Back Home Again

Lately Elania has been wanting to hold Brayden. He seems a little more than she can manage. She also wanted to be like mommy and carry her baby around in a "baby wrap" as she calls it. Brayden went in Elania's highchair for the first time and loved it. Elania is quite possessive so we put him in after she goes to bed. She usually yells "No he doesn't like that" if we let him use anything of hers.

Christmas in Raymond

For the Smith rib night Elania was an angel but needed Dad to be nearby. Grandma and Grandpa Smith gave Elania a pink doctor set. A few days later Elania told us: "I'm a real pink Dr. and grandpa is a real pink Dr." She loved going on the sled with Dallin and Taylor. In the basement, Daniel and she found two cars which they have a lot of fun with (Taylor also was riding a bike around with them). Christmas morning, we put Brayden in the jolly jumper where he soon spotted two of Travis' presents stacked nearby. He worked and worked to try and grab them. Eventually he succeeded and tried to eat the ribbon. We enjoyed our trip even though it was brief. Elania really enjoyed it and still talks about it a lot. The first thing she said when she saw our little Christmas tree back home is "I want a BIG Christmas tree!" She's been quite bored since we've been back.

Christmas in Cardston

Elania had lots of fun meeting new cousins for the first time. Riley (one of her cousins) took a few days to stop saying "she's not my cousin." We went to the Remmington Carriage center and went on a ride around town with aunts and uncles and cousins. After the carriage ride in the snow, Elania saw some other people (who we didn't know) getting out of a car and said, "Look all my cousins!" Brayden tried rice pablum for the first time and kept grabbing the spoon and bowl. She was a shy angel at the Christmas Eve nativity.

Christmas in Nova Scotia

The Sunday before we left for Alberta, we had our own little Christmas rather than haul gifts back and forth. Brayden got an exersaucer which he loves (and so does Jodi as it gives her arms much-needed rest). Elania got some fairy dress-up clothes and a play kitchen with play food. It was so much fun to see Elania excited about Christmas. Last year she was pretty little still and we were all sick on top of that. She wasn't too sure about Santa coming over and saying hi to her at the mall. She is so shy!

Elania makes a new friend

Laura Mooney (one of Jodi's former roommates) came to visit while her husband had meetings in Halifax. Elania was quite taken to her.

Brayden

Brayden storing up for the winter and putting the swing's maximum weight allowance to the test.