1/2 way to a year...already!

So, though my precious baby girl is still not the best sleeper....she is doing better!! Last night on her 6 month birthday, she slept until 3am and then back to bed until nearly 8am- I will take it!!

I can hardly believe it's been 6 months I have survived through! ha ha

I can't believe she has thrived how well she has! Check out this beauty- at her whopping 17lbs 12oz body! If only you could see the rolls...yum!

Not sure how she feels about that grass!! Too funny! I am loving the outdoor shots- she was so distracted, though, that she would barely look at the camera! Love what we got, though!

Here's to an even better 1/2 year ahead!

An apple a day...

Elaina is just like the others...

she LOVES apples!

If only she had teeth, this thing would've been gone in seconds!

Time on my Hands

This is Conference Weekend!! Whoo Hoo!! I LOVE Conference - it is such a wonderful opportunity to hear from our Church leaders on many topics, and ones just for me. I loved so much of yesterday's sessions, and am looking forward to today's too!

My parents took Alex and Leah for two days, and Celeste had a play date for much of yesterday, and Elaina took a 2 hour nap (a first!- actually 2nd one in 2 days- if only we are starting something big here!) Anyway, I had a few moments to play with some fun shots of her from this week. I do that often, right?! If she weren't so dang cute and fun to photograph! Enjoy!

I have an addiction, can you tell?!

By the way, she is sick again- actually gotten worse from her double ear infection 10 days ago, and is headed back to the doctor tomorrow- you can't tell in her pictures- but you can at 1am!! Poor baby and tired mommy!

Go Bucks!!

Just so you don't think I don't love my other kiddos- here's proof:

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!"