Elle's First HairCut...kind of

So you know how I'm always telling my friends I'm going to cut my hair and then I never do? Well maybe you know that and maybe you don't but for about the past 7 years I've been threatening to cut my hair...like anybody cares but me and maybe toby...but that's not the point. I'm too scared to do it myself so I imposed my desire on my beautiful daughter who doesn't have a ton of say with what hairstyle she wears. We've put up with the mullet that she rocked for long enough so i took her to that little salon Cookie Cutters and she was just too cute there. She got to pick what little car she sat in while they cut it and she got to watch a movie to keep her occupied which was extremely convenient. We didn't go way short...just a shoulder length a-line, but I think she's the most adorable thing ever!
p.s. I put kind of because I've trimmed her hair before so if I was being honest with myself and everyone else this wasn't her first cut...just her first official cut:)

Cash had more than a Rash so we made a mad Dash like a Flash but did not Crash...Toby came up with that title...He thinks he's pretty funny

I don't want to write a lot describing the last two weeks of Cash's life because quite frankly they've been tough and I'd rather not spend a lot of time reminiscing about them. There..does that sound upbeat and positive or what? After his initial coming home from the hospital and his surgery we ended up back at Primary's with an entirely different problem. It spiraled into doctors thinking he had a problem with his liver and there were days spent thinking he had a pretty awful thing called Biliary Atresia. It would have required more surgery and even a liver transplant down the road. There were some pretty rough days for us wondering what was going on with our sweet baby...but after two or three more hospital trips, one more doctor visit, and numerous blood tests and ultra sounds I'm absolutley thrilled to say that they can't find anything and think that everything has become normal. Again I just want to say thank you thank you to all our family and friends who have called numerous times and visited and brought dinners and done so so much for us. It's been a Christmas we will never forget! We're just so glad to have him home with us and healthy. We're very blessed.

One Long Week

Last week was a very long and trying week for Toby and I. On Monday we noticed something just wasn't right with Cash. He had been extra fussy that night. By the next night he was so lathargic that even when we wiggled him around he wouldn't really wake up. We called the doctor and they told us to take his temperature. When we took his little diaper off we saw a good size bulge coming through his skin...we of course took him straight to Primary Children's. The next 6 days were kind of a whirlwind and if I gave all the details this would be more of a book then a blog. Basically he ended up having a strangulated hernia that was causing damage to his intestines, so it required surgery. We about died when we heard our little 3 week old would be having surgery. The worst part was that they didn't let me feed him for a day and a half before the surgery and for almost 3 days after. He was so so hungry and there was absolutely nothing I could do for him. It broke my heart. The surgery went well..it was on Wednesday, but they kept us till Saturday night to make sure his intestine was healing and working properly. We didn't get hardly any sleep and were more than exhausted by the time we were sent home...but none of that matters cause our little boy is doing well now and we're home all together. Elle was so cute coming up to visit us in the hospital. When she saw the tube coming out of his nose she said, "oh dear mom, he doesn't feel berry good." So cute. I want to tell our family and all of our friends how grateful we were for all the phone calls, visits, and concern.Our parents were so wonderful and watched Elle for us for those 5 nights and 6 days. (she was so spoiled she thought she was on vacation.) We couldn't believe how many people called and offered any help they could and it was appreciated so much. Lindsay brought us dinner, jessica brought us groceries and helped out so much with questions we had... and tara and jami...you guys are amazing. My house was cleaned from top to bottom when we walked in Saturday night. That couldn't have been an easy job but I love you guys for it and hope I can be more like you someday. We had one setback yesterday and had to go back into Primary Children's but we're home again now and everything seems to be okay. Best Christmas present we could have is being home together as a family!

Daddy's Girl!

As much as I love and adore our new baby Cash I must admit I feel a little left out sometimes:) In a good way if there is such a thing. Tob and Elle have been close to inseperable and do everything together.He takes her on all his errands after work. Here are some pictures of one of their last little adventures...building Elle's first snoman together! I was cheering them on from the nice warm kitchen.

My Darling Kids

I was worried Elle was going to have a really difficult time going from having 100% of my attention to having limited attention...quite the opposite. She loves her little brother so much and is constantly asking to hold baby "tash" and giving him lots of hugs and kisses. We took him to his two week appointment the other day and when the nurse had to prick his foot for his PKU test she freaked out again and begged me to take him back cause "the doctor is being so mean to him!" She's so cute.

Cash Jay Christensen

I had to add one more to show off some of his hair...it's so cute!

Our Sweet Baby Boy! Cash Christensen

Wow! He's finally here and we are all so in love! We named him Cash Jay Christensen and he is the most beautiful little boy I've ever seen. He's four days old today and he has been such an angel. Elle has been so cute with him and so protective. Anytime a nurse walked in the room and touched him she'd just start sobbing and ask Tob and I to "get him back." We're so thankful he's here safe and sound. More pictures to come! Thank you all so much for your phone calls and visits...we're very blessed.

A couple days before..so anxious!

Happy Birthday Toby!

Just wanted to give a shout out to Toby on his birthday and tell him what an incredible husband and father he is. He is absolutely the best! I've said this many times before but I'll say it again...he 100% puts me before anything he wants or needs. I am his first priority and everyone who knows him knows that. I am so thankful for that! I remember when we were dating someone told me, "if you end up marrying him, you'll be a princess for life." She was so right. And Elle absolutely adores him. She's definitly her daddy's girl. She never laughs so hard as when daddy's around and playing with her. If she's scared at night she just wants her dad to "save her" and "eat the monsters". We love you Toby and hope you have a great great Birthday!!!! Love, Josie and Elle ( and your little boy who should be coming any day now...please hurry!:)

Not Elle's Best Halloween Night

So even though Halloween has come and gone I thought I at least better get one post on here about our night...for journaling purposes if nothing else:) Elle hadn't been feeling well for a day or two before Halloween and we ended up taking her in to the doctors at about 4:00 Halloween night. Turns out she had an ear infection and an eye infection. Needless to say we didn't take her trick or treating that night...so sad. She woke up the next morning telling me she's going to be a pig for halloween and asking me when we're going trick or treating.(Like she hadn't even realized it was over.) I would have just taken her to friends and neighbors the next day or something but I had a pretty bad sinus infection and on top of being 9 months pregnant that can make you pretty miserable. This is the cutest little sleeping pig I have ever seen! Pretty sick on Halloween night. And the other one is just a really cute picture of her and Dad playing in the leaves:) I sure love those two.

Tagged!

This is the second time I've been tagged and since I couldn't think of anything interesting about me the first time I may have to enlist Toby's help this time around. I'm supposed to come up with 7 things about myself...we'll see:) 1. I am so in love with Toby and Elle Christensen. I am so grateful for a husband who puts me first before everything else in the world. Without being cliche he really is my best friend. Toby and I talk about how crazy it is how it can take a little bit of time to get to know, date, and then love your spouse but the second you hold your baby..it's all over. Those two are my whole world. 2. I also love my extended family. No one could ask for better parents than I have. They are two of the most Christ-like people I have ever met. And my brothers and sisters (sister in laws included) are just the best. I'm very lucky. And it doesn't stop there..I have the greatest in-laws and grandpa's and grandma's and cousins etc. etc. etc... 3. I just asked Toby for something interesting about me. He said it's interesting how even though I didn't come from a lot of money I spend like I did. I don't think I'll ask him for his help anymore... 4. I actually pride myself on finding the greatest deals...shoes, clothes, decorations, anything...seriously ask some of my friends. I find so many of them they usually add up a little. Maybe that's what Toby's talking about... hum? 5. I've lived in Utah my whole life and have never been skiing, to the Great Salt Lake, or Moab. I need to get out more. 6. I love decorating my house. So much that I get teased for changing it up so much. Always a project to work on or something to switch around. 7. Some of my favorite things: I'm addicted to ice cream...any kind of ice cream but mostly chocolate. It's amazing that Elle didn't have withdrawals after she was born...maybe this baby will? Okay I'm supposed to tag others now? How about Steph, Errin, Michelle, Linds...anyone who is willing to disclose fun information about themselves:)

The Great Pumpkin Patch

For Krista's birthday we all went to "The Great Pumpkin Patch" to let the girls find their own little pumpkin for Halloween. Elle and her little cousin Brooklyn were so cute standing in the middle of all of those pumpkins and pointing to which one they wanted. Elle tried picking each of them up and then would exclaim, "It too heavy!" so she finally picked a tiny little pumpkin and she has been carrying it around now for two days. Actually she slept with it next to her on the pillow last night:) I sure love that little girl!

Wimmer Halloween Party

(Elle and my sister Jamie)
I didn't even know that Elle really grasped the concept of Halloween..but for a month straight she's been telling us she wants to be a pig for halloween. Not a princess or fairy... a pig. She's loves Wilbur from Charlotte's Web so that's what she's going to be. We had so much fun at the farm party but missed everyone who couldn't be there. Elle spent most of the time playing with her cousins and hanging out at the Pig Pen..with her "fellow Wilburs".

Our Anniversary

(from our honeymoon)
On October 11th Toby and I celebrated our fourth anniversary! We had the most wonderful night. We went to the Salt Lake Temple (where we were married) and after just walked around the temple grounds together. Later we had reservations at the Melting Pot where we have never been before and I can't begin to tell you how good it was! Everyone told us that one meal would be enough to share but we went "all out" and got the meal for two. We downed it. We even ordered the dessert after and when our server came back to give us an extra fork..it was gone too. The best part of the night was when our bill came it was comp'd 50%..(we knew the General Manager.) We were going to stay at the Marriott in Salt Lake that night but we're suckers and we missed our little girl. But the night was wonderful and so fun to talk about the last four years. I love you Toby!

Elle So Sad Over Curls

Yesterday morning I got the urge to try something new with Elle's hair so I put spunge rollers in her hair..which I've done before but never used hairspray and left them in so long. When I finally took them out she looked like a mini Shirley Temple. The second I showed her in the mirror she just looked horrified. She started to cry and kept saying take them out! I tried to show her again and she just ran and hid under the pillows on the couch. When Toby tried to tell her she looked beautiful she just yelled, "I'm not beautiful I'm Huge!" Not sure what that means but I think this is showing us just exactly what we have ahead of us for years to come:)

GO COUGS!!!

The Preston Rodeo

We think she looks so cute in her little cowgirl hat and boots! She didn't want to take them off that night or the next day...or the next day...or the next day:)

The Hogle Zoo

For my birthday we went to the Hogle Zoo..isn't that what most girls do when you turn 26? Elle loves animals so much it was fun to watch her get so excited about every little thing. She loves her cousin Brooklyn and always tells me "Brooklyn is my best friend!"

Family Pics

After I found out we were expecting again I realized we hadn't had any real family pictures taken of just the three of us, so that's what these are. Our little family right now. Elle is such a doll. She's got us both wrapped around her little fingers!

SeaWorld!

We finally got to take Elle to Sea World this past June! Toby was a little worried she'd be too young but she loved every second of it and still wakes up in the morning and asks "are going to Sea World today?" She loved Shamu and the penguins the most and daddy even won her a stuffed penguin hitting the first three point shot he tried!