Renovation ROCKS!!!

Forgive me friends and family....I cannot believe it has been nearly two whole months since I last posted an update to our blog. Shame on me. So very much has happened with Elie that I won't even get started tonight, but I will promise to update the blog over the next week with all her wonderful new "features". So much has happend in her little life thse past two months!

For now lets focus on the renovation. I've enclosed a picture of what it used to look like just for reference. What I thought would be a three month process turned into four (anyone who has been through a renovation knows why). Of course there were many reasons, but the bottom line is that it is all coming thankfully to a close. Tomorrow the electrician and plumber will be here to put the finishing touches on our fabulous new kitchen. We still must decide on a tile backsplash and the curtains are on their way (should arrive mid-December) but for all purposes we are complete.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, which Bill, Elie and I are hosting for the very first time. We will take lots of pictures and I promise it won't be February before I post them.

Enjoy.

Can we talk?

Can we talk? That is what Miss Elwyn Ruth seems to be saying in the first picture to me. Now of course her Daddy thinks she has mischief on her mind, and he is probably closer to being right. Mostly this one just shows her two fabulous teeth. Which, by the way, are about to be joined by a third any day now.

The second picture is one of Elie with all our neighbor kids. Emma, Olivia, Sally and Elliot. They had propped her up like a princess on blankets and were showing her how to play with her doll that afternoon. What fun they are and how lucky we are to have them next door.

How to see the pictures

Hey, I've had LOTS of comments that when you get an update in your email box you aren't able to click the link and see the picture. I"m soooo sorry. Here is the way a couple of folks have solved the problem.

When they get an email, they go to their webbrowser and type in www.athomewiththepattersons.blogspot.com this takes them straight to our page...pictures and all.

Then they marked our page on their favorites list, so that then when they get an email letting them know I've made a post to the blog, they just delete the email and go straight to our Blog.

If that doesn't work for you please let me know and I'll figure something else out.

Now on to the next post and more of what you really want.

Sometimes Life Stinks...

Even when you are 8 months old. Like when mommy puts you down and you really just want to be held, or when Max won't let you play with his Spider Man. Fortunately when you are 8 months old you always have your feet around to make you happy again.

You know she really is cute....even when she cries.

Elie makes her KU debut

Daddy took Mommy and Elie to their first KU Football game this weekend. KU beat up on Southeast Louisana but best of all Elie thought all 40,000 people were there just to see her. She made friends with the folks in front and behind us and sang and laughed the whole time. When KU made a touchdown instead of waving the wheat, Daddy waved the Pig (before dinner that is) She even made it through most of the third quarter when Mommy and Daddy pulled the plug on the fun. Basically it was 8pm and bedtime with no signs of Elie slowing down.

Fortunately for Mommy and Daddy she slept the whole way home.

Mom is Crazed Freak...

OK, so I was having lunch with an old friend about a month ago and relating all the stupid and absolutely first time mom things I had done, when she told me that I should put a little of that on the blog, not all this sugar coated candy stuff...so here goes Patt.

This past week I was neurotic. No I'm serious completely neurotic. I was convinced that Elie was going to choke. You see we are just getting into serious real food (not just that pureed crap in the store) and I was just sure that because I didn't know what I was doing she was certain to choke to death.

My first victim was Kristin. At the pool I"m having a fruit plate and sharing with Elie...in the course of a bite of cantaloupe I asked Kristin if I should be feeding her cantaloupe, Kristin said just so long as the piece are small enough. Sure enough about 2 seconds later Elie coughed up a hunk of it and Kristin said "See pops right out!". Good thing she was there.

A couple of nights later at a friends house for dinner I had purchased organic biscuits that the box CLEARLY stated were for children at least 9 months old. So when Elie bit off a big hunk I went into fits and begged Bill to dig out of her mouth...much to Elie's surprise and dismay.

So finally the following day we were at Grammy and Grandad's. Daddy had gone to the store for supplies and mommy thought "oh this biscuit can't hurt". The poor child gave one slight cough and I went into freak mode. I wailed to Carolyn that Elie was choking just as I was turning her over and beginning to slap her back violently. Carolyn then came to my rescue and began digging the biscuit out of her mouth (which I don't really think was there). In the process she scrapped her mouth so there was just the smallest amount of blood, to which I just knew we had to go to the hospital. Carolyn level headed, got Elie a sip of water and suggested I nurse her since the poor kid was scared half to pieces and crying. Of course that did the trick and after a stiff drink mommy came down from her ledge.

The following day my weekly email from "what to expect when you are expecting" was titled...Do you Worry about Everything? So apparently I"m not the only freakish new mom on the planet, which is in some small degree comforting but also a little embarrassing.

I took their advise and went for a run. I plan to make it a habit...

Learning to Crawl

Elie has been a very busy girl this last month and here is the videos to prove it. We are only weeks away from crawling and life changes once again for mommy and daddy. All I have to say is...we aren't ready.

Rub This....aka BBQ Baby

It's been a while since the gals were in Colorado doing our BBQ thang, but I thought I would share some shots of "little Miss" being the hit of the BBQ. Our tent became the "one with the baby". As you can see Elie worked very hard...sleeping and playing with Aunt Barbie and Aunt Peggi. Now that is the way to be a team Player

Alot is happening

Well I got a GREAT email from Auntie G who was visiting Uncle Ernest and Aunt Jane in Jackson. They all seem to be doing well and agree with Big Bill that we hope Miss Elwyn has red hair....but it just made me realize I needed to do several updates.

So first...about the house. These pictures were taken about a week ago, but as you can see things are coming along. Since these were taken the floors have been completed and now we are just putting the final touches on it all. Hopefully the guys will be finished this week so I can have my house back and then all we do is wait for the cabinets. Whoo Hoo!

My gummy grin is almost gone

Well guys get a good long look, because this gummy grin is a thing of the past. Bill's counsin Claire took this picture in Colorado, and by the time we got home we had two little teeth poking out of the gums. Mommy is hoping to a get shot sometime soon for all to see, but alas this gummy little grin that makes mommy smile and smile is long gone...soon to be replaced by a fabulous toothy grin.

Puppy teeth here we come.

Beware of Singing Beasts

When hiking always beware a singing beast. Elie is a natural born hiker. Bill and I took her with us Monday on a 3 hour hike between Frisco and Silverthorne and she sang the whole way....well until we started down the mountain and she got tired of being in the pack so daddy just carried her.

Colorado has been a welcome reprive from the 102 degree heat they are experiencing in KC. Also the dust and sand that are being kicked up by the drywalling currently taking place at home.

Today is our last full day here. Elie is napping this morning before we go out on another little hike. It is overcast and a bit chilly at 60 degrees, but no one here is complaining.

We plan to have a lunch of leftover steak salad and then dinner at Ti Amo tonight. We head down the mountain tomorrow and should be safely home in KC by 6pm.

Making Baby Food for Elie

Today Elie and I hung out with Max and Lucy for the day while Kristin was at work. What fun! We went for a walk, played on the jungle gym out back, took pictures, had lunch and then went to the pool when Kristin got home.

But most importantly Lucy and I made Elie's first batch of baby food. We don't think it came out so great. I didn't read the directions fully so the potato was sticky and gluey and Elie wasn't impressed. We still haven't tried carrots, but coming soon to an infant near you. We'll keep you posted on how well carrots go over.

We had such a big day that Elie didn't even get out of the parking lot before she was asleep in her carseat.... and two hours later is still snoozing. I have to believe that means mommy won't be getting much sleep tonight.

Oh well we try.

Week Two of the Renovation

Well we are nearly though week 3 of the Renovation and I'm just getting around to posting our week 2 pictures. As you can tell things are coming along just had we had hoped. Last week they finished much of the demolition and began framing. You can sure see the difference between the first set of pics and these. There is now a window where a door used to be and a door where a window used to be. More walls are gone and who knows what else.

I'm not sure you'll be able to see much progress this week as they have been focusing on finishing the framing and electrical work.

The exciting news is that we measured for cabinets yesterday. So once they are ordered then we are 6-7 weeks out. We have a good idea on about our countertops and sink, and will finalize our appliances before the Sears sale ends this weekend.

Next week the guys will be finishing the HVAC and begin the rock and tape process, just in time for Elie and I to head to Colorado. How did I plan this so well? We will be there till the 16th, hopefully then life can get back to some kind of normal.

Haircuts with Daddy

Phil Brancato has been cutting daddy's hair since he was Elie's size. He and his wife Marie have become like family to the Patterson's...cutting Big Bill, little Bill and Evan's hair for over 30 years.

So like her Daddy did before her, Elie goes to see Phil even though she doesn't have any hair to cut yet. If you are wondering why she looks sooo cute the outfit is one Phil and Marie gave her...plus she has a soft spot for older men.

Sundays with Grammy and Grandad

One of our favorite things to do on Sunday morning (besides going to church of course) is meet Grammy and Grandad for breakfast at Bell Steet Mamma's. Today was no different. It was especially good for momma and daddy as Elie has been getting up a couple of times in the night again. A good old waffle and a diet coke will cure just about anything. Afterwards we headed over to Grammy and Grandad's for some quality time with them and the dogs (Harley and Morgan). Elie helped Grammy shop, watched fun videos with Grandad and let Harley lick her feet. Momma and Daddy had a little quiet time together, then headed off to shop for appliances.

We ended the day at our neighborhood favorite Sharpe's. We usually go there for breakfast, but have recently found they have a good affordable dinner menu. Elie ate her biscut and our pal Jenny the waitress got a kick out of the mess she made...good thing:)

Getting Bigger

Just a quick note to say that Elie is doing well and growing as expected. We had our six month check-up and shots just moments ago. She is 27 1/4 inches long which keeps her in the 90th percentile in height and she weighs 17.2 pounds putting her in the 80th percentile. Fortunately she didn't get the Berger head...that remains in the 40th percentile.

The bigger news is that he encouraged us to start her on REAL FOOD, not just cerel. So sweet potatoes, avacados and bananas here we come!

So I promise to get photos from the beach up. Maybe I'll start that right now while Elie sleeps and the boys bang away at the kitchen downstairs.

And the Walls Come Crumblin Down

So what you probably really want to see are pictures of Elie at the beach. But I have to tell you as fun as they are the Kitchen renovation will blow your mind.

Week One: Elie, Bill and I are off to the beach and the first picture is what our kitchen looked like before we left.

The next two are what we returned to. OH MY GOSH. It was crazy and exciting all at the same time. What an incredible transformation this will be. Not only for our kitchen but for our relationship as well.

Let me illustrate by asking you to describe window depth and header beams in Spanish to a Frenchman. Think you can do it? Well, we think we can and actually are doing it. Inches of dust, no airconditioning and living in one room with Elie haven't detered us. We still love each other...but let's remember it is still week one.

I'll put photos of the trip up tomorrow. Until then, dare to dream.

Learning To Swim

The dog days of summer are here and just in time for our trip to the beach. To prepare I thought Elie needed to have been to the pool at least once, since taking a bath really isn't her favorite pass-time. Much to my glee she took to the water like a fish. Looking pretty cute in the swim suit Miss Kim and Delilah Belle gave her.

Lucy is still taking great photos of Elie's summer (Monday's and Tuesdays) this past week Miss Fonise played with the kids in the sprinkler and Elie LOVED it. Since we won't make it to the pool this weekend I hope she will still love it next week when we reach the beach.

We had a quiet 4th of July. We went for a walk then over to Grammy's for a picnic. When we got home Elie took a nap and it began to rain so we skipped our annual picnic for some quiet family time.

This weekend has been a bit of a blur. Bill and I have been preparing for the kitchen remodel. I'll blog about that maybe tomorrow or later in the week. We have also been visiting Grammy in the hospital. Wow does she look great for someone who just had hip replacement surgery. I'm not sure we will make it out to see her today since Elie is napping as I write and will hopefully go down at her ususal bedtime of 8pm.

Did I mention how much I love my husband?

You know how you have those weeks that aren't bad but they just make you tired? Well that would describe last week in a nutshell. Nothing particularly bad happened, it just made me tired. And then there was Bill. He sent the most amazing arrangement of flowers...just because. His words were, because we made it through June, because it was a rainy day. Just because.

We had a quiet family weekend. Stayed in all day Saturday, dinner at Sharp's on Saturday night. We had a fun breakfast today with Grammy and Granddad at Bell Street. Then Elie went over to play with Grammy and Granddad while mommy and daddy worked in the basement. We think the dogs weren't the hit they had been the week before because poor Grammy and Granddad had a crying baby for 2 hours! They are the best!

So it is Sunday night and we are winding down. Elie is looking forward to hanging out with Lucy, Max and Miss Fonise tomorrow and mommy will be working on her project with Miss Wendy and the Kitchen renovation.

Girls Lunch

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Click to play Make your own Smilebox

The last couple of days have been a bit weary for Elie. And now mommy knows why....baby girl was tired. We skipped Music Class this morning for a long morning nap then went to lunch with mommy's friend Tricia from work. As a treat on my way home I picked up my usual diet coke and cookie from McDonald's and Elie didn't even make it through the drive through before she sacked out. Closing in on an hour now napping in the car seat. Tonight I'm off to a visitation for a friend's brother. If you haven't tried Smilebox it is a ton of fun, just wish they had more photo e-choices.

First day with the new blog!

Well, I'm not very hip and with it. And I sure have a hard time keeping in touch these days. So I thought a quick and easy solution would be a blog where Bill and I could let our friends and family know what goes on with us on some sort of regular basis. We'll try to be brief but keep you posted on all Elie's new "features".

Stop by regularly and let us know what you think.

Ali