May '11

It seems like a lot has happened since January but at the same time not much has. Both are good.

Ellie Jo started nursery at church this month and started crying, not when we dropped her off like most kids, but when we came and took out to go home. She's a little social butterfly, that one.

Sarah is still workin' hard at Lins catchin' criminals left and right. Sarah works Loss Prevention/Security for Associated Foods which incorporates Dan's, Dick's, Lin's, and Macey's. Out of the whole company Sarah is usaully in the top 3 for how many people she catches shoplifting and she's stationed in one the smaller towns in one of the smallest stores. To sum it up let's just say thats she's dang good at what she does.

Joe is workin' part time for Lin's as a bagger while his main job is apartment managing. Neither are the most glamorous. But he has been getting a lot of photography jobs on the side doing weddings, engagements, headshots, and baby shots. So thats been fun.

So, for the most part, we're all stayin' pretty busy. Hope you enjoy some of the more recent shots of Ellie Jo.

Joe's Birthday

Well as some of you may or may not know it was Joe's birthday on Saturday, unless your my family then it was his birthday on Friday (at least you were close ;)) Joe's Dad and his wife Julie came down for a day full of adventure. We headed out to Zion (there is no s on the end of Zion I don't know if everyone is aware of this but if you know a park ranger you probably are very aware of this) around 8 a.m. the weather had been nice all week so we figured light jackets would suffice. We got there around 9:30 and it was freezing. We found some sun and hung out in it for about an hour to allow it reach to the other corners of the park. Around 11 it turned absolutely beautiful we hiked around we took pictures, had a little lunch and had a wonderful time. Ellie absolutely loved it! That girl was meant to be outdoors. She was hiking around like a champ and just was having a great time taking it all in. We stayed in the park til about 3 and then decided to head home. Joe's dad left and his mom and grandma came around six and took us out to dinner. It was such a great meal and such a great time. I don't know about Joe but I certainly had a blast on his birthday.

Ellie Jo's First Family Reunion

This was Ellie Jo's first camp out and family reunion. Sarah and I both thought that it was going to be a bit rough as far as sleeping went. We figure that Ellie Jo was going to be up all night. She actually slept better than she does at home which was kind of a relief Minus the fact that she doesn't sleep that good at home. But it was nice that she slept.
The unfortunate part about the weekend was that it rained for most of the time. It was ridiculous! But we had fun none the less. We got to get in some golfing and a scavenger hunt. It was awesome! We got to sit around and eat and talk and such. It was a lot of fun.

First Tooth!!!

Ellie Jo's first tooth is making itself known! It explains a lot of our recent sleep issues. It is her bottom front left tooth. Thought we should share that with you.

Grandpas birthday

It's Grandpa Oakeson's birthday today and for his present he wanted some pictures of his grandbaby. So here they are. Happy birthday Grandpa! We all hope that it's an awesome one!

My Thoughts on Web 2.0

This is an assignment for my CSIS Class. The assignment is to talk about my opinion about Web 2.0 and how it has effected society. I think it has affected us all in good ways and bad ways. The good ways are that we are progressing technologically. Facebook is an example of being able to talk to people thta you haven't seen for a long time and wish to catch up with and many various tasks. Unfortunately it has separated us from much personal interaction. That's how I feel about it.

Grandpa Oakeson's visit

We had an awesome day yesterday with grandpa Oakeson. We got to get out to the desert and walk and look around for a bit. It was out by three peaks out west of Cedar City. We weren't out there very long before we spotted a bald eagle just chillin in an old tree where it obviously treats itself to a snack based on the bird carcusses on the ground around the tree. We snuck up close to get this picture and then the eagle flew away about a mile out from where we were. We drove up the road to see if we could see it again and we watched it fly back to the tree that it was in before and we got a couple more shots. It was incredible. This is the first time that I have ever seen a bald eagle in person before. It was amazing to me to be able to get so close to one and be able to docement it this way.

We drove around some more right about the time that the sun was going down and the horizon was absolutley amazing. We had two cameras and and three different lenses between us. A regular lense, a 250, and an ultrawide angle. Needless to say if there was a picture to get we got it. I think that the biggest thing was being able to get out and just walk around outside away from town where the fresh air really is. I personally love how proactive Ivan is about getting out and just being out there sometimes. Thats something that I really need sometimes.

The best part was hving Ellie Jo out there. Unfortunately it was pretty cold so we weren't able to take her out of the car but we had some fun with her in the car. She loves looking out the window and seeing all the current happ'nin's. We thought it would be funny and 'educational' to get her started behind the wheel early. We were out in the desert right? Who would it hurt?! We really didn't have her drive. The car was off. But we got some cute pictures of her at the wheel. "Honest officer! I had no idea that you had to be 16 to drive!" Over all it was alot of fun and completely refreshing for all of us to get out and get some fresh air.

It's been an interesting couple of weeks. Sarah went back to work on the 8th. Luckily our schedules work out just right most of the time to where we don't have to hire anyone to be a baby sitter. I go to school from 8 am to 3 pm, sometimes 4. The I come home and Sarah goes to work from 3 to about 11. Classic married students with a baby life style I'd guess you'd call it. The rough part is that Sarah and I never get to see each other really. We are so fortunate that we get to spend as much time together as we do and that we get to be the ones that raise our daughter. So we're so blessed in that way.

One night that I was watching Ellie Jo I was asked to help a friend of mine move. So I needed her to watch the baby while I helped move her things. It was probably the worst whether that I have ever moved some one in. It was snowing so hard that there was about 3 inches or so and falling. When she asked if we could help her she said that all she needed us to move the big stuff. Couches, bookshelves, stuff like that and that she had the small done already. The funny thing was that she had ALOT of big stuff. At least a lot more than I thought she would have. It wasn't a big deal. Just more than I expected. The ironic thing was that I was carrying all sorts of stuff through the snow and didn't fall at all. But when we were done there wasn't enough room in my friends car for me and my baby and the other guys who came along so I put the baby in the car with them while they took her home and I walked. I got about 20 yards and slipped on my tookus. As soon as I got home I needed to shovel the walks at the apartment buildings I work at. Didn't slip. Right when I went to pick up Sarah from work after shoveling I was walking out to the car and fell flat on my back. It was so funny. Needless to say it wasn't the best day for my pride.

Our baby is the cutest thing ever! I went on a trip to Las Vegas with my family on Valentines day weekend, Ellie had been smiling so big for weeks and I was pretty sure she was close to laughing, well my dad came in and blew on her cheek and wouldn't you know it she started laughing! It was the sweetest sound I had ever heard up to this point. We got to Vegas I decided to give it a try and sure enough she laughed again, but after that we got nothing. We'd make total fools of ourselves and she wouldn't give up even a little laugh. Joe had some friends over and she laughed for them. Well last night she laughed for Joe because he said extra large in a really funny way I guess, then today she laughed again for me. It's the cutest thing ever. She is such a happy little girl, she tells all sorts of stories and is just the sweetest thing. We are truly blessed!

The Baby Blessings

What an eventful day the 7th of February was! Ellie Jo and her cousin Roxanna Sandy, who was born almost exactly one month after Ellie Jo on the 22nd of December, were blessed one right after the other in the Fillmore 1st ward at 12:30 p.m. followed directly by another baby blessing of a member of the ward that we aren't related too.

The Fillmore 1st ward is already fairly large and when there are 3 baby blessings in the same day the turn out ends up to be a little over whelming. For Ellie Jo and Roxanna's blessings there was a huge circle of men there to be a part of the event. Ellie Jo was so good while the blessing was taking place. No crying, no fussing. After wards Joe held her high in the air to show the congregation to show what a beautiful baby she is and Ellie Jo thought that that was a fun idea and gave the whole group the biggest grin in the world.

Grandma Tarbet spent so much time to make such a beautiful blessing dress for Ellie Jo. She was dressed like the angel that she is. The dress was so amazing and was so fitting for the event. We appreciate Grandma Tarbet so much for all the effort that she put into it.

Afterwords the whole clan went to the senior citizens center to eat and converse

one with another. It was a pot luck get together and there was an awesome spread of delicious indulgence options all for our beautiful baby blessings.

It might not be a day that Ellie Jo will remember but it will be a day that Joe and Sarah and their family will never forget.

We've had some suggestions and read some things about putting Ellie Jo on a sleep schedule so that she sleeps through the night better. The only draw back is that you have to put her in the place where she's supposed to sleep and let her cry for a bit until she goes to sleep on her own. Because, lets be honest, Ellie Jo doesn't go to sleep very well otherwise. So For the past few days we've been trying it out. So far She has been a lot happier during the day and last night she slept for a total of 5 hours straight starting at 11. Got up to eat at 4 and went back to sleep at 5 and didn't wake up again until 8 or so. So far the tactic is seeming to work pretty well. So all around it's making every one just a little bit happier because we aure all getting some sleep.

Ellie Jo's getting old enough to smile on purpose. It is so awesome! We love getting reaction to what we are doing. She's so stinkin cute. She's starting to show more personality. Another thing that she's just starting to do and we're crossing our fingers will last is sleeping more during the day. She's still awake at night time for the most part but before it seemed like she was awake all day and night. Now she's at least sleeping during the day so that Sarah can get some rest as well. The doctor said that Ellie Jo is healthy and good.

Sarah has to go back to work in February and isn't looking forward to it. She says that alot has changed and feels like she has to be trained again when she gets there. We hoping that the age old method will work so that we are the parents to our own daughter. So Joe will go to school while Sarah watches the baby and when Joe comes home from school he'll watch the baby while Sarah goes to work. Not sure how well it's going to work. But we're hoping it works with flying colors. Cross your fingers.

School is going alright for Joe. He's a junior now and isn't in a hurry to get done. don't get me wrong . He wants to be done right now but when he tries to go too fast his grades suffer. So he's taking his time. He has an interview to get into the education department next week so cross your fingers for that too.

Over all everything is pretty fabulous.

First Christmas for Ellie Jo!

Christmas this year was wonderful. Ellie Jo obviously wasn't too excited about it but it was fun to have it be her first Christmas.

You know that yer gettin' old when on Christmas morning you wait until you eat breakfast first before opening presents. And not just any old breakfast homemade biscuits and gravy. Obviously it was worth the wait.

All the daughters in my wife's family said that they were just going to enjoy each others company pretty much and not do presents. They stuck to their guns but the parents didn't go with it. Even though a couple of them were in on the vow. Michelle was very careful not to agree to not giving gifts so she's in the clear. Everybody was completely equal. Every one got the exact same things. The only difference was that Joe Got shorts instead of PJ's like the girls. No worries there.

Over all it was a good Christmas. We just can't wait until next year when Ellie Jo can be a little more excited about it.

Being in SLC

We've been here in SLC since Friday because Joe's dad had an emergency surgery on his appendix Thursday night. He was back home recovering a couple hours before we got there at 4:30. So it's going very well.

There's a major plus to being here that we didn't realize before we came up. Sarah's family's house is only ten minutes from the nearest In-n-Out! That is an amazing reality. Just thought we should mention that.

It's been a roller coaster for all involved since we've been here especially for the baby. She's been passed around more than the Utah Jazz's turnovers! But she's getting used to it. Today has been an awesome day as far as Ellie Jo's attitude. She's been sleeping and eating well, and when she's been awake she has been feeling and acting good.

It's been awesome spending time with everyone up here so far and it's still a couple days until Christmas. There's still alot in store. We can't wait.

1st Baby Road Trip

So we finally got to go to Salt Lake City. We've been in Cedar City for the past few months because Sarah's OBGYN told her not to travel for the couple months before Ellie Jo was born and obviously having had Ellie Jo in the middle of the winter we haven't really had her out for most of her first month let alone to travel. Luckily for us and her she did amazing the whole way up. We left Cedar City and she slept the whole time until we stopped in Fillmore to have lunch. Ellie Jo also awoke to acquire some lunch herself. As soon as lunch was over we got back on the freeway again headed to Salt Lake City. We made it far as Santaquin and Ellie Jo needed to eat again. So we stopped. She fell asleep again and we headed out again headed for Grandma Julie and Grandpa Tarbet's house because G-pa had his appendix removed last night. We got there just fine and she got hungry again. Needless to say she did awesome especially for her first time on a long road trip. At least she did alot better than we thought she would.

Just a little jog about G-pa T. He is doing alot better. He was diagnosed with appendicitis yesterday after G-ma Julie dragged him against his will to an insticare. He was directly sent to the hospital for surgery. But he was only in the hospital for a matter of about 16 hours. Now he's home doing alot better.

Baby check up and the H1N1 Vaccine.

We're pretty new parents. Ellie Jo is coming up on being a month old. So everyday is a new adventure. We think that we're in some kind of routine with her and then the next day her whole attitude is completely different. Last week Ellie Jo was sleeping through the night extremely well. Some nights it was 5 to 6 hours at a time. So we were thinking that this was something we were going to able to get used too. But all of the sudden she hasn't been sleeping well through the night this week. So we were pretty frustrated not knowing what we were doing wrong. It seemed that the milk from feeding Ellie Jo was running out and that's why Ellie Jo would get frustrated when she would eat. But we were wrong about alot of things when we talked to a Nurse at the Department of Health clinic.

After sitting in the crowded waiting room of the Department of Health clinic for about a half an hour or so the line for the H1N1 vaccine had died quite a bit after winding almost out the door when we got there. So Joe, who hadn't been vaccinated yet with a new baby in the home, jumped in line. He filled out the information sheet required while he was in line. In the time it took him to fill the form out Joe was next to get the vaccine. Sarah was still waiting to see the nurse in the WIC office of the clinic when Joe went in get his vaccine. Sarah went in with the nurse in the time it took Joe to get the shot. The shot literally only took about 30 seconds. He came out and Sarah was gone. What are the odds. So he went in to where Sarah was talking to the nurse. Sarah and Joe had alot of questions about feeding the baby. What was normal, what wasn't, what to do instead. Like we mentioned earlier Ellie Jo was sleeping good and now she isn't. She only wanted to eat every two hours before and now it seems like it's every 20 minutes. When we were talking to the nurse she said that it was good that she was eating so much. She has gained 8 oz in the past week and a half. Plus her head has gone from 13 inches to 14 and 7/8. So almost it's almost 2 inches bigger then it was when she was born. That's pretty intense.

It was a very good trip to the clinic. The trip answered alot of questions that we needed answered. This kind of stuff might sound boring to our followers but to us it was an awesome day.

Life is Sweet!!!

This up coming blog is written by Joe.

I have to try and put into words how awesome my life is, and it's not because of anything that I did. I have just been blessed to be in the right place at the right time.

I have to start where it started. My Mom and Dad are the best. I definitely wouldn't be nearly where I am today without both of them. I wouldn't know about the amazing Gospel that I have a strong testimony of. It's because of that testimony that lead me to the place where I met my beautiful wife. She is the absolute shining light of my life. I would be completely lost if it weren't for her.

We live in a wonderful and safe place. Sarah and I went for a ride this evening and just took it all in. It is gorgeous.

Speaking of gorgeous. I have the most beautiful daughter because I have the most beautiful wife in the world. They are both so awesome and I am so grateful for both of them and the awesome feeling I get when I am with both of them.

I was just feeling that my life is sweet. And I am so grateful for all that I am blessed with.

4 Years Ago!

On December 10th 2005 Sarah was in Calhoun Georgia and Joe was in Sugar Hill Georgia and we were discussing life with each other via telliolor devise when we decided to get engaged.

Just a back ground on how all of this came about, Joe started his mission in the field 3 months before Sarah did. When Sarah came into the mission Joe was in an area on the opposite side of the mission for a couple days when the mission president called and asked him to go to the other side of the mission, in the district that Sarah was in, and be the Elder who could drive for a companionship, because there were two elders assigned companionship to each other who couldn't drive.

Sarah was with a companion that she enjoyed very much and so was Joe. In fact the whole district was pretty close. 6 weeks after that the companions that each of us had and enjoyed were transferred and we both got companions that were less than desirable. So we relied on each other for support. We would call and vent to each other about each our companions. That's what started us being so close. 6 weeks after that Joe was transferred to Sugar Hill into not only a different district but a different Zone. But the fact was still the same. We both had less than desirable companions and relied on each other for support. So the phone calls didn't stop even across the mission.

When we would talk we started by venting about our companions but it eventually leaked into talking about each others interests and back home life. We found some crazy similarities. Sarah said something to Joe about night games. Joe said that he never got to play night games because he lived on a main road and didn't have any neighbors that were very close. She basically said no way because that was her situation too. That was the gate way to findin out all of the other similarities. Both their parents are divorced. Both Dads have remarried and the moms haven't. Both are the youngest of 3. Both lived on property with a fair share of land (being a few acres). And there are many more.

We were talking about those similarities when Joe asked Sarah if she had ever been proposed too. She said that she hadn't. So Joe said "Will you marry me?" jokingly. Sarah said "Yeah" not so jokingly. There was a slight pause and Joe said "Yeah will you marry me?" not jokingly realizing that she wasn't joking. Sarah said again "Yeah. Yeah I will." That happened 4 years ago today on December 10th 2005. Now we have been married over two years and we have a 2 1/2 week old baby. It's crazy what life throws at yuh when you least expect it.

Wellness 2 week check-up

Ellie Jo had her two week wellness check-up this morning. She was measured at 7 lbs 10 oz. but she is 22 inches long. She's not up to the weight that is ideal according to the pediatrition but she has grown. So thats good.

Ellie Jo ate about an hour before the appointment so she was sleeping good when we got there. As soon as we got into the room we had to undress her to take her temporature and all the weighing and such and she did not like that all. She was so mad that while she was laying there on the table she stuck it to the nurse and pee'd a practicle pint all over the table. It was hilarious and for the moment she stopped crying completely. To add injury to insult not only was she naked, cold, and mad from have everything checked but the nurse had to prick her heel to get blood samples and obviously no baby two weeks old like getting stabbed on the foot and have the vlood drawn out while they are cold and hungery already. But as soon as all of it was done Sarah took a few minutes while we were there in the room to feed Ellie Jo to hold her over until we could get home. She has been just fine ever since.