New Dinner Fave

I found this recipe on the back of the pepperoni package that we buy. It's easy, simple, inexpensive, and Merrill and I LOVE it!

Hormel's Delicious Pepperoni Pull Apart Pizza

2 (7.5-ounce) tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 cup pizza sauce
1 (3.5-ounce) package HORMEL sliced mild pepperoni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 F. Cut refrigerated biscuits into fourths. Place biscuits onto lightly greased pizza sheet in a circular fashion to form a 10-inch circle. Top with pizza sauce, 1/2 of pepperoni, cheese and remaining pepperoni slices. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until biscuits are baked through and cheese is hot and bubbly. Serves 6-8.

So Sleepy

After going on a walk this afternoon, Eliana was sitting on my lap, and then fell asleep. I love the affects of sunshine on a hyper-active infant!

Catching Up on the Past 2 Months

Here are some pics that I've neglected to post.

Sitting with Daddy, first time on her own, propped up.

This is how she prefers to be put to bed-and she finds it comfortable.

A man with a sling-one of my favorite things!

Most recently...

When she discovered her tongue...

Her very first time rolling over (at 2 months!)

I wasn't sure what she wanted... so I tried it all at once.

Squeaks and Squawks

Playtime with Daddy

Merrill and I have decided that we've had enough of life in Portland. It was nice for the first few months, but after Eliana was born, we've had several things happen that are signs that Portland is not where we are supposed to be. First of all, we've had major trouble with finances-it's just too expensive for a student to support his family here. Then there's the job situation, where if you aren't in the medical or engineering fields, you're out of luck in landing something. Not to mention that Oregon has an incredibly high unemployment rate (thus you have people pumping your gas for you throughout the state). Portland State offers little help in career preparation for Merrill, and he hasn't really gotten any closer to graduating despite all the classes he's taken here so far. And, even though we thought we could survive on our own, we realize now that having family and friends nearby is very helpful.

So, life continued getting harder, and staying in Portland seemed increasingly like a pit of despair. In contemplating how to better our situation, we decided we should have stuck to our original plan from a year ago: move to Ogden, UT so Merrill can attend Weber State and I can find work. Looking back, when we visited Weber State, Merrill and I felt really good about Merrill going there. Now we are going to step back and try this moving thing one more time: we're moving to Ogden!

Right now we are applying for jobs to start in mid-August, after Merrill finishes summer term at PSU. If we land something, we'll move to Ogden ASAP. If not, we will be moving to Roseburg, OR to stay with Merrill's mom until we can find work in Ogden or winter semester starts at Weber State. Whichever happens first.

Moving to Ogden will really help us where living in Portland failed: there are more job opportunities in my field (English and Design), better education and career opportunities for Merrill, and family and friends nearby. Please keep us in your prayers, so that we may find work in Ogden and be able to move there soon!

Eliana's Photoshoot

The latest videos and pics, as promised:

Squares

Bedtime

Mobile

First Laugh

2 Months Later...

Merrill and I are so excited about this weekend! Merrill's mom is coming up to watch Eliana for us so we can go to the temple and go out! We've really needed it--we haven't experienced Portland as much as we've liked yet. And it's been a long time since we've been to the temple. So, I've really got to get pumpin' in preparation for this one day event (literally :)!

Thank you to all of you who gave us baby sleep tips. We tried the pacifier and swaddling, and that works great. But we haven't had any success with getting Eliana to sleep in her bassinet. When we lay her down in it, she only sleeps for about 5 min. before wriggling out of her swaddling and telling us she is awake. The only thing that keeps her asleep for at least an hour is sleeping in our bed with us. I wish we could have the bed to ourselves, but whatever helps Eliana sleep helps us sleep, so I'm not complaining. Besides, it's easier to just roll over and nurse Eliana back to sleep, letting me sleep as she nurses.

Eliana's 2 month immunizations were today. I was dreading the crying, so I took Merrill with me so I wouldn't have to suffer alone. She was good for the whole appointment--talking to the doctor, smiling and looking at everything through the big mirror on the wall--until the shots. And even then it only took like 5 min. for her to calm down. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Maybe it gets worse as they get older though, when they can actually see the thing that is stuck into them and they associate it with pain. Eliana is developing quickly, already babbling and telling us what she wants and starting to reach for things. She's also very active, wriggling and kicking. The only time she is still is when she sleeps. I can't believe the little personality she has!

Concerning pictures of Eliana: I had a bunch on my camera that I wanted to post, along with some cool videos, but was I was putting them onto the computer, the program suddenly quite on me and I lost all the pictures and videos. Gone forever. I am so sad! So I am currently trying to take more pictures and videos of Eliana so that you all can really meet this crazy little girl.

I've been trying to get more pictures to meet the demand of everyone who reads this blog and checks my status on Facebook, but Eliana moves so much, I can never get a good one--unless she is asleep, of course. So, here is something better for your enjoyment:

Eliana loves getting her diaper changed because it is also play time. Merrill discovered that she loves you to blow air on her face, and this is what we see each time.


This is for kicks and giggles--the poop-ing face.



So, Merrill and I have decided that we would like to get at least a little more sleep at night. How have you moms managed that? How can we get Eliana to sleep without her having to cry it out? We want to avoid that completely. I don't want Eliana to fear sleep. She's already starting to fight sleep, especially in the evenings. How do you help an infant that fights against your coaxing them to sleep? And when do you start setting up a sleep schedule for naps during the day? What's worked for you guys?