Elora The Photographer...

So while we were at Josh's wedding, Celeste was waiting outside the temple with the kids. She let Elora have the camera for a while, and she had lots of fun! So for your viewing pleasure, here are photos by Elora...

Except for this first one of Elora, I just love this picture. She has my hair...

Here are the photos by Elora...

She arranged these rocks on the sidewalk by herself, then took a picture...

Random Pictures...

Well, I haven't added pictures on here for a while, so here it goes... Enjoy...

(I have been very frustrated with my camera... they look terrible with the flash on, and look terrible without the flash... The camera has also been doing a weird color thing... Can you tell that I want a new camera? But anyway, although the subjects of these photos are good... the quality...not so much...)

While we were at a friend's house on super bowl sunday, she decided to make a hat and a scarf for Elora. She absolutely loved them! She wore them all over the house all day long for the next couple of days...

Here are some good shots of Max's double bump on his head at the yellow end stage. I also love how silly he is.

More silliness...

For Valentines weekend, we went down to St. George for one of our high school friend's wedding. Celeste was kind enough to take care of the kids while we in the temple... (We were in there for quite a while because Josh forgot the marriage license)

Elora had fun taking pictures with Celeste's camera, I love the tongue sticking out in concentration...

Travis didn't have class on Presidents day, so he was able to make snowmen with the kids...

I have no idea what was going on right here, but I just love Elora's curly hair in the picture...

What a cute boy I have...

We love playing with Daddy when we can!!

Time-Out

So I'm listening to Elora playing with her toys, and this is what I hear:

"Don't hit baby! You in time-out!"

-A moment's pause-

"Come here, you no hit baby. Give a hug to baby."

So apparently her little-Cinderella (she's polly pocket size-about 2-3 inches tall) was in trouble.

We Have a Budding Artist!

Sorry, the scan isn't too good, it looks much better in person. You can see the eyes better in person, because she just does a tiny dot. But this is Elora's rendition of our family. Mommy is on the top left, (Can't you tell? She "wrote" my name above.) Daddy is top right with his name "written" above as well. Elora is on the bottom left with her name above, and Max is on the bottom right. I guess she didn't want to write his name. For someone that is only 3 and 4 months old, I'm very impressed! I love that we all have short hair, and that she also did hands and feet. I am very proud to call her my daughter!

Sure, I'll join in...

Baby Tag (For my first baby) -Just for fun...

1- Where were you when you first found out you were pregnant?

In my bathroom with the 70's pink/orange/yellow linoleom.

2- Who was with you?

Just me, and then I got Travis and he was super excited, but we couldn't believe it.

3- How did you find out that you were pregnant?

On a home pregnancy test, and later we went to our friend's house. And somehow we were both going to go to the store before all heading back to our house, but I knew that I didn't want to go to the store together, because I wanted to buy another pregnancy test just to make sure. But we didn't want them to know... So it was a funny story after we actually did come out with the news.

4- What was your first reaction to finding out you were pregnant?

We were both way excited!

5- Who was the first person you told?

Travis.

6-Did you plan to get pregnant?

Yes.

7- Did you tell everyone else right away?

We could only hold it in for two weeks, so I was 6 weeks pregnant when we told the family. We wanted to wait longer to tell people, but it just sort of came out in a pictionary game at Travis' family's house.

8-Was everybody happy for you?

Yes, everyone was ecstatic. Especially because our baby was the first one born to someone other than Dan and Jan in Travis' family. And on my side, it was the first grandchild.

9- Did you go out and celebrate?

Other than a fun night with friends that was already planned? No.

10- Did you want to find out the sex?

Yes, I couldn't wait to find out.

11- What was the sex?

Girl! I was so excited!

12-Did anyone throw you a baby shower?

Yes, some friends threw one for me, and then also Travis' family.

14- Did you get any outfits at the baby shower that you just knew you weren't going to put on your baby?

Yeah, I think there were some dingy yard sale clothes... :S

15- How much weight did you gain?

About 40 lbs.

16- Did you lose all of the weight that you gained?

No, I had only lost 25 of it before I got pregnant with my next one.

17- Did you get a lot of stretch marks?

Yes, and then got some more with my next pregnancy.

18- What did you crave the most?

Cold cereal was about the only thing I could handle for a while. But I also wanted lots of SUGAR!

19- Did you crave anything crazy?

No.

20- Who or what got on your nerves the most?

The smells of ANYTHING... My apartment, Travis, food cooking....

21- Were you married at the time?

Yes

22- Did you have any complications during your pregnancy?

No, I felt GREAT for most of my pregnancy, except for the couple months of nauseous stage. I got the flu on top of that once, and couldn't keep anything down for a whole 24 hours... I think I counted that I threw up 11 times that day...ugh...

23- Where were you when you went into labor?

I was at the hospital, because I was induced at 2 weeks overdue.

24- Did your water break?

I don't ever remember it, but it did sometime or another...

25- Who drove you to the hospital?

Travis, and no one had a clue we were heading to the hospital.

26- Did you go early or late?

Two weeks late... It runs in my mom's family...

27- Who was in the room with you when you gave birth?

Travis, and the doctor and nurses.

28- How long were you in labor for?

6 hours

29- Did you have any drugs for the pain?

No, all natural, and painless too thanks to Hypnobabies.

30-Did you go Natural or have a c-section?

Natural

31- What was your first reaction after giving birth?

After they laid her on my stomach, "Woah, she's big." After that, pure joy, amazement, and happiness.

32- Did your Husband cry?

No, I don't think so, just glad that it was over.

34- What did you name the baby(s)?

Elora

35- Does her name have any significant meaning?

Yeah, we got it from the baby on Willow(80's fantasy movie with Val Kilmer-you gotta see it) But we just liked the name.

36- Did you have any visitors?

Yes, my parents and sister were the first ones that night, all the other family came the next day.

37- Did the baby(s) have any complications?

No, she was healthy as ever!

38- How old is your baby today?

3, three??? Where's my baby girl???

39- When is the next one(s) coming?

Whenever they come.

(I tag whoever feels like doing it too.)

100 Days...

As of 8:00 am January 21, 2009, there will be exactly 100 days until Travis' Graduation ceremony. Those 100 days just cannot come fast enough. We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...sort of...

This semester may just be the hardest one yet. He's probably taking too many credits in one semester, and probably working too much, so that he doesn't have much time for studying and homework. Especially when's there's two kids and a wife that want to see him too... I understand that he's going to school for us, to help build a better husband and father for us, and build a better future for our family, but the kids don't understand that. That's what's hard. Especially when Travis is not home and Max is not happy, and crying, "DADDY! DADDY!" And then Elora comes over to me and says, "Mom, Max needs his Daddy..." Yes, I know... I just hope we can all come through this alive, especially Travis. We may just have to drag his exhausted body onto the stage at his graduation ceremony.

But seriously, Travis, I hope I can do all I can to help you finish, and do well. I'm proud of you Travis, I know you can do this. I know you can finish. "Just keep swimming" and push through. I love you!

I'm having a bad day, and then...

...and then I sing a song to Elora in her bed, and then she says,

"Thank you Mommy."

"You're welcome, Elora. I love you."

"I love you too."





What a sweet little girl...