Elara is 8 Months.

I wish I would have written more about Elara at 7 months, but I didn't. Her 7th month was so hard. Poor Elara cried so much. She stopped eating solids unless she could hold it. It got to the point where we put the food in a syringe and squirted food in her mouth. She still doesn't like eating from a spoon very much. Little girl was on tylenol every day and still cried. Between teething (which still hasn't come in yet) and reflux she was miserable. I'm happy to report that this last month the girl is getting better. She is gaining weight and she is on reflux medicine. She is getting longer stretches of sleeping again at night and she is SO much happier. It is night and day difference. It broke my heart seeing her crying and not being able to help her. It made for a lot of long nights. Her happy smiling face brings me so much joy. 

Things to remember about Elara at 8 months.

-She has her two bottom teeth.

-She is on medicine for reflux that gives her horrible diarrhea.

-She gets up and rocks on all fours and throws herself forward. This makes her able to get around everywhere. Ok. Officially I think this is called crawling, but it's not 100% perfected, but it gets her where she needs to go.

-She can sit up for long periods of time. (If she wants to, if not she wants nothing to do with sitting up.)

-Elara likes to feed herself. Crackers, yogurt melts, veggie puffs, and anything on the floor.

-Since teething she has stopped liking to eat with a spoon. 

-Can make it with only getting up once on a good night, but it can be two or three times still.

-Loves her big brother and sister.

-Loves the big bath tub.

-Loves to sit in a high chair to eat.

-Likes being around people, she doesn't like to be by herself.

-Takes 2 naps a day.

We love you Elara Jane!

Best Friends and Summer Time Fun

Kael loves his sisters so much. He is always trying to get me to take pictures of him hugging them. He always wants to help in any way he can and to be their best friend. 

Mother's Day

Derek and the kids always spoil me. Derek got me new pants and shorts for the summer. (It's been about 6 or 7 years and they all have holes in the knees) And of course he surprised me with these beauties. He knows daisies are my favorite and purple and white are my favorite colors. He has the best memory and spoils me rotten! We celebrated on Saturday so we could go out to eat. It stinks that Mother's Day and Father's Day are on Sunday's. Derek knows me too well and it was the absolute best being able to spend this time with just Derek and the kids before he started his super hard rotation. Now, how to top his awesomeness for Father's Day?!!!

Date Night in St. George

Derek stinking got me addicted to sushi rolls. We won a date from McArther Jewlers. It was awesome! We got movie tickets and dinner at Benja's. Food was AMAZING. So, glad we were able to go and spend time with my favorite person.

Grandma and Grandpa's April 2013

Derek was able to do his family medicine rotation in St. George April 16 - May 8. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time at Grandma and Grandpa Heaton's house in Hurricane. This was a much needed break from the cycle for us and Grandma and Grandpa spoiled us all rotten. I love that we were able to spend this precious time with them before we have to move farther away in about a year. Every moment is special to us all and this trip was just that, special! Thank you so much Mom and Dad for putting up with us for 3 1/2 weeks! We loved being with you! THANK YOU!

 We spent a lot of time outside working in the garden and helping Grandpa.

 Elara loved all the new toys to roll around and grab. She was scooting around by the time we left.

 Kael never left Grandpa's side while he was home. 

 Kael sure loves his sisters.

 Grandma did a lot of rocking this little girl. She was really struggling with teething and reflux issues. When we got her home we got her to the doctor and on medicine and she seems to be doing so much better. Month 7 was really hard on Elara and ME! Thank goodness we had Grandma to help out.

 The weather was amazing, so we had to enjoy every moment of it and popsicles were part of our enjoyment. 

 Grandma and Grandpa spoiled Kael. They found out he LOVES baseball. Probably an understatement if you ask me. Every night he would beg for someone to play baseball with him. 

Kael and Eden are seriously best friends. They hug a lot lately, especially after fighting.

 We were able to visit with my high school friend Ashley "Gafa" Higbee. Her twin girls are just older than Eden and the 4 kiddos sure had fun playing together. It's fun seeing our kids play now that we are older and it is always fun to catch up with good friends! Just wish we lived a little closer.

Eden, Makenzie, Elara, Kael, and Cheralyn.

 Grandma got a slip n slide while we were there and the kids had a blast splashing around.

 Elara loved the freedom to roam around in her walker outside. She loves being outside in the fresh air. She is so ready to crawl away and do her thing.

 We had lots of movie nights too. Derek and I got to go on a TON of dates. Every other night we'd try to go on a walk or grab a drink at the store, and even got to go on several dinner dates and a movie date. It was amazing having so much time to Derek by myself and the kids had a blast. Having a baby sitter basically all the time was amazing. I'm certain we took advantage of my parents just a little too much, but I think we all had a blast.

 I finally got to try out the Hurricane splash pad. The kids loved it, and I wish we had one close to us up here in Salt Lake.

What happens when Kael gets the camera.

 We tried to do school activities while we were there. Grandma got paint papers and several other activities that the kids loved! I think they painted a picture at least every other day while there. They loved it and so did I! Eden's on the left and Kael's on the right.

 I loved sending the kids to the backyard stress free and not having to be out there 24/7. I loved being able to just spy on them. I seriously can't wait for a gated back yard some day... Oh someday...

 Grandpa took Derek and Kael fishing on his boat. After 3 hours Kael caught his first fish. They introduced him to man hood by teaching him how to gut the fish. His poor friend lost his head and then we ate him for dinner that night. It was a tough learning experience, but Kael had a BLAST! Best boys trip yet for the kid.