"Daddy's Hat" Photoshoot

Elliott loves her dad, and loves anything that he does.  He had his gross, dirty, stinky hats out the other night, but E didn't care.  She wanted in on the action.  I snapped picture after picture, and almost all of them were darling, so here we go with about a gazillion pictures of E wearing her dad's nasty hat!

I love this one of Josh and Elliott.  I sure do love these two, stinky hats and all!

                                  


We got to go to Cowabunga Bay with Grandma Chris and Jonathan on Friday.  Elliott had a blast!  This girl really loves the water and loves the big slide even more!I was nervous about taking her down it, but she giggled the whole way down, and laughed even harder the second time.  Josh was at Scout Camp, so he didn't get to join in the fun.  We sure did miss our dad! 

Elliott's Accident

Saturday we went to Willard with some friends.  It was pretty breezy, and a little chilly, so we didn't spend much time in the water,  Tim, Josh's friend, decided to try to waterski for the first time.  We got him set up and he basically got up first try.  Second try, wasn't so successful.  As he was dragging behind the boat, he let go of the rope and it shot all the way into the boat, and the handle hit poor Elliott in the mouth/cheek.  She had a binkie in her mouth, and the impact shattered it!  The poor thing immediately swelled up like a balloon, and the binkie had cut just under her nose when it broke.  She was a mess!  When I saw the swelling, I knew our trip was done, and off we went to the marina to load up and head to the Instacare just down the road.  Poor Tim, he felt awful.  It was such a freak accident, I couldn't believe it! 

Elliott screamed the whole way back, and finally feel asleep on the way to the Instacare.  I was very grateful, because there is not a worse feeling in this world then seeing your child in pain, and not being able to do anything about it.  As soon as we got to the Instacare, they gave her some Ibuprofen for the pain and swelling, and we glued the cut under her nose.  Her poor little mouth was so swollen, we couldn't tell if she had any teeth left.  Her gums had swollen over her teeth!  I was so worried about her poor face and cheek bones, that I wanted Xrays.  We did the Xray (after strapping her to a board, and holding her head in place, it was AWFUL) and the results couldn't have been better.  Nothing broken, nothing damaged, all teeth accounted for and in place, and just some swelling.  I was so relieved!

 While sitting at the Instacare.  Doesn't she look miserable?

 After she woke up from her nap after we got home.  About 4 hours after the accident.  Chris and Richard came up to see the carnage, and to give her a blessing.  I was so thankful!

 Sunday morning.  Still swollen, and a little bloody, but better

This morning.  Almost all better, yay!



She is doing MUCH better today, and her glue is starting to come off.  The swelling is completely gone, and she isn't even on pain meds anymore.  She is such a trooper.  I am so proud of her!

A Walk in the Woods

It was too windy and cold to go out in the boat two weeks ago, so we decided to go for a little hike.  We got the backpack out and headed to Adams Canyon, up in Fruit Heights.  It was so beautiful!  Elliott absolutely loved everything about the hike, except the backpack.  She wanted to walk too!  She couldn't get enough of the trees, sand, dirt, rocks, stream, etc.  She loved everything about it. 

It was so fun, and reminds me how much I love to have these fun little adventures with E.  It is so fun to see her explore and see new things. 

I'm getting so big!

I can't believe how old Elliott is getting.  I swear just yesterday she was a brand new baby.  She really likes to sit up at the counter (safe, I know) and help mom with dinner, dishes, or whatever.  She really likes to play in the sink, which has become a very bad habit...  This girl LOVES the water.  We are so proud. :)  She loves the sink, the bathtub, the hose, the pool outside or anything else that contains water.  We took her to the ski lake for the first time this year last weekend, and she was immediately neck deep in the water.  I am going to have to keep an eye on this girl!



OK moms, I need advice.  Elliott is not a good eater.  I realize most Toddlers are not.  Mealtimes totally stress me out.  I hate making dinner anyway, but now I feel like I have to try to figure out things she will eat and want to eat, which makes dinner even worse!  So, let me know if your Toddlers were picky eaters, and HOW you made it through.  I have recently done a bunch a research, and have realized the amount of food they need is really much smaller than expected.  That makes me feel better, but the days she only eats Goldfish crackers and Gogurt makes me crazy!  She is drinking no more than 16 ounces of milk a day, so I know she isn't filling up on that. And, she is still on a bottle (I know, it is time to take it away) because some days I feel that is the only nutrition she is getting!  Anyway, let me know if you had the same problem.  It would be nice to know I am not alone. :)

Josh bought this new beauty last week.  He has decided he wants a FUN car, not just something to get from here to there.  It is a 1991, and he had to basically put the thing together, so the fun car didn't come too expensive.  It is actually a really fun car to drive, and a convertible is always fun, so I think the objective was met.  I do still think it is totally a chick car. :)

Lake Mead 2012

Lake Mead 2012 was a complete success!  That is, after a 100 degree day, where Elliott refused to eat or drink anything, but we got through it.  (Let's not forget to mention how much of a crazy mom I am, and over react, a little, sometimes) Friday and Saturday were much better days, and we had a great time!

Elliott on the other hand was just fine.  Great, in fact, and seemed to love most of it.  The boat, the beach, the water, the sand, the blanket, the people, you name it, she loved it.  Well, if mom was close by, that is. :)  We are going through a very clingy phase.  I hope it passes quickly.

We took some great friends with us, who were in Hawaii for a week, flew to Vegas from Hawaii to meet us at the lake.  We had so much fun!  Thanks for coming Steve and Missy!

Mom and Elliott after a swim in the lake

Elliott's first swim break!

          How could I do a post about Lake Mead without including a picture of the whole reason we go.  Here is Josh, isn't he amazing?

Steve and Missy LeBlanc.  Great Friends! Steve happened to be the one who talked Josh into the crazy Moab race a few weeks ago.  We still like him though. :)

Elliott's First Bike

Our little Elliott got her first bike.  I am so proud.  Too bad she is too small to reach the pedals, but that doesn't stop her from enjoying it.  Apparently it is the perfect place to watch Elmo.  She even sits there naked, she doesn't care.  She also likes to push her bike up and down the hall, ramming everything in sight. I'm sure our walls (and dad) are happy about that.

She is FINALLY learning how to eat.  She is pretty good at tasting things now.  I'm really hoping this isn't a phase.  She actually ate a chicken nugget the other night.  That was a milestone, considering her diet has consisted of Oatmeal, Yogurt, Mashed Potatoes and Toast for the last ... well, most of her solid food eating life.  I think she looks so big in this photo.  She is starting to look like a little girl, and not so much baby.  I LOVE IT!  Babies are scary.

Josh's race went well, beside major cramping and cold temps.  His buddy has big plans for next year, but I think Josh isn't convinced yet. :)  He is too preoccupied with water skiing season, which is quickly approaching.  We leave for Lake Mead a week from Wednesday.  So excited for this year!  Elliott is much bigger and less scary.  Remember, babies are scary.

I'm still extremely busy at work, and try not get too overwhelmed with work, home, family and other things.  Story of every Mother's life, right? 

San Diego, Easter and Adventuring

Josh and I decided it was time for a vacation, and after much deliberation, we decided on San Diego, CA. We also decided to leave Elliott home with Grandma! We had a really great time. We spent a lot of time on the beach, surfing, riding bikes around Coronado, and going to the San Diego Zoo. We had a really great time, and Elliott didn't even know we were gone. She was great, and Grandma is the best for always being so willing to watch her!

I am the worst picture taker in the world. Seriously.

Easter was a fun weekend. Saturday we went to my dad's for an Easter Egg Hunt, and Elliott caught on very quickly. She also caught on very quickly to what was inside the plastic eggs. By Sunday's Easter Egg Hunt, she had figured out the quicker she could find the eggs and get them open, the slower mom was to realizing she had a whole egg-full of jellybeans in her mouth! Thanks to the Noorda's (TROY) she ate a dozen jelly beans! :) She loved it, and now begs for any candy in sight.


She is going through a fun phase. Hard, but fun. She is into everything. Wants everything, and needs constant attention. This makes my days working at home difficult, but we make it through. I am sure this is only the beginning! She loves outside, and begs to go out whenever she can. She will take your hand and lead you to the door. She will also go get her shoes (still the black velvet shoes) and her jacket so we know it is time to go out. She really likes to play in dads truck, and the dirty Civic. and likes to play in the neighbors rocks (and eat them!) She loves her swings and sandbox, but mostly the neighbors outside toys. The poor girl, I have got to get her a Cozy Coupe. She loves them!

As I am typing this, Josh is taking part in the Moab Adventure Xstream 12 Hour. It is a Kayak, Mountain Bike, Trail Run, Rappel, Trail Run again and Mountain Bike to the finish race. Unfortunately Elliott and I are at home waiting for updates from a friend. Hotels are hard to come by when there is such an event. We are so proud of our cool dad. :)