Sunday, December 28, 2008

Elliot's First Christmas!





Happy Holidays everyone!  We had so much fun celebrating Elliot's first Christmas with the entire family.  It was a busy day but worth it so that we could see all of our family in one day.  Elliot was a trooper, napping on the go, happy while awake,  and loving each new present and all the glorious wrapping paper!  We started the day with breakfast and stockings at my parents house with Jenny, Gawain and the kiddos.  We traveled from there to my Grandma Richardson's house where we spent hours laughing and enjoying our large beautiful family.  The wooden car he is enjoying in the picture above was a gift from Great Auntie Peggy!  Then it was back to my mom and dad's for a nap for Elliot and Ailsa,  and then over to Mary and Gavin's for a visit and present exchange.  THEN, our final destination was my Grandma Barber's house for a traditional english Christmas dinner and dessert.  It was a full day, but memorable!
The best present by far was this little gift under our tree!
Tillie got a new beanbag  and was so excited to share it with "her" Elliot.  She just knew he would love it and she was right!  He snuggled right in and munched on some wrapping paper.
Oh, the joy!  This was the photo that we gave as gifts to the family.  Those dimples, that smile...
Elliot is crazy about our christmas tree...so sparkly, just like him.  Now that he is almost (one day shy) 7 months, he is exploring his bigness.  He is starting to get on his hands and knees and desperately wants to scoot across the floor to reach his toys, Coby, or whatever else he sees.  He is eating like a little champ and I am having so much fun making his food and coming up with new combinations of yummy food to try.  Elliot's latest favorite is banana-pear muesli.  He now weighs 19 lbs and has the cheeks to prove it!  I am happily spending my days doing lots of nothing besides enjoying my time with Elliot and Jason.  I head back to school on January 15th.
Sending all of you love, peace and joy in the New Year!
love, c, j, and e

Friday, December 19, 2008

Back on track

Whew!  What a month!  Sorry we've been "off the radar" lately.  I finished my 3rd semester of nursing school, which was a true test of my comittment, but I did it.  Finals are over and now it's smooth sailing in to 4th semester and "almost" the end.
Elliot is amazing...growing by the minute and exploring so many new things that he can't keep up with himself.  We are facinated by his determination to figure things out and loving his addictive chuckle (especially when daddy dances)!  We had Tillie over for a long overdue sleep over and had so much fun!
We were able to squeeze in a jaunt to Sabino Canyon (elliot's first).  We had a great time with perfect weather and a yummy picnic lunch.  Elliot dipped his toes in the running water...

                                                            ......posed with the mountains
                                                              ........stopped for a snack
                                                             .......and hung with dad

Now on to Christmas and New Years...so many firsts for Elliot and so fun for us to participate with him.  I can't wait to watch him tear in to some presents!
Love to all,
c, j, & e