First Christmas

 Ellie's first Christmas was so much fun. She loved the lights on the tree and dancing to Christmas music. This Christmas was special for me, not only because I got to share my favorite holiday with Eleanor, but because her sweet innocent presence kept my thoughts focused on the true reason we celebrate Christmas--the birth of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The Nativity suddenly took on so much more meaning, and I understood what Mary might have felt in a whole new way. The week of Christmas was filled with family parties, pictures (see if you can spot Ellie's new favorite trick), and food. We spent Christmas Eve in Oakley as usual, and Ellie participated in my favorite part of the evening--the Nativity down in the barn. This is a tradition that I love and have been doing for as long as I can remember. While the week of Christmas was quite exhausting for Ellie, she did quite well with all the driving and loud get-togethers. I love that we are so close to both the Evans and Porter families and I am so grateful that Ellie will grow up surrounded by loving family members.

Ellie 9 Months

Ellie at 9 months is all smiles and giggles. She is so much fun and is now constantly on the move. She can't crawl yet in the traditional sense, but can get all the way across the room in a blink by rolling and doing a worm-like crawl. She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks or she will get into a yoga plank position on her toes. At her nine month appointment she had dropped to the 6th percentile for weight at only 15 lbs. 15 oz. Her head is in the 79th percentile and her height in the 38th. I think she must be using all the calories to grow that big brain of hers. She is a good eater and I am trying to fatten her up. She still sleeps from about 7:30 at night to 7:30 in the morning which is bliss for me. She also still takes two naps during the day that last usually 90 minutes to two hours. She is learning how to wave at people and to herself in the mirror. She is great at feeding herself and still only has two cute little bottom teeth.

Sami Claus Party

 

December and July are my favorite months of the year. That is because they are both filled with family, food, and fun. I have looked forward to the Sami Claus party since I can remember. I can still recall the burlap stockings filled with clementines, animal crackers, and other little goodies that we would get every year as children. I am so glad that my immediate family has continued to carry on this Swiss tradition. While Ellie didn't like our ward Santa Clause, she did let Sami Claus hold her on his lap. Our stockings were filled with goodies like always, and Ellie loved the soft little books and lamb that she got. She even let Grandpa kiss her under the mistletoe and didn't complain. It was a Christmas miracle.

Ellie's Antics

A few of the things that keep me laughing and entertained throughout my day.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

 I love Temple Square at Christmas time. I am always amazed at the picture perfect way each tree is lighted. I also love the nativity that they have set up on and around the reflection pool. I'm glad we braved the cold with Jamie, Mark, and Beckett to see the lights. Even Ellie enjoyed it, and she looked like the cutest little Eskimo in the world.

 Brian and I bought our very own Christmas tree for our very own house. Putting up and decorating the Christmas tree was always one of my favorite things to do after Thanksgiving and I am excited to start doing it with my children in a few years.

 My other favorite part of decorating was always getting out the Nativity sets from all around the world. I would like to start collecting my own sets, and this beautiful set from my mother-in-law Deanna is a great way to start.

 It might have been a little cruel, but I just had to get a picture of Ellie on Santa's lap. I knew she would cry, but I thought the trauma would be worth the funny memory down the road. Ellie didn't disappoint.

Let the Christmas festivities begin!

November Madness

November always gets a little crazy at our house. We have our wedding anniversary, Brian's birthday, and Thanksgiving all in the same week. This year was crazy as always. To add to the madness, Brian went to Chicago with his dad and brothers for the BYU vs. Notre Dame game on our anniversary while I dealt with the wind storm that nearly blew our house down and fell down in the garage and seriously hurt my thumb and my knee. With all the craziness, I was still able to arrange a little surprise for Brian's 30th birthday the day after they got home from Chicago. Thanks so the friends and family that were able to make it out to our house to surprise Brian.

 Brian got key lime pie and "kit-kat lasagna" aka eclair cake with some modifications, just like he requested.

 I enjoyed the pictures Brian sent me from their Chicago trip. It looked COLD, but they had fun.

 

 This is Giordano's, the deep dish pizza joint that was so good it nearly killed Matt. Literally. The night after eating here Matt had a diabetic seizure. While Matt didn't remember anything the next morning, it was quite the traumatic experience for Brian who had to help try and force some sugar into Matt's body. We're so glad Matt recovered so well and they enjoyed the rest of their trip, even eating more pizza!

 The game was pretty cold.

 During November, Ellie continued to get cuter and cuter. I am just floored by her adorability. She makes me laugh all day with her funny antics and expressions. She is also learning a lot of new tricks.

 

Ellie can sit up all on her own and play with toys now. She can also scoot forward on her tummy and is so close to crawling. She is pretty mobile and will sneak away from you if you are not watching her carefully.

 Thanksgiving was delicious and coma-inducing as always. I made homemade rolls for the first time in my life (I got my KitchenAid a year ago and justified it by saying I would make homemade bread. Well at least now I've done it once!) and we had early dinner at my parents house. Ellie even tried her turkey. She liked it best mixed with yogurt, but she seemed to like the leftovers the next day.

I love this last picture because it completely embodies the way I feel after eating Thanksgiving dinner. We headed to Brian's parents for more pie in the evening and Ellie got to spend some time with her great grandparents. She even let great-grandpa Jones hold her. 

November is over and it is on to hectic December. The snow and cold weather even obliged by showing up as soon as December arrived.