More Elloree

Elloree Grace Flippin

Our sweet baby girl arrived Tuesday, April 1st at 2:24 am. She weighed 7 lb 9 oz and is 20 inches long. We are so thankful to God for such a wonderful blessing. I am relishing every sweet newborn sound and smell as we get to know our daughter. Thanks to my dear friend, Emily, for taking such amazing pictures while we were still at the hospital! We are home now and getting used to having another family member!

Quick Update

Well, for those of you wondering, I'm STILL pregnant. My official due date was Saturday (the 29th), so I'm only 2 days over due right now. However, I see my doctor this afternoon, so we'll see if he'll get stuff progressing. I'll keep you posted!

White Easter

I'm dreaming of a white Easter. . . well, I really wasn't dreaming. There was about four inches of snow on the ground Easter morning. Did that stop me from putting my little boy in a shortail Sailor suit that was his daddy's 30+ years ago? No it did not. We put on the sailor suit. . . and sweater. . . and blanket. . . and ski jacket. And when all the accompanying layers came off, he was absolutely adorable and very springy.

C-love and Boonie
All the boys
C-Love and the Great Smile
Junior Grade

It's 4 am and I can't sleep.

Got a rash and a cough that's deep.

39 weeks along,

singing this little song.

I think that I am going crazy,

feel like watching a Martin Scorsese.

Anything to stop the itching...

and the coughing and the twitching.

Hope the rest of you are snug in bed

I think my rash is getting more red. . . 

Doggie Diarrhea

This is a snippet from my dear sister's life today. I had to share because her husband's response to this was amazing. Enjoy a good chuckle at their expense!

----------------------------------------------------
From: Evelyn
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:48 AM
To: Innocent Friend, Owner of Dogs
Subject: question

Morning!

Hope you're doing well… how are the pups?

Quick question –

Any suggestions for doggie diarrhea on a sisal rug?

Yes, it's more gross than you just imagined.

Sorry! Just thought I'd check with you before I throw it away…

It's REALLY bad…

-------------------------------------------------------

From: Innocent Friend, Owner of Dogs
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:55 AM
To: Evelyn
Subject: RE: question

Don't throw it away. I've had dog diarrhea ALL over my sisal before – in multiple locations… and barf. So trust me, you can save it. There will always be a very slight discoloration, but it's worth keeping it.

They way I did it was to get up as much of the "stuff" as I could without rubbing it down into the carpet. Sometimes I literally get a sharp knife and scrape it up – disgusting, right? Oh, the joys of dog ownership. Then I just start pouring tepid water all over the area – and you have to do this about a bazillion times. Pour water, then soak it up with paper towels. Pour water, then soak it up… and keep going. Let the water sit a little between each time. Then I mix a little shampoo or other non-colored, mild soap with water, get a toothbrush and go to town. Pour the soapy water over the spot, scrub with the toothbrush, pour some clean water, then soak it up. Do this about three or four times. After you've finished, do the clean water "pour and soak" trick several more times to get as much soap out of the rug as possible (always work on an area slightly larger than the actual stain). You'll probably end up with a slight water ring after all is said and done, but you should be able to salvage the rug.

----------------------------------------------------

On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 9:56 AM, Evelyn wrote to Floyd:

Hey Hun... See below
----------------------------------------------------

From: Floyd
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 10:55 AM
To: Evelyn
Subject: RE: Supposed Solution to Doggie Diarrhea

Actual Solution to Doggie Diarrhea on Sisal Rug:
1. Dig a whole in your yard
2. Fill the hole with dry timber then douse with gasoline
3. Strike a match and drop it in the hole
4. Heave soiled sisal rug on to the hole and kiss that shit rag goodbye.

-------------------------------------------------------

Bed Head!!

I'm not sure why it gives me such delight when I go into JG's room in the morning to find his hair like this. It just makes me laugh. I can't help myself. Poor baby. I don't usually comb it or try to tame it at all, I just think it is perfect right out of the bed. Some day, he will give me grief for this.

Reading with Grandad

A new favorite activity of JG's is reading with his Grandad. . .
But, he doesn't get to do it very often. Grandad and Mimi will be coming out again after Baby Girl arrives and JG will EAT up the attention, I'm sure!

What do these two things have in common?

Well, they represent my baby shower this week that my sweet coworkers threw for me. So, maybe it is a Colorado-exclusive to have a baby shower in a biker bar! To top it off, our waitress served us half the night with her own little 'papoose' 6-month old strapped to her chest in a baby carrier! (It fit the Indian/Navajo theme well.) I'm sure all you good Southern women would be appalled! :) Instead of a girly, typical baby shower location, we met in a bar. Instead of a cake, they got the edible fruit arrangement (yum, yum, yum)! They must know me so well to know that it is more important to get together and celebrate than to see how many pink sleepers I can acquire! We did have a good laugh together about the fact that we were actually having a baby shower in a biker bar! They also all pitched in to give us an REI gift card to use toward our double stroller. I work with the best group of people, and I appreciate them SOOOO much! Thanks guys!!

Got a Gusher!

My poor baby boy. I think he broke his nose last night. He totally takes after his mommy and is a complete CLUTZ!! I grew up with a permanent goose egg on my head. I think I finally stopped the goose eggs around. . . 14 or so. (mom can confirm.) Anyway. Last night, JG tripped and face planted on my kitchen floor. Didn't trip on anything but his own two feet. His nose started gushing immediately and bled for a solid five minutes. I had blood all over my face, shirt, jacket and Todd had blood all over his hands and arms. Needless to say, JG was also painted red. I called my dear friend this morning whose son has had a couple nose breaks. She told me that he first broke his nose at 18 months. There isn't really anything they can do about it right now and statistically, if a kid breaks his nose before the age of 3, he's likely to break it again at least once before 18 yrs. So, he doesn't look too crooked, but JG's nose does look a little different to me. We'll see how it fares over the coming days. He also busted both lips . . . .again. I've lost count of how many times he's busted those lips. Poor, poor baby boy. He may LOOK just like his daddy, but he came out with some of my genes after all.

Big Ol' Belly

36 weeks!!! Hurray! Only 4 more weeks to go. I've had a few people ask me for "bump" shots. Hah!! No bump about this belly! This baby girl is getting big and as active as ever. Check this link for my maternity shots:

http://juliettehill.blogspot.com/2008/03/maternity.html

Valentine's!!

On Valentine's Day, we went up to a friends house and the toddlers all 'helped' decorate cookies. JG's favorite part was rolling out the dough. And eating the finished product. I would love to claim credit for these pictures, but you'd know I was lying. My friend, Emily, is the genius behind the camera. Her creative gene spread all over her cookies too. They looked way better than mine did. Some people get all the talent! :)

The Sunday three

So, I've taken to going over to Erika and Bryan's house frequently on days Todd is working. Sundays are especially convenient since they live 3 minutes from church and JG is usually too whiney and fussy to handle lunch at home. But lunch with his cousins? He LOVES it, and consequently so do I. So, I have to just tell them THANK YOU!!!! Today it was really cute when B-ry had to leave. JG was wondering around in his onesie with dress shirt and no pants and when Bry put on his coat to leave, JG started following him around the house and blowing kisses good bye to me and E. He loves his Uncle Bryan.

more House projects

Our downstairs bathroom has been out of service for almost two years now. Thanks to my sweet in-laws, this weekend it will be returned to a state of nearly functioning and once we have the plumber come in to hook it all up, I won't have to climb 18 fairly steep steps for every potty break. Which means two things: 1. save time and energy by not climbing the stairs 15 times a day, and 2. gain more weight from NOT climbing those stairs, which is just what my pregnant body needs. Oh well. I'll choose to pick the glass half-full view point.

As with all our house projects for this 1906 home, it's never a quick and easy one step process. We began with gutting the bathroom and tearing out some trim and pulling off the old metal tiles that were rusting (the blue tiles below the chair rail). By the way, when I say 'we', I really mean Todd. I can't take any credit. This left some really questionable glue-like substance on the walls. Really gross when you realize those tiles had probably been on the walls at least 60 years and the glue/sticky stuff was still wet when the tiles were pulled off. So, Todd had to mud over that stuff and patch some other holes too. Then sand all the new mud down. Finally, we are in the painting stage, and, thanks to the advice of a dear lady with decorating know-how, I'm painting it BROWN!! The ceiling is green. Don't know if you can tell in the pictures. So far I love it. I'll have to post the completed project when we're all done.

Reading

JG loves to read. And be read to. But, he really thinks he can read the books and just babbles away while turning the pages. You can kinda follow along in these pictures. . . but be prepared. He reads very fast.

The last shot is the way he looks at me when he's done as if to say, 'Did ya get that?'

Fun Faces

This first one is of his new camera face. It's pretty blurry. Hard to get one of him still. . . 

My sweet baby boy

Babes in Speedos

This is good for a chuckle. Go here and vote.

8 Things about JG

My dear friend, Carrie, 'tagged' me to write 8 things about JG on my blog. So, here are 8 things that I know and love about my son and my observations of his little 15 month old life:

1. He loves, loves, loves to MOVE. He runs in circles around the house or in trails up and down the kitchen stomping his little feet as he goes.

2. He has picked up an amazing amount of sign language. His verbal words are still limited to dada, haaaaa (for happy the hippo), mama, so he compensates by being able to sign the following words: all done, more, please, thank you, milk, cracker, drink, light, hat, car, hot, cold, cereal, stars, moon, train, eat, sleepy, apple, help, down, ice cream, banana, flower, and maybe a few more I'm forgetting at the moment.

3. He likes to snuggle for a little while after waking up from his nap. This may only be a few minutes, but it is precious to ease him back in to play mode.

4. He now likes to have his face and hands and legs 'tickled softly'. And last night, for the first time, he grabbed my hand and put my fingers on his cheek and moved it back and forth like asking me to tickle his little head and face.

5. He loves cars, trucks, fire engines and any other moving vehicle that makes a noise. If we are out for a walk and a truck drives by with a big diesel engine, I hear from inside the stroller, "whoaaaaa!"

6. He likes to takes things out and put them back again. Including tupperware (which he now relocates from the kitchen to the living room where he attempts to stack it on the chair or table), smaller toys into bigger toys (the best example is his toy cars into the urinal I stole from work. load them in, dump them out, load them in . . . and yes, I did say urinal. it's clean and has never been used for its intended purpose.)

7. He likes to open and close things. Flaps in books, doors on cars and in the house. He likes to go into the closet in the dining room when Todd and I are finishing up dinner and have us close the door on him. A second or two later he pushes it open and then asks us to close it on him again. And we do this over and over and over. . . .

8. He blows kisses to people when saying bye bye. He'll also go in for a real smooch if he's in the mood. This involves leaning his little head toward you with open mouth to slime one on your face. Aunt Erika got a real treat the other night during story time when she was laying down at his level. He crawled all over her to give her kisses on her nose and cheek and chin and forehead!

So there are my (rather lengthy) 8 things about my darling son right now. So, now it is your turn!! I want to hear 8 things about your kiddos: Emily, Julie, Erika, Danielle, Nancy, Lucas, Stacy, Kelly and anyone else who wants to chime in!

Seasonably Cold

So, it hasn't even been that cold today, but I went to check the Colorado Springs forecast for the next few days (in order to gear myself up for bad weather), and here was the description attached to this forecast: "Night time high 12 degrees, Real Feel 6 degrees. Mostly cloudy and seasonably cold." Granted, the day time highs for the next three days are in the forties or high thirties (YEAH!), so the weather will actually be quite nice, but the adjectives chosen for the forecast just struck me as funny. So, it is Seasonably Cold out here in Colorado. I don't know why I would even hope for anything different than cold. . . especially the seasonable kind. 

I just got back from a business trip to Boston. Doesn't that sound glamorous? Especially for moms who are at home all the time. And, there were some perks. Like traveling alone. Yes, ALONE! It is sooooo easy to leave on a jet plane when you haven't got to think about the little one's needs (real and imagined) for an entire day. And not having to do dishes or cook or laundry, and getting to eat out.  But, really, I came home exhausted. Wednesday I spent 9 1/2 hrs in airplanes or airports, then I had to wrap that up with about 45 minutes in the car and 4 hours of company blah blahs. You know, lots of small talk with people I 'work with' but have never actually met plus a pep talk over dinner that was called a meeting. Thursday another 9 hours of meetings followed by a nice dinner with my friends at the company followed by an inability to fall asleep until 2 am. Only to rise at 6 am for another 11 hours of travel. Whew. I was actually enjoying the 5 loads of laundry I did today to get caught back up. And dishes, and even dealing with my very whiney son. I just missed him SO much and know that any day I get to spend with him is such a blessing. Even if he doesn't think so. :)

And one more note. Boston people have got great attitudes. No, really. And their accents are so fun to listen to. For a Southern girl who was raised in an environment made to think all Yankees are mean, I enjoyed hearing their take on life. They tell you all the flaws about living in Boston (awful winters, gray skies, crowded, traffic, high cost of living, loads of taxes. . . ), but they still LOVE it. They don't leave! I kept asking all kinds of random questions just so I could keep them talking. I could never begin to imitate a boston accent, but I love that it is unique and alive and that our country is full of such diversity. Melting pot, shmelting pot. If you've got an accent, don't let it die!

Pull my mouse

This is my little travel mouse that JG has taken a liking to lately because the cord winds and unwinds. This morning he wanted me to hold one end while he pulled the other away. Twice this included a little gaseous outburst as he pulled the cord out. . . followed by little JG giggles. 

So, what's with the getup in these pictures? Well, we had to go for a walk today. Just trust me when I say that cabin fever takes on a whole new meaning for me. Picture the mean witch from any animated disney movie-crazy hair, no shower, unmotivated and muttering over a pot of brewing something and tempted to put her own child in the stew pot because we are both so tired of being cooped up indoors during the 15 degree days. So, it was a whopping 30 this morning! I figured JG would be warmest just left in his pj's and we added the hat (like a good mamma) and the bib is because I kept throwing food into his stroller to keep him happy. Yes, much like throwing food at animals in the zoo. I wanted the pj's to be presentable for him to wear the rest of the day and maybe for a third straight night in a row, so I employed the bib. I think they give the pj's a finished look. 

Lumber-Jack

De-Christmasing

Well, Christmas is over. Don't you hate the post-Christmas let down? Chrismtas Eve and Christmas Day are so fun turning on the radio and listening to all the Christmas music playing all day and cooking yummy food and spending loads of time with family and friends. This Christmas is a little wierd for us--most years there is some kind of spin on a "normal" Christmas for us. Todd worked on Christmas Day, so the three of us (four, if you count baby girl, but I don't really count her yet), will be celebrating our own Christmas on Saturday. So, although we went to the Counts for Christmas Eve and spent all day playing, eating, cooking, eating, going to service, eating, drinking and having a wonderful time, we will do Christmas Eve again this Friday and be Santa, filling JG's stocking and waking up to open presents on Saturday. So, the let down hasn't quite hit me yet. Thankfully. I like to drag Christmas celebrations out as long as possible anyway! Our tree is still showing some green leaves through the brown, but it will be fun to drag it out of the house to burn on Sunday. And then put away all the ornaments and decorations for another year. I just love the holidays and am looking forward to next Christmas already!

Todd told me a funny story that he heard the other day and it made me laugh to think of JG doing this to us one day. There is a Fire Chief in Phoenix whose son is also a fire chief now, but when his sons were younger, their Dad went to work one day in March (yes, MARCH) and instructed his boys to make sure the tree was taken down by the time he got home. The boys proceeded that day to take the tree down obediently. Then they shoved the whole thing into the chimney (this took a couple hours), and set it on fire! The radiant heat from the fire made them have to leave the house. When they stepped outside and looked up at the chimney, they saw flames shooting into the air from the top of the chimney --like a blow torch! So, for anyone reading this, take down your tree before March, please, and if you delegate this to children, give very specific instructions. Happy De-Christmasing, everyone!

Sweater Vests and Happy

So big and still so my baby. Here is JG in his lovely Christmas sweater vest (thanks, Mimi) with the ever popular "Happy the Hippo" in tow. This kid's poor thumb is so chapped. I'll try to get a picture of it, but what can you do when you live in Colorado and it is cold and dry and he sucks his thumb like it is a pro sport? I just love him.

I ironed the napkins!

Here are a couple pictures from the party we had over here on Saturday night. I even ironed the napkins! (for those of you who know me, you realize what a huge step this is for me. ) The napkin rings look pink, but are actually red. I still have a long way to go before I'm Karen O'Neil or Jo Wymark, but this is a start. I think I'm turning over a new. . . ironed napkin. And really, it's not the ironed napkins that make the party, but these wonderful friends who graced our home to celebrate the Christmas season with us!

My friend, SG

We were both feeling girly on this day and decided to wear pink. SG had this beautiful pink dress on for school. And yes, these are really old pictures. . . from September, I think.

Here is some news. . .

my longest post yet

I know we all feel this way: I have a million things I should be doing right now other than blogging. For instance: moving the sprinkler, making returns, paying bills (yuk), filing paperwork (more yuk), sorting todays junk mail into shred it/trash it piles, caulking my bathroom to prep for painting. shower (only two days since I've washed my hair, not too bad really). Write notes to people. That list just gets depressing, so instead, I'm taking a few minutes to write down what I'm enjoying and learning today.

I had a moment of peace and comfort today as I put my son down for his nap. He fell asleep in my arms drinking his bottle. And frankly, i didn't really care that it is a big "nono" in my babywise world. His eyes calmy shut, snuggled in the crook of my arm, his swollen lips barely parted. (they are swollen because of a major fall yesterday where his teeth busted his lip open) And his calm, rhythmic breathing lulled me to an intoxicated state, reflecting on God's good gifts. I honestly had my heart tugged at. I've had a hard week with JG. Maybe it is because T has worked 84 hrs this week and last week, maybe it is because JG has been consisitenly waking up crying at night, sometimes several times a night, maybe it is because God is teaching me how uncaring and selfish my heart is. I think I'm beginning to break. After so many months praying for patience and love, maybe these quiet moments of feeling my heart tugged on need to be paid attention to. Maybe it is okay to just be 'girly' and cry when I'm touched by the happy and sad moments in my life, to enjoy fully every gift that God gives and turn every sorrow and trial in life over to Him.

On a sadder note, I was walking by my neighbor's house and noticed that his garden gate was left open. Since his truck was gone, I thought I should close it for him so no one wanders into his back yard. It was the first time I'd been to his house since his wife and my friend Jo died 5 weeks ago. We've talked, I've seen him at work, we're in touch, but I have to tell you. The glimpse into his back yard made me cry. That gate pushed open a lot of sadness I think I've been holding back or not sure how to cope with. Jo has been so influential in my life. Her ability to make others always welcome in her home, to make wonderful food and atmosphere and beauty around her are qualities I try to emulate (usually failing miserably). I can't drink a cup of tea in the afternoons without thinking about Jo's little yellow tea pot. My own yard is a work in progress, and I'd love for it someday to be something-anything like Jo's garden. That garden glimpse today made memories rise up like a tidal wave. She was too young to die at 40. She had so much more to offer. I want my neighbor and friend back; and I want her whole, not in her cancer-riddled body.

T and I always say with great joy comes the potential for great sorrow. Thank God for marriage and companionship, friendship and children. . . but I long for that sorrow potential and fear of loss to be gone from my heart forever.

Lil' Ms. C.A.C.

I'm trying to get caught up on photos. Here is a shot of my little niece taken about 5-6 weeks ago.

just so you know...

Don't mean to leave you all hanging on photos from our recent trip, but I haven't been able to upload photos to blogger for two days now. Yeah, annoying. Anyway, I put photos on my Facebook account until I get a chance to post them here. Cllick on the title of this post to get to the link.

Fresh back from South Cackalacky

Here's a look at what a DAY at the lake looks like with 11 adults and 7 babies under four: (written from the perspective of the mothers)

1. 35 diapers changed
2. 20 hours of combined nursing between the three nursing babies
3. 2 loaves of bread consumed
4. 1 can of mandarin oranges disappears in just under 30 seconds
5. 6 hours (at least) spent in the kitchen
6. 18-30 eggs
7. Noise non stop from 5 am to 1 pm (short break during naps for the toddlers) and 3 pm to 11 pm.
8. Pictures, pictures, pictures (post to follow)
9. Lake, what lake?

The Baker Laker of 2007 is over. The theme for the week was: A Serene Sanctuary (That's where we all tried to escape in our minds.) Some pictures are already posted at the Baker Crowdwebsite.

ScupperNong

Our llittle "scuppernong" is due to make an appearance in early April, 2008!

I've got no strings. . .

To hold my hair down!! And I have two new teeth up top!

JG's NURSERY!!

So, after months and months (okay, so maybe it has been a year), we have acquired furniture and hung pictures in JG's nursery. Unlike the pictures, it actually looks quite nice. I surprised myself. We did a race car theme. So, we utilized our old art deco Monaco racing poster and I bought four old pictures from ebay of old race cars in action. Still to come are a couple shelves on the wall with chrome spedometers and other race car memorabilia. One of JG's favorite noises is making motor sounds with his mouth while playing with anything with wheels!