Halloween

Happy Halloween from "owl" of us....

Nauvoo

We decided a few weekends to take a quick trip to Nauvoo. It is about 4 hours away from where we live, and we kept promising Grammy we would get her out of the house. The baby is a great car rider, she even got a shot that morning and was out the whole time we drove. We arrived in Nauvoo Friday night and really only had time for Dinner and a bath before bed. Elsi was done with the car and done with the rest of us and so she threw a little fit in the hotel room. I walked out of the room to go get some warm water, and all I could hear was my child screaming. :) Luckily there was no one next to us, and the fit lasted for only a few minutes and then she was asleep.
Scott and I snuck out to get some pictures of the temple at night. It was beautiful...
Grammy and Scott got up early the next morning and went to the temple, and the baby and I slept. We had a rough night before...that translates to two hours of sleep for mommy. We then went and toured the town. I kept telling my mother that it looked and felt like Orderville.
In front of the temple- this little one has been to more places in her young life then I had by the time I was 12. It makes for some fun stories.

The temple is on a hill overlooking the Mississippi river, the scenery is just beautiful. We took a wagon ride around the area and we were able to hear some history, and fun stories of the saints time in Nauvoo. We only had a few minutes to check out the houses, we have to go again that is for sure, but here is Bringham Youngs house. Some important decisions were made here after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred.
We tried to find Carthage...however I took us back to Nauvoo instead...:) Mommy brain. But the drive along the river that we took was beautiful, that was worth the confusion, and being lost for a bit.
We all looked like this after dinner, so we headed home. It was a great trip.

Behind

I am way behind...please forgive me as I try to catch up.

One Month Old

It is hard to believe Elsi is already one month old. We took her to the pediatrician for her check up and she weighs 9 lbs 7 oz, Eats like a bear for her age, and is 22 3/4" long. She is in the 95% for height 50% for weight.
She is still our Noodle....

Vistors

We had several visitor's the weekend that we blessed sweet Elsi. My sister came into town, and if the traffic police wouldn't have given me a ticket when I picked her up at the airport I would have hugged her for hours. I miss her sarcasm, and honesty.
She brought one of my favorite little personalities with her...
Enough seen.....This is the first thing she did when she got to our house and saw her "room" for the weekend.
We did lots of fun things together, stories were told....
And there were lots of "Mom, isn't she sooo cute." It was great.
We went to the local zoo in town and strolled through Glen Ellyn, where Mr. Bywater and I used to live.

Papa joined us on Friday night, and we were all impressed with the ease in which he made it to Chicago on his own. :) We love you Dad. Scott and I were so grateful to have him here.

We also welcomed the Grandma and Grandpa Bywater on Friday, and we are so grateful they were able to change their schedule for a visit. Sunday we blessed the little one, and it was wonderful. My Mother made a beautiful little dress for Elsi and she slept through the whole thing.