were there Elliot really mastered his smile! He had a lot of people to show off to so he had a lot of opportunities to practice.
Above is Aunt Heather and my mom...you can see how happy and proud my mom looks!

Below is Jed's mom...she was soooo excited to see Elliot! She hasn't had a grand baby for almost 12 years! She was so cute with Elliot and loved spending time with him, she even got to baby sit him while we went to my big movie premiere!

There is nothing like proud grandparents

We had such a good time and there were many family members and pictures taken, but I can't post them all...so check them out on Facebook!