Update

Okay so I figured I better update on Jane-o since I've gotten many texts and calls to make sure I'm okay! Last week was rough. I'll be honest. It definitely took some time for Jane to adjust back home and it took a major toll on me. I was so frustrated that she was fighting sleep like no other. She wouldn't nap whether it was in her crib, car seat, swing, bouncer seat, it was just so bazaar. She was miserable. Not even fussy but I knew she was so tired. She was rubbing her eyes like crazy and nuzzling her face into my arms and shoulder and it was like she was so overtired she was just fighting, fighting. But we are back in the game! She is doing great!!! Napping great and only staying awake about 1.5 hours inbetween sleeping sessions before she gets dozey again.

At night I am being super repetitive on my routine. It is bath, jammies, books, feed, swaddle, sing primary songs, and she's in the crib. No coming out. She cries. Every time. But it's gone down from 2 hours to 30 minutes, to 20 tonight. I'm hoping she'll learn that I'm not coming back. It is so hard still on me to listen to her cry. Sometimes I break down and go in there and I regret it every time. It never does me any good. But she gets about 13-14 hours of sleep a night, waking up after about 10 hours to eat, sometimes longer.

I'll admit it. I got so wrapped up in the books and felt so much pressure talking to other moms. Finally, finally I just relaxed and I just prayed about it like crazy. Best thing I ever did. Should have done that months ago. Why do I ever hesitate? He knows best and that's the only way to go.

So we are happy here around the Elder household. Bad news is (well, bittersweet I should say), Jane and I are headed to Utah on Friday. Yep. It all might go down the drain but I'm praying it doesn't. We're headed there to tend my little brother for 10 days while the parents go to Mexico for their 15 year anniversary. Lucky them. But lucky us too to see the fam and friends again. I just feel like I just got home from Xmas break and settled. But it'll be great. Jane is a trooper.

Thanks for all your great advice everyone and concerns. Motherhood is such a roller coaster ride. A great one though.

A Breakfast Breakthrough

Scott is not a breakfast eater and it is my FAVORITE meal. I love breakfast food... omletts, french toast, pancakes, waffles, crepes, cinnamon rolls, you name it. So it's rare that I get to partake or actually cook any of those meals with a husband who isn't the biggest fan. I always am telling him, "Babe, you need to eat some breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day." But he refuses.
Well, times have changed! At Jane's blessing we had a little breakfast afterwards and my mom made some homemade granola and we just had some fresh fruit and yogurt to go with it. Scott LOVED it. He asked if I would ever made that and he promised he would eat breakfast every day if I would.

So I did. And it is delicious. And healthy. And he hasn't missed a day! He eats it every morning with raspberries and Danon Light n' Fit vanilla yogurt and he's in heaven.

I just made my 5th batch today. We're going through it like crazy. I'll share the recipe with you.
(Ok I have to be honest though, I kind of just wing it and don't really follow the recipe anymore. I've learned that I can double the oat amount and still use less oil than the recipe calls for and it works great). But here's the recipe and you can do what you want with it:

GRANOLA

Basic Ingredients:
3 cups oats (I use 6)
1 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup Canola Oil (I use a little less than this and you could use coconut oil too)
2/3 cup honey (I add a tinse more than this)

Optional things to add:
Vanilla or Almond Extract
Pumpkin or Sunflower Seeds
Craisins or raisins (any dried up fruit. My mom adds chopped apricots and cherries)
Sweetened/unsweetened Coconut (This makes it and Scott always says coconut is like chewing carpet, but little does he know he loves it in there!)
Chopped Pecans or Sliced Almonds (I've been doing some raw chopped walnuts with the almonds)
Pretty much anything your heart desires!

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
First combine dry ingredients in a bowl, including all the nuts, seeds, and dried fruits you want in there. Then with a liquid measuring cup measure oil and honey and add your vanilla/almond extract if you want that. Stir it and pour over oat mixture. Stir well until moistened. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment/wax paper and pour mixture onto it and spread out evenly. I like to bake mine for about 10-15 minutes and then stir it and do it at least 10 more. It totally depends on how crunchy or soft you want it. We like it kind of soft.
ENJOY!

The Latest.

Jane is screaming her guts out upstairs in her crib. Man it has been a rough go with naps ever since we got home from Utah. She is just not havin' it. It is hard on me. I really am

so surprised with what a toll it takes on me to sit and listen to her cry so much. Scott gets home and I'm just worn out and my spirits are down. I know she's tired though cause she's rubbing her eyes and can't keep her eyes open while nursing or while I rock her to sleep and then I put her in her crib and she freaks 5 minutes later. I tell ya, she has gotten smart these past few weeks. It is so much fun though. She is ooo'in and aaaah'in and blabbing all the time and giggling and smiling like no other. I want to eat her up. She is such a riot. I am loving her chubbiness but I'm really freaking out about getting back into a routine. I think I need to just have patience and go with the flow. Relax. Last night she screamed for 2 hours when I put her to bed. Yes you read that right. I have never let her scream longer than 30 minutes. I just didn't know what else to do. She was bathed, fed, changed, read stories, I rocked her, sang her every primary song I know and then what else do I do? It just about killed me. Not even The Bachelor could get her off my mind! So we are struggling as far as adjusting back here but other than napping and falling asleep, she is the happiest and best baby I could ever ask for.

Okay sorry for that tangent....Christmas was fabulous. Our families are amazing and so overly generous. We had the best time with them and it was everything we could have asked for. Here are just a few favorite pictures from our journey back home.

Jane received the most unbelievable gift this year. My grandma Jane (who Jane is named after) has made each of her children and grandchildren all a needlepoint stocking. They are to die for beautiful and each so unique. Well little did I know what we had in store for us this Xmas Eve. She gave baby Jane her very own stocking. She had parts of it redone and all shaped up and handed it down to little Jane. It is overwhelmingly beautiful and such a treasure. It truly means the world to us and I am so glad that Jane will have it for the rest of her life from her great grandmother. It is truly the most meaningful gift. Here they are at the special occasion.Scott's favorite gift of the year. A U of U Snuggie!

We finally blessed Jane! It was perfect and Scott gave the most beautiful blessing. Here is Jane with her grandma Muffy who made her beautiful dress and also her 2 great grandmothers (Jane and Adele) who she is so proudly named after.We were able to hit the slopes up together. Thank you MaMa! I forget how much I love skiing. What a treat that was.

We discovered that Jane loves books now! (Reading with her 2 grandmas)

Jake LOVED Jane. He would just lay his head on her and it was the cutest thing. She didn't seem to mind one bit!Other milestones this trip: Jane's 1st time swimming. Total sUcCesS!The Bumbo is a new favorite!

Bathtime is Jane's favorite past time. We've switched from every other day to every day now.As for me, I got a wonderful gift for Christmas with help from everyone. A SeWiNg MaChInE. I'm thrilled to get it and have lots of work to do! It's fabulous.
I've not the darndest idea how to use the dang thing but I get 12 hours of free lessons and I'm sure it will all come back to me from the younger years. Thank heavens for blogs that take you along step by step nowadays with everything. I'm excited to whip up some cute things and fix up some pants with holes in the crotches! I thought I needed a hobby, especially during these long winter months, while Jane naps. But oh wait, she doesn't nap!! HELP!!! Patience Teddy. Patience. Hope you had a wonderful holiday! Man it's great to be home!