Wes took this video last night. I love it!

So I wanted to post these pictures before we get too far along. These are some of Elliott in January. She’ll be 8 months old this week!

She wakes up so happy to see Mama!

Working on those teeth.

Why can’t I eat my shirt?

Looking so cute in her hat from Auntie Shiloh.

This little chubbers makes me so happy!

Playing with Mama.

She is seriously awesome.
love, Christina

Elliott Says DaDa
Please click above to experience cuteness!

I knew it would happen. I caught this with my iPhone so I could send it to Wes at work. Needless to say, he is overjoyed. Way to go Elliott!

Also, just a quick update – Elliott sprouted her first tooth for Patience’s birthday! Number two is just now cutting through. Orajel is my friend!

Now my basement is flooded thanks to my sewer line backing up. Soon I’ll need to make little scuba gear for my cats to get to their food and kitty litter. Luckily the water hasn’t hit that part so far. Now I’m waiting on the Roto-Rooter guy.

UPDATE: The root clog has been destroyed. Thank you for my Birthday present Mom and Dad! I can now take a shower, go to the bathroom, do dishes, and wash clothes in my own home! Woo!

Listen to some Journey. It is also great cleaning the house frantically as it is covered in mud and your having a dinner party with friends in a couple hours music.

Just so you know….

If asked right now if I am happy the answer would be no. All the balls that I juggle in life seem to be crashing down on me and I walk around with the feelings of nausea and panic inside while I try to pretend on the outside that I’m not sinking. My family has been very supportive right now just helping provide distraction and heaping words of encouragement and support onto me. I guess when I can’t hear them over the negativity in my head is the time when I should consider medication. The above statements are not to indicate that I don’t realize that I’m blessed compared to most people on this planet, but this is what I feel blessed or not and I need to make some changes.

I’m not posting this for sympathy just as an acknowledgment that it is what it is and to inspire me to work on fixing it.

And now a picture of my lovely niece biting my sister’s face to distract you from the dreariness of the post.

I’m still processing the start of the year. It has been a stressful one so far though my Birthday celebrations warmed my heart and made me feel loved. I’m still in the process of contemplating my next post and well quite frankly if I should post it. In the meantime I hope this video is enjoyed.

Un tour de Manège from Les Manèges on Vimeo.

My dad will be happy to know that we bought a set of crib bumpers yesterday. Hopefully this will stop Elliott from ramming her head into the side of the crib at night. My dad was getting worried about her “lost potential.” Gotta love it!!

We have been traveling like nomads for the past two weeks to visit family and friends for the holidays. Elliott has visited 9 states in the past two weeks! She’s a gypsy baby! Traveling with a baby is NOT easy but it was wonderful to get to visit with everyone! Now that we’re back we’re definitely ready to enjoy being at home for awhile and getting back on our regular schedule.

Thanks everyone for all our wonderful Christmas presents! Elliott was spoiled royally and we loved every second of it. She thought the wrapping paper was especially delicious and really, the bows weren’t too bad either.

Here we are on Christmas morning!

Auntie Patience and Grandpa!

Here’s my grandma! Elliott is her third great-grandbaby!

Grandma (my Mom) opening gifts.

Elliott got sleepy and hungry so we had to take a little break for her. She had quite the impressive pile of gifts!

Here we are the day after Christmas. Four generations!

Here are some pictures of Elliott back at home playing with her new toys.

Here she is playing before our trip to Cincinnati for New Years. She’s getting SO BIG!!

I love this face!

On the way back from Cincinnati we stopped overnight in Indianapolis to visit Uncle Ronnie. He hadn’t seen Elliott since she was 6 weeks old. She’s more than doubled in size since then! Elliott thought Uncle Ronnie was super fun!

Even Jasmine came to check out the baby. She kept a safe distance though!

I had many blessings this year big and small. Some of the highlights are the following:
1) Bought my First House

2) Became an Aunt for the 1st time of my adorable niece Elliot

3) Got my new dog Hobbes from Pet’s Second Chance Corgi Rescue

(Freya adores Hobbes though the cats wish he didn’t exist)

4) Freya passed her Foundation and Beginner Agility classes. We are now taking classes from Deb Frank at Laughing Wolf Agility. I really enjoy how easy going and fun Deb is. I don’t have a picture of Freya and I doing agility so you’ll have to make due with a regular picture of her doing what she does all day, stare out the window so she can bark at all who dare to walk in front of our house.

5) I started taking horse back riding lessons again in October.

6) I threw and awesome Halloween Party with the help of my friends Meghan and Kristin.

7) Got a new role at work which I’m enjoying developing, and basically just feeling lucky that within these economic times I have a job I enjoy and some stability.

8 ) Generally been blessed with wonderful friends and family.

In closing I will include pictures of my kitties Sano and Boo so they don’t feel left out, also because they are adorable.