Thankful for EVERYTHING!

I love this time of year! And I love it even more now that I am a new mom. It's like I was living in black and white and now it's in color! Just watching Ella learn and grow and discover new things makes me look at everything new again! I am so thankful for my wonderful husband- he does so much for me and Ella and I love to watch him play with her- and try to clean up a blow-out! It's hilarious-and usually a two person job if he is involved! I am thankful that I can continue to work on the side and not feel like I am giving up time with my daughter. I am thankful for the rest of my family and all of the support they are! Ella is now 4 months and time has flown! I am so thankful that she is a part of my life! Her smile lights up the room and just like her dad, she is very charismatic!

Watch me go!! Or just roll over!

Our Christmas tree!

Our own little after-thanksgiving

Catching up!!

I have some catching up to do. Ella is now 15 weeks!! I love to hear her giggle! She is getting so big and strong! Those ultrasound pics told the story for how she would be- a mover and shaker! She rolled over for the first time a little over a week ago. I was doing hair and Travis runs in the salon and announced that she did it!! Then we spent the rest of the evening watching her and taking videos! It's amazing how amusing it can be to sit and watch your kid for hours!

That same weekend we blessed Ella and it was Halloween. So all of my family was here for that. It was great to get everyone together. And we now know that my sister Jenny is expecting her 2nd child! It is so exciting and we are very happy for them!

It just makes you smile!!

5 years and a baby later....

Travis and I just had our 5 year anniversary on the 9th of October! Wow! It has been such a fun ride so far! So many fun memories and trips and now a baby to share it with. I couldn't have imagined my life any different. I love Travis more and more each day and we still learn new things about each other which makes things exciting! Variety is the spice of life!

So hence the anniversary, we decided to go to dinner without Ella- I was a little anxious! But overall it was ok. Good dinner though, and it was nice to just focus in each other for an hour- even though she crept up in my mind a lot.

In other news Travis's football team won district champs!! It was so fun to see the boys get so excited. They will get called to the field during half-time of the Rocky Mountain High School football game. Good job coach Travis and coach Tucker!!

Lots of pics from the coast- it was such a fun trip and it was the perfect weather!

Ella's first swim and hot tub (feet only!)

Otis Cafe-Yummy!!

Ocean play

Crazy Botkin Boys! (and Anson and Eden)

Resting after beach-strolling

Barking seals in the background

Tillamook Cheese Factory

Giving dad a haircut! (ok..-I trimmed hers just a little in back! It was like a mullett!)

Little Cinder-Ella!!

My sister threw me a Utah meet-the-baby shower this last weekend and it was so much fun! Thanks for all of the support and help! This tutu is one of Ella's presents that Kylee made for her. (those are Travis's new school colors!) And a cherry clip that Jenny made. She is the cutest baby ever!! And a good traveler too. She just slept the whole time- except to eat- and then she went off to dreamland again! Thanks Ella!

Speaking of sleep- we have been really lucky with our little peanut because she is now sleeping through the night!! YAY! She is now 7 weeks old and we love her even more- if that is possible! Enjoy the pics!

I love to smooch on that sweet smile!

Looks like Travis?

Three cuz' ins

Pouty face

Brynlee's 1st birthday!

Grandma Wendy

Beck and Carly

Mommy and me

And more to come....

Meet the new teacher!

Travis is now the P.E. / Health teacher at Sawtooth Middle School! He also got the job as the Head Heavyweight Football Coach! We are so excited! He is getting really pumped about football and teaching! This is the perfect job for him! So, if you want to go see him- room # 115 or the gym or the field is where you will find him. Now I will be able to cut back my hours and just work in between Ella and mom time! Good luck Coach!!

Speaking of Ella, she is getting so big. She is now 4 weeks old!!! Oh, my goodness, time flies! She is so fun and we enjoy everything about her- she has quite the personality already! She makes all of these funny faces (which we have named) and she has started smiling and rolling on her side already! I can't even believe it! She is very loud too- she makes all of these grunting noises. I will look in her crib to see if she is awake because of her babbling, but she is asleep! Every move she makes sounds like it takes everything out of her!

Now if we can just get rid of this stinky baby acne! She is the cutest little doll!

Meet Ella Jo Botkin!!

She is finally here! Our little girl was born July 29th at 7:58 am. (someone was watching the clock) She was 7 lbs 13 oz and 21 inches long. It was the most amazing experience! -and a little scary too! I started early labor on Tuesday the 28th and we were in the hospital by 12:30 that night ready to have a baby. (After two other false alarms) Well, it ended up that I wasn't quite ready so they sent me home still pregnant with contractions that were very painful, and an Ambien to help me sleep. Well, that would have been great to have gotten some rest, but 45 min after we got home my water broke! Good one doc! Not only was I groggy, but I kinda went into shock too. Long story-short- I pushed for 15-20 min and presto! The most beautiful baby I have ever seen! And where did that hair come from? All of this thick copper penny hair!

It's been a week since she was brought into this world and I already can't imagine life without her. She is the greatest blessing I ever could have asked for. And Travis is over the moon for her too. It has definitely brought out a soft side to him. Every morning he wakes up and can't wait to hold her and kiss her. He has been such a huge help too! I couldn't have done it without him! He had never changed a diaper before- and now he will even handle the poopy ones! He is such a great daddy! And thank you everyone for the support!

Graduation!! and more!

Yay!! Travis is a BSU graduate!! I am so proud of him. It's been a long trek. He decided not to get all dressed up and walk the line, so we took advantage of a free Sat and took a birthing class instead. I had a BBQ for him later though- I didn't take the best pictures- with lots of food (thanks to everyone who brought stuff) and friends and family. I did get one shot of all of Travis's grandparents, step- grandparent, parents and step-parents. That was pretty exciting because not everyone lives in Boise.  Anyway, now for the job hunt. Hopefully, something opens up this summer. If not, I've got a pretty convenient set up at home to work.

Here's a few pics at Cascade with some friends. I didn't even wear a swimsuit because I thought it would be cold, but it turned out to be really nice. (And now I have a farmers tan!) The boys were the only ones who got in the water despite the snow in the mountains still.

My mom threw me a baby shower the beginning of June. My sister and grandma came up from Utah to help too. It was such a great party and I appreciated all of the support! It's good to know how many people are there for you. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any photos- my sister took some and I haven't got them yet- but our little peanut got lots of really cute clothes and some necessities too! We can't wait till she is in our arms!! Thanks to everyone else who helped- it was great fun!

Travis resumed his job at the golf course for the summer and we went out one night with my parents. This picture is from the 18th tee box. It's a beautiful course with a beautiful view and we had a lot of fun.  I didn't golf, of course, with my equator growing it is hard to swing. But I was everyone's cheerleader and made sure everyone had snacks. 

Mother's Day Weekend

Travis and I started a tradition a couple of years ago to take both of our moms out to dinner together for mother's day. I guess it must be my motherly instincts kicking in- but I decided to do a breakfast at my house instead. And we also invited Kylee and Kendra. (My only two sister-in-laws left here in Boise and now Kylee left for the summer! We will miss them!) So... with Travis as my sous-chef (sp?) we took on the task. We made whole wheat crepes, egg-sausage soufflé,  waffles, fruit pizza, blueberry muffins, Fresca mimosas and all of the fixings. It was such a success that I think we will have to make this our new tradition! We had so many leftovers that the husbands got a plateful too! We love you moms and appreciate everything you do for us!

This last Monday we had our first bonfire in our makeshift fire pit. I had to burn a bunch of old business papers and we wanted s'mores! Yummy!

And for all of those that don't get to see my progress- here I am at 29 weeks! It's commin' on fast now!!