Lots of firsts!...and LOTS of pictures!

I guess everything is a first when a baby is going through her first year, but it is amazing to see her grow and develop. We have been busy with this little girl-she is E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E! She went from rolling to crawling to standing in like 3 weeks! She is so brave as she tries to reach and move her feet and-oh- ledges! Lots of bruises and scratches and surprisingly not as many tears as I would have imagined! She' s pretty tough! Her personality is fiery, determined, and she is happy and smiley lots! Lately she had developed this lamb-y noise that she does when super excited and frustrated. So cute!

First ride in a cart (without her car seat-I know-I'm weird)

First Easter egg (yes, I know it's early)

First strawberry-Hello!-One bite at a time dolly!

First sled ride (not by herself!)

First slide-with mom!

I have also been getting in touch with my crafty side- it's been fun to see what happens!

Like these next 3 dresses and shoes!

HeHe!

You would think that since Arlie is 5 months older that Ella would show some respect, but I think that Ella just got done pulling Arlie's hair!

Brynlee-18 months

What a fun bunch!

What!!!??

My little lady started going mobile this weekend! I can't believe it! She will be 7 months in a week. She just does two or three knee/hand movements in a row and then uses her go-go-gadget arms to reach the rest of the way to grab the treat or toy! Sometimes she even tries to bear crawl! It's hilarious! That little red head personality comes out when she gets frustrated though. I will try to put up a video-I don't know how...

And Arlie's birthday was fun, thanks again! She is so adorable and I can't wait for all of the 3 to run around together (Dax, Arlie and Ella)!

And what did we do before we had kids...?

I Love this girl so much!!

Brinlee-17 months, Ella-squishing her! (2 days till 6 months!)

The Holidays and A Happy New Year!!

Christmas came and went this year in the Botkin home. I felt like a single parent half of Nov- thru Dec since Travis had his full-time teaching job plus UPS in the evenings. And I was working my tailfeather off to squeeze in my clients before the holidays. Thank goodness we lived to tell about it! Now Travis is done with UPS for good! YAY! Except for the fact that we will miss the insurance- I am glad that phase is behind us! Now he can be around to enjoy us girls- even if I have to work a little more- it's worth it!!

Christmas Eve

Major bed head Christmas morning!

Thanks Grandmas!

Christmas Day, we decided to head out of town to visit family in Utah. I had taken the whole next week off and Travis was on Christmas break, so we crashed at my sister's for a few days. It was lots of fun! We saw Travis's Grandma and went backcountry skiing with Jenny and Drew and Carly. The two little ones rode behind us in the good ole' chariot. It's awesome- we need to save our pennies and invest in one!

Is there room for me?!

I got to spend the day with my grandma Ruth and my cousin Heidi while Jenny and drew went to a funeral and Travis went up boarding with Charlie at Snowbird. We went to lunch and did some shopping- then Millie and Ella got to know each other. It was so cute to see how Ella interacts. They were rolling over each other and Ella started giggling while they were playing with a puzzle piece! It was priceless! I loved to get to spend some time with Heidi and to see her cute kids!

Ella and Millie

It was a playful head-lock!

Hudson (Heidi's oldest)

Ella's been growing up so fast! She rolls all over town and can sit up on her own (if the mood strikes-and the right toy is involved!) I am so excited to start the new year with my family. Hopefully I can keep all of my new year's goals! Good luck to everyone else who has set some!

Best cuzn's

Oh! I almost forgot! Travis was in an assembly for his school where the kids choose the teachers to dress up as elfs and participate in a competition. Lucky Travis!! Here is the evidence!

He can dance?

Of course he won-he is a Botkin!

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!)