For your viewing pleasure....I give you Elliott

His new favorite game...much to our dismay :)

Looking studly in daddy's hat

I love how innocent he looks with the light behind him

Look at those chipmunk cheeks!

Daddy was tickling his tummy

Doesn't he look like a little boy instead of a baby?

Breaks my heart

Best friends! We miss you Friedmans!

The monkey and his girlfriend Emily

Don't know why I love this pic, but I do.

He is chewing on the camera cord

Old man face

I love his crinkly smile

Helping us make Valentines

Notice the intense concentration

He really got into it : )

I made him mad. Don't remember how

just makes me laugh

He is a super monkey baby with upside down

ready skills

You want me to do what....

. New discovery. He can open the wipes container....

Isn't he just a doll?

Heartache

Did you ever think that when you got older you would feel things differently or view more in a long term perspective? For some reason, I found out this week that I had thought that.

My good friend Jess and her family moved to Cali this weekend. And when I heard this good news (for it is good news for them) I was happy for them. However, when I put the phone down I bawled. Like a baby. It hurt so much to know that I wouldn't have this great person around to spend time with. She has two super cute kiddos, one who is just a tad younger than Elliott. We use to spend hours chatting, playing with our babies and baking. Jess is geniuely one of the nicest people I've ever met. She is energetic and thoughtful and quite hilarious. I really am going to miss her.

Feeling so much sadness when a friend moved away...it made me realize how special friendship is. I didn't think it would matter as much as you got older or maybe I thought I would deal with it in a more "mature" fashion. But I didn't. I cried for me and prayed for their happiness there. It doesn't really matter how old you are...you still need friends and it is okay to feel for them..to love them.

Now, I don't make friends easily. Maybe that statement isn't quite right...but sometimes I do find it difficult. Shyness and self conciousness being key players in the problem. I hope that as I miss Jess, that I might still be open to building stronger bonds with others.

Onto happier notes. We are all well. Elliott has a sinus infection, but is getting better with the meds he got from his pediatrician. Cameron and I just love to sit and watch Elliott play. He is such an inquisitve little guy. It is lovely to see the concentration on his face when he is figuring something out. This leads to his understanding of the word "no." And make no mistake, he understands...he just chooses which times to adhere to it. My baby is getting to be a little boy---I now understand why everyone says cherish these times while they are there because it is all gone in the blink of an eye. It's just too darn bad that you don't realize it during those time.

I've gonna try to post some pictures in a second post because my computer is being dumb. Go figure. I have a husband who works for Microsoft and I can't even get the image link to work...

Fox Trot Tales

The fox trot rocks. I don't rock doing it. But it rocks. I feel like I should be in a different era wearing a lovely gown and dancing with a dashing fellow when we are at our lessons. I do have a dashing fellow...but no lovely gown---perhaps someone has one I can borrow?

I used to be so reliable

So here I am in the middle of the night...blogging. Not of my own free will, mind you...but my crazy insomnia decided to visit me tonight. And since I haven't posted anything in ages, I thought why not share my world with the world.

Its been a long couple months. Christmas was good...mostly relaxing and so exciting to share it with Elliott. He didn't especially care one way or another as long as we let him nibble on some wrapping paper. Cameron and I are doing good. We decided to do a family motto and goals for our new years Family Home Evening. It was a great way for us to focus on what we wanted our family to be and to do. We have it framed and ready to hang on the wall. It will be a miracle if it actually gets hung up at all this year ;) However, I'm excited about the possibilities it has to bring our family closer together and closer to the Lord.

Our little monkey is 9 1/2 months now. So close to being 1 and it is making me a little sad. I look at this little baby who is slowly turning into a little boy. His features are changing and he has grown in his very prevalent personality. He enjoys throwing things that he doesn't particular like at any given moment. My phone, toys, pacifiers, bottles, keys. It is amusing, but soon I'm sure it will just be annoying as I'll have to pick them all up. He's a mover and a shaker for sure. He finally started crawling but is quickly becoming bored with that. Now he pulls himself up on everything and I fear walking is not far off. Oh, I love how he is hitting these milestones, but where is my tiny baby boy who curled into my arms and chest and fell asleep there. I miss that soft soft new baby skin and the smell. He wants to be everywhere and to see everything so he isn't much into cuddling past a minute or two. I hope that someday he'll crawl back into my arms and let me hold him close for more than a minute. Mommy definitely needs that.

Are all of you good at making friends? I used to be ( I think), but as I got older and went through some traumatic experiences I have become more shy. I long for friends and try my hardest to be outgoing and put myself out there, but sometimes it is just too hard. I have some good friends in the ward and outside, but I hope that they like me too and that as we spend more time together I will become closer to them.

Just a little video so all can admire my beautiful baby.

Everybody is Pregnant

And no, I am not. Thank goodness, although hearing about all these people having second and third babies, I can't deny the little twinge of longing. But so not enough to do anything about it for another year and a half or so :)

Lots of things going on. Have to finish my Christmas gifts, we are getting family pictures tomorrow which means ordering cards and sending those out, then there are the bagillion other things to do. Ahhh, to be busy. Plus, as I sit here and look at my bookshelves overflowing, I realize I need another bookcase or I need to stop getting books. Better start looking....

What is with blogger today or is it my computer....it won't let me add an image and I have some lovely ones of my wee little one. Dumb thing.

Birthday Bash!

I love birthdays. I love my birthday. I cannot deny it, it is one day where I love to be spoiled and don't mind being a teeny bit selfish. It is probably because my parents always made my birthday super special or because I hate attention the rest of the year, either way its the best day !!

This year I turned the big 25. Surprisingly it didn't bother me at all. My life is amazing, I have a wonderful family and tons of fun friends. Cameron threw me a surprise party with all of the many people in my life. For once I had no idea what was going on, usually I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out even if I don't want to. When I walked into the room and heard everyone yell surprise I felt so much love. He made it so special with food and table decorations and balloons. Who could ask for more? Then he took my actual birthday day off and spent the day with me and Elliott. Those are the little things that make me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Other than that, we are cheerily (well I am) getting ready for Christmas. I am having a blast buying decorations and trying to figure out where to put them--unfortunately I'm quite indecisive. I am looking forward to the Christmas tree...my fav-oh-right part of it all. The smell is intoxicating. It will be Elliott's first Christmas! I am in awe of how fast the little bugger is growing. Only 4 more months until he is one! How could that be?? He's standing up while holding onto something and starting to make sounds that actually sound like something. His hair is growing even if you can't tell...he's just got super blonde hair. At the moment he is going through a clingy stage and doesn't want to be away from me. I love it and get annoyed by it at the same time. Is that normal?

One of those Days

My spurts of blogging are a little bit ridiculous...eventually I will have some sort of regularity. I have several amazing things to blog about, but I just splashed some toilet bowl cleaner in my eye (OUCH) so my motivation for keeping my eyes open is severely lacking. But then again, do I deserve it for having cleaning sprees at 10:30 at night? I mean really, who does that??

Things are going well, I am salivating for some turkey this week. This gal is all about the potatoes and gravy...forget the sweets, bring on the savory. Okay, I have to go to bed and turn off the Food Network.

You have my word that I will post about my fantastic birthday and my cute baby boy who has perfected his whine :)

Stupid Sinuses

I have been thinking of my sweet son and how precious he is to me.

So I wanted to show him in all his new glory when he was firstborn.

I am still in awe of how beautiful he was, is and will be.

I'm pretty sure no one reads my blog (big frown on my face), but someday my kids hopefully will...or at least care :)

This past week I've been sick with an nasty sinus infection, but my lovely husband has taken time off from work to be here to help take care of Elliott while I get better. What a sweet blessing it is to know that I can be with him forever. Oh, I do love him so.

Strangely enough I am watching You've Got Mail right now and loving it. The innocence of it...the bookstore that I'd die to own.

Yes I know, these are very convoluted ramblings, but my head is stuffy, haven't slept well in days and the meds are a little iffy.

Pictures, pictures and pictures

Bath Time!! He loves it now that he uses the big tub. (Don't ask me why its on its side, blogger won't upload it correctly)


Our little stud muffin



Huh?

Gumming some toast....angrily apparently.

Whoa Mama

He often uses the duck head as a substitute plug...creative fellow.

All dressed up for church

So proud of himself

Thumbs up Ma

Just Chillin

My new goal :)

In the name of posterity I have decided to be much better at posting--so perhaps at a later date I can make this into a book to share with them.

Halloween was a bust. It didn't feel like it and Elliott is a tad young to go trick or treating, so instead we decided to go spend a night with Cameron's parents. They always enjoy time with their adorable grandson--but then again, who doesn't? We only intended to stay for dinner and a little after, they had asked us to stay but Cameron really didn't want to miss church so we headed out. About 10 mintues later, we decided family came first and turned around. Suffice it to say, they were pleased to hold Elliott again. So we had an impromptu sleep over. It was relaxing and slow. I loved watching his grandparents interact with him and get joy out of watching his every little move.

Speaking of our monkey man. He has finally decided to sit up...about time ;) He loves it as long as he is in reach of something that he can quickly shove in his mouth...which is just about everything. He's been quite the cranky little dude with teeth coming in---as for his Mama...she just wishes they would come through already..its been like 2 months.

Our next goal is to actually baby proof our house...or at least make sure the floor is void of naughty things to go in his mouth. Ohhhh, so many things to do and so exhausted. I'm still waiting for my sleep apnea machine so I can stop stop breathing during the night. Apparently that makes for a restless night.

As for now...Cameron is loading dishes in the dishwasher and I am posting while watching re-runs of House. We are such an exciting family.