The holiday season

I didn't take as many pictures this year, as would have liked to, it was a pretty crazy holiday season.  Fortunately, I did capture a few moments that I wish to never forget. 

Ella's first experience playing in snow.

Riding down the banister at Grandma's house.

Mommy and Ella's crazy make-up morning.

 Making cookies and delivering them to those we love, in true Christmas season fashion.

 Making gigantic messes.  Ella didn't even want to eat the dough, only play in all the sugar and flour.

Performing a ridiculous pseudo-ballet to one of my favorite Christmas classics: Tchaikovsky's, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

Generally, I am a big holiday decorator, but this year funds were low, so my Christmas decoration's were humble, but still oh, so magical.

As this holiday season comes to a close, I wish you all a wonderful new year filled with peace, love, and joy.  I hope 2011 brings us all closer to our dreams, and closer to the magical world "somewhere over the rainbow."

Show Ella the ocean.

This past Thursday, the family stayed at the beach, where Ella experienced the ocean (which is on my live list), the sand, and her first over-night trip. 

Cosmo joined us and just happened to find a seal carcass to rub all over himself.  That was fun to clean up.

We had him run in and out of the ocean to wash off, then I sanitized him, then Joe gave him a bath.  He stunk, it was glorious.

Ella loves when to chase Cosmo, already.
I found some wild strawberries and thought my spirit fit seamlessly in with them.

We stayed at the cutest little place, The Historic Anchor Inn, in Lincoln City.

We plan on staying there, whenever we go to coast, from now on.

It's owned by a husband and wife, who also run it.  It only has about 10 cabins, making it a quiet and quaint environment. 

In the morning, they serve a free breakfast: not a buffet, but a sit down and you are served.  We were shocked with the quality of the place in comparison with the price.

It's a simple place, filled with antiques, and rustic charm. 
Ella slept the best she has in months: waking up once and sleeping a whole six hours in a row, without waking to be fed.  Joe and I were thrilled to sleep in until 9am. 

Maybe it was her new jammies. 

(She's eating a fortune cookie.)

We went through three one-sies and two pairs of pants in one day.  We went out to eat and she had a massive blowout.  She not only pooped all over herself and through her pants, she pooped all over daddy as well.  So, we had to improvise as we only had one outfit left.  Voila, a small t-shirt. 

I would have to say, that for an unplanned, first overnight trip with a baby, Joe and I did pretty good.  I'm proud of us.  We both needed a night away from home.  But in the end, we were both glad to get home as..."there's no place like home."

A burden or A blessing: a question of perspective.

I have really struggled this week.  I have felt overwhelmed, unhappy, and run-down.  Every moment, of everyday, something or someone needed my attention.

My house needs me to clean it

Cosmo needs me to play with him, feed him, take him out to potty, retrieve his toys from under the chair...

Ella needs me to do, well almost everything...

Joe needs me...

The bills need me
The taxes need me
My schoolwork needs me
And so on...

Today I was sitting outside when the thought popped into me head, "it feels nice to be needed."  I realized that my life would be so empty if it weren't for the wonderful people and things in it.  I guess the question I ask myself when I wake up every morning should be: will today's adventures be blessings or burdens?  Today it was a mixture, tomorrow...who knows, but it is up to me to make that choice.

Here are some definite blessings:

Ella went to the doctor today and she is in perfect health.  She weighs 14lbs., 1oz, and is 24 in. long.  The doctor said she is probably teething and not to worry to much about the daytime naps if she sleeps 13 hours a night.  Not worrying about her naps is such a relief, because every book I've read, says almost the opposite.

Ella is so tender and affectionate and completely adorable when she first wakes up in the morning.  Ella and I were sleeping in, and Joe came home from school, we woke up, and this was the scene.
It has to be one of the sweetest things ever. 




Ella loves Cosmo.  She tries so hard to get his attention, smiling and giggling at him every chance she gets.

She even tries to play with him.

Whenever I eat, Ella wants a taste.  She is so curious about everything I do.  She is so curious about everything.  So
naturally, I shared my pizza with her, she totally dug it.

And finally, she looks so cute doing ANYTHING!  She's growing up so fast, she now eats dinner at the table with us.

I love my little family, even when I can't take it anymore, I still need them, I would be lost without them.