Fa ra ra ra ra

Christmas was pretty calm this year considering I was "great with child" and some of our family was out of town. We had Christmas Eve with my family at our place and then spent the night with Todd's family so we could have Christmas morning together. Then we spent the day lounging, eating and playing games. Ela understood presents this year which was fun. She was very efficient. She would open one, say wow and thank you and move on to the next. Christmas was pretty quick.

She's Crafty

Safety was not first, but at least she got the job done and was not playing with the knives.

My Baby Shower

My super sister in law threw me a lovely baby shower with lots of family food and celebrating the upcoming arrival of our baby girl. It was a lot of fun and I'm so grateful for everyone who came and participated and the generosity of our family and friends.

The story of Tasha Joy

So the name thing was a bit difficult for Todd and I to agree on this time around. All we knew was we wanted Joy in honor of Todd's mom for a middle name. I liked a few names but wasn't in love with anything and he didn't really like any of my suggestions so we weren't making progress naming this child. Ela on the other hand had decided she would be called Tasha since before we even knew she was a girl. She told everyone; family, friends, nursey leaders. It was weird because we don't know anyone with the name and it was completely random. She didn't give up either she was sure that her baby sister's name was Tasha. We ignored it until one day I found out that Tasha means "A Christmas Baby" and since my official due date is Christmas that clinched it. It was too crazy to ignore so we didn't have to worry about picking a name and Ela got her way. Everyone wins.

Giving Thanks 2009

My mom hosted Thanksgiving this year so we spent the day with her andDave and his boys. It was a great time and mom did a fabulous job as host.

Ela and Kelly doing a "pinky promise." Its her new favorite way to get me to forget she's in trouble. "I won't do it again mama, pinky promise."
Us girls with Grandpa Chuck. He cleans up nice.

The future of my shoulders

I was washing dishes today with my shoulders hunched so that my arms could get past my belly to reach the sink and I realized how horrible my posture is. It was never good before but now with this large 8 month pregnant belly its even worse. I hunch when I clean teeth and I hunch when I do pretty much anything standing up. Its getting rather uncomfortable so I'm extra excited for this baby to be born. Hopefully I will be able to straighten up before I become Quasimodo.

Halloween Happenings

Halloween was great this year. We spent it with cousins and Ela got her first real trick or treating experience in an actual neighborhood which was very exciting.

Pre trick or treating/sugar rush.
Clapping for the other contestants in the costume contest at the trunk or treat. She really should have won for cutest costume but we were robbed by a little butterfly. I'm going to say its just because it wasn't our ward and they didn't think it was fair to award an outsider the prize.
The only pose I got since she was on hyper speed all night due to a combination of excitement and sugar.
Trick or treating for real. She was super excited and happy for about the first few houses and then she realized one of the older boys in the group had a pretty scary mask and suit on. She freaked and kept making us walk with or hold her since she "didn't want to see that little boy." The funny part was a few houses later she tried to comfort her scared cousin by saying "its just a mask" about a different guy. Of course she said this from the safety of daddy's arms and still would not acknowledge the first boy but it was still progress. Overall it was very fun and she was the most adorable "titty tat" ever.