Two New Cousins!!

For my half-birthday present, my sister, Ann, decided to have her twin boys! Sam has two new Ellison cousins, Cael Peter Manning and Whitaker Alan Manning. They were born 5 weeks early, but each weighed a little over 5 pounds, and are doing very well.

Annie & Travis

Whitaker Alan

Cael Peter

We can't wait to meet them this summer!!

Happy Valentine's Week!

What a fabulous week! It all started with my wonderful Valentine's surprise. My parents had been visiting us and Sam and I had a ticket to fly back to Utah with them for a week. Bill helped us get to their hotel and then the four of us headed the airport early Wednesday morning. We were so sad to leave Bill behind. I had bought my ticket months before Bill knew what his schedule would be like. We tried to find a last minute deal for him to come too, but didn't have any luck...or so I thought. Late Tuesday night, as I was madly packing, Bill was clicking around and found a good deal and bought it, but didn't tell me. After we were on our way to the airport, he ran back to our apartment, packed a bag and headed to the airport himself. He was on a different airline, and a half hour behind us, so we never saw him. He also had a layover in Phoenix, so he ended up arriving a few hours after us.

He arranged with our friend, Nate, to pick him up at the airport. I had invited some friends to come by to visit us that evening, so when Nate showed up at the door I wasn't surprised at all. Nate had just bought a car like my old Subaru Legacy, and he asked me if I wanted to take a spin. I was all for it, but what I didn't know was that it was all part of the greatest Valentine's surprise! Bill had been hiding behind the bushes and as soon as we drove away, he went into the house. Nate and I were gone for about 5 minutes and when I walked back into the house, there was Bill sitting in the family room. I couldn't believe it and let out quite a scream which then turned into tears.

It was so great to have Bill there with us. We had so much fun seeing so many friends and family...it was hard to leave!

Sam's friends, Kaden & Drew (with my friends, Kim & Sarah)

Drew, Kaden (holding Sam's hand) & Sam

Drew & Sam giving bones

Sarah, Ted, Drew, Sam, Bill & Me

My nephews, Luke & Seth, loving on Sam

Leah & Lauren with Sam

Luke, Rachel, Seth & Jonah with Sam

Grandpa Ellison with Sam

The week went by way too fast, but we had a great time. We loved seeing so many of our family and friends and catching up with everyone after being away for six months. Bill had to leave Tuesday morning, and Sam and I came home Wednesday. I was really worried about flying with Sam by myself, but he was an angel the whole way! It is nice to be back, but I can't wait for the next time we get to go back for a visit!

Samuel's Blessing and Visits From Family

What a special weekend it has been! We were spoiled with visits from my parents and Bill's brother James and his family. Bill gave Samuel a beautiful blessing and Samuel was such a calm little boy!

Our nieces and nephew, Hannah, Maddi and Jack, adoring Sam

My parents and me playing "ring around the Subway"

Sam with his Grandma Ellison

On Second Thought...

I'm beginning to realize that we probably didn't think things all the way through when we signed up for the smallest apartment available. I remember rationalizing that many people keep their newborn in their bedroom for the first several months and figured that since Sam would only be 5 1/2 months old by the time we moved out, it would be no problem to be in a studio. What we didn't consider were the hours of the day that Sam should be sleeping, but we want to be up and about, i.e. on the computer, cooking, washing dishes, watching T.V. or anything else that makes even a little noise.

He has become so much more observant and aware of us in the last few weeks, that if he knows we're up, he wants to be up too! It's really thrown off any attempts to get him on a regular schedule. He's smiling a ton now and even starting to laugh a little. It's so fun!

Sam went with me to my bookclub meeting the other night. He was one of 4 brand new babies in our ward. He's had a little bit of a cold the last few days, but he's still such a happy boy!