Dream new year's party for a kiddo!

We went to salt lake city eve tonight and ella had a blast!

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My Sleep Miracle

It's been a challenging month with Ella! She's a morning person and she can function on little sleep (for a while). She started getting up at 6:30, then 6 regularly. It was just getting earlier and earlier! She was up between 5 and 5:30 for weeks and then it was 4 - 4:45 for over a week! Joe and I were at our wits end and then it was 3:50AM on Tuesday morning!

I was at work and after finding little on the American Academy of Pediatrics website, I went to google and found this article!  This lead me to this link followed by this book!  I'm thankful for the helpful cliff notes and I may not even need to buy the book!

I created the Ella's Sleep Book. I made it at work with a black pen, yellow highlighter, and scrap paper! It's full of horribly drawn stick figures! She LOVED it. We read it over and over again. She kept showing me the page of Ella's empty bed and saying, "Look, there's no one in Ella's bed, she's in Mommy and Daddy's room!, Uh, oh!".

I can't believe I'm posting this!

It really hit home for her.  I prepare her for things like surgery, airplane rides, trips, etc, but you forget the simple things and sometimes you just need to discuss in detail what is expected! 

This is her favorite page!  Horrible artwork and
misspellings!

We also bought some Pediasure and made sure her belly was FULL before bed and offered her a snack. Joe created a reward chart and has promised her ANYTHING she wants from Toys R Us when it's full.  He included Christmas Bows which he bought on clearance -- genius!

Great Job Joe!  She is so proud to earn a bow.
She chooses where to place it and feels so
special!

The deal: Ella must stay in her bed until she hears our alarm clock or we come in her room to tell her it's morning. She knew the plan was to put her back in her bed without talking to her if she came into our room. Joe told her our TV was reprogrammed and it only works in the morning after our alarm goes off. Now there is no incentive to wake up early to watch TV.

She didn't come into our room at all! I set my alarm for 5AM. I heard her stirring in her room before that. I got up and went into her room. Her light was on and she was playing with her Dora and Boots dolls quietly. She said, "I got out of a bed to get my doggy because he wanted into my bed, but I got right back in". I put on a big production of how proud I was and you could tell she was proud! We found a bow for her reward chart and she encouraged me to take a shower so she could watch TV.

 

When we got home that night she demanded to read her "Christmas Book".  I showed her EVERY book I could think of and then I finally figured out it was the silly book I wrote!  Wow, I'm a big hit! 

 

Night #2 was also a huge success, but she was mighty grumpy this morning.  I think I'll wait until I see her light on before I go in and I'll set my alarm a bit later tomorrow!

I expect that future nights may be a struggle. We have a few hotel nights and several nights in Iowa coming up this week. At least we've had two nights without a middle-of-the-night visitor to get us through the rest of the week and for that, I'M THANKFUL!

Merry Christmas with Pictures

Christmas Morning Ella was up at 4:30AM!  We talked her into watching TV in our room for a bit, but we were all opening gifts by 5 or so! 

Ella kept informing us that she hoped Santa would bring her a new beanbag chair.  She needed a new one because hers had stains on it!  I was surprised by her disinterest in clothes and her overall excitement to move on to the next gift! 

It was a whirlwind weekend with little sleep, but we made some great memories and the little girl sure had a good time!

We begin with the stockings (it was a surprise to Joe and
I got to begin the morning with my big present)

The headband didn't last long, but it's soooo cute!

Ready for ski lessons!

What could it be?

It's NOT yellow, but I LOVE IT!

This will be so comfy!

Love this shirt (thanks Mom!)

Helping Grandma

Helping Diane

EVERYONE took a turn playing with this
oldie but goodie!  Highly recommended toy!

Love this microwaveable gingerbread girl to sleep with!
I wouldn't mind having one!

Christmas Apron to help Grandma cook!

"Punzle, she's Eugene's friend"
This singing, light-up doll is fun!

Time for dessert!

Christmas Eve with pictures

After the challenge of getting Ella to nap and me falling asleep on the couch for a bit, we got ourselves together and headed to Dorothy's and then church.  Ella was full of energy and had a hard time sitting in church, but I told her she would miss the candles if we left.  She was motivated to stay!  It's hard for a 3 year old -- asking Santa for gifts, giving presents to friends and family, Santa arrives, the Elf leaves, and it's Baby Jesus's birthday.  Well....when you're 3, birthdays mean blowing out the candles, not waving them in the air saying Bible verses and singing Silent Night.  It was my first Christmas Eve EVER to not have a lit candle while singing Silent Night! 

Cheese!

Dancing and twirling in her dress!

Grandma and Ella

Attempt at a picture of Ella by the tree...

Family Photo

I Love this little girl!

Diane was able to join us for the weekend!
She introduced us to Glogg!

Dorothy by her tree

Yay for dessert!

Ella got the piggy in the pudding!

Present time!

Snow Shoes...now we just need some SNOW!

Princess Jammies!

She's a PRO!

Miss Ella is LOVED!  Thanks for all the thoughtful gifts!

5 Years at Primary Children's

I constantly say, "we're new to Utah" or "we just moved here"....but we've been here 5 YEARS!  I really thought this move was temporary!  It makes me laugh to think how little I knew about Utah, Mormonism, parenthood, marriage, REAL adulthood, home ownership, REAL STRESS before I moved here!  We've been through a lot in 5 years.  I'm a different person in many ways because of all I've been through. 

Monday was my official 5 year Anniversary with Primary Children's.  I received my certificate and prize last week.  I chose a $50 gift card to Gap and hope my sis will help me pick out a new outfit! 

I honestly thought we'd be here for a few years, but the longer we stay, the more I think we will be Utahan's for a long while.  There are enough perks to overcome the challenges!

This is the longest I have remained in one job!  It's crazy to think over half of my career has been here and I still feel like we just left Colorado! 

I'm not sure when I will stop saying, "I'm new here", but I'm starting to feel more and more at home in Utah!  I NEVER would have guessed we would have been here five years, but now I think we will most likely be here in another 5 years and I think it's great!

Christmas Eve Brunch

Even as a child I hated the wait for Christmas Eve!  My family has strong traditions and it involved waiting ALL DAY for Christmas Eve to begin!
I thought it would be fun to host a Christmas Eve brunch!  In hindsight.....I was a single mom for 3 weeks, followed by working 45 hours/week Monday-Friday for 2 weeks with the previous weekend insanely busy!  Well...I wasn't as organized as I had wanted to be, but it was fun!  HUGE Thanks to Joe for stepping up and being an awesome helper for a party he thought I was crazy to host!

In usual Ella-style, she was up at 4:30, so we had plenty of time for the early morning grocery run!  Best Kept Secret --- shop for Christmas groceries at 6AM Christmas Eve when the store is just opening.  Go in your PJ's....everyone else is in theirs!

The food was prepared, the house was made to be presentable, the toddler was prepped for sharing toys and being a friendly host and the party began!

It was a fun morning!  Joe and I kept the food warm, cups full, and Miss Ella (mostly) out of trouble.  Not many pictures taken!  Miss Ella was in her bed for a much-needed nap before a single guest left!  Life with a spoiled loved, selfish only-child is a whole new experience!

The kids table.  Avery, Ella and Abby

Frosty is the BEST babysitter EVER!

Priceless!  I love these girls!

Making Snow Globes

Matching Snowman shirts.
HUGE Thanks to my Mom for making them for me!

More gifts!

Gingerbread House

I'm working on some traditions!  Here's last year's post!   I was going to skip this one, but then when it was already 30% off at Target, I decided to just go for it!

This year's kit required assembly.  Joe was home and said, "oh, that's for girls" and wasn't motiviated to help us!  I asked for help to get all the sides up while dealing with an excited toddler.  He's got mad gingerbread house skills that he won't admit to!  He did remind me that he grew up in a bakery!

I just realized I can EAT some of this candy!

This is serious business!

Way serious!

Watch OUT, I have the "glue"!

Finished product

This is the side where Ella had the frosting and I placed
the candy as I was told to do!

Merry Christmas from Ella!

Merry Christmas!

I had a really hard time going into the weekend.  It just didn't seem like Christmas could possibly be here!  I don't think I've EVER worked every single day with only Christmas Eve and Christmas off!  IT'S HARD!  I realize this is what MOST people have to deal with.  My schedule has it's ups and downs.  It's a set schedule and it's not my holiday to work, but as an essential employee I work as scheduled on observed holidays! 
The weekend was busy, exciting, fun, exhausting, full of love and awesome!  Ella has been getting up between 4:30 and 5:30 AM for the last few weeks.  FYI - the BEST time to go to the grocery store is 6AM when they open on Christmas Eve!  Ella was in her PJ's and it was the most enjoyable shopping we've done in months!

It's so sad to think I work the next 6 days including a 12 hours shift on day 6 of 6!  I am so excited to head to Iowa next Sunday for the continuation of Christmas and birthday's to celebrate! 

Merry, Merry Christmas!  Thanks for all the love and support this year!  Love to all of you!

Many pictures and stories to come!  I'm going to post an Ella video yet tonight!  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Ella, Laurie, Joe and Nicky and there's the crumbs Santa left!  We have a
huge box of stockings and everyone chose their own.....I may have to come
up with a different plan for next year!

We are ready! Brunch was great!  Ella chose great friends because I like their parents!

We heard the Christmas story and sang Silent Night at church and then it felt like Christmas!  First time in over 30 years that I sang Silent Night with a non-lit candle. It is Jesus's birthday and Ella has much experience blowing out candles, so I guess she won that one!  Awesome Christmas Eve dinner at Dorothy's.


Presents are finally warapped and under the tree with care.

Joe and I are EXHAUSTED and hoping she sleeps past 430AM tomorrow! 

Merry Christmas Eve!

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Dear Post Office

I'm frustrated!  I've been tracking packages like crazy!  I mailed packages priority with promised delivery dates of Dec 21st.  I thought I was in the clear.  One package sat in Denver for 7 days!  Another priority package hasn't even left Salt Lake yet and it's a 2 day priority box mailed on Monday!  Other packages mailed at the same time arrived in 2 days!  There is no rhyme or reason.  Murphy's law is that if you are a child or an Auntie....your package hasn't made it yet.  Sorry!
I always say I'll mail packages earlier, but who wants to get their Christmas gift in the mail in November! 

Please, please arrive today to our family!

Got Stitches?

Cranio Care Bears had an auction via facebook.  I saw a onesie that said, "got stitches?" and I loved it!  At some point you just have to have a sense of humor when there are several stitches and an enormous scar ear to ear on your precious baby! 
I inquired to purchase one in a size 3T.  The sweet lady who is one of the partners in cranio care bears offered to make me one.  She only asked that I make a donation!

I offered to ship her a shirt.  I chose to ship 2 and asked her to use the other for another 3 year old in Ella's situation as a small gift in one of the hundreds of packages they mail out!  The greatest gift you can receive during a time of stress is a kind word from someone who's been there too.  These lady's take it one step further and send a package full of love and support for anyone who requests one during cranio surgery!  We have received 2 packages from Cranio Care Bears.  They ROCK!

Tis the season for charity.  Please consider Cranio Care Bears while you are giving during this holiday season!

New Shirt added recently and so cute!  Way to true
for so many of these cranio babies!

Although you cannot currently see Ella's stitches...there are still a few there and she will wear her battle wound with pride her entire life.  I strongly believe Miss Ella will be an amazing advocate for cranio defects and will make such a difference in the lives of many!

*** oops, these photos were taken after dinner, but before bath time and it looks like you can tell she had spaghetti for dinner!