My BFF

Elaina asks, "Have you met my new best friend? Isn't she pretty? I just love her!"







She has found a friend- a very cute, very chubby, bundle of love. I am so glad she likes her so much- she is going to be around a long time!

Is that a hickey or a bruise?

Try not to focus on the tired face- just my neck, okay?!
It was a long day.

So, the tumor on my thyroid is still there. It did shrink just a tad, but still biopsy worthy. So, that is what we did. On Wednesday, my endocrinologist stuck 4 needles in my neck and took samples of the tumor. I will get results back by Monday, we hope. She said it looked pretty good- meaning benign, so we are clinging to that hope! The procedure itself wasn't all that bad- but not that fun, either. All the anesthetic I got was some freezing gel on the area. Once that wore off, it was pretty tender. I had to wear a bandaid on it when I went in public with the kids because I was afraid of what people might think: "Wow- that lady must be busy- 4 kids and a hickey!!" If only they knew....ha ha

While I was there, she gave me other news that I am Vitamin D deficient. Very Vitamin D deficient. Apparently lots of hypothyroid people are, and living here with little sun doesn't help. So, she prescribed for me 50,000 units of Vitamin D for 2 months (I take it twice a week), and then a smaller dose forever and ever. Not that bad, and she said it should help me feel better anyway. So I will do what she says. I have my first post-biopsy blood draw in December, then I can start playing with my medication dosages if I want, and then another in February, followed by a visit- all pending that the biopsy comes back clean.

So, here I sit with a bruise/hickey on my neck- and it's Dana's birthday!! too funny!!

I'm in Love with a Girl

Big Girl at 5 Months

So, this is what 5 month Elaina is like:

Don't be jealous of those rolls, either! She works hard for them!!

1st time sitting up in her bath: 14 Sept 11

Loves her phone too!

Go Bucks! This was from Saturday's game!

Can you say, "teething"?!!

Ready for bed.

Okay, not ready for bed!

And if she is not sitting up or standing, you will get this from her:

Life is busy for her...so much to do and more growing to do too!

Labor Day- Family Picnic Day

Sunday it was 90 degrees. Monday it was 60 degrees.

You figure it out.

We have a picnic at the Temple usually in the summer with Annie and her crew. This year we chose Labor Day since Dana didn't have soccer and the kids still haven't started school. It sounded like a great idea- and it was great- but it was not very warm! The kids didn't seem to mind, as you will see Alex still wore shorts and short sleeves, but Elaina was bundled and the wind was very strong. Still, we ate our Wendy's (I had the chili!) and then the kids played games with Dana and then Liza- it was really great to be together at the Temple. Margo is still here on her trip, so we of course had her come. Here are some shots from our time.

This was Elaina's first time to see the Temple- I think despite the coolness of the weather, she had a great time! Looking forward to going again soon!

Can you do this?!

Elaina may be a chubby (um, healthy) 16- pounder, but she has some serious skills...
I mean, can you suck on your toes?!
And be this cute?!
And this happy?!
Just playing away...if only she would stay this way.
I am lovin those thighs- as Leah puts it "chunk a munkas!"

Pink Pretties

I just love how photogenic my girls are. Elaina, I could photograph all day....all day, all day, all day- until she gets grumpy, which she does. These were from my birthday, and her shirt says something cute about mommies, so I thought it appropriate for that day. As a matter of fact, we took her to breakfast and out to dinner in it, with a bow on her head no less, and she got more comments than she ever has- gotta love that!Celeste never lets you do anything to her hair - EVER- but this day, she let Leah braid it and then take some fun shots during their rest time. She cracks me up!

Awesome August

Where has this month gone? SO hard to believe it is the end of the month already. We, however, still have 2 weeks until school starts, so my kids are still enjoying summer for a while longer. The humidity has left for a small reprieve, and we have gotten to do lots of fun stuff during its absence.

Dana's mom has been visiting us from CA and Alex got to spend a few days at Ivy's house with Isaac who was visiting from NC. He was in heaven, because Aunt Ivy really knows how to spoil him! He went to the fair, ate out, went to the movies, ate out, played at the rec center, ate out, and stayed up very late for days and days- quite a thing for an 11 year old! Then he went to Cedar Point with Uncle Sean and Aunt Stephanie- I'd say his summer has been full!

Last weekend was our annual family trip to the lake. Unfortunately it was only perfect weather on Saturday, because on Sunday, the rains came down and the floods came up- LITERALLY! It was interesting, we even witnessed waterspouts on the lake! We got to spend all day Saturday in the sun and soaking up rays at the pool. The kids had a blast!

My birthday fell that weekend too, and Dana and I only had Elaina with us, since the girls went up early to the lake with my parents and Alex was with Sean. We went to breakfast at my fav spot: First Watch, and then shopping- my very favorite, and then dinner at Abuelo's , followed by more shopping! Perfect way to celebrate 36.

We also got to visit with my sweet grandma- the kids loved that and I did too!

I am behind in posting pics, but here are some highlights of this month:

I could go on and on about how much I love this face- she is growing so fast and starting to do such fun stuff. Sometimes she wakes herself up and I hear her blowing bubbles in her crib, or playing with her mirror on her bed. She is laughing out loud and rolling over and over. She stands up as much as she possibly can, and if she could eat your fingers, she would- and she tries and tries!! I love capturing the perfect smile - if she could stay this little butterball forever, I promise I would not complain. At 4 months she weighed 14 lbs 14 oz and was 23 1/2 inches! And 10 days later, after her ear infection was cleared, she had gained 8 more ounces and was 15lbs 6 oz! Chubby little girl- that's how we make em' around here!

She is starting to sleep better now that she gets cereal at night- and man does she love that stuff! Mixed with white grape juice, she downs every single bite you give her! No doubt about it, this girl likes to eat! She is a gem!

Elaina 4 months

Camera Happy

Do you think she likes the camera or what?! What she really loves is rolling around on her tummy- I can hardly keep her still!