Sugar and Spice ....

And everything nice...

That's what Little Girls are made of

The past few weeks

Last week we went to a long awaited lunch to finally meet Keri's babies and spend some time with Adrienne and Avery! It was so much fun! When the lady asked us how many were in our party and I answered 3 adults and 4 babies her face said it all! It was not that choatic but I guess considering it was during the lunch rush we stressed some people out at Pei Wei (the guy with the lap top next to us trying to concentrate).

It was so fun to finally catch up with Keri and have all the babies meet. They had loads of fun and chatted the hour away of course. Keri really is super mom! She deserves an award. She was holding Stockton in one hand and feeding Mckaylee while she was in the stroller with the other hand. I was impressed Ker! I know how much work one baby is while at lunch and you made it look so easy with two!

And here is my little wild child.... check out that hair! This picture cracks me up, the wild hair, sweating from the hair, hands clasped, bow falling out, and bewildered look on her face. She is a riot!

The next day we went to meet Christine's baby Luke. He is absolutely beautiful! I can't wait for him to get older so he and Elsie can play. While we were there Elsie fell in love! Holly's little boy Sawyer was there and they seriously loved each other. It was hysterical. She was exhausted but the second she saw him she could not stop staring at him and he would get so excited to see her. It was pretty cute!

Elsie and Sawyer

Baby Luke

Saturday we had a little neighborhood pizza party, needless to say it was freezing! Luckily we got to wear our cute little bear coat, (that I thought she wouldn't get to wear considering its May) and match our cousin!

How cute are these two!

Then we woke up to snow this morning, so this was how we ran our errands!

Elsie and her robe, just relaxing after a morning tub!

Oh how we love this little girl!

A Little Girl and Her Daddy

Elsie loves loves loves her Daddy!

He always plays with her in the morning and when he gets home from work. He reads her a story every night before she goes to bed, he gets out all of her toys and puts on shows with her stuffed animals, he teaches her new tricks, and he always makes sure she does her tummy time.

He has gotten her to LOVE watching Sports Center and any sports show ( i don't think I like this one), he can make her laugh endlessly, and she always lights up when she sees him.

Its no surprise that Dave was hoping for a Boy when I found out I was pregnant. In fact when we went to the ultrasound he was positive he could tell it was a boy ( good thing he is not a doctor). When they told us it was a girl I was so happy I could hardly contain it, until I saw Daves face. He was dumb-founded because apparently he was sure she was going to say boy.

I think he was a little stressed too because he instantly saw dollar signs with a girl and suddenly the house turned into a bow making sanctuary.

But the minute that little girl was born and I saw the tears in his eyes I knew he was sold!

He is such a proud Daddy, he loves to always be the one holding her and he loves to show her off. She's got him wrapped around her finger... i think its safe to say the feeling is mutual!

Daves birthday 2010

Sometimes we just need our Mama

Little Elsie is quite the grunter and growler ( i think its the acid reflux but who knows). She seriously does it all day long. This afternoon she was napping in her room and I could hear her grunting over the monitor. I ignored it because I knew she was not ready to wake up yet and she usually stops after a while. She kept going on and off for like 10 minutes. Finally I went in there to put her binki back in (this usually is what she is grunting for) but she wouldn't take it. She started to fuss so I pick her up. She instantly stopped, nuzzled into my arm and fell right back asleep.

Its moments like these that are my favorite part of being a mama!

Here is the little spit up Princess herself! Notice her shirt!

P90X

Tony:

Just so you know you annoy me! You talk WAY too much, you love yourself way too much, and your way too obsessed with Drea who is equally annoying, and no you don't look just like your dumb buddy, and quit acting like you hate your calves.

A have to walk on my tip toes and I can barely get Elsie out of her crib. I dread seeing you every day.

But as much as you annoy me...

Thank you for putting muscle back on my legs! I love you for that!

31 years ago today...

This boy was born

And are we ever glad he is ours!

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for always making us laugh!

We love you love you love you!

Love, Heather and the Baby

Barefoot Contessa

Lately this is my new obsession...

Ina Garten

Barefoot Contessa

So I am pretty much obsessed with this lady these days. Ask Dave... it drives him nuts. I record all her episodes so she is always on. I turn her on the second I wake up, every time Elle is eating or I am folding laundry, and one last episode before I go to bed. She is the best! Her fanciful little life cracks me up and I love her interaction with her husband Jeffrey...too funny. I also secretly wish I lived in the Hamptons and had her house ( I would actually paint it white) and her dinner party life. Her recipes are to die for. Of course I have not actually tried them, but they look divine! Her deserts are always the creamy pastry types... she is my kind of lady!

Thanks Ina for making the days we are at home that much better!

Mothers Day

Of course this year was my favorite Mothers Day so far! I had sweet little Elsie with me to celebrate being a Mommy!

When we heard Elle waking up Dave said he would go and get her. He took so long that I fell back asleep. When I heard him come in to the room I opened my eyes and this is what I saw

He dangled Elsie above our bed and she was wearing a necklace with an "E" on it that they had both bought me! It was the cutest thing I had ever seen!

After church we went up to my moms for brunch. We got my mom a necklace (that has not come yet... i was so mad) that says "Elsie & Nana 02.01" since they were both born Feb 1. We also framed some of Elsie's three month pictures (that I will put up when I get them all).

We then came home and made dinner for Dave's Mom and Dad. Mike, Traci and Brooklyn came over after and we had Banana Pudding and gave Michele framed pictures of the girls photo shoot and a necklace that had two charms with their names and a charm that said "we love you grandma".

It was such a fun day! Now that I have Elsie I have a whole new appreciation for mothers! It really is that hardest yet most rewarding job to be a mom! I keep thinking of how my life for the past few months has completely revolved around Elsie, so it is amazing to think how my mom and mother in law have completely dedicated their lives to their kids for more than 30 years! I am so lucky to be surrounded by such amazing moms who are such a great example to me!

ps here is Elsie in her bumbo. She loves it! It cracks me up to see her in it because it makes her look even more like mini-adult

May

Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to so far this month...

Dave's cousin Trevor Burbidge came home from his mission in Nicaragua a few days ago. Dave and I were dating when he left but I never met him. Now he is home two years later and Dave has a wife and a baby! Its crazy how much can happen in two years!

We are excited he is home! I absolutely love the rest of his family so it will be fun getting to know Trevor!

I had to put this picture of Elsie up after she has a bath. Her hair is hilarious! It curls backwards so she looks like a mix of Elvis and a Grandma!

Oh I love this little girl! I bought a bunny lovie for her so she always had something to snuggle with. Luckily she loves it!

So every time Elsie takes a nap or goes down for the night I have to swaddle her with her arms down. My dad and Dave are so worried that she needs to start sleeping with her arms out in case she rolled and needed them or something. So this is her sleeping the whole night with her arms out. I have only done it that one night though because she kept swatting her face and knocking the binki out and waking herself up. I think we will keep with arms swaddled down for a few more weeks. I love how she sleeps! She has to have her little cheek smashed to the sheet and she tips her head up!

Elsie's New Trick

This is Dave's favorite new thing to do with Elsie

I think our parents had a heart attack when we showed them

but she loves it!

Notice how she is watching tv... she loves it!

3 Months Old

My beautiful baby girl:

Today you are three months old and you continue to find ways to capture our hearts every day! I feel like three months is such a milestone. It is a funny thing because I now know you are officially not a newborn, but everyday you do and discover new things and it makes me so proud of you! I think that is just called Motherhood.

You are such a little explorer and are very curious already. You love to look around are everything and are very content sitting and watching the world around you. You are starting to stick other things in your mouth besides your chubby little hands and your prized binki. I found you the other day just trying to gnaw away at your rattle. You also love social interaction. My how you are a chatty little thing! But look who your parents are. We love how much you coo and "talk" to us. It is as if you are having an actual conversation with us. You love to just sit back and smile constantly and talk and laugh. I have your darling little laugh/smile ingrained in my mind and I hope I never forget it. It is precious! You are laughing more and more each day and I know any day now you will break out into a full on chuckle. Grandpa (my dad) says when you smile and laugh and throw her head back it reminds him of your daddy. I think everyday you are looking more like your dad but you are still a pretty even mix of the two of us.

You still sleep like a gem at night and I love you for this! I put you down at 8 or 8:30 and a feed you for 5 min around 10:30 (you never even open your eyes for this) then you go straight down and sleep until 7:30 or 8. Thank you thank you! Your naps are getting much much better too. No more 45 min naps. You are on to bigger and bigger. At least 2 long naps a day and little naps in between. You are such a happy girl when you have gotten enough rest. You wake up so happy and Daddy and I fight over who gets you in the morning. But you still take your sleeping and eating very seriously. Watch out if your hungry or tired... you sure do know how to throw a fit. We don't mind though... we know you will be very expressive when your older. You also have this sweet little baby lamb cry. It is the cutest thing ever. You do an extreme pout and whimper. It makes me laugh so hard and then you start cracking up!

Your newest trick is bowing bubbles. You love it! You know it makes us laugh so you love to do it when people are talking to you. You also love it when when we blow bubbles and you do it back. Its a little game for you. Your neck is getting so strong. When we do tummy time you can hold your head up 90 degrees for a little bit. Then you get mad and you are over tummy time. You are getting so close to rolling over too. You almost have it! You are starting to become quite the wiggle worm. You kick kick kick those cute chubby little legs and squirm around.

Your hair is getting longer and longer amazing enough. It is pretty wild and crazy these days but we love it. People always stop us and comment about your hair and how it makes you look like a doll. We always joke how much older it makes you look an how you look like a little traveler who stopped at our door. You love to hold your little hands to your ears or you will hold them close to your chest like you praying. I love it! It is so sweet!

You still love love love that binki and swing of yours. You growl when you want the bink ad I swear you would hang out in that swing all day if I let you! You love any kind of movement so much Nana bought you your own travel swing at her house. That means no more lugging the big swing around for us!

You are starting to figure out when other people hold you beside your mama or daddy. I don't know how I feel about this one. You also light up when you see people you recognize! Its amazing how smart you already are. You acid reflux is starting to get under control and thankfully you are starting to spit up less.

You have the cutest little looks and expressions. I think I take twenty pictures of you a day so I can always remember them! I don't think you could get any sweeter or funnier!

Elle we want you to know how much we love you! The love we have for you is overwhelming sometimes. My favorite time of day is when I get to rock you while we listen to your music (you love music, we call your playlist Elsies tunes). You are such a beautiful and sweet little baby! I stare at you in amazement. I feel so humbled that I am blessed enough to be your mommy. You have given me the greatest gift I will ever receive! It is such an honor to be with you every day and watch you grow. There is nothing that compares to being a mother. I love watching how every ones face lights up when they are holding you. You have such a special little spirit and I know you have been blessed with some amazing talents! I cant wait to see what you do these one day! You are surrounded by love all day every day. You grandparents and aunts and uncles and friends love you so much and your parents love you more than you could ever comprehend. I hope you always remember that! Thank you for being you our sweetest angel!

Love Mommy and Daddy

End of April

I know the only thing I ever post are pictures of Elsie...but lets be honest she is all that is going on these days! We cant get enough of this beautiful little girl! Here are some pictures of the rest of what want on during April..

We had a bow making party with Miss Avery and Adrienne

The girls had a blast as you can tell! They chatted the afternoon away!

Elle really does have the most out of control hair. But I love it! She looks like a wild child

She is also is getting so close to rolling over

I know her bows can sometimes be a big large but what else would you expect from me

Elle at 10 weeks old

Getting ready to go out on a walk in the wind

Her favorite thing....napping in her swing!