Swimsuit giveaway!? Yes please!!

Many of you know about my recent discovery of the Meanest Mom blog (to check it out, click on her button). Her blog is a hoot, telling stories of how her kids think she is the meanest mom in the world. She sometimes has giveaways and this time I'm totally getting in on that action. I entered her swimsuit giveaway contest by commenting on her blog, and she said that I can have a second entry by posting the contest on my blog. I really want the swimsuit.

Here's the link. :)

Sunshine, sicknes, kung-fu, etc...

A lot has happened since I last posted. We had a few days of GORGEOUS weather, but it turns out that Mother Nature was just pulling a fast one on us. We enjoyed it while it was here, though. Elliott and I went on a walk every day and the little guy needed some protection. It was super cute.
It didn't last for long, though (yesterday it snowed!!). Soon it was cold and dreary, and this past Monday Jacob had to come home early from work because he was feeling sick. By Tuesday he was worse, Wednesday he was even worse, and he decided to share the love. Elliott didn't sleep very well on Tuesday night and Wednesday it was pretty obvious that Jacob had shared what he had with Elliott. What a thoughtful dad! :) Wednesday night Elliott was really fussy and he felt REALLY warm. We decided to take his temperature.
I didn't know what to do, I was kind of freaking out (okay, I was really freaking out). We called Elliott's pediatrician's office and the nurse said that a baby that young shouldn't have a temperature that high so we should take him to the E.R. We raced as fast as we could go to the hospital and we got right in, we were really lucky.

After checking him, the doctor said that it was most likely a virus so the most we'd be able to do at this point was watch him. There was nothing he could do to treat it, and he'd most likely be better within a couple of days. When we got home we fed him and he was just so worn out and looking so sad, it was heartbreaking.
The next morning (Thursday), this is how it was:





He had been talking and playing in his crib, but he always stops when he sees the camera. The most important thing was that his temperature was down, and he was back to being his lovely cheerful self! :)

So that's what's been going on. Here are some random fun clips of recent events for your viewing pleasure...



More playtime with daddy...



Giggles :) ...

Ladies and gentlemen... He's growing hair!! (He still likes to wear grandma Ashley's present though -- a onesie that says "FBI: Fat, Bald, and Innocent")

It's 1:00 am. I'm finishing this post. Bye!!

We survived!!

So my baby is an angel baby, or at least that's what I think. He's handled going over to Chelsea's house this week like a dream. I am truly so blessed to have loving family around who are willing to help us out. I have been able to drop him off and leave him twice in the same week without any tears on either part (totally rude, by the way -- I think Elliott should be at least as emotional as his mommy is to be away from each other). So I was thinking about all of this today and I thought I'd follow suit with my mom and Rheanna and blog about my blessings, for you to enjoy.

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband. I was engaged before I met him to an Army dude. He was nice most of the time, happy some of the time, and he'd be entertaining some of the time. Jacob, on the other hand, is nice ALL of the time. I didn't believe he was for real when I first met him. He really is nice to me all of the time, and I'll be the first to admit that I don't deserve it as much as he gives it. Jacob isn't super happy all of the time, but he tries so hard to be all of the time. He really honestly cares about those around him and he wants them to be happy. He is the most sincere person I have met. Jacob is also funny. He makes me laugh every single day, and many days I really need it. I am so glad that I met him and that I finally listened to my family and decided to date him. :) I have always said that JC (my ex-fiance) was the reason I stopped being a doormat. When I met Jacob, he re-taught me compassion and love and how to be more soft. AND HE CLEANS!! He doesn't even complain about it.

I love Elliott, I love him so much. Every day I get to look at him and watch him grow and learn and develop. He is such a talker! I love it when he looks at me and coos, like he's telling me about his day. Lately when he's going to sleep, we'll put him in his crib and he'll grab his blanket and cover his face with it. It's just another small thing that he does that seems insignificant but it just about brings tears to my eyes when it happens. He is such a sweet boy, and such a good baby. If my doctors have their way, Elliott will be our only biological child. I'm not sure yet what lies ahead for us, but if Elliott turns out to be our one and only, I will still want for nothing. I see a world of possibilities in him, I see his personality peeking through, and he is such a tender mercy for our family.

I am so grateful for my parents! It is such a blessing to have them so close. When I tell people that I live in my parents' basement apartment, everyone comments on the convenience of a built-in babysitter. It's true, we've gone to them more than once to babysit, but they are so much more than that. I see them interact with Elliott and I see how much they love him, and it just makes me so happy to know how much this child that I would do anything for is loved by his grandparents. I knew that they would love him, but it melts my heart to see it. I also see how they interact with each other. When I was 15, I was in my parents' room talking to my mom and she said to me, "Sara, your dad and I are so happy and in love. It almost makes me feel sad for you, because I know that you could never be as happy as we are." (Cecily is right, my mom will NEVER live that one down!!) But you know what? I am so, so happy. And because of that statement my mom said to me 15 years ago, I figured out that that kind of happiness was obtainable. I traded in my JC and went out and got me a Jacob. :)

I am also so grateful for my parents-in-law. I am so, so lucky to get along with them!! I remember the first time I talked to Becky on the phone, she was just telling me stories about Jacob when he was young and I just remember being so relieved that she was easy to talk to. I don't even remember how long we talked for, but by the end of it Jacob was sure getting worried. :) When I was going to meet John for the first time I was so, so scared. He was coming out for Christmas pretty close to when we got engaged, so I was just really nervous because I knew that he was going to be family now. Jacob kept on telling me not to be anxious, but I couldn't help it. All that anxiety just melted away the minute I met him. They are both such warm, caring people with such kind hearts and I can't wait to get to Pennsylvania to visit them.

I love my siblings and my siblings-in-law. Honestly, I can't imagine life without any of them anymore. I love how well we all get along, because that means that Elliott will have cousins that he can play with and have close relationships with, something I never really had.

I'm so, so blessed with our extended family, both the family that I married into and the family I was born into. They stretch from L.A. to Florida, and everywhere in between. I really wish everyone was closer so I could see you all more frequently, but I'm glad we've been able to stay connected via blogs and email. I love you all so much more, but I have a feeling this will be quite the long entry, so I'll finish there. Sorry for the sap! :)

*sigh...*

I'm going back to work today. Well, back to the work that pays me... I've been working harder than I ever have since November. :) Yes, I'll only be gone for less than 5 hours, and Elliott will be in the very capable hands of Chelsea, but I'm still sad about it. I mean, how can you walk away from this face?:So I'm sad today. Hopefully I'll handle it well and not go into work crying. Wish me luck!!

Play time with Daddy and Sara's nerdiness

So I was having Jacob do play time with Elliott. I should have known better...






After this, I suggested that Jacob read to Elliott. This is what I got...



...And now for something completely different (this is evidence that Jacob isn't the only nerd in the family):
If any of you really, truly know me, you know that I love to cook. I also love the Food Network, and I LOVE Giada's shows. She always seems so down to earth, and the recipes she creates are always yummy and easy. She's my total favorite. In fact, just the other day I was thinking about how different my life would be without Elliott, and if I didn't have him what would I be doing. I decided that if I couldn't have the dream job I already have (taking care of the cutest little boy EVER), I would go a completely different route and have the dream job of working with Giada De Laurentiis.
So yesterday at church I was talking to a friend of mine (Marin) whose sister (Katie) grew up with me. I was asking how Katie was doing, and Marin got this happy look on her face that said, "Oh boy, do I have an exciting story for you!!" So apparently Katie and her husband recently moved to LA because he's started dental school. Katie heard that Giada was having a book signing of her most recent cook book, and she decided to get in on that action. While she was there, she went up to Giada's assistant, told her that she'd just moved to the city, and asked if they had any job opportunities. 2 weeks later Katie gets a call from Giada's assistant, and was offered a job as a dish washer. Katie accepted, went to work, and by the end of the day she was promoted to assistant producer. Yes, you read it right. She was promoted THAT DAY. My friend Katie has my dream job!! I was so totally star struck when Marin was telling me! And now you know why Jacob isn't the only nerd. I get start struck and WAY too excited when I hear a second-hand story about a Food Network star.

So funny!!

I was browsing online, and came across THIS, take a minute. It's totally awesome.

Are you bored of us yet?

I bet no one expected me to be blogging so often! I'll try to keep it up, we have tons of cute things to show you. First things first...



Elliott's cousin Tamsine was over about 2 weeks ago. She's 8 months old and loves touching and feeling things. She was totally enthralled with Elliott and couldn't keep her hands off him!



This was New Year's Eve. Good friends of ours, Amber and Jeremy Rowley, were visiting from New Jersey. It's a tradition to play a game called Killer Oompee (creative license on the spelling... I don't even know if the game has a correct spelling) whenever we get together. We make up punishments for each round's loser. Jacob lost, so he had to eat out of Jeremy's nose. Only my husband...



I only got a couple cute smiles, but it's still cute. Poor guy can't even get real sympathy from his mom while he falls over... Several times.

Today I found little red bumps on Elliott's back and tummy. The pediatrician said that it would probably clear up, so just watch it and if it gets any worse to bring him in. I thought it might have been the detergent we used in a few of his outfits, so we had naked day today. He really liked it, just like his dad.


Grandma Ashley sent Elliott a bunch of clothes Jacob had when he was little, and we're dressing him in them because he's already almost too big for some of them! This is a cute shirt, it says "I need love too". Who needs a reminder though, when he's just so lovable already!?