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.