Kissing in the New Year {2010}

I loved it that Elizabeth was awake for midnight, to welcome in the New Year! I decided that I wanted to make sure that we welcomed it in properly. With lots of Kissing! (Elizabeth is still getting used to a time change again)

I love Elizabeth's kisses! They are one of the sweetest things!

She likes kisses too! Just look at that smile!

Brian and I even stole a kiss behind Elizabeth

Elizabeth was still giving kisses that night before we put her to sleep. A whole day full of kisses!

Brian got a video of Elizabeth and me playing and giving kisses.

Christmas~Utah Edition {Swenson Family}

Since some of my family where not in town for Christmas (including us), we celebrated it the night we flew in.  It was so much fun to be back with my family, and to introduce Elizabeth to everyone.

My parents have had this couch since their early marriage (I believe).  We have always gathered on it, and even when I was small we quickly filled it up.  Now their are in-laws and grandchildren that we try to pile on as well.  In this family laps have become included as seating as Elizabeth is taking advantage of, and also Jakobe.

 

My dad took over the distribution of gifts, but not without help.  Kabria is a great helper, not only with passing gifts along to the person it belongs to, but she is also great at unwrapping!  I love the excitement that she has, even when it's not her gift.

  

Elizabeth is also a great helper when it comes to unwrapping gifts

  

and she loves the paper!  I didn't realize until Rachelle pointed it out to me, but the paper left it's mark!  Elizabeth was covered in colorful sparkles!

  

 The best part of it all was being with family!  I got to show my family Elizabeth, and we got to meet her new cousin, Madlynn!

  

Christmas~California Edition {Baldus Family}

Christmas Eve started out with a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls and fruit.

 

I then took some family pictures of everyone.

 

Michelle (Brian's sister) then took some of Brian, Elizabeth and me.

  

  

We then had a great time celebrating Christmas Eve.

  

Brian read the Christmas story to us all (minus Elizabeth, who was sleeping soundly)

  

Then we opened the presents that Santa had left on the front porch.

  

When Elizabeth finally woke up she got to open her gifts, and she loved it!

  

We woke up Christmas morning to a California white Christmas (this is a heavy frost, but I will take what I can get!)

  

We then enjoyed our stockings (Elizabeth was really excited about her gift and couldn't wait to open it)

  

We all hopped into the car later and drove to Ted and Judy's to see all of the extended family.  Everyone was there and all of them loved little Elizabeth!

  

  

  

  

Four Months and Flying

Today is a big day for Elizabeth.  Not only is she now four months old, but we celebrated Christmas this morning(so we done have to fly with all our gifts), she went onto and airplane for the first time, went to San Francisco, and she got to finally meet Ba Pa, Grandma, cousins Andrew and Dallin, Aunt Michelle, and Uncle Ian.  What an exciting month and day it has been!  Here are a few things that she has been learning...

~Doing a little bit a sitting by herself (not for very long yet)
~Grabs onto her toes, and legs (all the time!)
~Standing by all by herself (for a second before we catch her)
~Drinking water out of a big cup (with help)
~Getting really close to rolling (but she keeps us in suspense)
~Getting a better grip on things
~and she is getting a lot more control of her movements

As for Elizabeth's size, she will not be going to the doctor for about a month, but...
~Clothing: 3-6 months
~Diaper: Size 2

Today Elizabeth went onto an airplane for the first time.  She was FANTASTIC!  I was so worried, I would hear the stories of babies crying the entire time, and we had a five hour flight ahead of us.  She fell asleep sucking on Brian's thumb before we took off, but woke up a bit after the plane took off.  She then had fun playing with Brian and I, and met the nice lady that was sitting next to me.  Brian was great, he held and entertained Elizabeth for almost the entire flight (except when I fed her).  Half way through she started to get tired and Brian got a brilliant idea...we put our trays down and then her car seat cuddly thing, and let her lay down on them.  ELIZABETH LOVED IT!!!  She loved looking around and playing for a bit, then she took a nap.  She slept for over two hours, and only woke up when we had to move her to put the trays back up when we were landing.  Elizabeth is a great traveler!

Elizabeth enjoying her bed on the plane.

 

She liked playing with the treats that were passed out.

 

Christmas~Michigan Edition {Just our Little Family}

Well, it's Christmas time here at our home.  We are going to be traveling for Christmas this year, so Brian and I decided that we would simplify our trip by having our own family Christmas celebrations before we leave.  Last night we celebrated Christmas Eve and today is our Christmas.

Brian and I had to decide this year how we would like to celebrate our Christmas.  You see, Brian grew up with Christmas traditions that are so different from the way my family always did.  So, we talked about our different traditions and which ones meant the most to each of us and were able to combine them.

In Brian's family they have Santa bring the gifts on Christmas Eve, and they open them all that night.  Then they wake up Christmas morning to see the surprises that are left in the stockings from Santa.  Followed by time with the extended family (and sometimes even another special visit from Santa).

In my family we open one gift on Christmas Eve (Pajamas), and then listened to my dad read stories (always including Luke 2).  Then we wake up on Christmas morning and massage my Dad's feet, and brush my mom's hair (my parents are brilliant!), before we can open stockings and presents.  Then off to see family.

Brian and I found a way to combine these traditions in a way that we look forward too.

 

On Christmas Eve we opened our gifts from Santa

  

like PJ's

  

and some family gifts (Elizabeth loved the paper)

  

a Christmas story for Brian to read (Elizabeth tried to taste it after she opened it all by herself),

  

and a family toy for everyone to enjoy.

  

Brian then read The Polar Express and then Luke 2 for us before going to bed.

Then we got to wake up this morning and celebrate our Christmas.

We got to enjoy our stockings

  

and open our individual gifts to each other (Elizabeth got a lot of books this year, you can tell we love reading to her).

  

Elizabeth loved the unwrapping a lot, and it was so much fun watching her do it.

  

It was a fun Christmas, and now it's time to go and visit family (after a five hour flight!)

  

Merry Christmas!

  

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving has come and gone, I have had a lot of time to be able to reflect upon my many blessings in my life. I have been greatly blessed with so much that I know that I cannot even name a fraction of the things that I am grateful for, but here are a few things.

~I am so blessed to have FANTASTIC, AMAZING, WONDERFUL, and INCREDIBLE FAMILY.

~My PARENTS have taught me, cared for me, done whatever they possibly could do for me, been examples to me, and most importantly...LOVED ME!!!

~My HUSBAND is the PERFECT man for me! He is my BEST FRIEND, I love to talk to him all of the time. The LOVE of my Llife, it amazes me how much I love him, and how it is always growing. He is also a great FATHER to our beautiful daughter. He is continually trying to become better, a better husband, a better daddy, just all around a better person. He accepts me for ME, and is always encouraging me to follow my DREAMS!

~ELIZABETH ADELAIDE is a piece of my own HEART, just growing in another body! I love her SMILES and LAUGHTER that now fill up many moments of my days. The LIGHT, CURIOUSNESS, SPARKLE, and JOY that overflow from her gorgeous eyes help me to really take a look at our wonderful world.

~My SIBLINGS, IN-LAWS, GRANDPARENTS, NIECES, NEPHEWS, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, and BEYOND are all such a large contribution to my wonderful life.

~I am grateful for all of the other amazing people that are in my life. FRIENDS, TEACHERS, LEADERS, and NEIGHBORS.

~I love the knowledge that I have of the GOSPEL! For the ATONEMENT, TEMPLE BLESSINGS, FOREVER FAMILIES, FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE!

~I am thankful for my HEALTH. I can breath, walk, talk, see, get medical attention if necessary, and care for myself and my little family.

~I am greatly blessed to have all of my needs met. A HOME, CLOTHING, and FOOD on my table.

~I am grateful that I am able to have ways to keep in touch with my loved ones, through AIRPLANES to be able to fly home, INTERNET to be able to email and blog(oh, and can't forget facebook), and TELEPHONES to call and hear a loved ones voice that is hundreds of miles away.

~I am thankful for talented AUTHORS that write amazing BOOKS! I am in love with the WRITTEN WORD!

~I am blessed to be surrounded by the beautiful creations that the BEST ARTIST, our FATHER IN HEAVEN, made. SUNRISES, SUNSETS, RAINBOWS, SNOWFLAKES, STARS, CLOUDS, TREES, MOUNTAINS, FLOWERS, GRASS, SUNSHINE, LAKES and OCEANS, and so much MORE!

~I am grateful for the spectrum of vibrant COLORS!

~MUSIC and DANCE, bring life to my days.

~SILENCE is a blessing for me to be able to THINK, PONDER, and REFLECT about my life.

I could go on and on, but most of all I am just grateful for the AMAZING life that I have!

Pictures from Thanksgiving(Thank you Aunt Jessi for taking them)

My little three month old

Well it is the 19th of the month once again, and Elizabeth is getting older. She has now reached the three month mark. I can't believe how time flies while I watch my little girl grow, learn, and discover new things. Here are some of the things she is doing now...

~Sitting up with props
~Discovered her amazing hands
~Grabs and plays with her toys
~Loves to stand up on laps(who wants to sit when you can stand, not Elizabeth!)
~Loves to watch her hands and fingers
~Can bring her hands together, and like to hold on tight
~Grabs onto her legs
~Can push her head and shoulders really high off the ground to look at us
~Loves to chew on Brian's fingers
~Has become a very slobbery baby
~Does not like loud noises, and gets startled easily
~Sleeps really well, at night and during the day, and eats only four times a day
~Does a great impression of an airplane(amazing body strength, to hold herself perpendicular to the ground)
~Likes to repeat sounds(she says, okay, da, and a few other things)
~Starting to blow bubbles
~Loves playing games, especially the Kissing Game, which leads to my favorite...
~Giving kisses to Mommy and Daddy!

It's been a busy month!

Some pictures from the last few weeks

 

Today I took the opportunity to get a bunch of really cute pictures of my little Elizabeth Adelaide. She was so good for me as a took a couple hundred pictures(think I got enough).  I have a bunch of them that I love, I will share a few of them with you.

Elizabeth's Size
(We do not have a doctor appointment until after the new year, so I had to do measurements myself, so them may not be as accurate)

Weight~approximately 13.5 pounds
Length~approximately 23 3/4 inches
Head~approximately 15 3/4 inches
Clothing~end of 0-3 months
Diaper~Size 2

What else???

Last week I received a message from one of my good friends.  We are catching up with each other a little bit, and one question that she asked me was, what else do I do, other than be a mom.  Well, I have to say that this question made me have to think for a bit.  What else do I do?

Honestly, most of the things that I thought that I do I usually do them with Elizabeth either with me, or for Elizabeth.  She has just become such a huge part of my life right now.  That's not to say that every second of every day I am with Elizabeth.  I do get some alone time during the day(nap time usually), and when I do, these are some of the things that I do:

~Sleep(this is becoming less prevalent then it was a little while ago since Elizabeth is now sleeping through the night. YAY!)
~Pay bills(such an exciting one, I know)
~Read(books, magazines, scriptures, cereal boxes, anything I can get my hands on.  I love to read!!!)
~Take pictures(I know, I know, most of them are of Elizabeth, but I have been working on my photography skills while I do this, and it's one of my creative outlets)
~Clean(sad to say the house doesn't clean itself, but it does feel good when I get something cleaned)
~Blog(this is another creative outlet of mine, I especially love doing Elizabeth's, for some reason I just love trying to think of what someone else might be thinking-just ask my family, I am always talking for someone)
~Check on the outside world(through email, facebook, and family/friends blogs)
~Teach in primary
~Go on walks(I do take Elizabeth with me, but it is a time that I feel rejuvenated myself)
~Make bows, bracelets, and what-not(most are for Elizabeth, but I really enjoy creating them)
~Design(I love coming up with new designs for different things.)

This has been an eye opener, as I have thought on this question of "What else?"  I am glad that my friend asked me this question.  All said and done, I do lots of things.  I love being Elizabeth's Mom, I have the opportunity to do many things with my role of being a mother.