Okay, I'm Back!!

I have been having blogging withdrawals, haha! We got back this past Saturday, but EA + I went straight to Granby to visit my Daddy + Sydney before they headed home from their hunting trip! We returned home Monday evening + I started back to work Tuesday morning, so I have not had much time to start updating :(

So, we had an amazing time in Florida... we feel like we were gone for a month, w/ all that we packed in on our vacation! I think in order to document our trip properly, I'm going to steal an idea from my fellow blogger + friend, Jill Pope... and use Chapters!

Chapter I: THE WEDDING
Chapter II: THE BEACH
Chapter III: TALLY

Here are some highlights to tide you over until I have the time to really blog!!! Pre-wedding... playing in the foot bath on the deck! That sounds gross, but it's just to wash the sand off your feet... we all did it as children too! It was the perfect little baby pool!
Post wedding... Mr. + Mrs. Patrick + the Alligator Point Beach sunset!
Reception... Memere + Miss Elsie Anne... her wedding outfit was toooo cute! She was completely accessorized... check out the bow, bracelet + sandals!
One of my new favorite family pics...
St. Teresa Beach... playing on the sand bar w/ Daddy... she was all smiles the entire time we were @ the beach! We both agreed she is definitely a beach baby... we'll see this winter what she thinks about the mountains + snow!
Just floating + loving every minute of the warm breeze + refreshing water!
And my camera died when we left the beach :( So, I've got to get ahold of my mom's Tally pics! Sorry to leave you hanging, but I've got to get back to nannying... the girls just woke up!

Last Day of Work for 10 Days!

Where is Elsie Anne????

Oh, Peek-A-Boo! She scooted (on her head) all the way over to the steps + found these baskets in the corner! She is really starting to get into everything, I LOVE IT!

The girls playing together! I love that EA is being exposed to younger babies + older kiddos w/ my nannying! She's really starting to 'understand' how to be gentle + how to be tough!

Baby Ashton is having a good ol' time watching EA shake the entire play gym around!

We will be leaving in the morning for Tallahassee! My cousin, Laura, is getting married on Saturday @ Alligator Point Beach!! We will be staying there for a few days after the wedding for some R&R @ my Aunt Pris' beach house! I know that EA is going to have the time of her life... I can hardly stand it... I am bursting w/ anticipation for her first 'play time' on the beach! She got some sand b/t her toes when she was 2mo old, but this is going to be a whole new experience!

Bye,Bye for now... I doubt I'll be updating the blog until I return on Sept 26th!

Quick Visit...

BIG DADDY'S HERE!! We had a quick visit this evening from my Daddy + our friend Stan! We made hamburgers + salad, + hung out for a few hours, then off they went!

This is my Dad's annual trip... he's always here for the month of September + has different groups of his friends come out to bow hunt Elk in the Rocky Mountain National Forest! This is pretty much the MAIN reason they built the Granby house... oh yeah, + b/c I live an hour + 1/2 away! Too bad this year, we'll be HOME for most of his trip out here :(

Big Daddy loves getting his 'sugar' from his little princess!
Elsie Anne thought our visitors were great! Stan + EA played for a while... we'll get to see Stan + his little boy, Hagen, when he gets home (Tally) next week!

EA was very intent on getting Big Daddy's mustache + glasses!

EA showing off her tricks + talking to Memere on the phone!

And there off... We will miss you in Tallahassee, Big Daddy! See you when we return to Colorado!

GOOD LUCK TO THE BOYS... GET A BIG ONE!

Meet the Newest "BEN-GAL" Cheerleader!!!

Okay, so everyone knows our favorite place to watch ALL sports games is JAKE'S DIVE BAR! Well, this is why...... Rueben + Ellen, the owners, gave Elsie Anne this precious Bengal's Cheerleading outfit on Sunday! They said b/c they witnessed her growing in my belly + then growing since birth, she is the NEW mascot of Jake's + they will put her picture (in this outfit) right next to the original mascot, 'Jake' their dog! We are so honored!
How proud is Daddy... I can't wait to see her walking around in this... I'm sure it will fit her until she's 2! I'm so glad they got it big, so she'll get a lot of use out of it!

Elsie Anne's first experience 'holding' a solid food! And, NO, she is not eating this, just knawing on it! She thought she was so cool, since Momma + Daddy were eating these too! Love this little face!

Wknd w/ Henry...

This past wkend we kept Henry + stayed @ his house! Shawn had the whole wkend off, so it was good practice for 'family of four'!

On Friday evening we went to our usual Friday Afternoon Club @ the golf course. We ate a yummy dinner there, then headed home for bedtime!

Saturday was cold + rainy, so we stayed inside all day. Shawn cooked us a delicious breakfast + we kept our pajammas on half the day! Donnie, Scott + Laurie came over to watch the Ohio State vs USC game on the HD projection screen in Henry's theater! We had a great time playing w/ the babes, watching the game + having some beers. Once Henry + Elsie Anne went to bed, the party really started! We got in the hot tub, played shuffle board, hockey, + ping pong... and had a little DANCE PARTY!

Sunday we had a chill morning together, then Shawn + EA went to Jake's Dive Bar to watch the beginning of the Bengals vs Broncos game, while Henry + I went to Wal-Mart. We met them for lunch + then went home for naps! Once everyone was awake, we went to the French Creek Park. Henry loves climbing, swinging, running, jumping, throwing rocks... and he got to do it all! EA loves watching Henry do all of these things + now loves to SWING right beside him!! Once we got home, I did tubbys + Shawn cooked up a yummy meal. We were all exhausted + went to bed early!

Monday, we packed up, straightened up + got Henry off to school. He is truely an amazing little boy! Such a joy + pleasure to work with... + I love the fact that he + EA get along so well!

**since EA is eating so much food now, my milk supply has lowered + I'm having to supplement w/ formula... good thing she decided she'll take a bottle! And WOW, how convenient b/c she can hold it too, LOVE IT**

Enjoy the slides... it was hard to narrow down, but here are 29 pics of our wkend!

Mohawk Lakes...

This past Sunday, the Lotspeich's came up the 'hill' from Denver to join us for a hike! I have known Ricky + Theresa since highschool, but had no idea they lived in Denver until just a few months ago! We were so happy our plans worked out + they were able to make it!

Before our long treck up the mountain, Shawn grilled us bratwurst + corn on the cobb! Good thing we had some good food in our bellies, b/c our hike ended up taking about 4hrs! Its a little slower w/ little ones... having to stop + adjust them every now + again!

Here is Theresa + Asher, her 3mo old little man... getting all bundled up @ the trail head. It was in the low 60*s in town + probably in the 50*s on our hike!
Here is Elsie Anne in her cozy suit... this is the 1st time she's gotten to try it out, + it worked great! It is only the 2nd time she's gotten to use her back-pack carrier + she loved it again!

The Lotspeich family on the way up the mountain... this was a beautiful meadow w/ beaver dams all through out the river + ponds!

The waterfall on the way to the top... it was so nice hearing the gushing water as we climbed higher + higher!

The Dad's w/ their babes... almost to the top! This was an old mine + they have left behind the pully system + cables! Pretty neat snooping around the old artifacts!!

Theresa + I enjoying the gorgeous scenery of the Rocky Mountains!
WE MADE IT!!! This is one of the old mine cars that was left @ the top! Isn't it amazing seeing this big lake @ the TOP of a mountain!
The water is absolutely crystal clear... and FREEZING!!! Elsie Anne is slumped over + completely zonked out! We had to hurry back down, as you can see the weather approaching in the distance!

It was a perfect day w/ great friends + family! We hope to do a few more hikes before the snow takes over the mountains!

OUR 3RD ANNIVERSARY!

It is really hard to believe that its been 3 years! Sometimes it feels like its flown by + other times it feels like we've been together our whole lives! I've had fun thinking of our gorgeous wedding... all the family + friends that came across the country FOR US! Its such an amazing feeling to know that ALL of you are there for us + love us!

Shawn came home today w/ a beautiful bouqet of flowers + a surprise menu for dinner... Coconut Curry Chicken Stir Fry w/ Noodles... all made from scratch!! I'm so blessed to have a chef for a husband! The dinner was delicious... just like 'My Thai' (my favorite thai restaurant in town)!!!
Shawn, thank you for being such a loving, caring + supportive husband. Thank you for being the best father to our princess. It melts me every day, seeing how in love the two of you are! Here's to our 3 blissful years together + many, many more in our future! I LOVE YOU!

Lunch Time...

As promised, here are the AVOCADO pics! This is Elsie Anne's 2nd time eating them + she ate the whole bowl in less than 5min... she is a SUPER BABY!
I love this green stuff... its delicious!!

Some acrobatics after lunch... can you imagine how strong her back + neck must be to scoot like this?! Such a crazy little monkey...

We just dropped Ashton off @ her sister's school + are waiting on Daddy to get home. Hopefully we'll get a workout in today, we'll see?!

Happy Tuesday!

Today, we are having more fun w/ baby Ashton! EA got so excited to see her this morning. Ashton smiled + made EA wiggle + smile in delight! They are going to be the best of buds!
They are both napping right now, so I wanted to get some blogging in. I also already made another batch of organic bananas b/c EA is loving them! Yesterday she tried, + loved AVOCADO for the first time... I will take some pics of her eating it for lunch today!

FSU vs MIAMI...

Well, the outcome of the game wasn't as we desired... but we had a fun time watching the season opener as a family @ home!

Elsie Anne loving her bananas...
Daddy is the best 'jungle gym'...

Giving Homer Simpson a hug... yes, these are Shawn's slippers!!
After Elsie Anne went to bed, the game got intense... With our shouting + cheering, I'm so glad we didn't wake her up!

6 MONTHS...

Game Day... Go Noles!!!

weight 13.4lbs (5th %)
length 26in (50th%)
head 44cm (90th%)

Elsie Anne is officially 6mo old, on Sept 3rd!!! How did our little princess get so big?! How did this time go by so fast?! Didn't we JUST come home from the hospital?!

Shawn has already said he wants another baby... I'm thinking... 'not so fast mister'! The infancy part of parenthood was such a blurr to both of us... I hope next time we'll remember it more!

EA continues to impress us... everyday learning + doing new + different things! Her personality has blossomed + is so hilarious! She is such a happy, loving, sweet little baby... we couldn't be any happier!

GO SEMINOLES!!!

Okay, we don't care if Kirk thinks there's going to be an upset on Monday nite... We are priming Elsie Anne to do some real Seminole cheering...War Chant...OOOOO, OO, OOOO OOOO (if you know what I mean)!

This is EA thinking Mamma + Daddy are crazy...
F-L-O-R-I-D-A, S-T-A-T-E, Florida State, Florida State, Florida State... WOOOO!

Thank you BumBum for her 1st FSU t-shirt! It's only fitting that YOU were the one to send it to her! We love you!

A funny shot that Shawn got while she was playing w/ the top to her sippy cup!
HAHAHA, silly girl!

Our First Week w/ Ashton...

Meet ASHTON... she is my new 'client', a little confusing since my niece shares the same name! She is 3mo old + has an older sister, Avery, who I kept for a few months while I was pregnant. Their parents are wonderful people + I'm so glad to be working for them again!

I picked Ashton up from her house @ 7:30am both Tues + Wed mornings, while Shawn stayed home w/ Elsie Anne. It's so nice to be able to keep her @ my house... that way EA stays on her normal schedule + doesn't feel out of place. Ashton's mom is a physical therapist @ the local gym, so I was able to drop her off there @ 5pm + then workout w/ Elsie Anne!

I had been telling EA that we were going to have a little baby friend come play w/ us... not to worry, SHE was my daughter + I'm NOT trying to replace her! For some reason, I had a bit of guilt before bringing Ashton over. But once the week had come to a close, I saw there was no reason for feeling that way... EA could have cared less when I was holding or feeding Ashton. And I made sure to play w/ them equally, love on them equally, talk to them equally, etc! I think EA really understood the situation!

It was really neat watching Elsie Anne stare intently @ Ashton... she was really trying to figure her out! At one point when EA had woken up + she saw that Ashton was in the swing, she'd play a bit then look over @ Ashton, like 'what do you think about that'!!! Same w/ Ashton... EA would be shaking a rattle, sitting up + she couldn't take her eyes off EA. It is kind of wierd that EA is the 'big girl'... my little baby is the 'big girl'??!

Elsie Anne tried organic BANANAS for the first time on Tuesday!! She has been eating Oatmeal Cereal for a few weeks now + was definitely ready to try something new! I'm so proud of myself too... I bought the 'Super Baby Food' book, + I've learned to MAKE all of her food! I know exactly what is going into her little body! No preservatives, chemicals, fillers, etc... just plain organic bananas! I've also just made a batch of organic AVOCADO, that she will try after 5 days of eating bananas w/ no allergic reactions!!!

HMMM?? What do I think about these? This was the 1st day she tried them (Tues).

UMMMM! I want to lick the bowl!!! And this is the 3rd day she had bananas (Thur)...
Elsie Anne loves her new 'Exersaucer' Gee + Granpa sent her (my in-laws)!!! She gets so excited when we sit her in it... look @ this GUMMY grin!! I've got to say, she is getting so hilarious... + more beautiful w/ every day! WE LOVE HER SOOOO MUCH!

This was the perfect solution to keep EA busy while I fed or put Ashton down. It kept her so entertained + I didn't have to worry about her getting into 'trouble'!

Happy Birthday to ME...

Just a quick little post to share w/ everyone the FUN ADVENTURE Elsie Anne + I experienced the eve of my Birthday...

As we were headed home from the gym, looking forward to my Birthday Dinner w/ my family, my tire picked up a nice surprise for us all... Immediately after driving over a ditch in the never ending construction site, my back left tire made an awful thumping noise... I pulled over to find THIS in my tire...

6INCH, 3/4 ROUND BOLT!!! To put it into perspective... Yes, THIS was a wonderful ending to my 29th Birthday!
Thank goodness for our Knight in Shining Armor... DADDY TO THE RESCUE!!! Shawn was about 15min behind us, so he was able to fix everything! He had to put the spare on, while EA + I took his truck home to get dinner + tubby going. I think this was my first flat tire experience, + I have to say, I wouldn't have known what to do w/out Shawn. I was getting ready to call a tow truck?! HAHAHA!

Okay, I don't want to sound like 'poor me' b/c I really had a great Birthday! We had celebrated on Sunday @ Water World in Denver. I wasn't able to take pictures b/c I couldn't carry the camera + EA around + risk getting it stolen or wet on the slides! Laurie, Scott + Donnie came w/ us + it was a trip we'll never forget! It was an overcast day, so not many people were there, which was great b/c we got to go on all the slides we wanted w/ no lines!!! We just took turns holding EA... before leaving, we took her in the warm baby pool area... she loved SPLASHING in the water, can't wait for her next pool experience (next wknd w/ Henry)!!