Help!

I think I'm turning into one of those crazy Twilight people! AAH!!!

Here's the story. When these books were big (about a year ago?), I thought everybody was crazy for being so into a book. Now, I love reading, but I am not the type of person to become like this over a book (or anything for that matter). I usually avoid things if everybody has to have it, see it, or read it. However, I sometimes will get, watch, or read these things after the craze has passed. A long time after.

This past Thursday was my birthday, and one thing I received (from my sister), was the first two books from the Twilight series. I thought, "Cool! I finally have something to read!" I have been secretly sort of wanting to read them, but would NEVER admit it to anyone.

Anyway, I decided to start reading them that night. Needless to say, it's only Monday, four days later, and I'm over half way through the first book. I can't put it down! I was a terrible mother on Friday just putting Ella on the floor to play by her self so I could read. And I fully intend to do it again today. Don't worry, I'm feeding her, and everything. I feel very bad, but I can't help it!

What's worse, I even can't wait until March when the movie comes out on DVD so I can rent it! I think my husband thinks I'm crazy now. We watched the Oscars last night, and every time the guy who plays Edward in the movie was shown, I yelled to Craig, "That's the Twilight guy!" Every time.

So anyway, I now know why people went so crazy when it all first came out. Now I have to get back to reading some more.

Snow!

On Monday, Craig, Ella, and I went up north to Flagstaff for a snow trip. It was Ella's first time in the snow, and was my first time in that much snow. It was so beautiful! There was probably about a foot or more snow on the ground.

It was a last minute decision to go up north, so we weren't exactly prepared for how much snow there actually was. We did not get to play in it very much, but the times we did, it was very fun! Ella also loved it! She got so excited when she could touch it and walk in it! We had so much fun!

Now, tomorrow, is a different story. It's the day I turn old. 25. A quarter of a century old. Yeesh. I guess one positive is that our car insurance will go down in price a bit.

Anyway, here are some more pictures of our trip.

The Annual Newman Family 4-Wheeling in the Desert Trip

On January 24, we went out on the desert near Florence with all of the Newman family. They hold this trip annually (usually closer to the new year), but did not last year because Craig's parents were on their mission. His dad has a 4-wheeler he always takes, and Craig's brother Chris brought his motorcycle. It was very fun and the weather was beautiful! However, we were afraid it was going to rain on us. Thankfully it didn't! This was also Ella's first time on the desert. Ella did not ride on the 4-wheeler. I just kept picturing her falling off, and I didn't want that to happen and have her severely hurt. Craig and I were able to go by ourselves for a little bit, though. She is still not quite used to her Grandma and Grandpa Newman and she's going through the separation anxiety phase, but we had a great solution that worked every time! All we (or they) had to do was give her to Craig's twin brother Keith. She thought he was daddy, so she was totally fine once he was holding her! So cute!

Here are some pictures of the trip (and a couple I took the other day that I thought were adorable). Sorry for the picture overload!

Daddy and Ella

Cousin Ashlynn, Uncle Keith, Grandma Newman, Aunt Melissa's legs

Grandma Newman

Cousin Shelby, Uncle Chris

Daddy and Ella

Sleeping on Mommy

Ella pulled the pillow on her lap by herself

I'm so excited!

This morning, I discovered something. It was very exciting to find. I have been anticipating finding one soon, but I didn't think it would be this soon. Every once in a while I go searching for one, but to no avail, I never find it. This morning I had the urge to go looking for it again, and I found one! I quickly ran upstairs to see if my mom could find it as well, and she did! *Side note- for those who don't know, we are temporarily living with my parents until we can get our own house.*

Okay, I'll quit playing around!

Ella now has a tooth! She has been teething for over a month now, and it finally came! It is her bottom left incisor. She hasn't even shown any signs of pain for at least two weeks! That's why I didn't expect it to come any time soon. Now it's time to get her a toothbrush and toothpaste!

Less Than a Year Until She's One!

Today, Ella is seven months old. Since when did my baby girl grow up to be that old! Where did the time go?! She's outgrown all her cute little newborn clothes, and most of her 0-3 month clothes. She actually still fits (barely) in a few clothes that small!

But, it's exciting to see her grow and develop and learn new things! she sits like a pro, she stands while holding on to things without my help, and she FINALLY has an interest in rolling over. She was a little behind on the rolling over, but she is right on or even ahead with all her other milestones and developments.

I love her more and more everyday. She is the sweetest baby and very even tempered (thank goodness). She has a silly sense of humor and she makes me laugh every day.

It is so cute watching her play with her daddy! She loves him so much! When he gets home from work, he's the only one she wants. Craig loves her more than anything, and is such a good daddy!

I am so thankful for my little family, and can't even imagine my life without them. Well, actually I can, and it wouldn't be pretty, and I definitely would not be happy. I am also truly thankful for the gospel in my life and knowing that we are a forever family.

Ella's first time eating prunes. She LOVES them!

Happy Half Birthday & Christmas!

Things have been so crazy around here, that I didn't even get a chance to post anything about Ella's half birthday! So, now you will get a combo post with that and Christmas updates!

Ella turned 6 months old on December 16th. I can't believe how fast time has flown! She is just growing up so fast! At her 6 month check-up, she weighed 15 lbs 2oz, and was 25 1/2 inches long. She can do so many new things, and the world is opening up very wide to her! I'll just pick out the major ones. She CAN roll over, but chooses not to! She has done it a couple times, so I know she can, but she is content with staying where she is for now.

Another thing she can do that has made my life a little easier is that she can hold up her own bottle. She's a pro with the small ones, and can hold the big ones up pretty well. She loves oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and this week we'll try either carrots, peas, or green beans. Yum!

Ella can now basically sit up all by herself. She's been doing the tripod thing for a couple months, but now she sit up without any support for several minutes! It's so nice to be able to plop her on the floor and play with her. She's able to do so much more!

Now on to Christmas! I was so excited for Christmas because it was Ella's first, and I couldn't wait to give her new toys to her! We got her a play mat she can play on either lying down or sitting up, a butterfly that rolls and plays songs, a little keyboard that we can hook to her crib and she can kick at it to make noise or she can sit and use her hands. She also got other fun toys from family members!

Craig and I also got each other some things. I have to say it's so nice having a husband that has a great taste in clothes and he can pick me out some really cute stuff! I hate clothes shopping, so I look forward to birthday's and Christmases!

It was nice to spend time with family and was a great Christmas this year!

We don't have the money to get professional pictures done, so I did it myself. I'm no photographer, but thanks to a free trial of photoshop and the "Photographing Your Family" board on Baby Center, I think they came out pretty well for my abilities (even with all the cut off limbs). We framed them to give to both our parents'. Craig's parents come home this Wednesday night, so we will give it to them the next day.

Craig wanted me to add this. While staying at his parents' house while they were on their mission, we also took care of their cat. I'm not really a cat person (even though I have one), and there are only a handful of cats that I actually like. Besides Marcy (our cat), Friskey was the favorite.

Unfortunately, her long life ended around Christmas. She was born when Craig was in junior high and she grew up with him. She was around 17 or 18 years old. She lived her whole life outside and she has endured many storms, summers, and even times of strays eating her food. She was such a sweet little cat. I only knew her for 2 or so years, but in that short amount of time, I grew to love her. When we discovered her body, I just burst into tears. All I could think of was that I'll never hear her loud raspy meow again, and she'll never try to sneak into the house while we feed her again. Goodbye Friskey. You are extremely missed, but we know that you are now able to live up to your name again!

Hello Again!

Wow. It's been a long time since I last posted! We have been very busy, though. We won't get any rest until New Year's day, unfortunately. There hasn't been many interesting things going on.

We went out of town for Thanksgiving this year. This was the first time both Craig and I have been away for Thanksgiving. We went to California with my family and had a blast at my brother's house. This was one of the best Thanksgivings I've had! Ella got to "play" with all of her cousins on my side and it was fun hanging out with everyone! It has been about two years since I have been able to visit my brother and his family at their house (they come here about 2-3 times a year), so it was nice being able to go back.

Since Thanksgiving, we have been extremely busy getting ourselves moved out of Craig's parents' house. They are coming home from their mission on Dec. 31. We are trying to get our stuff out of here by Saturday. It will happen, it will happen, it will happen... we are temporarily moving in with my parents until Craig can find a new job. One where we can afford to be able to afford to live somewhere on our own (Dumb student loans, car we had to buy because I totaled mine a week before we got married, and Craig's house he can't sell). Craig does have a job now, and we're very thankful for it.

Anyway, even though we are freaking a bit about, we are extremely excited to move out! There will be more room for us at my parents' house. Obviously not the most ideal situation, but at least we have somewhere to stay! We're hoping he'll be able to find a job in the next couple of months. If anybody knows of anything...

I guess this last part was a bit of a vent, but I needed to let it out. Thanks for reading if you made it this far!