Atlanta!

I get the Net Saver weekly emails from AA and usually quickly delete them but two weeks ago one caught my eye.  I saw a really cheap fare to Atlanta and forwarded it to Chris and he said I should definitely take the kids to see my grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins.  I love my family and spending time with them and Ella definitely loves them too.  However, I then started to think about everything I was going to have to lug to the airport along with two little ones and wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it by myself.  Chris resassured me that I could!  Then one of my sweet friends told me that I could rent baby equipment.  Who knew?  I googled it and found travelbabees.  I made a call and the day before we arrived two car seats, pack-n-play and high chair were delivered.  Oh my gosh, that was a life saver and worth every penny!!  I was a little worried about the trip because both kids had ear infections but I was prepared with a charged DVD player, gum, Motrin (children's and infant), formula, earache drops and baby toys.  After being asked no less than 50 times if it was time to watch a movie the time had come to pull out the DVD player and guess what?  The battery charged all night but the power button was bumped to ON so the battery drained!  Thankfully there were no tears...new glitter crayons to the rescue with the new Barbie and the Diamond Castle coloring book!  We made it!  The kids were great on the flight.

Atlanta was fun!  We spent the weekend with the family hanging out and playing.  It was so nice to see my grandparents and introduce them to Bennett.  I know they really enjoyed the visit.  Everyone seemed to enjoyed having the little ones around.  My cousins, Nathan and Kelsey, are both so sweet and great with kids.  Ella was in heaven playing with Kelsey and wanted her by her side at all times!  Kelsey was such a good sport, especially since she's 13!  Nathan is 16 but you'd think he's older by his actions.  He's such a care taker.  He'd make Ella breakfast and as soon as Bennett would wake from a nap he'd run upstairs to get him.  He's going to be a great dad one day.....a long time from now. :)  It was a great trip even though it was quick and we were sick.  We are so thankful to my aunt and uncle for opening up their home and letting us take over!

Bennett and his Great Uncle Pat

Playing ball

Ella & Kelsey walking to the park

Ella & Uncle Pat swinging

Kelsey & Katie (Nathan's girlfriend)

Uncle Pat about to jump fall

Great Grandpa George brought home flowers for Ella

Great Grandpa George and Bennett

Ella & Kelsey

Nathan  & Bennett

Uncle Pat, Ella, Grandpa, Grandma & Bennett

Time to go back to the airport.  Thank goodness the DVD player worked this time and the kids were great.  Prayers were answered! 

Teeth and Illness

Two weeks ago Bennett went from having a single tooth to having teeth!  He cut three teeth within four days.  Thankfully it didn't seem too painful for him.  I thought he was going to cut the second tooth on the bottom or one of his front teeth but his second and third teeth to break through were the second teeth over on the top and then a couple days later the second one on the bottom broke through.  We're hoping the front teeth are the next to fill in the big gap!  It might look a bit odd but I pulled out Ella's baby book and Bennett is cutting teeth in the same order as his big sister!

Later in the week Ella started feeling sick.  She spent the entire weekend with a fever and a nasty cough so we headed to the doctor Monday morning.  Come to find out she didn't just have the typical virus I'm used to hearing, she had an upper respiratory infection, ear infection and she had the flu.  Poor thing really had it bad!  She's still getting over the cough and trying to get all her energy back.  Of course within a few days of that appointment Bennett starts running a fever so we head straight to the doctor since we were headed to Atlanta on Friday.  He has Bronchiolitis and an ear infection.  Despite being sick he's still the happiest baby!

If you click on the picture to enlarge it and look closely you'll see a tooth on the top left side.

Even when she's sick she still wants to wear a dress and tiara!

7 months

Time is really flying by.  Bennett is going to be one before we know it.  He's had a great month!  He cut his first tooth, but it wasn't easy!  I won't go into details but let's just say our neighbor came to the rescue with something called Super Duper Diaper Goo!  On January 1st he rolled over for the first time and was happy about it, but he didn't do it again for about a week.  He's only done it one other time and that was in his crib but he was not happy about it!  He hasn't tried to crawl yet.  He sits up really well and loves to play with toys.  He's happy with just about anything you put in front of him unless he's hungry he just wants food.  I decided to go ahead and give him bananas and he loves them.  He doesn't like applesauce along with green beans and peas.  All of those make him gag which possibly lead to vomiting so I'm just going to leave those out of the rotation for a while. :)  I think he should be able to go all night without waking and most nights he goes until 5am so I'm hopeful he'll keep that up.  He's still as happy as can be!!

Ella is a proud and helpful big sister.  She likes to feed him, but only for a bite or two and then she has better things to do like play with her princess tower.  She does love her baby brother and gives him lots of hugs.  I think she's anxious for him to be able to play with her.  However, she's very girly so I'm not sure if he'll be interested in playing with the same stuff.  Hopefully he'll toughen her up...that sure would make daddy happy!

Wow, I just rolled over!

doing push-ups

laughing in big sister's chair

Slinkies are pretty cool!

My sister is the best!  She even wipes my nose!

Ella playing her "pinano"

Princess Ella

Christmas!

Happy New Year!
I'm a little behind in my blogging, but we've been busy!  Christmas was great this year!  Chris's sister Erin and her husband Craig flew in Christmas Eve and surprised Ella at our house Christmas morning at 7:00 a.m. to watch present opening.  I was able to distract Ella from opening presents until they got here with sitting on the kitchen counter.  She loves to help in the kitchen.  Present opening was in full swing this year!  All she talked about for weeks was a pink princess tower.  Guess what Santa brought her....a pink princess tower!  It was her last present to open and she couldn't have been happier.  She did mention to me that he didn't bring anything to put inside it.  I told her Christmas wasn't over, more gifts were still coming.  BB to the rescue!!  Bennett was happy watching Ella and chewing on a toy or the gift wrap.  Later we left for Grandma and Pop pop's for Christmas with all the Crawford's.  Ella has so much fun with her cousins.  While most everyone played football outside Ella sat on the sidelines and said she was "taking a break".  On the 26th my brother and his wife flew in from Cali and my mom and stepdad drove up for another Christmas celebration.  We had a nice visit with them and lots of activites, including Bennett's baptism.  He was such an angel.  I think the minister was a little shocked when he lifted Bennett up to show him to the congregation.  He probably weighed twice as much as the two little girls that were baptized before him!  Now our house is back to quiet.  Time to get it back to clean and organized.

Opening a present on Christmas Eve

Time for bed

Milk & cookies for Santa

Santa left lots of goodies! Yes, our tree was pathetic!!!

Uncle Craig & Aunt Erin with Bennett

Ella and presents!

The pink princess tower

Crawford Christmas

Bennett's Godparent's - Uncle Dave & Aunt Erin

Our familes

On Tuesday before David and Lauren flew back to San Diego we went to the Heard Museum.  They have a dinosaur exhibit that sounded pretty neat.  Everyone thought they were neat expect Ella!  She was freaked out!!  She wouldn't get near them and had to be held the entire time.

Her first smile!