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!