My Ellie's gonna be a star!

Within hours of Eleanor's birth, we couldn't help but notice her uncanny resemblance to one of Hollywood's greatest stars....two weeks later, it still holds true.

photo of Eleanor taken 11/17/2013

 However, a friends mother (who happens to be an artist with a keen eye) discovered a far more flattering likeness....

I wholeheartedly approve....

Either way, she's a beauty and we love her.  Podling face and all. 

Baby Eleanor's Blessing Day!

It's time I started using my blog again instead of bombarding FB with a bazzilion pictures.  I've got a LOT of catching up to do. 
It wont be in order but now is as good a time as any to start. 

Yesterday (Nov. 17th) we took little lady Eleanor to church to give her a name and a blessing.  It was a beautiful, stress less day, even with a houseful of guests, and she received a beautiful blessing too.  Here's a few pictures from the day.  

Baby heads are so sweet.

Showcasing the beautiful dress Grandma Harding crocheted for Eleanor.

Daddy, Eleanor, Mommy

So in love!

The priesthood--Uncle Brett, Grandpa G.  Daddy and Eleanor, Great Grandpa T., Grandpa H.

Grandpa and Grandma G, Daddy, Eleanor and Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa H.

Three Generations of Awesomeness

Four Generations of Awesomeness

Daddy, Mommy and Eleanor with Aunt Carrie and Uncle Brett

Uncle Andrew holding the precious little Lady.

Cousin "C" and Little Eleanor--two of the four female grandchildren on the Gillespie side

Cael and his cousin "J".  Two peas in a pod.   

Thanks, to everyone who could be there, for making it the great day that it was.

(all other Gillespie brothers and male cousins were left unphotographed in order to preserve the sanity of the adults present)

I promise I didn't teach him (all) those things...

Yesterday the older boys were downstairs playing video games, shocking...I know...and Kian and I were left upstairs to our own devices.  I was on the computer, again, shocking....I know....and Kian was busy playing with toys.  I started listening in on his play "conversation" and couldn't stop chuckling.  I missed some REALLY good stuff but pulled out the camera anyway so I could capture some of it. 

Classic! Hilarious! 

and this one (from a far more advantageous angle)...  

I promise it was NOT me who taught him the "I" word (not familiar with that one...just listen carefully....he says it several times). I blame that on the three that came before him.  

I'd claim that it was not I that taught him to be so cantankerous and angry, as well, but anyone who knows me would see right through that.

We'll have to work on that one. 

  

It's a.....

Today Rob and I were able to take our two oldest children to the hospital with us for the long awaited 20 week ultrasound (although I'm only 19 weeks).  We kept it a secret from (most) everyone because it had become such a huge deal (of course!) that we wanted to be able to digest the news (especially if baby happened to be another boy) and be able to tell people on OUR terms instead of being overwhelmed with well wishing calls/texts/e-mails/etc on other people's terms.

Everything went well.  Baby looks good.  Measuring on date.  And the cutest and most wiggly thing I've ever seen.  The kids were fascinated and quite enjoyed themselves (for like 10 minutes...then the interest started wearing off).  

After holding my breath for what seemed like hours (probably only 20-30 minutes or so), the tech started measuring the legs and moving more towards "the down belows".  I watched with a keen eye.  I mean, I've seen plenty of little boy parts in my time and was able to catch Kian's gender specifying parts long before the tech had even taken the time to actually "look" for sure.

I'm not gonna lie.  I just wasn't seeing anything.  But I didn't want to get my hopes up.  

I eventually leaned over to the (in my mind, dawdling) tech and asked, "So...do you have an idea?"

"Yeah....I think I do"

 "I do too but I'm afraid to say.  All I DO have to say is that IF this baby IS a boy, he must not be as "well endowed" as any of my others."

She smiled.

Now the time of reckoning.....

Shot after shot after shot of "between the legs" and I'm still not seeing anything.  Not totally unusual since baby was keeping it's legs pretty close together and wiggling like mad.  Modest little thing. 

And then there it was.  The perfect shot.

"There you go.  There it is.  See those three white lines?"

"NO WAY!  NO WAY!"

The room erupts into a chorus of "What?  What is it?" (from the boys and Rob, of course) and I'm thinking...."Hello!  Where have you been?"

Anyway....so yeah....

  and we couldn't be happier.

The boys were giggling.  Rob was BEAMING (still is)!  And me....totally in shock.  Still can't believe it.

Best part of the day....

I drop Rob off at work.  Before he get's out of the car he says, "Man, I feel like I just wanna chest bump someone (ha ha ha....so cute)!" 

"You can chest bump me if you want (a huge sacrifice for someone in my state.  Um...OUCH!)."

So....as I'm walking around the car to get into the driver's seat he goes in for the bump.....what the heck....let's do this thing.  A sacrifice worth making.

Afterwards he throws his arms around me in a big bear hug before he saunters into the building with the hugest smile on his face.

I think someone already has her daddy wrapped around her finger.  I think he's in love.

To be continued......
 

18.5 weeks and counting

I suppose I could have settled for just "18 weeks" in the title but why would I do that?  I'm going to count every second of every day I've bypassed with this pregnancy.  It's a great accomplishment, yes?

Anyhow....thought I'd post a few more pics.  For posterity (and curiosity's) sake.  No worries, the dirty mirrors are also part of it.  These types of things MUST be documented for future generations.

 
And, also for posterity's sake, proof that I do actually shower and get dressed every once in a while (despite what MOST of my children's memories will most likely recall someday).

 P.S.  Ultrasound coming SOON!  I'd tell you when, but I don't want to.  :)  Yep, I'm that mean.