Hello, just sitting here

Hi Friends! Just had some time and figured I would say HELLO! Max is sleeping and Marigold, the little girl I watch just left. My favorite time of day is nap time and bed time, not because I love it when Max sleeps... it's just a time for me to relax and unwind, you know what I'm talking about right.
Some exciting news, the baby has starting kicking stronger the last couple of days. I have been feeling movement for a little while now, but very light and last night in the middle of the night I was awaken by his kicks...I LOVE IT. Today he was kicking and it was very obvious kicks...there is nothing better then seeing & hearing the heartbeat and feeling movement inside and know that it is life inside of you. God is amazing. Yesterday someone had sent me a link to youtube and it was National Geographic - In the Womb. There are are 9 episodes that are 10 minutes long...its amazing. God is amazing!!! I can't believe all of that happens! Its a beautiful thing.
I must be having the nesting bug or its that I am getting nervous about what 2 kids will do to my house...either way, stuff is happening at the Ellingson house! I am getting rid of stuff that I have held onto for way too long, many goodwill trips to drop donations off. The best thing is that I am parking in the garage. We haven't parked in the garage since we were newly married. We can only get 1 car in there due to stuff in the garage and the yukon is too big. I love that Max and I can stay dry while we are getting loaded up. I have told Loren we have to do this when both kids are here and to my surprise...it happened a lot earlier than I though it would. We are making progress...yippeeeee! We are also cleaning out the office which will be Maxwell's new room. In this process I have been reminded why I want a new, bigger house because we have NO, and I mean NO storage here. I am getting creative and using spaces that I have not used wisely before. My thought process is with 2 kids life will not be easier so I need to simplify and get rid of stuff so there will be less for me to worry about, plus with no extra room, there is no where to put stuff. I am feeling free and excited about this, less clutter, more simplified lifestyle!
I'm getting excited to put Max's big room together. Did I tell you we took one of the sides off his crib so he is sleeping in what we call his "Big Boy Bed"...figured it would be a great transition before a bigger bed. He did fall out a couple of times but Loren put one of the crib bumpers on the side and it has been great. I love that we know what Max loves so we can create a room for him, just him. When your creating a babys room you don't know them yet so you can't totally personalize it so this is fun that we now get to do this for him. We have found a really cool fire truck toddler bed that Max would LOVE! We will be doing all of that when I get the room totally cleared, which I still need to figure out where to put everything, but we are on our way and every day we get closer. Fun times, fun times.

Hope your enjoying your week! Until next time...

Its still a BOY!

We had our big ultrasound on Friday and were able to verify that baby #2 is for sure a baby boy. He is healthy and weighed a whole 10 oz. There is nothing like seeing your baby on the screen as you watch them move around and reality hits you that there is for sure a baby in there. Its very surreal! I love that I am finally able to feel him move around in there, though its not a lot every day nor very strong, but either way...its a sweet reminder about this special gift. We are still deciding on names, we have a couple idea's, well Loren has given a maybe since I have many choices but he seems to like nothing, very difficult picking names out that you both agree on. I wish I had a scanner so I could show you the pictures, but if you have seen one u/s picture you have seen them all.

My mom was in town for a couple days this last week into the weekend which was very nice and she even got to go the u/s with us which worked out great. Friday night my good friend Andrea, my mom and I went to Stanley and Seaforts for dinner, fun night to just get out while Max stayed home with my friend who was kind enough to watch him on a Friday night. I love dinner out after a long week. Dinner out without Max is always a treat...I feel like I can eat without the stress of trying to make sure he is happy. Fun night with the girls.

Loren went to Eastern Washington to work on "The Short Bus". Have I not told you guys about that? Loren and some of his buddies bought a short bus for tailgating at the Seahawks games. I love it, I really didn't think they were serious about it but now that its paid for and he's spending the weekend cleaning it up...yah it's the real deal. They are going to paint it blue and redo the floors and seats. It will be all decked out in Seahawks stuff....inside and out. It even has a handicap lift for the BBQ and cooler. Its a fun project for him and it makes me laugh. I will post pictures with the final product. If you are a hawks fan you will have to meet us down in Seattle next season for some hotdogs and some fun.

Thanks for all your prayers for the family I had written about earlier this week.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Update on Prayer Request...

"As of last night at 11:30 pm. The family was sitting outside of ICU where Whitney was being cared for. Whitney sustained multiple injuries as she was hit broadside at highway speeds by another vehicle. She fractured her hip, suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung, and multiple head/brain injuries (fractured skull, broken eye socket). At that time, Whitney was heavily sedated to control the pain, but they were going to back off on the meds to look for signs of purposeful movement and reactions in order to assess the extent of the injuries. Her parents are naturally upset but were relieved to arrive and find Whitney alive. They thank everyone for their continued prayers."

Praise God she is alive! Thank you for continued prayers and I will update you as I hear more!

Please PRAY for our family friends!

Just got word that some family friends that attended the church I grew up in, their daughter, Whitney was in a very serious car accident this afternoon in Oregon. She was transported to Salem, Oregon hospital (she is a college student living in Oregon) and underwent CatScan and tests. It was determined that there is a brain stem problem and brain trauma. She is being flown by helicopter (as I type) to Emmanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon (the Trauma Center). Her family is driving down to Portland from Seattle. Please pray for safe travels for them as I can't imagine having to make that drive knowing what they know. Also pray for Whitney and healing. I can't imagine getting this news and figured the more people praying, the better.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Yah, she is 52, doesn't look it though...

My mom would love this picture, if she saw it! She would love it even more if she knew I was posting it, it cracks me up! What a fun dinner that was. It was a first of many things or at least some first for a long time. My mom lives in Portland, Or. so its very rare that we actually spend birthdays together, but this year we did. Another fun thing was that all of us siblings were together which is such a rarity these days. We had dinner at my favorite restaurant..Stanley & Seaforts in Tacoma. My mom and Pat had never been so it was fun to show them this yummy place. We laughed and just enjoyed our time together and celebrating this special day with my mom. My mom totally makes me laugh and as I get older we become better friends. Love her and love spending time with her. Its freaky that we are so much a like but I didn't grow up with her...guess I was just born with it. It was fun to see Sam and Andrew too. They are both getting so much older and growing up...crazy!
The "Sista's"(Sam, me and Railene(sister-in-law)) Mom and PatMy Brother Andrew...he is so cute.
The siblings and mom Loren and Andrew..being totally spontanous!!!Sam and I...also being totally spontanous...oh you were taking a picture of us???
The crew...fun times.

Christmas 07', just gets better.

I have to say this Christmas I was so excited, not for gifts for me or anything but for Max and the idea of Christmas through your childrens eyes. I was realizing that the coming years are going to be more and more fun with our family and as the kids get older. I think its probably because of the memories I have and the excitment that Christmas brought and knowing that our kids will do the same thing. I loved getting Max's stocking ready Christmas Eve and putting his gifts out with Loren, so FUN! Its still crazy to think that next year we will have a 3 yr old and a 6 month old. Fun times! Yes this post is late, but again...not on the desktop as much, please don't judge! Grandpa Pat, Max and Nonnie (my mom)
Christmas Eve night...
Max opening up his stocking
Um, yah I was excited. Don't be jealous that I look so amazing w/o make-up... I'm just one of those lucky ones...yep, thats right! (Yah, I'm totally joking about that...)