Happy New Years!!

Happy New Years Eve!!  I suppose I should be more festive but somehow today feels like an ordinary day.  Our blahs can be attributed to 2 sources:  (1) not having anywhere to go tonight and (2) Elayna's projectile vomiting.  It is a 'fun' day at our house.

I sense from most of our friends that everyone is laying fairly low tonight.  Maybe the economy causes people to cut back on New Year's fun.  Maybe chilly Phoenix causes the partiers to put away their little clothes.  Or maybe everyone is suffering from a little funk.... who knows?  In any case, we'll probably tuck Elayna in and sit outside in the hot-tub tonight.  Not very exciting but nice for us.

Also on today's to-do list:  rerun another wash of puked on sheets.  Elayna was so sick last night, poor thing.  She did sleep well -- after she fell asleep -- and woke up happy and hungry.  We were hopeful that the bug has passed but she just got sick again when we tried to put her down for her morning nap.  So after another clothes change she's finally sleeping and we'll see how the afternoon goes.  We've already decided not to hike this afternoon like we had planned.

I should also post some Christmas pictures.  We had a lot of fun Christmas -- Elayna didn't understand what was going on but it was sure exciting!!  We went to our friends Deb and Dan Lonergan for Christmas Eve dinner and had a great time.  John and Katherine Young joined us as well and Alicia dropped in after work.  Christmas day was quiet at our house but lots of yummy food and togetherness.

Playing with her new Elmo, Christmas Eve, Dan and Deb Lonergan's

Thanks Grandma Missy and Grandpa Cliff for her beautiful Christmas dress!!

Opening presents Christmas morning

Thanks Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Carol!  This toy table is one of her favorites and she's standing so great now!

Merry Christmas!!

Our sweet and happy baby!

All I want for Christmas

Merry Christmas!!  The count-down is officially here and I (surprisingly) am excited, relaxed, and ready!!  We are spending Christmas and News Years at home and I can't wait to introduce Elayna to a wonderful first holiday.  Our presents are bought (we went minimal this year), the decorations are as good as they're going to get, and our wealth of yummy food is in the fridge. 

We took Elayna to meet Santa tonight and had such a fun time!  However, I was very wrong about Sunday evenings being a good time -- Santa was really popular tonight and we had to wait over an hour to see him.  Surprisingly, we didn't mind; Kierland was beautifully decorated, and the outdoor mall had a lot to see and do while we waiting.  Even the crowd was in a good mood.

Aaron and I are both working all-day Monday and Tuesday morning this week.  Since we're paying for a full week of daycare, we're planning a 'date' on Wednesday.  While it seems a little crazy, I'm very excited to take my husband to lunch and a movie ... it feels like a special day indeed!  We are really looking forward to it -- and might plan a similar day for next week too!

4 days to go ... Merry Christmas!

Reindeer Run 5k

I always say that I wish we took advantage of more activities around Phoenix ... so to help us get in the holiday spirit our whole family ran the Reindeer Run 5k today at Tempe Town Lake.  This was Elayna's first race and it benefitted Toys for Tots -- so a great cause.

The race started at the Mill Avenue bridge and the entire event was exactly what I had hoped for.  It was non-competitive -- so although there were some serious runners the majority of the crowd were families or people just out for a fun morning.  Several people even dressed up like reindeer or snowmen or Santa (of course).  The course was beautiful, running around Tempe Town Lake and cutting into Papago Park. 

But best of all, our entire family had a great time!!  I am not a good runner (although I'm always talking myself into crazy things like this) but I still managed to run most of the race.  We stopped to take pictures, Elayna took a nap part-way through the race, and Aaron got to show off the jogging stroller (it is really awesome). 

Here are a few pictures!

Elayna's new Christmas jammies ... love the hat (although people kept calling her a boy).  It was chilly this morning so the hat was essential!

At the start of the race and about 2 miles in. 

Back at the parking lot.  I'm not sure who's happier to be done ... me or Elayna?

Mommy’s first overnight

I just got back last night from a work trip to San Francisco.  It was just a quick overnighter but because of my flight schedule I didn't see Elayna for 2 whole days.

My dual personalities fought the entire time; on one hand it was nice to have some alone time and spend time with my teammates.  On the other, I desperately missed my baby.  Elayna did great and Aaron even took a day off work to be home with her.  But so wonderful to see her fresh smile on my return!!

We are steadily preparing for our Christmas at home.  The tree is up and Elayna is only mildly interested in taking off the lights.  Here also is a new picture of her 'wrestling' the bear for her 8-month photo.