When I think of the number 13, it seems like a small number. I guess it all depends on what is being referred to. When I realize that our baby girl has only been on this earth for 13 months...it amazes me. It seems like such a small number, yet, I can't remember our lives without this sweet baby girl! Time goes by WAY TOO FAST!!! This last month of our lives has been one of the most stressful months of my entire life - it was reflected in the number of blog posts for the month....ZERO! I did manage to take pictures, they just didn't make it to the blog until now :) A few things to add to my stress...My mom hasn't been doing so well with her cancer treatments (I guess it is because the treatments are working killing both the good and bad cells), Elsie got RSV, it was the Utah FCCLA State Convention, I am the Relief Society Meeting Coordinator in our ward and was in charge of the Relief Society Birthday Party (that happened to be the same day as my FCCLA State Convention - Yes, I was planning a party that I knew I would not be attending!), the list goes on and on...I have said before that we find strength in other people's trials. At this point in my life, I am grateful to know people going through rough times in their lives, because it helps me keep my life in check and realize how many things I have to truly be grateful for. This past month I have tried to spend more time with Josh and Elsie, my 2 greatest blessings!!!! Speaking of blessings...back to Elsie...
Elsie is the most amazing baby girl ever!!! Each day I love her more and more - which I never thought would be possible! She is such a fun, easy-going, positive, happy baby! She loves everyone! She still gets so excited to see new faces! Whenever we are out-and-about, people always comment on what a beautiful, happy baby she is (of course, if they talk directly to Elsie, they always get a big smile from her!) and ask me why she is so happy. I have thought a lot about that question. What makes a baby happy? Elsie is so spoiled. We love her so much and every moment is a positive one. I know this will not be the case forever, but for now everything Elsie does is cute. I cherish this now because I know enough kids that once she turns 2 (sometimes it hits when they are 3) it will not always be cute when she throws a tantrum :) This is the only thing I can think of as the answer as to why she is such a happy baby - because she is SO LOVED!! Elsie is the light of our lives! We feel very lucky that our Heavenly Father put Amanda in our lives so we could have Elsie as part of our lives. It is a perfect fit. We love her more than anything! We still pray for Amanda each day - she is such a strong amazing woman!
Elsie hasn't said any words yet. :( I like to think she does, but most of the time she says a "word" it is just one time. The only word she says consistently (and surprisingly enough, she usually uses it in the correct context) is "Woa" It is actually pretty cute! I know someday I may regret saying this, but I can't wait for her to be able to talk :) Sometimes I forget she doesn't talk because I feel we have quite the connection and I always know what she wants anyway.
Elsie still LOVES tv. Pretty much any and every show! Of course, she loves all cartoons, but she is even known to watch March Madness games, old westerns, and all of Josh's other favorites with Josh, as long as the tv is on :)
Elsie still LOVES music! Any time she hears music on the tv, radio, a cell phone ringing etc, she bounces up and down, looks at whoever is in the room and smiles
She LOVES to dance :) Elsie loves to be tossed around. She loves when I hold her and spin her in circles, hang her upside down, any movement and she is happy! I hope this means she will like the rides at Lagoon :) I am as fun as a roller coaster, right? :)
When Elsie is going to sleep, she has started to "tickle" her own hand, it is SO cute! She will stop and then use her other hand to tickle your hand, super cute.
Elsie is finally off of formula. It only took me 6 weeks to transition her to milk. First I did 7 oz. of formula and 1 oz of milk, and about every week, I added one more oz of milk and one less oz of formula. Today was her first day of all milk bottles. Her little tummy has had a hard time adjusting to the milk, hopefully this is the end to her diarrhea. She drinks the milk cold - makes my life easy :)
Elsie is just about to walk. SO close! She has pretty good balance, but she hasn't quite figured it out yet. She can stand in the middle of the room by herself with no problem, but when Josh or I tell her to walk to us, she leans with her head first and falls to her hands. She hasn't taken one step on her own (away from any and all furniture) yet. I figure the day she does - she will be running! I can't decide if I am ready for a runner yet :)
Overall, Elsie is seriously THE happiest baby I know!!! She is so fun to be around and play with. Anyone that sees her would feel the same. :) We can't thank Amanda enough for her selfless decision. We love Elsie and we love Amanda!!! Thank you!!!
Monthly photo shoots are quite a challenge with our mobile baby girl :)
...it is a game now :)
Maybe brushing her teeth will help her hold still :)
She can stand all by herself :)
My personal favorite of this photo shoot :)
Outfit of the day :)
Of course, she is watching tv :)
Oh how did I forget....Elsie is now in a BIG GIRL CARSEAT!!!!! We got this carseat for her Feb 28th. This is her first time trying it out - it is still in the house :)
Messy, messy, tired baby girl :)
...messy, tired girl, with a smile :)
Elsie's first time riding in her new carseat :)
She managed to eat her toes :) She loves being a big girl :)
Outfit of the day :)
Elsie's first nap in her new carseat :)
Believe it or not...this picture was taken while we were at the doctors office in Layton when Elsie was diagnosed with RSV. She had a runny nose and had a horrible cough. I was in SLC, but decided that I needed to take her in anyway, so we found a clinic that took walk-in patients. We walked in and Elsie waved and smiled at everyone in there. They smiled and laughed at me as I told them we were there to have Elsie seen. I promised them there was something wrong with her :) They couldn't get over how cute and happy she was :) I felt like the over-reacting mom, but I KNEW there was something wrong. I wasn't surprised when the RSV test came back and it was positive. There wasn't anything they could do for her. The doctor told us she was contagious to other children for 2 weeks and to keep her home. There wasn't any medicine for her except for Tylenol and IBuprofen. She had a fever for 6 days. It was rough on Josh and I to see our sweet baby girl suffering. We did go on a walk each day, but we kept her away from all kids. I think the fresh air each day helped her get better faster. It was a long 2 weeks and we are so glad she is all better now and we feel very lucky that we never had to take her into the hospital.
Playing in her carseat box :)
Outfit of the day :)
2 weeks of this was NO FUN! I hated having a sick baby girl :(
Elsie still takes her daytime naps on the couch :)
Elsie loves to lay on her tummy in the bathtub :)
Outfit of the day :)
Elsie helping me with the dishes :)
Elsie helping me get ready :)
...and making a very big mess of all my bracelets at the same time :)
Outfit of the day on a sick, sad baby girl :(
Naptime :)
Elsie and Daddy :)
We went to Sand Hollow Golf Course to watch Kenadee (Nikki Sue's daughter) golf - the weather was PERFECT!
Elsie and I hanging out on the side while Josh practiced his putting :)
Elsie loves being outside!
Especially when there is a lot of space for her to crawl :)
Josh putting :)
My 2 favorite people!!!
Elsie, April, Ashley & Izzy
Elsie thinks she is a big girl just like them :)
Elsie loves the neighbors toy car :)
Outfit of the day :)
GROSS!! Elsie got into the diaper rash ointment...I hope the majority of it was on her face and not in her mouth. :(
"Elsie don't grab your flower" Love, Mom
"Hehe, watch this mom" Love Elsie
I kept telling her not to grab it because her hand were gross. This was the first thing she did when I told her not to...pretended to touch it and had a huge smile on her face :)
I walked in the door to this...LOVE IT!!!
Lately, Elsie will be crawling on the floor and she will just stop and lay there on her tummy - it is so cute.
Elsie loves to help me with the laundry. Most days she likes to "play the drums" on the front of the washer and dryer - I taught her that :)
Macy (ok, so it was Sam & Danielle) let Elsie borrow her car to help Elsie walk :)
Elsie prefers a remote :)
She now watches the tv and waits for it to change as she pushes buttons. Super cute :)
Elsie's first day with pigtails :)
I am going to have to get used to this :)
...my baby girl is growing up WAY too fast!!
Elsie and Daddy watching tv together. They were both pretty into it! :)
Outfit of the day :)
All ready for church!
I LOVE this baby girl more than anything!
We love you Elsie and we love you Amanda!
I survived the 2011 Utah FCCLA State Convention! It was a good time. Many, many hours went into the preparation for it, and it was all worth it! It wasn't fun that Elsie wasn't there the whole time, but I feel very blessed that there were people that I love and trust to watch her. I think Elsie had more fun with them than she does with Josh and I :) Thank you Loralee and Allyson! It was fun to see how excited Elsie was to see me after being away from me for 2 days! Elsie is also MUCH MORE attached to Ellie (her elephant-blanket thing) :)
Elsie really wanted all the goodies in each of these bags!
My cute State Officers working hard :) 
Elsie NOT working hard :)
Today was the day I realized that Elsie knows how to climb :)
She REALLY wanted these goodies!
I will miss each of these cute faces! Such fantastic kids!!!! 
