Out with the old

We have a new more updated blog!

nkesfamily.blogspot.com

Date Night(S)

We are so excited that Elle is old enough to start playing with other kids! She is still a little behind in age...but I think she is doing great keeping up with the " big girls". My friend Samantha started a little date night operation, so Nick and I are able to go out 3 Fridays out of the month. At first I didn't know if I would be okay leaving Elle every Friday...but after the 2nd time....MAMA is on board! :) Elle LOVES playing with these girls!

( Elle talking to Helen Ann)

( Walking around Manito Rose Gardens)
( L-R Helen Ann, Elle, Indie and Scarlet)

Girls Night

A few weeks ago I had some girls over. It was really fun. WAY too much yummy food...and Aunt Susie's DELICIOUS punch!

Back in Spokane

After a fun summer in Arizona...we are FINALLY back in Spokane! Nick started school Monday and is loving his classes and professors. Elle and I fell right back into the swing of things....no daddy all day...just mommy. I was worried she would get sick of me...but that hasn't happened yet :)

We are busy going to parks, running errands and enjoying the beautiful golf course we live on!

Elle is growing up and maturing so fast. I would say it would be nice if she could slow down...but I would be lying! I love that she is learning new things every single day. It is absolutely fascinating to watch. Here are some Elle updates!

*Elle says all kinds of words now. Her newest and most used is " UP"

* She pretty much understands everything we ask her to do. She knows how to get her own shoes, throw her diaper away, pick up her toys and open and close things when asked. ( this is becoming a favorite of mine)

* This girl can take a FALL! She is banging up her knees pretty good these days...but after she falls...she just gets right back up as if nothing happened. Well....if NICK is around she is all drama...but for the most part, she can take a good fall

* Her last check up was great! She is 30 inches and 20.5 pounds. Healthy girl!

*She eats about anything...just in small bites. She is loving peaches right now.

* She can give regular kisses ( tongue out), Eskimo kisses, and butterfly kisses

That is just a start of all the amazing things she is doing!

I think I am going to start blogging again. It is nice to see a history on here and look back at the years! I will post more pictures as they come!

BIG NEWS!!!!!

Nick was able to get an internship!!! He is going to be an intern at the Defense Attorneys Office in......................are you ready for this...............TUCSON.

Nick is really excited about this amazing opportunity. I had a hard time swallowing the idea....knowing I would be giving up 80 degree warm summer days for a 110 blazing hot mess...but things have literally fallen into place...one thing right after the other. It has been amazing to see Heavenly Fathers hand in our life and I truly know that we are supposed to be in Tucson this summer. So we are headed to HOT weather, tan baby bums ( I am really excited about that), getting to celebrate Elle's birthday with loads of family, golfing with the boys ( Larry, Kenny, Ben, John and Scott), amazing sunsets, close to GRANDMA and GRANDPA...both sides, and most importantly we are all 3 able to make this journey together!!!!

March

I have really been enjoying this month in Spokane! The weather is starting to get really nice...daylight savings was today so we have a longer day in the sunlight...it is great! We took a walk today on our little path. We met Nick at the law school ( the guy needed a break from studying!), and walked to riverfront. I think every time we have been there all we can say is " We can't wait until Elle can feed the ducks!" But then I quickly remind myself how FAST she is growing up and how much I just want her to stay itty bitty! She is learning and growing at a very quick speed! She is standing alone for a few seconds at a time....trying to eat EVERYTHING mommy and daddy do....her favorites are tortollini pasta and tapioca pudding (still ). She has learned how to turn the DVD player on, and is still obsessed with Horton Hears a Who. Nick just got done with spring break...which for the most part he was SICK! Poor guy...he hasn't been that sick since I first found out I was pregnant.

We are loving life right now and feel so blessed everyday!

Friends

Elle has a little friend named Charles. Charles is a lot of fun and let's Elle play with his boy toys!

First Bubble Bath

Elle had her first bubble bath...and she LOVED it! She splashed with a lot more enthusiasm it seemed...:)

Licorice

Another sweet treat we have let Elle have the past two days is RED LICORICE! We just let her suck all the red vine goodness out and then take it away. Or....tonight was different. She chomped off a chunk of it with her ONE tooth....we didn't recover the whole thing. :)

This girl really loves her sugar. Another recent favorite is Tapioca Pudding. She eats it and then licks her lips for about 20 minutes after. TOO CUTE!

Weekend & Super Bowl party

( Elle LOVED our friend Reecie...she had Elle ROLLING with laughter!)

Yes...I did ask Nick " so who won the Superbowl?" on the way home! I think it was because between having good conversations with friends....I was busy trying to keep track of ELLE! We had fun and she got LOTS of sweets to try....she LOVES frosting! :)

I was able to go do a session at the Spokane Valley Temple. It was amazing. I love going to the temple and feeling so peaceful when I leave!

Elle Bell

As you can see by these pictures.....we have a lot of fun with Elle! The past week or so we have just been taking it easy. Elle has been sick with a cold...I am still waiting for the runny nose to stop...but she is doing a lot better! She is LOVING being in things she normally is not allowed to be....our bed, the couch. I love that picture of her stretched out on the couch! She LOVES to crawl around and knee jump on the pillows! Bath time is getting WET! She is really loving to sit up on her own and graze around the tub. She loves splashing and having water in her face.

Just some fun pictures for you all!

Lately...

( Elle loves to be read to....she also likes to read by herself too)

( Elle LOVES her daddy)
( Elle LOVES to organize our DVD collection...)

I am back blogging...I took a time out for awhile!

Today is Elle's 7 month birthday! I cannot believe she is 7 months old. It amazes me how fast she is learning and growing each day. I am just in love with her and so is Nick! She keeps things very entertaining around here.

Fun Elle facts:

**Elle is CRAWLING

** Elle can sit up by herself...and get to a sitting up position from her tummy and back

** likes to say " BaBa" and "DaDa"

** LOVES sweet potatoes,pears,squash,apples and bananas

** HATES peas and green beans

** Can wave BYE BYE

** When I sing " shake shake shake...shake shake shake..." she shakes her hands with me!

And last but not least....she is FULLY...100% BOTTLE FED!!!! My life is just wonderful now :)

Breastfeeding was amazing and I am so grateful I could do it for as long as I did...but it was time for Elle and myself to move on and become a little more independent!

I cannot say enough how much pure joy she brings into our home. We are absolutely smitten by Elle.

Nick is doing amazing in school....he is loving the law and understanding how it all works. He always comes home with a lot to say about his day and classes...and I LOVE hearing about it.

I am great too! Working on my weight is the main focus on my life. One day at a time is what I keep telling myself. I LOVE being a stay at home mommy...it is the best thing I have ever done in my whole life!

SANTA

( our Black Friday picture....Happy girl)

GOOD NEWS....Elle LOVES Santa!

Nick and I took her to see him last Tuesday and it was a riot. She got all gussied up for the big guy...hat and all! She did as we thought she would....she would not take her eyes off of him. She is so much like Nick, checking things out before diving in. She must have looked at him ( without blinking I might add) for at least a minute. She then put her death grip onto his jacket...a mere 1/2 inch away from his REAL beard! I didn't even get a real Elle smile....she was so concentrated.

I took her again today...Black Friday....and she did a little better as far as relaxing with the old man. She even let out a giggle...which was the cutest thing ever! I really want her to learn to love Santa and not be afraid of him...so far it is going GREAT!

( checking him out)

( ALMOST got the beard!)

The CAVE

So, our new favorite thing for Elle is a Cozy Cover aka....THE CAVE! They are the best invention for cold places for babies. Putting a big jacket on her is so uncomfortable for her to sit in her car seat....so this is a GREAT alternative. And little did we know, it is a magical cozy cover. Whenever Elle is put completely in the cave, she falls asleep. It is pretty funny, she knows how to unzip it and punch her hand out of the top....our smart child! But yes, the cave is awesome!

( Now you see her......)

( Now you DON'T!)

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Well we have had an awesome past two days! We were invited to our friend's the Walker's home for Thanksgiving dinner and it was so fun! Great food, great company and a gorgeous house to be in with the snow falling outside! Thank you Walkers!

The best part of Thanksgiving was having Nick be with us all day! No distractions, no studying....the perfect day! He made his amazing apple pie...one for the Walkers house....one for only US! :) That puppy was gone this morning! I was able to ichat with my family in AZ.....such a GREAT blessing for me to have a Mac computer. I really missed them!!!

BLACK FRIDAY....I decided to be daring and drive in the snow for the very first time ( I have literally been holed up inside for a week in fear of driving in the snow). I got some new snow boots which were desperately needed. What a difference it makes! Don't ask me why my first adventure out driving in the snow was on the busiest shopping day of the year....but it was and it went GREAT! I had so much fun walking around the mall with Elle. Looking at the lights....seeing SANTA again. Even though we didn't buy anything....it was fun to feel the energy of others and the excitement in the air of the Holidays! We went to the firework show in Coeur D'Alene,Idaho! It was amazing. I would rate it my number two favorite firework show...next to Disneyland! Elle was wide eyed looking at the lights....pretty neat to see! We are having a blast!

( light display over the lake)

( Nick and Elle by Santa)
( Mommy and mini)
( the only pic of Elle on Thanksgiving)

Busy!

We have been pretty busy here lately! Nick is constantly on the go and enjoying his time spent at his second home...aka...the library! We miss him, but know this will be worth it in 3 years when he is DONE! One semester ALMOST down!

I am staying busy with my little energy bunny! She is constantly on the go! Here are some fun facts about our little Elle!!!

- Elle's best friend these days is Stella, her pink elephant that sings twinkle twinkle little star

- Elle rolls over!!!! She would roll around the whole room if we let her!

-Elle started eating rice cereal. She does pretty well....one more month until solids!

-Elle sleeps through the night. She wakes up for a feeding at 5, then sleeps again until 7:30... WONDERFUL!

- Elle laughs so hard she starts to yell. She can't contain her happiness in that little body! It is hysterical to say the least. Nick and I have toooo much fun with her!

- Elle will laugh at ANYTHING I do. I was telling her that the Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol looked like a cute movie to watch....well she thought that was the funniest thing in the world. She is definitely my daughter...laughing at things that just are not that funny! :)

- Elle will NOT laugh at Nick. We don't know why....he can do the exact same thing I am doing and she won't even flinch. I really think she just soaks him in. She has started crying when he walks out the door....breaks my little heart!

- Elle loves movies. Particularly Baby Einstein and Charlie Brown!

We are getting her weighed in a couple weeks! The last time she was 13.9 lbs.

We are really enjoying Spokane. We had our first snow the other day and it was so refreshing. It is nice to walk outside and take a deep breath and feel clean air!!! We are excited to have our first Thanksgiving with Elle!!!

For you Scott

My brother informed me tonight that he " blog stalks" my blog....searching for pictures of Elle. Here ya go brother!

We have been busy as always. Nick just took his first mid-term and feels pretty good about it...we joined the YMCA and I left Elle for the very first time....I was a wreck the whole time....she of course fell asleep in a strangers arms...lol Good girl! We have been having some trouble with her having....what are they called again...oh yeah....temper tantrums! :) How are you supposed to lay down the law with a child as cute as Elle....especially since she will be crying...stop mid scream...and give a big smile! We love her!




Playing with my friends.....


My first day at YMCA kids care...............
Giving daddy love before he leaves for school...
My pretty Sunday dress!