March Art Farts

 

Zentangle Clovers.

 

Poor Eli. He couldn't understand why were only using green!

 

I loved Chrisina trying to put glasses on her frog and ending up with a meth addict frog. It made me so happy all month long. Definitely a favorite.

 

Christina did chalk pastel hawks at school.

Carson turns 3!!

 

What a fun time we had going to Sacramento to celebrate our cousin's birthday!! Since Ella has been such a champion, we decided to head down and enjoy some cake. It was really nice to see all the little boys together!!

 

The girls were in 7th heaven with Heidi the dog. Erin let them feed her a bunch of things and they ran many a lap together.

 

Regina and James. She's due with her first son in June! We can't wait!!

 

We sure do love our family!! It was so fun to sing with our Aunts and play tag and enjoy the beautiful warm weather.

 

Eli is always so amazing. No nap. Out in the sun the whole time. And just plain awesome!! He is such a happy kid, well mannered, and fun. He really took to James (Regina's stepson) and had a great time digging in the dirt.

 

Eli took pictures and did a wonderful job as noted in the picture of above and below.

 

There is Carson with his gorgeous curls!! I wish I had gotten a better shot, but when Erin emails me a couple pictures I'll be sure to add them in. I was feeding Ella as she had slept in the car the entire way there and back. Erin has a very comfortable and happy home, I enjoyed feeding Ella and watching all the kids destroy her playroom. I felt so bad!!! But they all had such a good time. Erin has great toys!!!

 

Erin had a friend who had a baby a week before Ella. It was nice to talk about labor and feeding and all that good stuff!

 

On the way back we stopped to go to the bathroom. Christina had just learned extensively about the Donner Party and was excited to know that we were just 6 miles from where they camped.

 

Miracle of miracles. We could have ended up Donner Party style stranded!!! We got home and the very next day our tire was shredded and completely FLAT!!! I'm so grateful the Heavenly Father spared us the misery of being stuck in the mountains. It is such a blessing and a good reminder to always have my emergency pack in the car... especially on road trips!! We would have been up a creek stuck in the cold because we were only prepared for the sunshine of California!!

Thank you Heavenly Father for watching over us and for safe travel.

Our Gorgeous Girl

 

Our little babe. 1 Month old. This month flew by!!! Ella is just the sweetest thing ever.

She is a calm baby. Sleeps better than she did at first.

She gets really tired at the breast at night and it's hard to get a full feed, but we're managing.

 

 

I got a yucky mastitis, fever and all, but was able to get some rest thanks to my parents.

She was a trooper and helped me along the way being a super nurser.

We're still using latchy, I think she's over 9 lbs.

She does good in the carseat. She loves to be held. She smiles at her siblings often!

 

Mom. I'm done with pictures. Time to eat.

 

I'm smitten. Totally and completely and utterly smitten. She's my sweet little angel.

God has truly blessed us.

The small things mean everything....

Before I forget, I had to record a few things that have openly made me smile and laugh lately!!

Upon telling Christina that I once read that stroking a baby's head while nursing increased IQ and that I stroked their heads when they were babies and maybe that's why they are so smart she responded, "Are you sure you stroked Eli's head?"

Maria's 2 front teeth are a little loose and she is ecstatic, however upon realizing that she might loose both of them at the same time she said, "Oh no!!! That is terrible!!! I'll look like the devil!!!"

Our first day with Daddy gone was a blessing!! God indeed helps us do anything!! I was worried I might not get everything done, but we did!! The girls got to school on time, practiced piano, I had lunches ready. I spent lots of time reading with Eli, had lunch!! We even got a 1 hour nap!!! There was a warm dinner on the table (eggplant). This is all only possible because my dad takes Christina to swimming though.... it's such a blessing!! Thanks dad!!!

In the car the other day I heard Eli sounding out letters in a book. He is a total starfall addict and could go on doing his ABC's all day. He knows at least 15-20 of the letters and their sounds. It's ridiculously amazing.

Jody had a good trip to Las Vegas... I was giving him a "look" because he was saying quote "I know you think it's easy, but it's pretty tiring..." in regards to staying in a penthouse suite, having a luxury convertible rental car, enjoying pool time with beautiful sunny weather... we both had a good laugh after that one.... but especially me.

Maria came home very disappointed in the school. She spent some of her hard earned talons on a movie... Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2. It was lame she said. But worse!!!! They took her talons and THREW THEM IN THE GARBAGE!!! Granted they are pieces of paper, but to sweet Maria they are so much more... quote, "They could have at least recycled them." I love that to her the talons are more valuable than what you can spend them on. She is so competitive and wants to have the most!!

Weezer songs of late have been really awesome to me lately. I love singing them. Even Eli gets in on the fun singing, "Wrestle with Jimmmmmmmmmae!" (He loves his friends from Nursery)

Christina's First Swim Meet - Thunderdome Style

 

I don't know what I was thinking, but this isn't exactly what I envisioned for Christina's first swim meet. It was really too many swimmers, too crowded, too cold... but at the same time a very memorable experience.

 

We're so proud of our little star. She competed in the 25 back, free, and breaststroke.

She swam hard and did her very best!

I stayed with her for her first 2 events, but on the last event I needed to feed the baby.

Papa was in charge and took Maria and Eli to see her too. It was pretty chaotic in there. Lots of noise.

Anyways, her coach comes up to her and asks her if she's ready. She was pretty anxious.

Smiling, but anxious.

The coach tells her to
"go".

Mind you, there is a heat/race in progress... 8 swimmers swimming in the pool halfway done.

Now the coach meant, go to your block...

But Christina jumped into the water and started swimming.

 

Bless.
Her.

Heart.

 

You can't pay for that kind of entertainment.

They let her finish of course and then she re-swam in her correct heat.

Awesome.

 

Eli was great. He played at the park with Papa and Maria. He also had a fun "surprise" for Papa that fortunately didn't get all over the car... but everywhere else.

Thank you. What does this child eat?!?!?!

 

This meet was a little disorganized. They didn't even have Christina swimming with the right organization. Plus the boys and girls were combined which is pretty odd.

 

So we never acknowledge each other, but I see the lepster all the time now with swimming.

Thank you balding.

 

And a big thanks to Yaya and Papa for all the help!!! Couldn't have done this without you!!

Another perk of having older sisters.....

 

Older sisters make dress up sooooooooooooo much fun!!! Eli (as well as us) have thoroughly enjoyed their choices... especially the Elmo socks. Dress up time means dance time.... we've been loving youtube wii dance songs!! The girls are quite good and Eli is a hoot to watch!!

 

Always taking time out to give his copella some loves.

 

Kimono + MuMu = Pure Awesomeness!!

Sibling Love/ Getting Started on Books

 

He loves his lil' sis. He always wants to read to her. This Car Look and Find is one of his favorite books. He is a star if you give him any look and find!! He is quick as a whip and can find EVERYTHING by himself!!!

 

I'm telling you, having 2 girls first is the biggest blessing. Elijah is plenty nurturing, but it's very different. Christina and Maria just adore Ella and are so natural. They are always helping, holding, singing, and loving her. I know she's young and doctors say that babies don't "smile" yet.... but she ALWAYS is giving smiles!!!! One of my favorite things in life is to see her smile at her siblings.

2 week Check Up

 

So I have this baby scale. Basically it is the devil.

 

I'm always so worried about my babies gaining weight, having enough milk, and basically just being a stress ball wondering if I'm failing them as a mother.

 

Our scale showed Ella at about 8lbs 2 oz. I was so relieved she had gained back her weight.

 

But then we got to the doctor's office for her well check and the scale there said 8lbs 12oz (50%).

Their scale is correct. She is also at 22" (90%) and I had to break out the 3-6 month jammies because of her height.

 

Miss Ella Copella gained 1lb 3 oz in 2 weeks. ROCK STAR!!!!!

 

She feeds about every 2 hours and loves to be awake at night. :)

She had her first outing to Costco.

 

She is just a love!!!!

Free Pancake Day!!

 

It was such a nice treat to enjoy some free pancakes for breakfast this morning!!! Everyone got ready in a jiffy and we hurried off in hopes we wouldn't be late for school.

 

Within 1 minute of sitting down we had our free stack for each of us!!!! It was the perfect size, plenty of syrup choices... and best of all FREE!!!!!!!!

 

If only every time at a restaurant could be so efficient!!

 

Elijah has taken to flaring his lips lately. It's hilarious.

 

We even had enough time afterwards to play at the park. We had all of Pah Rah to ourselves and the weather was just right. It was a lovely way to start off the day!!

Fish... Take 3

 

Meet Howe. (Name from Bailey School Kids Book Series) We also have 2 friends to keep him company... golden snails named Dorothy and Isabella. We also made a couple upgrades in hopes of Howe lasting longer.... we invested in a heater and a magnet wall cleaner.