Monkeying Around

Christmas with the family

The look on Christine's face says it all...thanks Great Grandma for the money!

Maezie and Ellyson's 1st Christmas!

She couldn't wait to see what was inside!

Our Little Angels!

Team-Switzer celebrate a White Christmas

Snow Day

Carter had a blast in the snow....Ellyson was bummed out that she couldn't go out there!

Dr. Carter

Unfortunately my mom has been very sick this week (please keep her in your prayers, Kidney infection they think) so I have made several trips to the doctors office. Last Friday Carter was with me and he was totally adorable as we waited. The nurse gave him all sorts of neat "doctor supplies" to keep him busy and boy did they ever. Here is a little glimps of my check-up from Dr. Carter

Carter: "What seems to be the problem with you?"
Mom: "Well I can't stop laughing."
Carter: "Ok, let me check your heart." (then he also checked my mouth and arm, etc...)

Next my condition was
Mom: "My hair is turning purple"
and then it was
Mom: "My foot is too wiggly"

After each symptom description he had to put on his gloves and check my mouth, then heart, then head, then foot. He was too cute as he asked me questions in a deep sounding voice (I guess that is what he thinks doctors sound like).

Diagnose: A bad case of the SILLY

My sweet new niece

Just Do It - Camo Style

Skyler (my niece) got Ellyson this darling Nike outfit...what a little cutie! Today both Carter and Elly were chilling in their camo outfits.

Church Christmas Party

Last night us girls went to a ladies Christmas party. It was so much fun. It was a black & white affair...look how cute we are!

Maezie Joy Goodman

Welcome Maezie!

She arrived on December 2, 2008 at 10:22pm - weighing in at 8lbs. 15oz and 20.5 inches long. Mandi had a c-section because Maezie was a little big and not moving out too quickly, but she is a healthy little girl and after giving mom a very long day they are both doing well! Josh was a great support for Mandi and beamed from ear to ear when he got to hold his new precious little girl. We are all very impressed with her beautiful blond hair, it's almost long enough for piggy tales! The proud daddy is the only one in these pictures cause mom was still in the O.R. I will post more pictures as we get them!

He finally did it!

Carter got a bike last year for Christmas. He was sooo excited, but also afraid to do it on his own (well, actually I think that he was a bit lazy and just wanted a push from daddy). Just last week he finally got and is riding on his own now. NEXT STEP: take the training wheels off. Go, Carter go!

Chocolate is my lover!

This picture says it all.

Please note: YES I do want to be pregnant again some day and YES I do love my husband more than chocolate!!

Playing is hard work

This afternoon Carter was playing in the dining room after lunch. A few minutes had passed I noticed that he got quiet. I called for him and no answer so I assumed that he went downstairs to play. When I went to check on him I found him passed out snoozing on the floor. I have always appreciated the wonderful napper that he is!

2 Months Old!

Wow, is she getting big or what! This is a goofy picture of her taken last week during our visit to see Great Gma and Gpa Goodman in Eugene, Oregon. We had a blast and Ellyson did very well in the car. We stayed a night at my sisters, 2 nights with my grandparents and then wrapped up our little trip with a visit with my best friend Jenny in Vancouver. Just Ellyson and I went, we left the boys at home. - I anticipate many more girls road trips in the future!

Pretty Party Girl!

Yesterday we got all dressed up for a baby shower for Aunt Mandi and Uncle Josh. Ellyson's new cousin will be here sometime around December 4th! We are so excited to have 2 precious little girls that can grow up together. Ellyson looked so cute in her pretty pink party dress - she even had on tights and shoes, what a big girl!

How do you spot a new mom?

You can spot a new mom by the callous on her hand from carrying the infant car seat. I noticed a few weeks ago a rough spot on the palm of my hand and couldn't figure out what it was from. I finally realized that it was from lugging around Elly in her car seat. She only weighs about 10 pounds now, but that seat is a booger to carry to and fro! Can't wait until she starts walking...but then we will have a whole new set of challenges! Ahhh, parenthood!

Happy Halloween!

Chewing on her cud

Many times throughout the day I get the privilege of nursing my precious little girl. From my position I get a great view of her tiny face and simply gaze at her beauty. I often see her lying still with her eyes shut and chewing her little mouth like a cow chews on its cud....it is strange and I am not quit sure what she is doing. I have see other babies doing this too. Maybe she is sucking on her tongue or gnawing on her lips. Whatever it is, she looks too cute and love her the same!

PUMPKIN HEAD

Family Time

We traveled to my sisters last weekend to visit with family, it was so nice to get out of Puyallup! Elly did well, she slept the entire 2 1/2 hour drive - Praise the Lord! My Grandparents (dad's parents) got to meet great grandchild #14 for the first time! We ate, played and even went to my nephew Cody's football game - Go Jets!
Pictured is Ellyson with Great Grandma and Carter with his best friend and cousin Cody!

1 month and growing

Ellyson turned 1 month old this week! It has been a long month getting adjusted to life as a new mom. Most of our days consist of eating, crying and eating. Nursing babies eat ALL of the time, who knew? No wonder why she has gained 2 lbs since birth (way to go Elly!)She is having a hard time staying asleep, but we are working on that with the help of a few tips from the doctor.

This weekend we are heading to my sisters house in Washougal for a baby shower and to meet her great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and our favorite friends! I am looking forward to seeing everyone, but not so excited to be out of our comfort zone...hopefully we do okay.

Dance, Dance, Dance

Today Carter's preschool class went to a dance studio for a field trip. I would like to say that he had a blast, but he got really cranky and tired and did not participate most of the time. Well, I guess that he is not going to win us a trophy on Dancing with the Stars in 20 years!

Go Seahawks!

Off to Church

On Saturday night Ellyson got to go to church for the first time. Carter thought that she would go to class and learn about Jesus too...but I had to let him know that she was just going to hang out with mommy in her "class". It was nice to not only get out of the house for a little while, but to introduce Elly to all of our friends at church. I can't wait it see her grow in friendships and in the Lord as she grows up surrounded by all the fabulous people at P4square!! Check out our church.... www.p4square.com

Bath Time!

I love baths, hot tubs, hot showers, etc... I guess that Ellyson isn't really into them yet.
Give her a few years and I won't be able to pull the plug, she will want to soak all night in the tub!

Moles for Sale

Today Carter said that he was planting...however, it was in the dirt pushed up from a mole, so I guess that with a few sunny days and some water we are going to have several moles. Anybody want some?

Look Mom, I Have Feet!

What's Up Doc

On Thursday Ellyson had her first visit to the doctor. Dr. Grubb is her pediatrician, he is married to Dr. Grubb my OB/GYN... we feel very comfortable with both of them.
He said that eveything looked good - she dropped another oz. so now she is a healthy 6.11 lbs.

Where's the Milk?

Remember those old Wendy's commercials where the little old lady asked "where's the beef? Today I have been asking "WHERE"S THE MILK?" Ugh.......

Daddy's Little Girl

Rodney and his little Elly are totally bonding. He came home from work today and just wanted to cuddle his precious little girl. I had put this onesie on her to remind everyone that she truly is "Daddy's Girl"! He is such a good dad, last night he helped me get her to sleep twice when I was so tired and needed backup - thank you daddy!

How did it go?

This seems to be the question of the day. So, here is the whole story in a nutshell...
On Friday night around 10:30pm I thought that my water broke, so I called the hospital. Since we weren't sure if it really did (3 calls later) I rested until 4:30 and woke up and still felt that I needed to be checked and the nurse agreed. So we headed on in around 5:30am on Saturday morning. I have a bacteria that lives in my body called group b strep so I had to be admitted as soon as I thought that my water broke so I could be given antibiotics to prevent the spread of the bacteria to Elly. So, I "hung out" until labor and contractions started around 2:30...still no action...Pitocin started at 4:00 to help speed up labor and give it a kick...finally needed some drugs around 8:00pm (ouch, the doctor couldn't get the epidural in - 5 tries later, ugh!) and then I just laid there throughout the whole night waiting and waiting and waiting for Ellyson to move down so that I finally meet her and then after around 2 hours of active labor and pushing...I got to meet her.

Elly and I both are doing VERY well and had zero problems so we got to come home today!!

WELCOME ELLYSON!!

Ellyson Ann Switzer

September 14, 2008 6:15am
7lbs. 2oz. 19inches

Workin' at the Carwash

Carter and Daddy making our car look clean! Thanks guys!

TOMATOES!

I Love Tomatoes! This is the 3rd year that I have planted and loved on my own tomato garden. For mother's day I asked for plants and special pots for my precious plants...I planted a roma, grape, sweet 100 and big beef. It was a slow summer, but by August each plant had lots of fruit and just then we just waited for the sun to make them red (the roma is still green, it was slow to produce). I am so impressed with myself, the plants are full,carefully loved for and the produce taste awesome! I am now a self proclaimed tomato gardener!