Let's start with a brief catching up of our lives since we've had Elena because I was supposed to start this blog when she was born (that's when I got the idea, that is). 

Well, since pictures say things better than words we'll start with a few of those.

This kitty was our child before Elena. Poor thing has had a lot of things to adjust to… L

We waited for Elena a really long time. She was due on Aug.  7, 2011 but she didn't come until  Aug . 16. We lived with Grandma Mary at the time and for the last 2 months before Elena was born Grandma always asked me how soon the baby would be born. On occasion if I was gone for a long time during the day she thought that I was at the hospital giving birth. Well, I can say that I WISHED that I was ... 9 months was such a long time to me! 
In the meantime, Kevin was helping me feel good about my growing belly by adding one of his own. J

Living with Grandma Mary was a very special time of our lives! 

I had hoped to not take any pain medication at the hospital during labor but it didn’t take me long before I realized that I am a wimp and can’t handle pain too well. I was literally shaking from the contractions and that was at the very beginning of them. J So, I took the epidural and took a nap while the contractions were going. It was awesome! Except that as they inserted that big needle in my spine some spinal fluid leaked and I woke up with a terrible migraine the next day which lasted for over a week. Oh, and my tailbone was dislocated, so when the epidural wore off I realized I can’t sit on my bum too well… J That lasted for probably 2 months. Still, I don't think I regret getting the epidural.

Before Elena finally decided to be born I had my host family from New Mexico come visit in hope that they would be there for the birth. They came a week before my due date and stayed two weeks. In the mean time we walked, and walked, and walked, and walked………… sometimes 7 mile brisk walks on the Provo Canyon trail! Alas, they missed the birth because even after all the walking and membrane stripping Elena refused to come. As they don’t induce first-time mothers until the baby is close to 2 weeks overdue, there was not much we could do to speed up the process otherwise. I had my induction date set for the 16^th of August but I, being afraid of the Pitocin that they give you to induce labor, took Caster oil before bed (it was DISGUSTING btw! Never doing that again, just thinking about it makes me gag). In the middle of the night my waters broke and next thing I knew I was at the hospital.

This is Dr. James Lameraux: our hero of the day! :) 

Proud daddy

Clueless parents, terrified to leave the hospital.

The kitty has tried to adjust to not being the center of our attention anymore.  At least she's now becoming the center of attention for Elena who has discovered "petting" her. (she really just hits her with her thumb over and over...)

Elena would not sleep in her crib or her pack-and-play. Fortunately the pack-and-play had a napper on it and she finally started letting us put her in there instead of just sleeping in our arms. 

My sister Jane came to visit in September. She was a life-saver to me during that time. I didn’t know how much I needed family around.

Our friend Maria Solter made Elena's gorgeous baby blessing dress. She used left-over material from my wedding dress. Elena did great during her baby blessing: she just stared around and didn't make a sound the whole time she was getting blessed. As soon as the blessing was done she soiled her diaper and covered her dress. Thus, we don't really have a good picture of that special day.

We had to take Elena on walks a lot of times to get her to fall asleep. It worked like a charm.

She liked baths from the get-go.

It wasn't long before she started making us laugh. She used to constantly wave her arms  up and down  so things she held would end up on her face.

Then she discovered her feet. How can feet be that fascinating??

Our first Christmas together...

Things Elena has not liked so far:

Photo shoots at JCPenney.

We went twice: once in her 1st month and then in her 3rd. She cried close to the entire time .
Needless to say, we haven't gone back there for photo shoots. :)

Elena did not care for solids much in the beginning.

But then she discovered that she can make messes and make us laugh all at the same time. Solids have become a hit ... thankfully the mess isn't always a mandatory part of eating them. :)

Being held by anyone other than us two.

Although, she is getting somewhat better about that.

Things Elena has liked so far:

Fitting things into her mouth. Oh and in the background is Zoe: she loves Zoe... go figure

Playing with Daddy's hair

Posing for pictures

Distractions during diaper changing time

Watching Baby Einstein - that's always a hit!

Plain yogurt...

Being outside

Drinking (and eating sometimes) with a straw

Giving kisses which involve lots of slobber and we are pretty sure are actual attempts to  eat us...

Hanging out with Daddy

We realize that our Elena is just as normal as other children but since she is our first we get to experience many baby things for the first time. It is very exciting to us and maybe not that exciting to those who have already gone past this stage. :)