another saturday...

What a lazy Saturday I'm having! John left early this morning for the ski slopes and Eleanor and I have been laying in bed watching movies! Poor girl woke up all stuffed up this morning so I had her take a bath with eucalyptus salts then rubbed her down with Vicks. We started the morning by watching a pretty dumb cartoon. Eleanor feel asleep pretty fast so I decided to watch Mermaids. I love this movie. It brings back great childhood memories watching it with Amy and Sara. After Mermaids Eleanor and I made a quick trip down to what Eleanor would call, "the market smiths". We picked up a few things for lunch and then came home and ate lunch in bed while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas (one of Eleanor's favorites!). I must admit I love having days like this. I love that Eleanor always wants me to "hold you". She loves to lay down next to me and cuddle. She also has this annoying habit of rubbing my chin or neck. She's done this since she was a tinny little thing and I just keep waiting for her to out grow it!

Right now as I type this Eleanor is running around the house playing the harmonica that I pulled out last night. Don't ask me what I was thinking!! She has taken quite a liking to that little instrument and will NOT stop playing it!
Although it's very annoying, she's a pretty cute little player!!

Eleanor Feeding A Horse

In Celebration...

Yesterday we found out that we are having another baby!!! I actually look a home test the day before, but wanted to make certain with a blood test. Within two hours I called and was told congratulations and that I was indeed with child!I am beyond excited and grateful to finally be pregnant again. I still get so excited throughout the day when I think of having another baby! The ironic thing is John and I had just gone and seen a specialist the week before and were scheduled for some testing next week. We had been trying for five months, which doesn't sound that long for most people, and really it wasn't. But the hard thing for us was dealing with John's tumor and not knowing how that would effect things. Funny how things happen!!

Today when John came home from work he brought some goodies to celebrate! What a sweetheart! Eleanor insisted we do cheers, so all we toasted to 'the new baby'. This is one of those days I hope to never forget!

eleanor+bear

Today while I was talking on the phone, Eleanor and Bear cuddled up in my room for a long 2 hour nap. It's a good thing little girls don't mind the smell of dirty dogs!


While cleaning up my computer, I found these two photos of Bear and Eleanor. This is so typical of these two...always with right next to each other!

Valentines In Las Vegas

John, Eleanor and I all went down to Las Vegas with Grandma and Grandpa Martin. We enjoyed a great crab dinner on Valentines Day. Eleanor loved her Valentines gifts. She got Madagascar 2 and a lot of candy. It's always such a nice break to get away from the cold weather. Eleanor was in heaven being able to play outside and go swimming.

Arizona

On Christmas day, Sara and Dick got into a car wreck up in Utah and had to leave their car here for a month to get fixed. Dick wasn't able to come up with Sara to drive it home, so Eleanor and I got to drive home with Sara. The drive home was one we'll NEVER forget! That morning Eleanor woke up around 4 so we decided to head out since she was already awake. We were on the road by 4:30 am and were excited to get to AZ early in the afternoon. Well, we were just 8 miles out of Beaver and Sara's car shuts down while on the freeway. We barely made it to an off ramp. We were freaking out because it was still pitch black and we had no lights! I called John to have him send help. After about 15 minutes the car started back up and we decided to try and make it to Beaver. In Beaver we looked at the battery and couldn't see anything wrong so we deiced we'd continue and to pull over every hour to let the car recharge. We made it to Panguitch and then it started snowing. In between Panguitch and Kanab, we hit black ice and did a 180 in the middle of the road and stopped just before sliding of a bank!! It was not FUN! So 13 hours later (it normally only takes 10 hours) 7 car stalls and about 13 recharge breaks, we finally made it to Arizona! Eleanor was perfect! The only time she got fussy was when we had to pull over and wait and would say, "no, I don't want to stop, I want to go to Arizona!!". When we finally got home it was great! We didn't tell my parent's we were coming and had Eleanor stand alone at the front door when my dad opened it. I believe that was the 3rd time we've surprised them and their reactions are always great!!

We were able to spend just a little over a week and we had a great time! Eleanor got to play with her cousins a lot and spent a ton of time outside! Here were a few of the highlights from our trip:

*Going to the zoo
* Eleanor getting stung by a bee right when we walk into the zoo. (this was more of a LOWLIGHT)
*Playing at the train park
*Bike rides
*Playing tetras with Davey and Amy
*Going to to see Last Chance Harvey with Amanda
*Going to Drew's soccer game
*Playing with cousins
*Lunch at Abuelos
*Sleep over with Ty
*Spending time at Mimi's house
*The Hall/Combs party at Amy's house
*Getting Sara's car FIXED!
*Going out for Davey's birthday
*Sleep over with Lydia
*An amazing SuperBowl party at Elizabeth and Andy's house
*Breakfast with Dad at Crakers (and Eleanor's outfit picked out by Dad)
*Lunch with all the gals!
*Going to Revolutionary Road and Geko Grill with Amanda and Sara and having Theron watch the kids
*Playing at the park
*A great dinner at Cibo
*Getting haircuts
*Eleanor calling my parent's house 'Arizona' and everything else was San Diego
*Breakfast at the Farmhouse with mom
*Eleanor dressing up like a ghost




My battery died the first day I was down, so I only got a few photos. I'll have to wait until my parent's get back from Mexico to get some off their camera.


Another highlight of my trip was coming home to John! He was sweet and had flowers waiting for me in the car (Eleanor claims they are for her). When we got home he had the house SPOTLESS and even had dinner in the crockpot! He also installed ceiling speakers in both the family room and kitchen and hooked them up to our receiver. I'm excited for endless hours of music and NPR! He is seriously the BEST!

Glamore Babe

Eleanor has a major obsession with anything she can put on her lips. She found this earlier today and has not put it down.

Sisters

I am so glad I have two great sisters. I really hope I can have another girl so Eleanor can have a sister! Love you girls!!

Eleanor and Bear

Almost everyday Eleanor takes a nap cuddled up next to Bear and I still think it's so cute every time I see it! I sometimes get a little jealous because she'd rather snuggle up with him then myself. She sure does love her dog!

20 things about 2008

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Got a GOLD tooth!!

2. Did you keep your 2008 resolutions, and will you make more this year?

Not really. I never do.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Amanda and Elizabeth

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Grandpa Hatch passed away in February

5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a new volvo and a baby to go with it

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my degree in Photography at the University of Utah

8. What was your biggest failure?
Probably not getting to my "goal" weight (or even near it for that matter!)

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing more than the common cold. But we found out John has a tumor on his pituitary glad.

10. What was the best thing you bought?
Dyson vaccum

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
John's about 90% of the time, Eleanor's maybe 80%

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Can't really mention that.....

13. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition and gas!

14. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter?
a.) happier b.) fatter

15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
videoing. (that's one of my new years goals)

16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complaining and scolding Eleanor

17. Did you fall in love in 2008?
sure did

18. What was the best new book you read?
Gosh, this is a hard one. I can't remember which books I read this year

19. What was your favorite film of the year?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

20. What kept you sane?
Babysitters(aka Lori and Jessica) Fall Break, Spring Break and JOHN!

ode to obama...

Here's to our new president...
I had to include these photos in honor of Obama. Eleanor saw this doll at Costco and said that it was an Obama Baby. Eleanor isn't into dolls all that much, but she loves her Obama Baby.

Eleanor and Katelyn

martin luther king day..

John decided to spend his holiday up on the slopes with Blake today, so Eleanor and I are going to have our own little vacation. This morning while I was wasting time of facebook, I let Eleanor do a little painting (her new favorite daily activity). After about 30 minutes I heard her yelling for me that she was done. I walk in to find this lovely face painting! At first I was upset at her because she just got in trouble yesterday for painting on her legs. After I gave her a little talking to you says, "mom, I'm Mikey Mouse, see my nose". How could I be mad at that??




After we scrubbed the Mickey Mouse nose clean, we met up with Jay and Zack to get some photo booth photos. This is something I try to do once a month and I wanted to make sure I got January's done. Eleanor LOVES Zack and they both had a good time getting their photos taken together.
After the photo booth we met up with Lana, Quinn, Lilly, Grandpa and Grandma Martin at Chucky Cheese. This was both mine and Eleanor's first visit to Chucky Cheese. Eleanor had a great time riding the rides and playing with her cousins. While the kids played, Jay and I went and got some lunch at Cafe Rio. We then headed over to the theater to catch Madagascar 2, but it was sold out so we headed over to the Bean Museum. Of course Eleanor loved it. She got to pet a snake, turtle and an iguana. All the kids enjoyed seeing the animals and just being with each other. Eleanor is so social and LOVES being with all her cousins. She feel asleep right when we left Jay's house and I'm hoping she stays that way for at least another hour. John had a great time skiing and is now cleaning out the garage. I should go help, but I'm going to go watch the first episode of United States of Tara. I've been anxiously waiting for this snow and can't wait to enjoy it!!!!!

humane society embarrassment......

I have a pretty funny story about Eleanor that happened today. We were in the waiting room at the humane society waiting for Bear to get his shots. There were at least 15 other people in there with their dogs. A little chihuahua comes up to Bear and starts sniffing him and Eleanor yells out loud, "That dog is licking Bear's wiener!" I seriously about died! I quickly told her not to say that and not 20 seconds later another dog is sniffing Bear and she says it again. This happened at least 5 times! I swear, that girl doesn't miss a thing!! humane society

for the cookie monster...

Last night Eleanor and I made cookies for the Cookie Monster. Ever since Halloween, Eleanor believes that John works with the cookie monster. Last week John's co-work, Blake and his wife came over and Blake was wearing the Bert costume that Eleanor calls the Cookie Monster. Eleanor didn't care too much for the mask, but she sure enjoyed the Cookie Monster, aka Blake. She sat on his lap most the night and had him read to her and play hide and seek with him. At one point when she was sitting on his lap she told him, "I like your face"! Anyway, it was really cute and Eleanor is smitten with Blake the Cookie Monster. So, we made him cookies and she even drew him a picture. John made sure to get a photo of us in our cute Christmas gifts from Sara!

No doubt she has John's smile!

It's nearly impossible to get her to give a normal smile!


Eating what she calls a "surprise" (anything off the beater)

sledding

This is a little out of order, but I'm trying to catch up!

On New Years day we went sledding with Scott and Zack. We took Eleanor sledding last year and she quite enjoyed it, so I thought for sure she'd like it this year. Boy was I WRONG! John and I both took her down once and she did not enjoy either ride! On the way up the hill I thought it would be more fun for her if I pulled her, but she screamed all the way up! I'm hoping it was just the cold weather and we can give it another try on a warmer day. I just can't imagine a kid not liking sledding!! Plus, John bought us a really cool vintage Radio Flyer sled this year and I can't wait to try it out.

Eleanor's Dress

Eleanor has discovered my t-shirts and loves to wear them as dresses. I remember doing the same thing when I was younger. She can't understand why I won't let her leave the house in this 'beautiful dress'!

Nothing like a nose job...

John and I have been married 4.7 years and together we have shared 4 surgeries, all of which John was kind enough to have. The first three were on his knee and now he has moved on to his nose. (I am really hoping we don't have a second and third follow on his nose). He went in yesterday to have his deviated septum straighten, turbinates reduced and some cleaning out of the sinus cavity. Ouch!!

Technically the surgery went great, but it was a long day! John was supposed to check in at 10 and be in surgery by 11, but his Dr. had an emergency which pushed John's surgery back 3.5 hours. The plan was to have Grandma Martin meet us at the hospital and take Eleanor over to Lana and John's house, but with the delay I decided to join them. Beats sitting in waiting room watching soap operas all day!

John and Lana's house was a huge hit! The kids played, ran and screamed all afternoon. When it came time to go back to the hospital, Eleanor was pretty upset. She kept saying she didn't want to leave. (Gosh, what happened to the days when your little one WANTS you??)

We got back to the hospital just in time to talk with Dr. Gibb. He said the surgery went great and showed me some really nasty photos. John had kind of a hard time coming out of the anaesthesia. His oxygen levels always drop which requires him to get oxygen for a bit. He also had a horrible headache which I'm sure was caused by all the packing and the straws up his nose! After a few hours in recovery we were finally able to head home. We were a little anxious because there was supposed to be a storm hitting around 4 and we didn't get out until 5. I was really dreading the drive from Payson to home with John in pain and a newly-potty-trained 2 year old! Lucky for us the storm wasn't that bad and we made it home safely!

Today, we had to go down to Payson again to get the packing and straws removed. I'm sure John would tell you it was NOT pleasant!! I was in the room but could not watch as the Dr. removed all the packing. I'm not sure why, but when I'm around people who are in pain I get so sick to my stomach and I go completely white!

We were just planning on taking Eleanor with us, but when we told her we were going back to the Dr. she insisted on going to Quinn's house. So we called Lana and Eleanor got to play with her cousins again for a few hours. She fell asleep on the way home and first thing when she woke up from her nap she yelled, "Quinn, where are you? It's me Eleanor". Good thing we get to see him again this week.

Right now it's 3:30 am and John's sleeping and I'm so GLAD to report, he is NOT snoring!! I'm starting to think this surgery was worth it.....

New Years Day

Here's to kicking off the New Year...