Mommy and Elsie!

I was going to take more pictures of just Elsie and I, but it hasn't happened yet. I have to hand the camera to Josh and tell him to take pictures, he doesn't do it on his own :) I keep forgetting to have him do it. I remember that I need to take more pictures when I am updating my blog after sweet Elsie is already in bed :) I LOVE this girl!!!!

My favorite person ever!!! (the one in pink and white!)

Squishy face :)

I almost deleted this picture after I took it. I am so glad I didn't. This is one of my most favorite pictures of Elsie. :) It is AWESOME!!!! I LOVE her!!!!!! :)

So, I decided I will add pictures of Elsie and I that I have taken :)

6 Weeks

I am not sure who is having fun in this picture :)

I wore green so we would match (corny, I know - but it looks cute :) )

Like mother, like daughter

Elsie is 5 Weeks Old!

Elsie is growing so much! Josh and I love her more and more each day! We are hoping this is the week she starts smiling at us for real! :) She has a way of "hypnotizing" us with those large blue eyes! We LOVE her!!!!
Yesterday Josh was at fire training so I figured Elsie and I would go get some grocery shopping done. I fed her a full 4 oz. bottle and put her in her carseat. We go to the store, I was more than halfway done with my shopping when she woke up. I had left the diaper bag in the car because I "knew" she would sleep the entire time I was there. :) She woke up and was quiet for about 2 minutes, then the screaming began :) I did all I could to console her, (I even had a crazy-looking typical evening Walmart shopper come up to me and tell me how cute she was - she even touched Elsie's sweet little hands - GROSS!!! - all the while, Elsie is still screaming) I got her calmed down and hurried and finished my shopping (ps. know that I am holding her, while I am pushing the cart with one hand). Before I am done, she starts crying again. I hurried through the checkout (holding her, and unloading my cart at the same time - with one hand) I finally made it to the car (my sanity barely hanging on :) ) made her a bottle before I unloaded my cart of groceries, she drank the entire 4 oz. bottle (so much for "knowing" my child and her schedule :) ) Bottom line, I learned a few lessons: 1. Leave her home with Josh next time. 2. Bring Josh with me. 3. Bring the diaper bag in the store with me (sleeping child or not :) ). 4. Don't be afraid to leave the cart of groceries to tend to my beautiful little girl, she is way more important than the groceries anyway! :) I LOVE my daughter!!!!

This picture is for my mom who says I need more pictures of Elsie on the blog without a headband on her head :) We love you Grandma!

Sweet Mowhawk!!!

Elsie's first nap in her bouncer from Aunt Emily! She loves it! What a peaceful sleeper!

Elsie and Hadley

Hadley Bee was born February 10 and Elsie was born February 23. Hadley is Josh's sister, Anna's sweet baby girl :) I realized it is hard to get 2 infants to be happy at the same time so we could get a cute picture :) We did a pretty good job :) I am glad I only have one child, twins would be so hard! I am excited for Elsie and Hadley to play together when they get big :)

Elsie is One Month Old!

Elsie is one month old!! She is getting big :) She is only seems big to Josh and I, she really is way tiny. She is still wearing Newborn clothes (she has a few 0-3 month outfits that fit). I wish I knew how much she weighs, my guess is between 8.5 and 9 lbs. Elsie has had a bit of colic lately. It is so sad to watch her when she is fussy, her sad look on her face, and her sad cry. She is still getting up in the night. She is usually up around midnight-ish, 3-ish, and 6-ish. I know I am super lucky because Josh gets up with her 1 or 2 of the feedings each night. I love her!!!

Things Elsie Loves:

Mommy and Daddy

Eating

Sleeping

Her binki when she is sleepy

Being warm

Sitting on your knee while she is being burped

Getting her bum changed

Sleeping in her bed

Car/Stroller rides

Blankets next to her face while she is falling asleep

Cuddling up while she is falling asleep

Things Elsie isn't so fond of:

Being cold

Not being fully immersed in the water while getting a bath

Getting lotion rubbed all over her (she hates being cold)

Having her head "messed with"

Having a bubble in her tummy

Pooping - she is kind of constipated :(

Elsie looks a lot bigger than she actually is (she is still so tiny)

I love Elsie's bright blue eyes!!

Elsie's first time going to church - best dressed baby in town!!!

I love it when Elsie stares right into my eyes!!

Sweet sleeping princess!!

I think she was just about to sneeze here - I LOVE this picture :)

Our car ride to Salt Lake - a good picture of her sweet mohawk :)

Amanda and Elsie

Since I was in Layton for my state convention, it worked out perfect for Amanda to make the hour drive to come see sweet Elsie. I called her and we met at the mall, then she rode in our car with us and we drove to my Aunt Denece's house. It was just the 3 of us there. We hung out for a couple of hours. It was so fun to see Amanda. Amanda is such a beautiful girl! I know where Elsie gets her beautiful looks! :) It was fun for me to see Amanda hold Elsie. I wanted some pictures of all 3 of us, but no one else was around. We had to get creative. I learned really quick that I am not talented when it comes to taking pictures of myself :) I set the camera up on the fireplace and took a few that way, the rest I was taking while holding the camera out in front of us :) We hung out at Denece and Brian's house for a few hours, then I took Amanda back to her car and we said goodbye. I asked Amanda how it was seeing Elsie and she told me that it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be. Next time we will make sure Josh is there Amanda! We love you Amanda and there are still no words for the gratitude we have for your giving us such a sweet blessing in our lives! We love Elsie!!!!!!!!!!!!

FCCLA State Convention

I am the Utah FCCLA State Advisor(Family, Career, Community Leaders of America). We just had our state convention. It has been a super stressful month at our house! I am so glad our convention is over and that we all survived (barely). I am still completely exhausted! It is nice to be home and I can't wait to get Elsie on somewhat of a schedule! Elsie and I went to Salt Lake last Sunday. We went to Jeff and Loralee's church where Jeff got put in as the bishop in their ward. Then Monday night we went to Layton and had dinner with Charleen, Nikki Sue, Amy and Pearl. Tuesday we had meetings and were getting all the little things done for the convention (I can't believe how much we had to do :) ). Tuesday night I had my cousin Annika come take Elsie. She came around 7:00 and took her until Wednesday around 5:00. Talk about a hard thing. I know Annika did a great job, but it was so hard not seeing Elsie. As hard as it was, it was nice not to have to worry about her while I was "running around like a chicken with my head cut off" :) I can't wait until next year's state convention when I know what I am doing. This was one of the hardest weeks I have had in a long time!! I am glad it is over. I couldn't have done it without all the help of others! Thank you everyone!!!

I know you are all jealous of my sweet red jacket!

My mom made Elsie this birpcloth that says, "FCCLA Official Mascot" I hope someday Elsie is a national officer for FCCLA!!! I am starting her out young!! :)

Elsie, Amy and I

Charleen, Nikki Sue, Myself, Elsie and Amy - My most amazing help!!! Thanks guys!!!

Hard at work...Well, I was anyway :)


Thanks for bringing the stroller mom :)

Giving out some Advisor Awards! I love FCCLA!!!

2009-2010 FCCLA State Officers - These are some fantastic high school students!!

2010-2011 FCCLA State Officers - I am excited for a new year!

How Did Sweet Little Elsie Get Her Name?....

About 5 years ago, I went to a Relief Society quilt-making activity in our ward. I was new at the time and didn't know very many people, so I was just chatting and making new friends (surprise :) ) I heard someone say the name "Elsie" and I immediately loved it! For 5 years, I have kept the name a secret so no one would steal it. Only a few choice people were told how much I love the name :) In 5 years, I have never talked to Elsie Andreason, but I was recently introduced to her, and this week, Elsie and Elsie were able to meet! I have a new friend, and Elsie has a new grandma :)

Lynn is super special because, it comes from 2 people. Amanda's (Elsie's birth mom) middle name is Lynn, we were super excited to name Elsie after Amanda, and love to tell Elsie that we love Amanda so much that we decided to name Elsie after her :) - We do love you Amanda!!! Lynn was also my father's name, and we all know how special he was to us! I know that my dad was taking care of our little Elsie for us before she came to this earth! - Thanks Dad, we miss you!!!

Elsie Andreason and our sweet little Elsie

It was meant to be :)

Elsie's Sweet Hair

Elsie has tons of hair - that I am sad to say, is thinning out! These pictures were taken after her bath, before I put lotion in her hair (yes, her hair gets styled with lotion - it smells fantastic!!!) I LOVE these pictures, but even more, I LOVE Elsie!!!

I wish I could take some of the credit for how beautiful Elsie is, but I can't. All the credit goes to Amanda! Thank you Amanda!!!

Elsie is 3 Weeks Old!

Elsie is 3 weeks old! She is now eating 3 ounces every 2-3 hours (no wonder she is getting so big :) - sometimes she will surprise us and even drink 4 ounces) We have discovered that Elsie is hard to burp. Usually this is no problem, but it seems her worst bubbles come in the middle of the night when we would rather be sleeping than patting her on the back (or usually we end up waking up to her cry 10 minutes after we put her down - sound asleep). Regardless of our sleepless nights, we love her and wouldn't have it any other way! I love talking to Elsie and telling her to go to sleep during the middle of the night, I don't think she really cares that I am exhausted :) Josh and I have discovered that one of Elsie's favorite positions (when she isn't sleeping) is sitting up on our knee while we hold her chest and pat her on the back. She looks around as if there is nothing better! I love it when Elsie looks in my eyes! I wish I knew what she was thinking. She is so pure! I LOVE her!!!!

"Enough pictures mom!!"

"Seriously mom!!!"

"OK, so maybe this isn't so bad" :)