Bunches of Babies & a Baptism

In Texas, where everything is bigger and better, we have had a very big two weeks!
It all started on Thursday, Sept. 22, when Emily's 5th baby surprised everyone by arriving 2 weeks early.

Dahia, 6 days old -- the tail end of her first smile



Dahlia Eve is a very sweet, calm baby.  During labor, 6 lb. 12 oz. Dahlia turned into breech position.  It was such a blessing that Emily was able to deliver her easily without having a C-section.

Then, on Tues., Oct. 4, Lauren had her 5th baby!

8 lb. 7 oz. Lorelei, just 4 hours old

 Lorelei Anya looks so much like her momma when she was born. As I held her for the first time, I couldn't help but call her "Lor-Lor", which was what I called Lauren when she was a baby. Looks as if she will be  sweet and calm like her 11 day older cousin.


Grammy and Grandpa (he's not angry, just squinting into sun) with 11th grandchild, Dahlia



Grammy with 12th grandchild, Lorelei



On Sept. 24, in between these two births, sweet grandaughter Kyla was baptized !

8 year old Kyla & her Daddy



Stay tuned for more excitement next month, when Jeremy gets married and Grandpa and I wait to recieve our mission call.

lots of fun in Bemidji!

We just got back from Bemidji, where we visited our oh-so-sweet Minnesota grandkids.

Colby is a very inquisitive, delightful and funny 2 yr. older who says to baby sister, when she knocks over his blocks, "You bad baby. You go to your Mama!"

Saige, age 1, is anything but a bad baby. She is a very sweet and happy natured baby who is trying to talk.

With such beautiful--much cooler than Houston--weather, we enjoyed outings in and around their beautiful resort-like town.

I was able to personally present to our son, 3 albums containing the first 23 years of his life. This was my big summer project.

Traveling home, minus the 3 albums, our load was lighter, but our hearts heavy, as the airplane took us further and further away from our Minnesota loved ones. We sure miss them. Thank goodness for Skype.

Kids and Puppies

They make a delightful combination -- the grandkids and the newest grandpup, Lady.

After playing, they're all worn out. Grandpa's got a lapfull.

a trip to Bimidji

Last week, while a volcano erupted in Iceland and an earthquake rattled China, I took a trip to a peaceful place, far way, in Minnesota ---spent time with, and helped out our oldest son's sweet family, and met the newest addition, little Saige (2 weeks old).

The weather was perfect as we visited Bemidji State Park. What a pioneer woman Courtney is, going for a hike two weeks after giving birth.

          It was fun to see Colby interact with little sister --

and to see him give sweet kisses, along with a few pokes in the face, and stealing her tiny pink binkie.

       to see Colby enjoying time with Dad (on the shores of beautiful Lake Bemidji).

                             or taking care of their little princess

                         or just doing guy things -- like 4-wheelin'

       Colby enjoys spending time with Mom too--

      But most of the time Mom is busy with baby sister.

 So Colby got to spend lots of time playing with Grammy, going for wagon rides, and collecting rocks to throw out of the wagon--

It was so nice for this Grammy to see this face first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

and to give sweet Saige lots and lots of cuddles and kisses --

(P.S. -- Saige with the quilt I made her)

That was my wonderful week. 

Bunnies in Bemidji!

While our little Texas bunnies were hopping around in the backyard last weekend, my thoughts were also on the grandchildren who are far away, but close to my heart.

I stole these precious photos of dear little Colby and his sweet newborn sister Saige from Courtney's blog.

The wait is quickly over!

She's here! ! Mark called me early yesterday morning to say they were at the hospital, in labor.  Saige Elizabeth was born at noon, weighing in at 9lbs.11oz., on March 30. What a way to end the month. We're all so happy and excited to meet our newest little grandchild. And isn't she a cutie? Courtney pointed out to me the coincidence that our 10th grandchild is born in 2010. 

just waiting...

There's always something to look forward to.  We're all waiting for grandchild #10 to be born, just any day now.  We thought maybe she would make her debut this Saturday, on Grandpa's 64th birthday.  Here's Grandpa celebrating with the grandchildren  who live 15 minutes away. They're excited to have the newest arrival join the girls' team, which will outnumber the boys (6 to 4).

Grandparents, uncles, aunties, and cousins, in Texas, Colorado, and Utah are anxiously waiting to welcome little Saige, who will be Mark and Courtney's first girl (2nd child). Her quilt is almost done. I'm finishing sewing on the binding. Can hardly wait to give it to her in person when I fly to Minnesota in two weeks.

Jump for joy!

I know. It doesn't look like we're jumping on the trampoline. But Ava and I are merrily bouncing away  in a grammy/3 year old little girl  way.  It was a beautiful day last Saturday, to head out to the country and visit some sweet little grandkids.

Saying "Good-bye"

We were happy and sad to make one last trip to San Antonio the day before Mark, Courtney and Colby headed out to their new life in Minnesota. When we arrived, we worked all day packing the last items and loading the moving truck. "Little" Carl and his friend Adam were a tremendous help. We had brought them up for a church youth conference. They spent the night at Mark's place. In the morning, before Mark drove them to Trinity U. for EFY, the boys also helped with babysitting and packing the last few boxes.......7 month old Colby seemed a bit bewildered as his little world was being packed away. Here we are sitting on the sofa for the last time. Colby was a trooper; he was so patient through all the upheaval. He's now walking, while supporting himself on the edge of the sofa. When I said my last "bye-bye" to Colby, he amazed me, by waving and saying "bye-bye". When I said several "bye-byes", he kept repeating them back to me and waving.

A big piece of my heart is now in Minnesota.

Grandchild #9 arrives today (Feb. 23, 4:00p.m)!

Just a real quick post (it's been a busy day!) so all the family can get a quick peek at this cutie (I think he looks a lot like Lauren when she was born). After having three girls, Lauren and Dan are sooo excited to finally have a boy who probably will be named Evan Daniel (they are 99.9 % sure at this point, but things could change). He weighed in at 8lbs.9oz, being induced a week early so he wouldn't end up an 11 pounder like sister Avery.

Sweet Valentine's Day in San Antonio

Grandpa and I had a super Valentine's Day with our not -so -little, sweet 11 week old Colby, and his sweet Mom and Dad. He's grown so much since we'd last seen him at Christmas, and is very strong-- tries to do sit-ups. He's also very smart and doesn't miss a thing. I'm sure we're not prejudiced and his other grandparents (who'll see him again next week) will agree 100%!

Do you see the resemblance here? He's definitely a mama's boy, but he enjoys hanging out with his Daddy too.

Something to be thankful for!

On Wednesday, we headed to San Antonio with a turkey and all the trimmings, and came back on Saturday, the proud grandparents of our 8th grandchild, Colby Michael. Usually, the gang all comes to our house, but with Lauren and Dan's family heading to Utah and Emily home with her new baby, we decided to take Thanksgiving to Mark and Courtney's, hoping the baby would make his arrival while we were there. On turkey day, Courtney was feeling too miserable to eat anything. That evening, we all headed for the hospital and got to be there to welcome this precious baby, when he entered the world, very early the next day.

Three generations of Ellis men (including the first grandson to carry on the family name)

The number 8 is Colby's lucky number: We have 8 children. Colby is our 8th grandchild. Colby was born on Nov. 28, 2008, weighing in at 8 lbs. 9 oz.

grandchild # 7

I was out running when Brian called saying Emily had the baby -- 2 weeks early. Philip took the message and mistakenly told me she weighed 6 lb. 8 oz. (I was worried about our little "preemie"). We headed out to Beaumont that day (after watching Carl run in the district cross country meet) to greet our healthy, 8 lb. 9 oz. new granddaughter, Laila Isabella. What a joy to hold her in my arms! She was so alert, looking all around, and making good eye contact. Emily looked great and didn't seem tired, just happy and relieved. I'm heading out on Monday to help Emily for a week, and enjoy those precious grandkids.

Here are the kids meeting baby sister for the first time. Dario takes his role of big brother very seriously and loves holding Laila. Aiden is very excited, while sweet Ava isn't too sure of what's going on. (Stay tuned for more photos in a week, and check out Emily's blog -- she's already made an entry her first day home from the hospital!)

Elayna turns 8!

On Aug. 23rd, her birthday, our sweet Elayna (our oldest grandchild) was baptized. All her little Texas cousins and most of her Texas uncles and aunties were there, and even an uncle and auntie from Utah. She sets such a good example as the oldest of many cousins on both her mommy and her daddy's side. Love you Elayna!

June 7th -- Papparazzi spots the latest baby bump!

You might think this is Jennifer Anniston, but no, look again, it's our very own Courtney! What a cute baby bump! This is our #8 grandbaby, the first to carry on the family name. Courtney is due the end of Nov. while our Emily, who is carrying #7 grandchild, is due in the middle of November.