Worst Mom Evs

OK. So imagine this strapped onto Ellie's head. I told her it was a princess hat and they had to put the nodes on her ears and wrists as well so naturally they were earrings and a princess bracelet. Ellie is REALLY into the Disney Princesses lately (she can name them all by their first names and movie), so this wasn't as hard as it looks! She even sat still in it for 15 minutes while they had a look at her brain activity:) So let me back up.

Last week I was feeding Will and Ellie was rough housing on the couch for attention and got a little carried away. She fell right off the couch on her head and started screaming! I put Will down and picked her up to make sure she was alright and she passed out in my arms with her eyes open and dilated---my worst nightmare. I totally panicked. She came to really drowsy and we called Daddy who came home from work super fast. We went to the hospital and sure enough, it was a concussion. They kept her for 2 days to check her vital signs every 2 hours (day and night--not fun for anyone). She is home now totally fine, very healthy and as crazy as ever.

Will is 2 months now! He got his shots yesterday so it was another night with about 3 hours of sleep again. Ellie has been waking up with Will so that's been fun for everyone. Mommy was so tired last night we had all the babies in bed for a little portion of the night. Although the sleep is rough it really has gotten a little better. Will can sleep for 4 hours a time at night and Ellie has been sleeping through the night more often during the week. Still working on it. We have lots of tricks up our sleeves that don't work at 3 in the morning (especially when mommy has gone consecutive nights without sleep!). But we will get back to normal someday?

Will is such a great little man despite all the sleep issues I am in love with this guy. He makes the cutest baby sounds, has the smelliest little boy farts, and when I try to give him a pacifier he clamps his lips down so hard it's impossible to put it in his mouth. He is so easygoing he let the doctor yesterday do all her tests without a cry even though he was really hungry. He has the cutest smile he flashes at mommy and daddy with little baby chuckles already too. He is so sweet.

Ellie is camera shy now and wild as ever. She is a lot more "outgoing" ever since the arrival of her new brother. So we are all getting used to that. She has been calling mommy and daddy by our first names lately which I have to admit is pretty funny. She says our names so awesomely I had to get a video. Andrew sometimes calls her Boonie as a funny name for her when she's wild so here is what we got, take a look:

Baby Will--Five weeks (plus two other posts!)

Baby Will hit his five week mark! Here's the little guy in his Sunday best.

And we want to give a special thank you and say goodbye to Grammy Lynette, who left us just last week.

Plus, check out the two other new posts just below!

Jealous Ellie

Okay. First things first. Ellie is really sweet to Baby Will, and she is a really good big sister. BUT...she is definitely entering into jealous sibling mode. If she feels slighted in any way, out come the tears (fake and real...but mostly fake). And if Andrew happens to be holding Will, well, forget about it. Here are a few examples.

Taken the morning of Will's blessing when we were photographing him.

Meant to be just Daddy and Will but Ellie intruded to show her opinion of the goings on.

But Ellie loves her little brother. So much! Heaven help us.

Blessing Day

On January 24 we were able to bless Baby Will in Church. Yes, we know it wasn't a Fast Sunday, but we decided to go ahead and move things up since Grammy Lynette was here. It was a wonderful experience. Even if Andrew didn't have a tie on for the post-church picture. :)

Here's Baby Will--he was dressed in the same outfit Andrew wore on his blessing day and he looked adorable:)

Editor's Note: We just found out that not only did Andrew wear this, but his father, Papa Bill, also wore this outfit when his parents were sealed in the St. George Temple!

2 1/2 weeks

Ellie and Grammy out on the town

Tired Daddy- He has been so great with Ellie too!

2 Weeks

Christmas day-- We got to come home! (2 days old)

Time goes so fast. Will is going to be three weeks in a few days! We couldn't be more blessed with this little guy. He is a great sleeper, feeds almost every 4-5 hours at night, cries only when he has gas and won't take a pacifier (he HATES them.) Besides his chronic stuffy nose he is in perfect health. We had to wait until last Wednesday (when he was 2 weeks old!!) to get him circumcised and he took it like a champ. Really, he is such a perfect babe. Ellie is doing better. She had a really rough start and is getting back to her sleeping routine, but she adores baby Will and is a big help. We are going to miss grammy and Catrina so much when they leave on Tuesday. Andrew and I have actually gotten some much needed alone time with the help of these two. They have been so awesome through all of this!!

Baby Will--December 23, 2009

WILLIAM HARPER ELMS

"I'm free!"

Here he is! Everything happened so fast--the planned-for induction and epidural never made it into the picture. Instead, when the doctor started the initial examination, we had water breakage and then, thirty minutes later, baby Will was born, healthy and whole.

Here are the stats, in full: born at 10:08am on December 23, weighing in at 6 lbs. 10 oz., and with a length of 19.5 in.

Dressed in a little sweater the German hospital provided

Also dressed in an outfit the hospital provided (with his tongue out--apparently he doesn't dig the clothes OR the pink blankie).

All of us together on the night after the delivery (Mommy's radiant, Ellie's sporting her rain boots, Will's hiding, and Daddy's sporting his nice hat hair/travel beard combo).

We want to thank everyone for their prayers, love, and support. More pictures are forthcoming!

IT's AlMosT BaBy TiMe!

I went to the doctor today and he said it's time. I guess the baby is more than ready to come and my fluid levels are waning. SO I have an induction time set up for tomorrow at 9 pm. I'm so excited for this little guy to be here already- what a great Christmas present! I will admit though, I cried tonight putting Ellie to bed for the last time being the only child. It's crazy how time flies and how fast they grow up. Ellie is such a sweet girl and we have been so blessed to have her in our lives. She is going to be an awesome big sister. I can't wait for her to meet her new baby brother and teach him the ways.

36 weeks

So at 30-32 weeks I was thinking it was easier being pregnant than having a newborn....... at 36 weeks I'M DONE! I can't sit through an hour of Sacrament meeting without totally swelling up. It's time, he needs to get here or mommy is going to lose it. The doctor thinks he will be here sometime between the 21st - Christmas day! Let's hope it's sometime soon! Andrew leaves for LA on the 16th to the 23rd and is praying the baby doesn't come while he's gone (and so am I!) But no worries we are excited to have Andrew's mom and my friend Catrina out on the 15th- can't wait!!

On another note, I have to tell one Ellie story. Last Saturday she woke up talking to herself (as she often does) and I heard a barrage of words, but most clear were the words: doggies, baby Will (her new brother to be) and Jesus. Maybe she woke up from a really cool dream. I thought it was cute.

Colors

Ellie has been learning and practicing her colors. Her new favorite thing to say is "daddy's brown."

A Little Concerned

Yesterday we went to the check out the German hospital where we will be delivering in a few weeks. It's really nice, they have relaxing quiet rooms and the delivery rooms look like a day spa (that's spelled d-a-i-y-e.) To get in we had to ring a bell like we were waiting outside someone's house. When they finally let us in we waited for 5 minutes before we saw even one person- who was not a nurse. Upon finding a nurse, she didn't speak English and kept asking me if I was in pain. Of the 3 nurses there at the time (and NO doctors) only one spoke enough English to be able to converse in English and German and the first thing she asked me was "Why are you here," and "Well, are you pregnant?" A little concerned, I laughed giving her a "No, I'm just really fat in my tummy" look and said- Yes! I'm 35 weeks and will probably be here in about 2 or 3 weeks to deliver! No one seemed to understand I was just there to check everything out and ask questions. Another point of concern, all of the patient rooms were taken on our visit. I think everything will be fine, but I'm really going to have to brush up on my German medical terms and stuff. And I am nervous that there were no doctors around. I guess they have to be called to come in. Trying not to worry!! Thank goodness Catrina will be here!!!