Those are My Beads

A little girl at church shared her beads with Liam and since then he likes to put them on. He got some lovely purple beads at the dentist and pairs them with some of mommy's beads.




He likes to put them on but then at some point he wants them off. He can't take them off by himself very easily so he tends to get frustrated.

Picking out a Tree

We debated about real or artificial tree this year. In the end real won. Since we have vaulted ceilings we went for a tall one. It is probably around 11 or 12 feet.It took 12 strands of lights to get all the branches covered. The decor this year is vintage red, sliver, and green. Liam has done very well at staying away from the tree (or at least not breaking anything he has touched). So, our house has felt like Christmas since the day after Thanksgiving.

An Ellis Family Affair

The Ellis Family clan gathered in San Diego at the end of October. Although the weather was kind of rainy it was a fun gathering of family and nice to get away from work. It was so nice for me to spend time with my two favorite men.

Happy Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday. I don't get into the scary stuff, but I love the colors, the spooky things, being creative with food, my husbands pumpkin carving abilities, and dressing up. This year I was a bird, Liam was a monkey, and Jess just wore a Halloween shirt.

My Funny Honey

Liam is such a funny boy (I'm sure all kids are, but he is mine so I am biased.) He is especially great in the morning because the world is his oyster. Each morning brings with it new things to explore, new adventures, new everything. The other morning he woke up with his hair all funky. Normally his hair is flat so I had to take pictures of the funny hairdo. It complimented his mood quite nicely.

Kelby's Short Hair

There have been several people that have requested to see pictures of my hair short. I cut it off several months ago, but just haven't gotten around to showing it. I am glad that I did cut my hair and donate it to Locks of Love. Maybe it will become my thing to grow my hair out inbetween babies and then donate it afterwards.

Happy Birthday Liam

Liam turned one on September 3rd. This first year of his life has gone by so fast. I can't believe he is such a big boy. He is a busy boy. Always moving, walking, babbling etc. He loves cords, eating, giving lovies, playing at the playground, going out and about, taking things out and putting things in, and being with his mom and dad. We are lucky parents to have such a wonderful little boy.

What We are Doing

Here is an update of what our family is up to lately:

Liam: is approaching 11 months. He thinks he is a very big boy and he is. He is 18 pounds and growing taller everyday. He is a speed demon crawler and furniture cruiser. He has two teeth on the bottom but none on top. I think the top two front teeth are slowly making their way though. He loves to open and close drawers. Take stuff out and put thing back in. He loves to play with his big wooden box, talking table, wooden rings, monkeys, kitchen utensils, and especially toothbrushes. He is a good eater. Some of his favorites are avocado, watermelon, cantaloupe, chicken, cottage cheese, cheese of any kind, blueberries, mangoes, and anything that mom and dad are eating (but don't count on him keeping it in his mouth). His favorites books are Mommy, Pajama Time, Good Night Moon, and The Foot Book. One of his most favorite things to do is swing. He could swing forever if we let him. He will get highly offended if you pass by a swing set and do not let him have a turn. The thing we love most about him is his happy nature. He is a really smiley guy and loves to laugh, giggle, wrestle, receive and give kisses.

Kelby: Is doing the work thing. Recently my job has changed titles, descriptions, and tasks. I am now a Case Manager. This means that I am over everything medical for two groups of students. We are being trained over the next few months on everything we have to do. It involves clinical things like assessments, medications etc. as well as paper stuff like statistics and chart reviews. I'm excited because it is something new and I can focus my attention on my kids and my job instead of what everyone else is or isn't doing. I'm still trying to figure out what I do now besides take care of Liam, household duties, and work. I haven't had much free time to pursue things I enjoy, but will hopefully have some soon. I still am trying to live by the motto "Do more with Less" and have found it to be fulfilling.

Jesse: Is doing the celebrating thing! I successfully passed my social work board examinations yesterday on my 29th birthday, which almost makes me feel my age. I am currently working part time at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center as a crisis worker in the Emergency Department. Much of what I do there involves helping families manage medical crisis, determine whether or not a person needs to be admitted to a psychiatric unit due to mental health reasons and help people resource mental health services in the community. It is an engaging, unpredictable and challenging job. Other then that, I'm enjoying parenting Liam, getting things ready to further advance ClergyBridge and setting the stage for full time employment.

A Tribute

So, I decided to cut my hair. After three years of growing with minor trims and cuts I decided it was time. I was going to cut it off after I had Liam, but with all the changes that were going on it didn't seem like a good idea. I asked my friends Dan and Carrie to take some pictures for me before I made the change. Considering that I love Judy Garland and the 1940's/50's I decided that would be my salute to the long locks.

Liam and the Mango Pit

A few weeks ago I had a really ripe mango that I cut up for the Leester. I gave him the pit after I was done cutting it and he went to town.

Florida

So we made a last minute trip to Florida to visit my sister before she goes to China.

It was fun to see the fam and to take in some Florida sites.
The highlights were: surviving flying solo with a 9 month old,


walking on a sandy beach, shelling, seeing dolphins at sunset,


spending time with my boys,


eating alligator, experiencing the everglades, holding, an alligator,

dancing in a torrential rain storm,
trying kundalini yoga, and hanging with the peeps.

Finally Feeling at Home

We have been in our apartment for about a month and a half now. I am finally starting to feel settled. Instead of working on major projects it is just the daily/weekly chores.

Mothers Day Thoughts

Yesterday was my first official Mother's Day. What a wild ride the last 8 months have been. Who knew how much 7 pounds of flesh could change your life (of course all you mothers do). What a blessing it has been to have my heart changed and softened by Liam. I didn't realize how much I was capable of loving and sacrificing until he came along. I also didn't realize how much I relied on my ability to regulate my time and my tasks to help me to feel stable in this world. There is nothing sweeter than holding a little warm body close to your chest, stroking their soft skin, and kissing their downy hair. There is also nothing that I have experienced that is more terrifying than feeling like you and your baby would not make it through labor, post-partum depression, and knowing that you are responsible for a little life. Like anything in this life there has to be opposition and motherhood is no exception. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Mother for allowing me to come experience this mortal life. How grateful I am to my own mother for raising and nurturing me. How grateful I am for Liam, because he made me a mother.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Jesse was asked to participate in the Strut Your Stuff internship fair at BYU. His research in his internship was solid, but he went all out with his presentation and won first place in creativity. Wahoo. What a great way to end his degree.

Moving

The time has come to leave our bottom dwelling habitat. We have been living with my parents since January 2009. I have mixed feelings about leaving. I know it is time for Jesse, Liam, and I to experience life on our own, but I love being around my parents. It has been a blessing to save money to pay for Jesse's tuition. Yeah for graduating without any more debt! It was also a blessing to be living with my parents during the time after Liam's birth. For those of you that don't know I had Postpartum depression and anxiety. Jesse, Liam, and I would not have survived if we didn't have the support of living with other people. I know I am an adult because I am married and have a child. But I still feel like a kid at the same time. It isn't that I want my parents to take care of me like when I was a kid, but you never stop needing your parent's affirmation and support. I am exited to be in our own space. It will be fun to see all the things that have been in storage the past year or so. Yay for a new adventure.

Happy Easter

6 Month Stats

We took Liam to the pediatrician yesterday for his 6 month check. Here are his stats:

Weight: 16.35 pounds, 24th percentile
Length: 26 inches, 31st percentile
Head Circ: I forgot but I think it is somewhere around 15 inches

He is making all of his developmental milestones. His next appointment wont be until 9 months. That kind of makes me sad, because I love our pediatrician so much, but happy because it means that Liam is growing well and not so fragile.

Almost 6 months

It is amazing that almost 6 months has gone by. Liam will have been in the world 6 months on March 3rd. He is getting to be such a big boy. Looking at pictures of him even at Christmas it is amazing to see how he has grown physically and developmentally. I love watching his little brain figure out the world. He is one of the happiest kids I know and love and appreciate that his happiness makes me truly joyful. Here's lookin at you kid.

Finding the Toys on the Jumperoo

Liam loves his jumperoo. He would jump all day long if we would let him. Just recently he has found interest in the toys on the jumperoo and has been able to start playing with them. I love seeing his little mind work and his little body starting to make connections.

Celebrating 3 Years

On Januanry 2 Jess and I celebrated three years of being married. What a great three years it has been. I can't speak for Jesse, but for me I have become a better person since being married. I love the opportunity to share my life with someone and become something better.

Wrap Up of 2009

Well, obviously I am not very good at blogging. The last thing I posted was in November. Although, I must say that it was shortly thereafter I started back to work and have not had as much free time. So I have included a pictures from events of the last part of 2009. We had a great end of the year.

I turned 27. It was the first year I didn't have cake for my birthday, but crunchy munchie bumpy cookies are just as good

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Liam got his shots at his two month appointment. He did great at the appointment, but we had a rough night. He wouldn't even take his binky, and you know he is not doing well when he wont suck on that.



We had attack of the killer wasps in the kitchen. They were sprayed for in the fall, because we could hear them in the ceiling. Well silly us, all the spraying and sealing did was create a nice little house for them that they could not escape. I came up into the kitchen one day to find it swarming with wasps (this is no exaggeration). They had chewed through the ceiling and were coming out a screw hole in the ceiling. It was kind of scary, but we did have fun vaccuming them up.




Jesse and I had a junk food night. This was at my request. During the end of my pregnancy I thought it would be fun to get all of our favorite junk food and eat it while watching a movie in our pajamas. However, I couldn't do it at the time, because my stomach didn't have very much room. So, we did it in November, when my tummy had lots of room:)



We went to Disneyworld with my family. My Dad is really good about getting us all together to do fun things. My sister and her husband that live in Florida will be going to China next year, so this was our chance to get together. Despite the rain and cold (I know I too was wishing for warm sunny weather to escape our cold depressing winter) we had a great time.



My mom gave the Relief Society Christmas lesson. Jesse and Liam and I got to play the part of Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus. It seems rather silly, but I had some tender insights into Mary and her experience both giving birth and raising a child.



Liam passed the three month mark. He is such an adorable little guy.



Because of the Christmas season we had lots of family in town. Liam got to meet his cousin Cason and hang out with his cousin Oli.



Poor Jesse got a heinous jaw/tooth infection over the break. Needless to say Christmas wasn't very merry for him.



Christmas started nice and early for us, 6 am:) I'm not sure when the last time I opened presents that early was. It was fun to have Christmas as our little family. Liam is too young to get any of it, but it was fun to imagine what it will be like in the years to come.



New Years was more fun than I thought it would be. I'm not much for staying up late or celebrating New Years, but this year ended up being an exception. We went to a fun fondue party at our friends house and then came home to make bucket lists and funny faces with my family.