Merry Christmas!

Baylee helping bake

Daddy and Baylee Christmas eve

Me and my silly niece

I couldn't have asked for a better sister-in-law!

Baylee talking to Daddy while she plays in her new toy

We ended up having a wonderful Christmas. Baylee and I went over to my mother in laws where we, along with Derek's sister, baked tons of goodies all day on Dec 23. The next day we finished up shopping (talk about slackers) and then went to Derek's parents to celebrate with his whole family. We opened gifts, had wonderful hamburgers and most of all enjoyed each others company. What a wonderful family I married into! Christmas morning Derek and Baylee both slept in until 10 am! (I'm sure that won't ever happen again) We then got up and headed over to our good friends the Andersons' house and enjoyed family and plenty more gifts there. Baylee was definitely a very spoiled baby. After the rampage of gift opening everyone helped to put together Baylee's excersaucer she got. Once that was complete (hours later) it was time for dinner. Around 5 Derek, Baylee and I headed back home and spent a little us time and finished opening some gifts that had been mailed to us up here. I passed out for a nap while Daddy and Baylee played. Perfect ending to the perfect day.

Leavenworth

The weekend before Christmas Derek and I got away and left Baylee overnight (gasp) with her Aunt Jessica (Derek's sister). We didn't get a chance to do anything for our anniversary this year, so we figured this would make up for it. Leavenworth is this adorable little town that is basically a touristy Bavarian town, much like Solvang. But the atmosphere is just amazing there and tons of wonderful restarants with Snitzel and Apfel Strudle. Love it! What's really great about Christmas time though is the whole town gets decked out in lights and every Sat and Sun night through Dec they have a lighting ceremony and celebration. For more info you can check out Leavenworth.org. We had a wonderful time there, walked around all the cute shops, have a great dinner and carried on to have a few drinks at a local bar. We headed back to our hotel where Father Christmas had come to visit (and have a few pics taken) and everyone was gathered around the fire singing Christmas carols. What a neat experience. In the morning we got up in time for breakfast to hear the alphorn be played right out of the breakfast hall balcony. After checking out the last of the shops we missed and driving around town we made our way home. What a great experience and we hope to make Leavenworth an annual tradition!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We had Christmas parties and pictures with Santa (2 of them actually!)




... and it definitely feels like Christmas on our walk at the park!




And today marks the 1 year anniversary of my mom's death. It's been a crazy year and I cannot believe how much my life has changed since then. I miss her terribly and everyday tell Baylee stories of how kooky she was and how much she would love on Baylee and spoil her if she were here. And even though Baylee may never had gotten the chance to meet her grandma, I hope she will still grow up knowing her. I cannot thank Malia enough for the beautiful flowers she send me today, such a simple gesture but it truly means the world to me!

Snuggles

Just some shots of recent snuggling going on around the Eliason place...oh, and a beautiful shot of my drive home from a Mommies get together, it's beautiful days like this that make me excited to live in WA! Tomorrow off for a walk at the water's edge, and hopefully another gorgeous day

Ok, ok

So we've been a bit busy with life, but I guess I need to find the time to update our blog. Long story short, mid Sept we went to WA for Derek's sisters wedding. Had a great time and after 3 weeks headed back home. After much debate decided a week after being home we would move to WA, so the day before Halloween after loading up a moving truck we made the move. So, here we are, living with some friends for now but hoping to be able to buy our very own house after the first of the year! Derek is working construction with our friends company and I'm enjoying my time as a stay at home mom (at least until I get my WA nursing license and have to start working, figure probably mid-December). Baylee is growing huge, by my unofficial count with home measurements, she was 13 lbs and 25 inches long...and not sleeping through the night yet, in fact she often ends up in bed with us, but it seems to make us all happy, so it works for now! Now for pictures!


Disneyland with Aunt Mia

Ryder wants to be the baby too

Hanging out with Daddy on the beach while Mommy surfs one last time

Daddy's idea of bonding time...watching the fight together

The sweet sweet smiles we get everyday!

Getting ready to go out in the WA rain

Hanging out with the puppy dog

Bathtime fun...she's starting to really love splashing around

On our walk home from Aunt Judy's...sure is beautiful!

Baylee is 2 weeks old!

It's crazy to think just 2 weeks ago, almost to the hour our little one was born. I had been in labor for 20 hours at this point and Baylee was still snug up high and she was not tolerating the trip out as her heart rate had kept dropping. After pushing for nearly an hour, my doctor decided if we wanted our baby to have the best chances of being safe and healthy we had no choice but to be rushed (and I mean RUSHED) for an emergency c-section. Within minutes then she was out, Daddy didn't even have time to make it into the OR until after she was born, that's how quick it went! After 2 more hours spent in the recovery room I finally got moved into my post-partum room. I was so anxious to see my precious new daughter, but I had to wait close to another 3 hours after that as she had a high fever immediately and they had to do lots of tests, start and IV and give her antibiotics and monitor her for awhile. Oh what seemed like forever. She ended up being just fine, and we got to go home about 48 hours later. We've been busy the last couple weeks, but so in love with our little munchkin!

Welcome Baylee Nicole

Just for Shayne here are the facts short and sweet:
Baylee Nicole Eliason born 8/27/09 @ 1110 am via c-section.
8 lbs 3 oz 20 1/4 in. long and perfect in every way.

The countdown

We're down to the last week before our little girl is born, and the days cannot pass soon enough! I had a doc appt on Monday and she said things are looking good and she doesn't expect to see me at my appointment next week. I have been measuring a few weeks behind, so she ordered an ultrasound, but I can't get in until next week. Since yesterday afternoon I have been have a few contractions, but nothing that screams labor has started. This waiting is driving me nuts, I just want her to come already! Oh well. Until then I'm enjoying spending time with Derek and friends, and just relaxing and spending as much time in the pool as I still can! Yesterday Derek and I went out for a date night. We walked around Huntington beach, had dinner and had a little bonfire and made smores. It was great. Tonight I"m headed out to Disneyland to hang out with Malia. So excited, but a little nervous. Derek isn't going so I'm just hoping I don't go into labor there, I'd hate to have to drive myself home in labor! That's all, hopefully my next post will be with pics of our precious little girl up!