Painting Mother's Day

My mom has wanted to repaint the kitchen for a long time, and since Josh just acquired 30 new clients and would be working even more than usual, Ellie and I decided to go to Rupert and help my mom out, spend time with Grandma Montgomery, and be there for my friend Ashley's baby shower. 

 

 The purple splotches are no more! I actually loved the purple, but it is nice to have a change and my mom loves the fresh new look.

 We didn't just do the kitchen though, since we had a few more days, we also did the living room, entry, and hallway a different color.

 Ellie was a champ while we painted. She took great naps and then was basically content to play with the thousand toys that surrounded her.

 When that didn't work, we brought out the pot lids and she banged and clanged and was happy for a little bit longer. Or when grandpa was home from work she played with him.

 

We went to Grandma Montgomery's a few times as well.

 This is my friend Ashley's niece! Ellie and Sierra look a lot a like-specifically in the hair department! They played ok together until Ellie stole Sierra's book and Sierra stole it back and then started hitting her with it. ELlie doesn't know how to play well with others yet!

A few of my friends! It was fun to see them and celebrate Ashley's baby coming! Finally a boy to add to the two girls we have now! 

On the way to church on Mother's day. 

 visiting with Grandma after church0-ellie soaked her clothes, that's why she''s nakey.

Talking to Elder Kevin! HE comes home so soon! August 12th!

 THis was my first official Mother's day (if you don't count last year with my baby in my belly..) And I am so grateful for this little babe who made me a mother. It has been the hardest, most tiring, challenging, most rewarding and best thing that has ever happened to me. I absolutely love being a mother. This is what I was made to do and to be. I love everything about it, yes, even sometimes getting pooped on and my hair pulled every day. I am so grateful for the blessing of Motherhood and I will never take it for granted. Ellie is already very independent, stubborn, funny, and oh so sweet and loving. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't already nervous for when she's a teenager, but I am so excited to see her learn and grow. She has already discovered so many new things- it seems like its something new everyday! And I love that I am able to watch her learn new things. Hooray for being a mom!

I'm glad that I got to spend the week with my mom and celebrate Mother's day with her. She lives for her kids and I am so glad that I am one of them! She's the best mom that I could ever ask for and I am grateful that she is mine!

Grandpa Montgomery

My sweet Grandpa Montgomery passed away the end of February. His funeral was the first part of March. Ellie and I went a few days early to help out and spend some time with my Grandma and mom and dad. Unfortunately I wasn't much help the day before the funeral as I was sick with the flu! I haven't thrown up since 7th grade guys! Even when I was pregnant, I did everything i could not to throw up and i didn't. 11 years of not throwing up just went down the drain... However, it was nice that my parents were there and they took care of Ellie while I laid around miserable. 

Anyway! My grandparents are basically the cutest couple in the world. When they got married both of their watches stopped and they claimed that their love made time stand still. Whenever one of them were sick or feeling bad, the other would sing I love you a bushel and a peck. I can't ever remember a time when they weren't waiting on each other or helping each other or holding each others hands. They are just too cute! I am so glad I was able to grow up just a mile from their house and run over there to swim, play, and explore with my cousins.We would go to birthday dinner with them every year for our birthdays and then shopping at Christmas time. It was always so fun to be with them! They helped to make my childhood so awesome! 

Here's some pictures of ELlie enjoying her time with her fabulous grandparents

 Going for walks outside with Dad and the dog Max

 Baking cookies with grandma

 First time on a swing with grandpa!

 Sleeping like an angel

 Trying out the Jurgy Jumper!

 Grandpa trying to teach her how to crawl

 passed out after jumping away!

 and sleeping again. this time grandpa was too

 Listening to Grandpa play his guitar.

 SO focused on what he was doing!

Watching my Dad play songs on his guitar to her was so sweet. My dad is silly and makes up crazy words and songs alllll the time. He sang and played his guitar for us when we were little. (Little red riding hooood you sure are lookin' gooood you're everything that a big bad wolfie would want.. ou ou ouoooooooo! That was one of my favorites :) )

 the day of the funeral was absolutely gorgeous. There couldn't have been better weather.

 It was fun to see all my cousins and hear more about my Grandpa. He was one tough guy!

In the past 6 months, both of my grandpas died. One was finally reunited with his wife and the other left his behind. While I was sad at both of their funerals, I was also happy. Happy because they are now free of the pains and troubles their old bodies were causing them Both were farmers, both were hard workers, both loved their families, and both loved the Lord. I am so grateful for their examples and the way they lead their families. And I am happy because I KNOW that I will see them again.I cannot imagine not knowing that truth, that families are forever! I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who's plan for us is centered in families. And for Jesus Christ, who died to make it possible for us to live with ours forever.

9 months in, 9 months out!

I honestly can't believe that I have a nine month old! These past 9 months have flown by! Being Ellie's mom is seriously the best. I laugh every single day. She is the chunkiest cutest baby in the world! She eats like a champ and sleeps even better. Love my Ellie Girl! 

Eight {month} Ellie

 Ellie is seriously so fun these days! She laughs easily and her happy times are more often and she's hardly sad at all. Unless she's hungry of course!

 She's constantly moving from one thing to the next and totally wiggly wiggly. She can't crawl yet, but she'll turn herself in a circle and try to stand up on everything she can get her hands on!

 She started to sleep on her tummy during her naps and at night. She won't sleep any other way now. She also learned how to sit up by herself this month.

 One morning I was busy doing something and Ellie was unusually quiet. She's constantly babbling or getting into something so I knew something was wrong. I found her sucking on a Mike N Ike that Josh or I dropped. She just smiled up at me innocently and spit it out into my hand when I asked her what she was doing. It was hilarious and proves she loves candy just as much as her parents do!

 She absolutely loves to eat and now that we're giving her food she can feed herself, she loves eating even more! Her favorite food is Green Beans!?! can you believe it? She'll take green beans over pears or peaches any day.

 Ellie Loves summer time as you can tell... She's just closing her eyes and taking it all in. haha We love to play outside or sit and read together on a blanket.

 Ellie LoRene with Grandma LoRene.

Two ellies are better than one!

It is nearly impossible to have a bad day with this babe around! She constantly has me laughing and smiling. I Love that I get to stay home with her alll day long and watch her learn and grow. I love 8 month old Ellie!