Hello, blogger, it's been awhile

I made an attempt at a post and all that came out was a stampede of thoughts that lacked cohesion. I will try again soon.

Until then

Just like daddy

E is for Elliot

I have wanted to add some type of letter decoration in Elliot's nursery for awhile.

I found this hook in the dollar bins at Michael's...score! Even though I loved the chocolate brown and would match the color scheme in the nursery, there was a small chip in the paint that was bugging me. So, I was going to buy some scrapbook paper and modpodge it on...when I found this sheet of fabric with adhesive backing that was $1 after my coupon!

I think it turned out really cute. I also found the lower case 'e' for 30 cents in the clearance section. It was a quick little project that didn't cost much and I think it adds some character to the wall. 

I added some scrap fabric to those embroidery hoops and I hand stitched the owl in the shadow box. I think all of that total (minus the decals which are part of a set throughout the room) was around $10. 

DIY is awesome. The end.

Here's What's Up or "One Seriously Long Week"

It feels like way too much has happened to play that dreaded game of catch up I've been wanting to start, but here are a few recent highlights:

*Julie's visit was much too short, as always. It involved lots of catching up, me cutting her hair (after much begging), discussions on how to convince your friends you were actually future you visiting them in the past (reveal key Harry Potter plot points before the books come out, duh!) and lots of cute pictures. This one is my favorite:

* Elliot recently had his 9 month checkup. He now weighs in at just under 22 lbs, measures 30" long from head to toe and is right where he should be developmentally. He is crawling at unstoppable speeds, pulling up and then attempting to climb on top of just about everything, and standing alone for a few second at a time.
He has moved on from basic sounds of "Da Da" "Ma Ma" etc to his own little alien language of sounds that keeps me laughing all day long. One of his favorite things to do is crawl in the kitchen and watch our cat, Tiger Lily, through the slider while he repeats "Hi Kitty" after I say it.

* Elliot and I recently had a play date with Stephanie and her two adorable kids, my mom and my nephew Landyn. We headed over to the toddler park and played ourselves out! I love that the weather is warming up and get excited about all the fun park adventures to come.

* Monday the 18th was our 2 year wedding anniversary. Josh and I had planned to go away for the weekend to the coast but Elliot and I were both not feeling great so we stayed home instead. We did, however, wake up Monday morning together because Josh called in to work and then had a delicious breakfast (banana chocolate chip pancakes, eggs and bacon...yum!) at Mimi's.

(I really like these lights and was trying to be sneaky and not get in trouble for taking a picture of them)

* Elliot was still feeling awful by Wednesday so I took him to the doctor. He had a slight ear infection in both ears, plus we believe he is teething. This past week+ has been a long one and I'm definitely glad we are on the downhill side of things. Because I have been exhausted and Elliot has been so clingy I have achieved very little. Luckily he is just about 100% better, but look at this pitiful sick face:

* Easter pictures coming soon.

Visitor!

My friend, Julie, is in town! The last time she was here, Elliot was only a few days old.

It will be fun for her to see how much he's grown!!

Updates soon on unicorn and Harry Potter filled conversation as well as possible lunch at Visalia's best kept vegetarian/vegan secret.

9 months old

Elliot officially turned 9 months old yesterday and that seems impossible. I cannot believe it has been close to a year since I was lying in a hospital bed for a mere (hah) 15 hours before I held my beautiful boy for the first time. I still remember how warm he was...I remember the room was blurry, my head was fuzzy, my eyes were burning with tears and I was a mess taking every bit of him in. The nurse handed him to me and I thought...he is mine? I'm first in line to hold him, kiss him, love him and hug him? It gave surreal a new definition.
Now he is so strong and tall and amazes me every day with the new things he can do. Already the way he needs me has changed. He crawls from one place to another, he can make sounds and tell me what he wants with his chubby hands and smile. He has mastered the tantrum.
His range of food is expanding to exciting things like yogurt (a new favorite), all sorts of fruits and veggies, pasta with good (and good for him) fillings like spinach and turkey, chicken, bread and soup. Of course, cheerios are the classic staple at any meal or snack time.

So here is to my son that somehow keeps finding deeper parts of my heart to fill and steal away. My love keeps growing with him!

The (not so) little things

This, in a few pictures, was my Thursday afternoon and evening. My mom, nephew Landyn, Elliot and I all went to the park, ate at the mall and played in the play area in the food court and then had a nice long round of light saber battling back at my parents' house.

These are the electric moments of my life. My son giggles and his eyes sparkle and I feel something inside me explode with a joy that is indescribable. I am so excited for him to get a little older...he and Landyn already love each other so much but what a sweet thing it will be to watch them run and play together!

After a long Saturday evening of many tears and gallons of hot tea, I am ready to curl up next to my husband in bed and snuggle up with our sweet new pup! YES, we have a PUPPY! I have misplaced (sad day!) my camera at the moment but I will have pictures soon of little miss Faye, in all her iconic and adorable glory.