Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a fabulous day of turkey, cranberries, stuffing, potatoes and football! Nicky had some turkey for his birthday (5 years old-ish - we don't really know since we adopted him). We have a lot to be thankful for and we had an excellent day.

I miss you family -- 2 weeks and Ella and I will be in Iowa!

PS I just love her in stripes!

The cutest little girl clothes ever!

I just ordered this dress for Ella for a Christmas picture. Janie and Jack opened almost the same day she was born and I just LOVE their clothes. I was patiently waiting for this dress to go on sale and sure enough - another 25% off this morning so this will be her dress for Christmas pictures!!! I sense I should buy stock in this company as I may give them alot of business!

Bring on the Christmas Tunes

I love Christmas music and I begin listening on Thanksgiving while I'm cooking. Oprah has offered up a FREE CHRISTMAS CD if you'd like to download it. I just did and I'm going to get it on my Ipod this morning. Even if you're not an Oprah fan, the CD is a great mix of my holiday favorites.

Everyone is still sleeping and I'm beginning to plan when and how I'm going to get my cooking done. Dorothy is arriving with Turkey, stuffing and a pie at about noon and we plan on eating at 1:00. I'm anxious to see if I can make the sides all really happen in time with my less than par oven and a new baby at home! It already started out with frustration as I thought it wouldn't be that bad to go to the grocery store last night....it was THAT BAD! Update to follow!

Ella and Nicky

Littlest Cowboy Fan

Watching the game with Dad and Nicky....

She won't lose these at daycare!

Personalized girley clothes from my friend Jen and her family (you can tell she has 2 girls). I just love the ruffles.

Pinkified

We finally added some pink to Ella's room and these letters are just fabulous - I can tell they were hand made with love and they make her room.

Something I never thought I'd buy....

I knew I'd be spending a fortune on diapers and other things for baby....but batteries? Yep, D batteries are a hot commodity around our house. Yesterday we invested in a charger and rechargeable batteries....hopefully I can keep a back-up stash and be prepared so we aren't without the mobile or swing EVER!

Economy

I just checked my work email and learned my company (the largest employer in Utah) is supending the 401k match for 2009! I feel this is the most ridiculous choice possible!!! The company has chosen to give the end of year bonus of $250 and give modest raises. My guess on how the math will work for me is that I get $125 by the time they take out taxes and a 1% raise in exchange for giving up my 4% match in my 401k....I'm not an economist, but how does that even make sense?

I'm thankful that I'm on maternity leave because morale is going to hit an all-time low when people do the math on this choice!

Construction...

My neighbors are building a new garage and it often sounds like they are IN my house when I'm trying to nap.....ahh, I'm ready for the weekend when I should have peace and quiet and a husband home!

Thanks, Sweetie!

Joe is so fabulous with Ella. He gets up in the night to help me (he'll feed her while I pump) and he will come home from work early when I'm at my wits end! I appreciate all of your help!!!

A special thanks for the great night out with my pharmacy peeps on Tuesday night. Joe spent the night with Ella while I went to dinner and a pharmacy continuing education at a fabulous restaurant. The adult time was great and I got to learn more about one of the vaccines Ella will be getting next week!

Good news, Parents - I learned it may be possible to erradicate Rotavirus (bad diarrhea that kiddos like to share with eachother and their parents).

Ella's Wild Hair

We may have some challenging times ahead of us with this crazy hair! It continues to grow straight up! I'm not brave enough to put any product in her hair, but someday the curls will stay with a little gel.

Ella's Baptism

Alyssa having fun with Ella

Night out with the Brazilians

I was able to go out for dinner with Joe's colleagues from Brazil last night. Alyssa made it here safely and agreed to spend a few hours with Ella while we went out. We had a fabulous dinner at Ruth Chris and I really enjoyed the formality of dinner. There were 3 men from Brazil and about 8 others from Joe's work. The Brazilians were so respectful and us American's followed. Everyone at the table stood up when people arrived and departed and greeted everyone with handshakes and hugs. We just don't respect our own friends, family and colleagues to this level and it was really nice! I don't remember the last time I stood up to greet a newcomber to my table at dinner. We could learn a bit about respect and formality sometimes.

It was fun to meet the guys I had heard so much about and it was fabulous to be with adults!!! I did miss Ella and felt bad for leaving Auntie Alyssa, so we departed dinner early prior to dessert and found Ella so happy to be hanging with T-Lyssa.

Weekend weather

For my weekend guests - as always I recommend layers and AT you may want to bring a pair of real shoes!!! Flip flops work well in my house though.

Fabulous - brownies and ice cream

YUMMO - warm brownie topped with breyers vanilla and a little caramel sauce. It's been my afternoon snack all week. Tip - don't bake a 9x13 pan of brownies on the last day your company is in town while home on maternity leave. They just call out my name! How many more days til I can go to the gym?? I'm going to need it!!

Ella Update

Go Cowboys!

Visit to Secure Alert

Thanks Aunt Crystal for making Ella's Announcement!

Ella is 4 weeks old today and went to her pediatrician for a weight check. She is 8 pounds 3 oz and finally on the growth curve for weight! We are all so happy with her weight gain and we will continue with the current plan.

Today she went to Daddy's work and he proudly paraded her around. We are still sticklers and no one gets to hold her, but I promised them someday. Co-workers just get to look, but I think they enjoyed seeing her. Everyone was impressed how great Joe is with her.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the aunties and Nana Di this weekend and Ella's baptism.

Mom and Dad Approved

Joe calls this Ella's Vegas Mobile! It lights up and and projects onto the white part and does look a little like Vegas at night! Ella sure liked her Noah's ark mobile, but the wind up mobile only lasted a few minutes. This one goes for 10 minutes and then has a remote which we put on her door and can easily turn it back on. She LOVES it and it makes night time easier for all of us. Great job Dad - your little angel loves it!

Delayed post....Go Hawks!

What an amazing game! Go Hawkeyes. A little bird told me my crazy uncles had 50 yard line tickets for the game. I am so jealous!!! You chose the best game of the year and likely had no clue the hawks could pull it off. I hope you cheered loud and represented us hawkeyes well! Cheers to a great game and let's hope they can pull off another win or 2 to be bowl eligible. The Badgers won as well, so it was a good college game day at our house!

We miss you Grandma and Grandpa T

Thanks for all of your help during your visit! They read to Ella, fed Ella, held Ella (even while sleeping) as well as helping with projects around the house. They cleaned, fixed electrical outlets, fixed the garage door, re-tacked carpet and more. Most of all, they spent time with their first grandchild and really loved her up! She is one lucky little girl!

Ella Fix

Grandpa and Grandma T are here!

They are having so much fun with Ella and she just loves them. She also knows if she just cries a bit, she can be held and I have banned them from holding her while sleeping because I'm on my own next week! She is definitely getting spoiled and loved and gets presents every night! Yeah for Grandparents!

Mandi was here!

Thanks to Mandi who kindly came to help me out with Ella. As a peds nurse, it was nice to pick up some tips and tricks from her. It was a quick, fun visit!

Don't forget to vote!

I voted and it really felt good - like my civic duty and great to have the right to vote. Mandi was still here to watch Ella and my precinct wasn't busy at all. I was back home within 20 minutes! My guess is we won't have presidential results until tomorrow....but either way, history will be made!

Bad Hair Day

Thanks Ali for this adoralbe onesie! We love it! We are going to definitely have some bad hair days with that collick.

FYI - just read the guide for my camera to work on the red eye reduction....such a bummer to ruin a good photo with red eyes!

Nicky's at Daycare today.....

This is the damage Nicky did to Dorothy's birthday pumpkin bars. Needless to say, he is at daycare today burning off some energy and getting some extra, much needed attention!

My Little Hawkeye

Thanks Nana Di for the Hawkeye Cap - it wasn't enough for them to pull off the win, but Ella sure looks cute as a fan!

Halloween Fun!

Ella's penguin costume was WAY TOO big and too warm for the 75 degree weather. I had to put her in it just once.

Count Anthony stopped by to say hello to Ella

Andrea and Marlow made awesome pills - they took 3rd place at Primary Children's. Missing are Singulair and Rogaine. Marlow looked even better with an icebag on her head for her headache. Love the creativity!

From Seattle - Mandi is Sarah Palin - "vote for change" she says.

Happy Birthday to Dorothy - she's stopping by for lunch. My exciting plans include a bang trim this afternoon and the real Mandi will be arriving from Seattle this afternoon to hang with Ella and I for a few days. I'm excited to have a pediatric nurse at my beckon call for a few days! It will be fabulous to catch up and enjoy Ella together. Joe has been a fabulous help all weekend! Daddy is ready for a break.....going back to work on Monday likely sounds great to him! Ella just likes to be held from 4-6AM some nights.....