Playing and messes

Elliot is getting bigger every day.  He is always learning new things.  These are just some of the things he has been up to lately.

Playing with the beads... He loves moving them, chewing on them, and even pushing the whole thing over.

He loves to chew on his hammer... there are chew marks all along the bottom.  He sure uses his 6 teeth as much as possible!

This is definitely one of Elliot's favorite things!!! It is so funny how the simplest things, the boxes, the wrapping, etc. are often his very favorite things to play with.  He loves going in and out, he will even sit in it and close the door and just giggle!

 Elliot was having a lot of fun with flour!  Rubbing is around, spreading it all over the kitchen, and of course, sticking it in his mouth!

This is flour with water and a few drops of food coloring that he could spread around, and watch the color 'grow'.  He wasn't sure about the texture at first, but he warmed up to the idea, and had a lot of fun, and made quite the mess!

Cousins

Elliot has had some fun days with his cousins!  He loves it when they come over to play.  It doesn't matter what he is doing, when he hears other little kids around he gets so excited!  He is getting very good at sharing, and not being upset when his older cousins want to take all his toys.  

Elliot is sharing his book with his cousin Grant 

Elliot and the twins.  They are a little more than 3 months older than him, but he is about their size!

Elliot and his cousin Zander.  Hugs for the cousin!

Zander is a year older, so he is reading Elliot a story.  So cute!

Being a Dad

So... this is Trevor.... I have yet to post on the blog due to not really having much to say... or something like that. But, lately I've been wanting to get involved in the blog world, so here is a few thoughts on being a dad. I am posting this on Elliot's due date, so I would have been a dad one year ago today, but he was ten days late. So here are my feelings on the subject of being a dad.

As I approach my son's first birthday, I wanted to take a minute and put to words my thoughts on being a father. It is amazing. Having a child is one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences I have ever had. I would surmise that there is nothing that can compare, now or in the eternities, to the joy of fatherhood. It was not an easy decision to make to start our family. My wife came to me after we had been married for about a month and asked when we were going to have a kid. I had not ever seriously thought about the prospect, thinking that waiting for a year or two at least was acceptable, or perhaps after I finished my undergrad and had some direction in life. After a few months I finally was convinced (by myself, Melia, and God's inspired council) that putting off having kids was not something I should continue doing. In some ways, the decision to have our first kid was not so much inspired as it was simply getting on with follow the counsel of living prophets. Time and time again I was told, both in visiting with and hearing General Authorities that blessings will come if I start my family and put aside the "glories of the world” and the potential “fun” that I could have while still just a married couple. In some ways I feel like I have given up time, opportunities, and "free time" to be a father. Truth is, there is not any other way I see myself spending my time. I still have to finish school, but I can continue to support my family while being a good dad even at this stage of life. I have to work hard to get a career, and being a father has made me more capable to do it well and want to succeed in my chosen field. My finances are not ideal by the world's standard, but God has blessed us to have what we need when we need it. I scoffed originally at the idea that it was the right thing to have a kid at my stage in life. It is the only decision I could have made. I could have waited, but I am so glad that I did not. Elliot is amazing.

 

Melia's Birthday

I had a great birthday!  Trevor got up early with Elliot, surprised me with flowers and candy, then made me breakfast.  That afternoon we went shopping, out to dinner, and went to see the movie Brave (It was very good).  Then we got to talk and just spend some time together as we headed home.  It was a lot of fun!

On Thursday we had a party at Wylie's house.

It may have been my birthday, but Elliot is so much fun to watch!

Elliot and his Great Grandma

My mom and I went to Scheels.  It was very cool, and we got gelato!  

Elliot liked it almost as much as I did.

There was a very cool fish tank there, Elliot had fun watching the fish.

Trevor took me out on my birthday.  Getting ready to head out for the day... who knows what is in store!

Waiting to get a seat at Red Lobster.

Dinner?

Polly and I blowing out candles on our cake we shared at my family's.

Random Everyday Moments

Elliot got Dad's hat!

When I found Elliot like this, at first I thought he had somehow pulled his bed apart and then I realized he had just grabbed his sheet from the  laundry basket next to the crib, and somehow pulled it through the bars.

Like father, like son.

He had a big sticker stuck to his hand.  He wasn't sure what to do, and he couldn't get it off!

This is my sick little man.  We put a sock on his neck to help him feel better quick.  Magic sock works every time.

Trevor and Elliot playing after a long day

Elliot was trying to escape, but Dad grabbed his foot, and so he just gave up and laid down.

Bath Time

Elliot loves the bath!  He just can't wait to get in!  The funny thing is, once he gets in, he loves to pull the plug up so all the water drains out... I don't think he has made the connection yet that when he does that too much his bath is over.

Fall Photo Shoot

We had a photo shoot about a week ago.  Claire came and took pictures for us (she did a great job!) and Elle came and helped make Elliot smile.  Elliot was a little grumpy that day, even though he is never grumpy.  Go figure.  We may do more pictures later to see if we can get some more smiling ones, but it was actually nice to capture a side of Elliot that we don't get as often on camera.  Anyway, here are some of the pictures. Enjoy!

Mission, Marriage, and Motherhood

I must admit that this past weekend has got me thinking about some of the significant events in my life.  There are three things in my life that I would submit have significantly changed me.  I suppose I could refer to them as the 3 "M"s.  Now, historically, I have been fairly resistant to change.  Most of my family doesn't really like change, and I suppose I was not always been open to it either as I was growing up.  I liked things a certain way, and if that was good, why change it?  Well I have come to realize the importance of change, and that despite my thoughts to the contrary, change is not always a bad thing.

My mission was the first thing in my life that really changed me.  I must admit that I went into my mission with one of the worst goals that I have ever set.  I wanted to go on a mission, and come back the same person I was when I left.  I think that the first few months I was there, I did well on that goal, but one day I stopped resisting and allowed God to begin to mold me into the person that He wants me to be.  It was not easy, and there were many experiences, trials, successes, and people that influenced me for the better.  Did I change?  Yes, I did.  Am I glad I changed?  Yes.  Looking back I just shake my head at the idea that I wanted to have such a wonderful experience without letting it effect who I was.  I would have missed out on so much personal growth.

The next major event in my life was marriage.  I have friends who say that marriage has changed me.  Is that the case?  Yes, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Again, as I look back on my life and the person I was (even after having served a mission and allowing that to shape me) I am glad for the changes that marriage has brought about in my life.  Now, I keep using the word "change" and I am not sure that is the best way to express what I mean.  At the core, the root of who I am, I have not changed.  But I have been altered, molded, shaped, into what I consider to be a better version of myself.  More like the person that God knows I can be.  Do I have a long way to go?  Definitely, but I am working on it.  It is not a quick process (at least for me) and I have to work at it, but I will keep working at it.

The final event in my life that has changed who I am is motherhood.  This was probably the thing that has changed me the quickest.  Perhaps I am just getting used to the idea of change now, but more likely it was designed this way.  To suddenly have another person completely dependant on me for everything, and the unconditional love and joy that he brings into our lives is amazing.  Elliot has been a huge blessing in my life, and he has made me change.  He has changed the way I view the world, the things I do during the day, and the person that I am.  Again, I would argue that these changes are for the better.  Wanting to be that good example for him, and knowing that he will see everything that I do has made me reevaluate many things.  I want so much to be the best person that I can be for him.

Change... I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to change.  I am grateful for the atonement of my Savior that allows me to repent, and become a better person every day.  Change that is brought about through hard times and trials, as well as the wonderful events that have happened in my life, and the people in it who make me want to be a better person.  There are still times when I find myself resisting change for one reason or another.  I would be much better off, however, if I could just learn from the 3 "M"s and allow the change that God has planned for me to happen.  It will let me be more than I could ever be by resisting it!

General Relief Society Meeting

   My mother, Tonia, and I all went to the General Relief Society Meeting, and we were able to be in the conference center.  I must admit that I initially did not want to drive there, get there early, and then have to deal with traffic on the way home.  I thought that it would be much easier to go the the stake center just around the corner.  I was very glad that Trevor and my mom talked me into going though.  I think I sometimes forget the distances that others around the world must travel just to watch it, and I had the privilege of being in the building with the Prophet, and other leaders. 
   I loved all the talks that were given.  If you didn't get the chance to see it, you can go to lds.org and watch it.  It was only about an hour and a half, but it was very uplifting.  I love hearing the messages and being able to see areas that I need to work on in my own life and ways that I can improve.  I love the great feeling that I have and the encouragement I get to keep up the good things that I am doing, and to feel and know God's love for me.
   I also have to throw in a little acknowledgement here about my wonderful husband.  Not only was he more than willing to watch Elliot while I was gone (despite having lots of homework) but he was willing to rearrange plans with friends, and encourage me to take the extra time required to be at the conference center.  Then when I got home, he had a rose, and note, and some treats for me!  I am so lucky to have such an incredible husband who is always going out of his way to show me that he loves me!
   Thanks to everyone who made Saturday night so great!