Family Time!

We had the chance to go down to Jared and Megan's this weekend to visit.  It was a visit way overdue.  We hadn't seen them since July!  Nathan, Rylie, Maya and Juliet are growing so dang fast!  They are getting so big, so is Ellie, but I see her everyday so it isn't so shocking.  It was fun to just relax and spend time with family.  I'm so grateful to have a small part of my family close by.  Rylie absolutely loves Ellie!  It is the cutest thing.  I only snapped a few pictures but came home feeling rejuvenated.  Last night the adults stayed up and played Mexican Train and it got a little crazy!  There was one point where we were laughing so hard that I could hardly set up my dominoes because I was shaking so hard.  And we can't remember now what was so funny...oh well, laughter really does a body good!  It is the best medicine and I needed that this weekend.  I love my family!

Oh, just some things I've been doing lately...

1. I've joined a book club!  An old friend from catering at BYU, Hannah Cobabe, lives up here in the Logan area and started a book club.  At first I didn't plan to join, but then I realized that I needed to be more social and this was a great opportunity.  We've been doing it since August and it has proved to be so great for me, something I desperately needed.  Even though at first I only knew Hannah, it has been so much fun getting to know the other ladies.  They are so fun and we have had some great evenings together.  I've also had the opportunity to read books I may not have read on my own.  I'm glad I have people to suggest books to me because I'm not one to just go pick a random book off a shelf and read it.  Along with suggestions from the book club Adri has given me a lot of recommendations too!  She has good taste :)  I'm so grateful that over the past few years I've started to enjoy reading.  Hence, the following picture.  So far this book is hilarious!  And Ellen hits the nail on the head on so many topics.  We think a lot alike.  Glad I'm not the only normal one out there ;)

2. A few weeks ago we went to a craft fair with Nita and I got the crafting bug!  We saw these really cute frames a guy was selling and I realized that I could totally make it for cheaper...and I did just that.  Go Me.  I found the frame at DI for $3, bought a can of black spray paint for $1 and I had the ribbon from a diaper cake from one of my baby showers.  The end product:

3. This last one was a Young Women's activity.  Noell taught us how to make homemade pies...crust and all!  It was so much fun!!!  (Side note: All 4 of our Laurels came!!! It was awesome!  This is the first time we had more than 1 girl there at a time.  We were sooooo happy!)  She learned how to make these pies from a professional so let's just say they were delicious.  The crust was a very particular process but not too bad once you knew how to do it.  I made a banana crème pie...my favorite!!!  The cream part was whole milk, ice cream and vanilla pudding...no wonder it is delicious!  I may have had it for breakfast the next 2 days...hey, bananas are fruit and fruit is good breakfast food... Anyway, I'll definitely have to make this one again :)  Total success.

Ellie ~ 7 Months Old

This little bug is growing up so fast!  She needs to slow herself down!!!  Time just seems to be going faster and faster.  Ellie is getting so big.  She is very busy and goes wherever she wants to, we've already had to put up gates to keep her contained.  She's also been a little more needy lately.  If I sit down and try to get something done she is right on my feet trying to climb up my legs.  It's so silly!  Anyway, she is doing great!

* Ellie is still army crawling all over the place.  She gets up on her hands and knees and will rock back and forth, but she hasn't tried to actually crawl yet.  Once she wants to move she just lays down on her belly and army crawls.  Man that makes her clothes dirty!  Oh well, it is what it is.  She has found some new favorite places now that she can move around (some are pictured): the entryway, under the table, the DVD case, the bookshelf, the kitchen chairs (she like to chew on them) and the fireplace (which we've had to block off).  The funniest part is when she's on the tile by the fireplace she loves to blow on it, I think it's because she sees her reflection.  She's so funny.
* She still only has her 2 teeth but I'm waiting for more to come in.  There was a week where she was ridiculously drooly and had a runny nose and I thought she would get a new tooth, but none yet. 
* For the most part she is eating great!  We've tried lots of different vegetables and she seems to like everything so far.  I also tried oatmeal instead of rice cereal and she seems to like that more.  It's amazing how early they become individuals.  I'm just grateful she's been good so far.  She did go through a phase for about 1 1/2 weeks where she pretty much refused to eat any food, she would only take a bottle.  It was a little frustrating but she is getting back on track. 
* I was doing really well with a bedtime routine before I went to Indiana but I just have not gotten back into since we came home.  But she goes to bed really well without a routine so I'm fine with that.  And I realized that it is hard to have a really strict routine with her when I'm just not like that myself.  She usually goes to bed between 8-9:00.  I'll get her in her jammies and give her a bottle when she starts acting tired and then I'll go put her down and usually she'll go to sleep.  It's pretty awesome.  I hope writing that down doesn't jinx it!  She sleeps about 10 to 12 hours each night.  I love it!  She's such a great baby!!!
* She is starting to pull herself up a little the past few days.  She pulled herself up to a standing position on my legs yesterday!  What?!  I'm not ready for that! 
* She does this thing when she's sitting on the floor where she just kicks her legs so they rub on the carpet and she just sits and watches.  It is really funny.  She also poses on her left side when she's lying on the floor.
* For the most part she is a pretty happy baby.  I love her laugh and giggle, it is THE cutest thing.  Her smile will melt your heart in an instant.  She likes to babble a lot.  Her volume has increased a lot! 

All in all, she is just perfect.  I couldn't ask for a better baby.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives.  Happy 7 months, Ellie Beth!

Utah State Football Game

Nita took us to a Utah State Football game and it was so much fun.  The weather was great!  The Aggies played Hawaii and won!  It was a great game to watch.  Ellie seemed to enjoy the entire experience.  She was so good and sat and just watched everything going on around her.  Thanks for taking us, Nita!

Side note: It was the second time we've used this carrier and it was great!  Ellie loved it too, she just kept kicking and kicking...ME!  It was worth it though.