Fine Arts Night

Tonight, Brooks and I attended the Roy DeShane School's Fine Arts Night, complete with chorus program and art works decorating the halls. I got to see my mentor music teacher's work with the chorus program, "The Nightengale". Brooks commented that it was "simple" and that it was still very nice, as if to suggest something to me for next year, in order to help me. :) I agreed. :)

Here are some pictures, at my mom's request, from the evening.

All About Jillian, by her friend, Jada, and Jillian in front of her story.

Jillian's version of Van Gough's sunflower painting and Jillian's Egyptian mummy

Jillian in front of her locker, and her Ecuadorian animal weaving.

And, of course, here's a picture of Elliott. (Top) He is relaxing on his awesome new blanket with his name on it, home made with love by our friend, Sarah Herr. (Bottom) Isn't he just so cute? Jillian said in her interview by Jada that when she found out she was having a baby brother she was shocked, and she likes having a baby brother. She also fabricated that she gets to go to bed whenever she wants, and that she sleeps in her mom and dad's bed sometimes so she feels safe, which isn't fabricated. :) Just shows how creative she is and that she does draw from real life. :)

Elliott, the Spit Up King

Elliott and Nana have fun burping at Nana and Grampa's house on Easter. He likes to burp for Nana and Grampa, but not as much for Mommy. At least he is an equal-opportunity baby when it comes to spit up! :)


This picture of Elliott proves that Elliott does have a Mommy and that he's not Brooks's clone. :) He looks more like Mommy as a baby in this picture, and not so much like Daddy.

Elliott seems to think that spitting up as much as possible, as soon as possible, as often as possible, after nursing is the cool thing to do. The rest of the family disagrees, but that hasn't stopped Elliott! I talked to 2 different doctors (one of the midwives who does lactation consulting and a HomeFirst family practice doctor as well) about it. It seems that he could be gassy due to some of my food choices, and healthy ones at that, particularly my love for dairy. So I stopped eating cheese and have substituted my favorite 1% for Rice Dream (the soy milk brings back too many sad memories from my dairy allergy as a child) and we started to see less spit up. Then this morning, Elliott was feeling like less of a king and proved that, dairy or not, he is still the Spit Up King!!!

Baby's First Easter
Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
And Elliott slept through it!

Brooks and I were very blessed on the occasion of the celebration of the Resurrection by Elliott letting us sleep from 5:45am to 8:15am! Of course he takes at least 30-40 minutes to nurse, with the burping and spitting up and cleaning up, so we didn't make the 9:30am service at church. We missed Hamille and John Paul. :( Fortunately, we did have time to give Elliott a bath and get him all spiffy-ed up in his adorable Easter outfit from Heidi and arrive early to the 11:00am service and got good seats, in the sanctuary, next to Linda. :) It was a wonderful sermon from Acts 2:22-24, identifying Jesus and what he did on Easter--being raised from the tomb, because death could not hold him back. Pastor Todd Wilson compared the tomb to the womb, that it's not the end of our lives as Christians, it's just the beginning, and how Christ suffered the pangs of death just like mommies experience the pangs of labor, and there is no stopping the birth! Death could not stop Christ! Of course I could relate very well. :) He commented that he heard Linda and me laughing at that part.
My Tangent
I certainly felt every bit of my labor pains, except for some relief thanks to my amazing birth team: Brooks, Deb the doula, and Liz the midwife. I couldn't have done it without them! I HIGHLY recommend midwifery if you would like a natural, epidural-free birth, and I also HIGHLY recommend having a doula. However, not all doulas are created equal--get Deb Lawrence! She is so awesome, and she loves the Lord, and she speaks Tagalog! :) Liz supports natural childbirth (and homebirth, too, although Midwest Midwifery is not able to do home births) and she was so encouraging and made me feel so good when I turned down the epidural! She also helped me not to tear during my delivery and put Elliott on my tummy as soon as he came out--she didn't even announce his sex, I got to do it, and quite joyously, too! :) I just wish I had gotten a picture with my amazing team! I'm going to have to do that!
Anyway...
Our church sings the Halleluia Chorus from the Messiah at the end of every Easter service, except the 6:30am sunrise service--it's different!!! So, here we are, sitting close to the front of the church, full orchestra on the platform, organ blaring, choir singing, congregation joining in, and Elliott slept through ALL of it! I guess we know who his parents are. :)


Here is the ADORABLE outfit that "Aunt Heidi" (aka "Dee") got and sent to Elliott to wear for Easter. It's got a cute fuzzy bunny on the front, sweet little bunny slipper footies on the pants, and who could resist that precious little bunny bum? Elliott liked it so much he spit up on it right after we put it on him--twice. I couldn't believe it! At least you can't tell since the color blends right in! She also sent a cute onesie that also suits Elliott very well, "Mommy and Daddy's ALARM CLOCK"! Just a note: Heidi is Brooks's cousin, and was one of my beautiful bridesmaids in our wedding. She may not technically be Elliott's aunt, but special friends/family members deserve special recognition and special names to go with it. :) Another example of this: My dear friend from high school, Ben, is referred to in our house by me, as if he were another brother of mine, as "Uncle Ben". Cute, huh?

Hope you enjoyed the new pictures! I will try to put up a few more this week, when my battery on my laptop isn't so low. :) For now, I am basking in the loving mercy and forgiveness of my Lord! Elliott is sleeping :)

Just a note: Elliott has received many packages in the mail lately, since Elliott's birth, and I just wanted to let you all know that, even though I have been busy, too busy to call or get your thank you note written so I can put it in the mail, we got it! Since this is easy and efficient for me, this is your "we got it!" notice if you didn't get on from us already. :) If I missed you, please let me know and I will correct it!

Thank you to: ~ The Claybrooks ~ Heidi Babson ~ Uncle John and Aunt Nancy Babson ~ Torrey and Anne Babson ~ Ben Staffin and Jenny Steele ~ Glenn and Sandy Sapa ~ Justin and Angela Ohmie ~ Mary Moose ~ Sandy Lauck ~ Aunt Shirley Forrer ~ Bob and Amy Wilson ~ Uncle Richard and Aunt Brenda Warren

New photos

Some new photos for your enjoyment :)

This picture was taken last night while Elliott was having some awake time...he seems to be having more of that lately. If you have ever seen a baby picture of Brooks, doesn't this picture of Elliott look just like Brooks when he was a baby??!????!?!!!?!

Here is a picture of Elliott on his first full day at home. He got this "cute" nightgown from Anne and Torrey after we told them we were expecting. He's so cute in it!!! It really helps that it has the little sleeves that roll over and cover his hands.

Here's another one from last night--Brooks and Elliott bonding. :)

Aren't they just adorable together? Brooks is such a great Daddy!

Don't expect to see any of me anytime soon--unless it's my hands or arms holding Elliott--I hope you understand. Besides, it's much more fun to see other people with him! :)

Settling In

From Mommy's Perspective

Elliott meets Grampa Jim, famous for his silliness and the "squeeze, squeeze, squeeze". :) Elliott is in for a lot of fun with Grampa Jim! Add Jillian to the mix and look out!!!! ;) Doesn't Elliott look so little all bundled up in Grampa's arms?





Life with a newborn does not follow a set schedule. Not that I expected it to, but I'm reminded how easily things can change, from eating more often, sleeping longer, harder to get to sleep, to sleeping shorter times. It seems as if Elliott is settling in to what is expected of him as a baby, though, which is eat (nursing is going much better, Praise God!), sleep (although he has recently started to resist this a little more), and use as many diapers as possible. :) Earlier this week he managed to use almost every diaper change as an opportunity to test his squirting radius and range. :D Brooks and I are getting better at avoiding this, though, and Elliott seems to be less traumatized by his diaper changes in general, at least when I do it.





Jillian is so helpful, too. She is such an amazing big sister! When Elliott cries, instead of commenting "He's crying a lot" or something like that, she comes in and tries to make it stop, like offering his binky or talking sweetly to him or pulling the duck that plays "Twinkle, Twinkle"--Jillian loved that when she was a baby, but Elliott doesn't seem as impressed. Her love for him amazes me--she has not exhibited any signs of jealousy or competition for my attention. However, I do go out of my way to encourage and praise her for her help and kindness, so she knows she is appreciated. Jillian loves holding Elliott, and is even strong enough to hold him while she is standing, and he looks comfortable.
Jillian's report card came home this week, and Brooks and I were pleasantly shocked to find that she is meeting the standards in all of her subjects! Yay!!! Jillian does receive additional support services (as well as modifications/accomodations in class) at school for math and reading, and that is what seems to be making the difference. although the teachers give us credit for supporting her at home as well. We are so glad that she is gaining confidence and we pray that she will continue to grow academically to keep up with what is expected of her at each grade level and that eventually she will not require as many (if any) mod/accom's to achieve that. Her teachers have warned us that the jump from 2nd to 3rd is more like a leap, so we would appreciate your prayers, with ours, for her so that we do not lose the ground we have worked so hard to gain, particularly in her confidence. Jillian is so sweet, and I would hate to see her down on herself again. She has worked so hard over the past 3 years!


I just heard Elliott make the cutest sound ever--the little sigh after he sneezes--it's adorable!!!!!
My goal is to get a video of that and post it, since I see a place to do that on here. :) Hopefully we will catch it--we just missed it tonight. We got some really cute pictures of Brooks holding Elliott tonight, although Elliott's expressions aren't quite what we were looking for to put on a birth announcement. Oh well!


What a couple of handsome guys!!!


Brooks is an amazing father! Of course I've seen him with Jillian, and I must say that I think she is becoming a "Daddy's girl". It's getting harder for me to see her as just his stepdaughter--they really seem like they've been together since she was born. It's wonderful to see...then I see him with Elliott! He cheerfully changes his diapers, even in the middle of the night, and is so ready to take care of me and keep me resting so I recover. I accidentally did too much the other day and boy, was I sore!!! But Brooks always gets things for me, making multiple trips downstairs, and all over the place for that matter, and with pleasure, as if it was enjoyable for him! What a wonderful husband I have! I thank the Lord every day for him!!!!


Well, I see that this has gotten long, but I hope it wasn't terribly boring. ;) Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Happy Two Weeks Old Birthday!

Sorry for the delay in posting any updates this past week. As you can imagine we have been busy getting settled in at home. However, in celebration of Elliott's two weeks old birthday here are some new photos.

Spending some time with Nana

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa Locke

We are all doing well, if a little sleep-deprived. We've greatly appreciated our friends who have been bringing us dinners the past two weeks. Elliott has an appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow to make sure that he's back up to birth weight. Thanks to all of you who have posted comments. It's great hearing from you!