Long Overdue Update

Once again, I've completely forgotten to update this blog! It was partly intentional this time, though, because I was waiting a little longer until letting the cat out of the bag. So, the good news is that I'm pregnant again! I am just about 13 weeks and have had an ultrasound already and I heard a nice, strong heart beat at 10 1/2 weeks. I am due around September 5th. Claire calls the baby "Baby Bean" and she likes to kiss my tummy. It is very cute!

So for other updates...let's see.... Well, we cut about two inches off of Claire's hair about a month ago! The baby-fine hair was getting tangled and was driving me crazy. She now has a very cute "big-girl" haircut. Claire is talking in full sentences now and has been for a while. She comes up with the funniest stuff these days! The other night she decided that her stuffed pig should be named "DADDY!" When Link said, "no, let's call him Pinkie" she said "NO! DADDY! HEE HEE HEE!" She also tells jokes that she thinks are hilarious...her favorite joke brings me to a funny story...

So a while back Link was watching Claire while I was working upstairs. He dozed off while they were watching Peter Pan and naturally, Claire chose that time to poop. She then stuck her hand in her pants and scooped some out with her finger. Then she put her finger right up to Link's face and said "Wash my poop finger, Daddy!" Now if you ask her to tell you a joke she says "Woke Daddy up with a poop finger! HEE HEE HEE!" It was pretty darn funny!

Oh, another thing Claire does now is put herself in a time out. If she's being naughty she tells me she thinks she should have a time out! Little stinker! But if I ask her if she wants a time out when she's being really naughty her response "I don't think so!"

There is nothing really exciting to share about Link and me. We are just going along as usual. I'm trying to rest as much as possible and not stress out with this pregnancy. I haven't had much work lately, which isn't good, but I'm trying not to let it get to me. I figure there is plenty of time to save for retirement and if we are a little slow for a while we'll be okay. Link on the other hand is working his buns off, as usual. His office moved temporarily and they are looking forward to moving into a really nice space a few months from now. He also has a student at work which I think is both a blessing and a curse. He's still enjoying his job, though, and thank God he is in a career that isn't being affected by this darn economy! We know that at least one of us will always have plenty of work to do! :)

So besides that stuff, I don't have much to share. I will try to keep this blog updated on a more regular basis moving forward so stay tuned!

Here is a link to video of Claire playing in the rain! http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=816533547c092f194243bd

Bonnie

An Elliott Family Update

Hi Everyone! Well, I've completely lagged on posting on this blog. I've been so busy lately I forgot I had it! Oh well! So here we go....

Funny Claire Quotes:

1. The other day I was changing Claire's diaper and asked her if she'd pooped. Her response was "No, just toots in there!" I could have died laughing! Where do they come up with these?!

2. Claire can now sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and the Elmo version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" in which she ends with "And a red monster up a tree!" So cute!

3. At Thanksgiving she was getting into my mom's bowl of nuts. We taught her to say "AWWW NUTS!" Video is below...too funny!

4. Now if you ask her what deordorant is for she'll tell you"Daddy's stinky armpits." We can thank Link for that one...

As for us, we're just busy getting ready for Claire's 2nd birthday and Christmas. We also have fun stuff going on. Today Link is going to the USC vs. UCLA game at the Rosebowl. Meanwhile, Claire and I are heading to Long Beach for Ava Feely's 3rd birthday party at Color Me Mine. After the party we are heading to Judy & Ava Valadez's house for a nap, dinner, and a trip to 2nd street in the wagon to watch the Christmas parade! It should be a lot of fun! Then, on Wednesday, Link and I are going to President Sample's USC Christmas party. We'll probably be the youngest people there, but it will be fun! Aunt Nancy & Uncle Fred will be there, too! And last, but not least, we are going to go to the Irvine Park Christmas Train at some point. This is a regional park where the light up the trees and you take the decorated train to see Santa! It looks like a lot of fun...can't wait!

We hope all of you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Love, Bonnie

Claire's Obsession with Disneyland

Like most toddlers, Claire often has a hard time staying awake in the car. If she falls asleep before nap time she won't nap later on. Therefore, I have the fun job of trying to keep her awake. Lately discussions about Disneyland do the trick! More than once this week she's been nodding off and all I need to say is, "Claire? What is your favorite ride at Disneyland?" to which she answers "JUNGLE CRUISE!" She perks up immediately, it is quite funny. So I figured I'd share the same discussion that I've had dozens of times now. Enjoy the little video! :)

Claire Cracks Us Up

She's just so funny these days! She's developing a sense of humor and finds things really funny now. Last night she was watching Bear in the Big Blue House and laughed hysterically when he "sniffed her!" I am afraid she might have inherited the Wilcox cackle..appropriate since she's going to be a witch for Halloween! Another new thing is that she's playing by herself for LONG periods of time. Yesterday she took all of her stuffed animals and blankets off of her bed and piled them on top of her froggy chair. Then she climbed in the middle! She played in her room, on her own for an hour and a half!!! I actually got some work done!

Claire is also now saying four word sentences which is pretty darn cool! She says things like "More milk please Mommy" or if I tell her we are going to Target it is "Buy. New. George. Color Book!" So funny!

As for Link and me, things are going a lot better! I got a job that pays the same and is about the same number of hours..still from home, so that is awesome! Link got a raise so we are moving in the right direction. We can put August and September behind us and look towards the future. :)

I guess that's all I have to report. I'm including a few pics for your enjoyment!





Here is some video of Claire at the USC v. Oregon game. She is trying hard to perfect her Victory Sign!

Claire's Horsey, Mo

When Claire turned one I got her a giant stuffed horse. She showed no interest in it so I put it away. Well yesterday I pulled it out during Claire's nap. I put him on the coffee table in the living room and when she woke up, I told her that I had a surprise for her. As we walked down the stairs Claire noticed the horse and said with total wonder "horsey." She then hurried down the stairs and ran to the horse, smothering it in hugs and kisses! I asked her what his name was and she said "Mo!" Now Claire and Mo are inseparable! It is so cute! Last night he sat with us while I read books to Claire before bed. One book had a similar looking horse in it and she kept pointing to the horse saying "Mo." Then, I had put him down when I stood up to sing and put her to bed and Claire said "Mo???". I had to pick him up and carry him around, too, during our songs! Needless to say, Mo slept in Claire's bed. Just had to share!

Things are getting better!

Well, since my last post things have gotten better...or let's just say they haven't gotten worse (other than that horrible loss to the Beavers on Thursday). Claire is doing great! She's become a little parrot and we need to really watch what we say. She's started to play make believe with her dolls and stuffed animals. I bought her a tea set, dining set and some baby bottles yesterday. She's a very good mommy and makes sure all of her babies are well fed. She even burps one of the babies. I told her the tall glasses are champagne and she hands Link a glass of champagne when I tell her to. Too cute! :)

Last Saturday Krista got married! She and Erik had a beautiful wedding and Link, Claire and I were all in it. I was a little worried about Claire going to down the aisle (I held her hand) but she was AWESOME! She realized everyone was watching her and marched down on her tippy toes. She did not fuss or cry once the entire day and loved dancing to the band. I was so proud of her!

On the job front, I'm waiting to hear back from one company. I'm hoping it works out because I can keep working from home. I should hear soon. Wish me luck! I also have a little work from a company called Risi, so that will help. I'm trying to remain positive. :)

Not much else to report. Link is into his football mode at this point...playing his football game every Friday night to determine the score of the SC games. We took Claire to the Ohio State game, which was fun but a lot of work for me!

I'll post again later when I have more to share! Oh, and of course, here is some new video footage of the Monkey!

It has been a tough month...

For those of you who haven't heard, I lost the baby last week. I started spotting on Labor Day (of all days) and saw the doctor the next day. They couldn't find a heartbeat or a baby on the ultrasound and I probably lost the baby about a week before. I had a D&C on Wednesday. It has been rough but we are getting through it. I think God that this happened the second time around. Claire and Link keep me going every day and I know that I can have a normal, healthy pregnancy since I've already done it once. I guess this just wasn't the right time. So bottom line, we are doing pretty well.

Onto happier stuff. Yesterday I met my cousin, Katie, and her daughter Alex at South Coast Plaza. We took the girls on the carousel and they LOVED it. In fact, we went six times because the girls loved it so much! I'm posting some of the pictures because the turned out pretty cute. Unfortunately, Claire wasn't too happy when we were all done. She had a lovely meltdown and kept screaming "More of that horsey!" I knew it was going to happen so all I could do was laugh! Enjoy the videos and the pics! :)