Outings

We went to the aquarium with Grandma and Grandpa Wylie and Bree.  Elliot was touching the starfish and watching the shark.  It just didn't come quite close enough for him.

Elliot and Bree sitting in a boat, ready to go down the river!

My guys just walking around taking it all in

Getting right up next to the otters.  

We went to watch Bree's hockey game.  Elliot had fun walking around with Grandma and climbing on stuff.

Elliot's First trip to the library.  Trevor found this book for him and he was the happiest boy!  Elliot loves books!

Christmas Fun

Elliot got to see Santa and Mrs. Clause.  He sat there for a minute then decided he was done and got down. He didn't cry though!

He seemed to like the Grinch more... but he did have Trevor there too.

Elliot finding a little surprise in his stocking one morning

Gotta love Christmas hats!

Merry Christmas Eh!

Waiting to see a live nativity,  It was cold, and there was a long wait, but we made it!

Festival of Trees

Christmas Morning

I am not sure what that face is, but I think he likes it!

Trevor with his stuff

Elliot's Birthday!!

Elliot turned 1!!! (Yes, this happened back in November, but I haven't put any pictures up yet) He is such a great little boy and we love him so much!

We put some balloons up all over the floor so he could play with them when he woke up.  He loved the surprise and played with them all day!

Elliot's Birthday sign!  Today was all about him!

Mommy with her Birthday Boy

Daddy was there to help with presents, but Elliot did just fine on his own.

Monkey cupcakes!

Dad and Mom helping him blow out his candle

He did NOT want to get messy.  He was very neatly eating little pieces for a while.

He finally gave up and dug in a little bit

All about Elliot!  Some of his favorite things so far, a picture book, and a journal for all his guests to write down their favorite memory of him.

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.