Having Said That......

So, after that post about missing my mom I just wanted to say that I have the best Dad in the whole world. My mom died 4 months before I had Elley and my dad took 2 months out of his life to come and stay with me. He cooked, cleaned, held the baby and made sure I had everything I ever needed. I was sure spoiled! There's one thing that I will never forget him saying to me, something that brought great comfort to me. Elley was a tough labor and delivery. I had to work very hard to get her out and finally in the end the doctor had to help her out with a vacuum. After all was done and we were back in our room I was telling my dad about the hard time I had. And while holding Elley and looking down at her he said "Your mom just wasn't ready to let her come yet, she must of had a hold of her feet."

And now, with this baby a few weeks away, he will be here on Wednesday to help this time around. Elley sure loves him and is excited for him to come. It sure makes it nice not having to worry about who will take care of her when the time comes. This time he will be staying until the 1st of the year. Hopefully I wont become to dependent on him so when the time comes for him to leave I will be able to cope on my own!!

He really is one of a kind, one of the best people I know. He is always giving to others and never asks for anything in return.(except for an occasional foot rub) He really is the best example of service, one that I try and follow. You will never hear him complain, even in his darkest hours. I love you Dad and I'm so excited for you to get here this week!!!

Missing My Mom

A few weeks ago, my dad and I drove up to Washington to visit family and friends. It was just a short visit....we drove all day Thursday and I flew home early Saturday morning. It was the first time leaving Elley over night and I sure did miss her. Good thing her daddy is a great dad and stayed home to watch her. He actually had a few days off so it worked out perfectly. It was sure nice to get away one last time before the baby comes and to have a little break away from a toddler crawling all over me.

While we were there we visited the cemetery where my mom is buried. At 27 years of age with her second baby on the way you don't ever think you'd be writing about visiting your mothers grave. I know I post about my mom often, but I must, I miss her!

I miss her more so right now with baby #2 just 3 short weeks away. I want to call her and tell her everything about my pregnancy. The doctor visits, the baby shower, the weight I've gained, how I'm feeling, everything! I want to tell her THANK YOU for being pregnant with me in the summer months and how miserable I was. I just want to tell her thank you for being pregnant with me period. I want to tell her how Elley is doing and how much Elley loves her. I want to see her play with Elley, I want to see her kiss and hug Elley. I want to see her hold this new baby and love them as much as I do.

I know and understand the plan of salvation with all my heart. I know she is a big part of my life even though she may not be here on earth. I know she knows all that I want to tell her and all that I am going through. It's hard not being able to see the bigger picture, but I believe that one day I will. Until then, my faith sustains me. I love you mom, I always have and I always will.

37 Weeks

Wow, time has gone by very quickly. I am now getting very anxious and ready to have this baby. I think the one thing I'm most anxious about is finding out if it's a boy or a girl. It's actually been kind of fun this way, except when shopping......it's hard to pass up cute outfits, especially when on sale. And it's hard to know what to wash, I don't want to be doing a lot of laundry when I come home from the hospital.

I'm feeling pretty good....pretty good for being 37 weeks pregnant. It's hard taking care of Elley this late in the pregnancy. She has been pretty fun though. She likes to lift up my shirt and say baby....immediately after she lifts her own shirt and says baby!!?? I wonder if she will always think I have a baby in my tummy? Sometimes when the baby has the hiccups I will have Elley feel (if shes in the mood to sit for more than 5 seconds) and when she feels them she looks up at me with this excited/shocked look on her face that makes me laugh. she really is the sunshine in my days.

One last story before I close things up and go to bed. (I can't do too many post in one day or my friend Melinda will make fun of me!) Elley has learned to say juice, except it sounds more like "jew." The other day I had a prenatal appointment and I had to take Elley with me. And of course, I had to submit my urine sample. (it has to be official, and it has to be urine!) Can anyone guess the T.V. show that line is from??? Anyway, Elley oblivious has to come in the bathroom with me and while she is distracted I get things done. I set the sample on the toilet paper dispenser while I finish and flush. Elley then sees the cup and starts running towards it squealing "jew." Don't worry, I stopped her before she got to it but, I thought it was so funny I just had to share. Maybe you just had to be there, or maybe it's just funny to me because I'm her mom?!!!

Baby Danger Zone

If you come to my house and you bring a baby with you, you better be prepared to share with Elley. It might even be a good idea to leave all babies at home.....for their own safety! Do not leave babies unattended, leaving babies unattended may result in injury. If you come to our house, come at your own risk!

Elley has these two pink blankets that she came home from the hospital with . I don't think there has been a night when she has not slept with them. She loved to be swaddled when she was a baby and was swaddled until about 4 months old with these pink blankets. She now likes it when I "swaddle" her babies and she carts them around like that. She will even put them in the baby swing and push them back and forth. But, when it comes to bed time the blankets are removed from the babies and into bed with Elley they go.

Elley and the Puppies

These pictures are for my friend Stephen

Helping Mommy, Relaxing with Daddy

Elley is a big helper girl but, at times it can be a bit overwhelming! She likes to help feed the dogs but if I'm not careful she will feed the dogs all day long. She also likes to help with the laundry. This is nice when I can't get down far enough to get the last of the laundry out of the dryer but not such a good thing when she knocks over all the stacks of clothes I've just folded.

This night she wanted to help with dinner. I really didn't want her to help but figured that it might be good for her. I think daddy helped her with the chair but she has been known to move the chairs so she can see better......or to reach something that she shouldn't on the counter. Anyway, she was actually a big helper this night. I would cut up the lettuce and she would put it in the bowl. Sometimes it would end up in the sink, but for the most part it would land in the bowl.

And after dinner she wanted to hang out with daddy. Whatever we are doing she wants to do it too!!!

Elley's cousin Sophia

Here are a few pictures of Elley and her cousin Sophia. As I have mentioned before in other posts, Elley loves other babies and she defiantly loves her cousin Sophia.

Aunt Leah, Sophia and Elley

Jay, Sophia's dad, was giving me a hard time about being half way in the picture. He said "it would of been a cute picture if "someone" wasn't in the way." How rude I thought, look at the death grip Elley has on little Sophia. She loves babies so much I was afraid she would hurt her. I was just trying to protect his daughter. Whatever, I still think its a cute picture!