Ellis Party of 6

Well, I guess we'll be changing our blog name in the near future! Yes, we are pregnant again due on March 25th! I'm nearing the end of my first trimester now. I actually found out the day that Mark drove away from Orlando with the moving truck. We figure that God must be up to something with timing like this! But we are very excited to have a new little sister or brother for Taylor Grace. She'll be a great big sis I can already tell. I'm feeling pretty good now but I've had a little bit of morning sickness this time which I had'nt had with Taylor. So, we are wondering if its a boy this time. We've been to the doctor and gotten an ultrasound and the little peanut already had sweet little fingers and toes. Taylor has NO idea what is about to hit her of course. We are just loving on her and trying to enjoy the time with Taylor by herself. She is almost fully walking now although she chooses to crawl when she needs to get somewhere fast. But she's really growing fast now.. we're almost completely off the bottle, switched to milk and on to sippy cups now. Knowing I'm going to have another baby in the spring is overwhelming at times, when I look at Taylor and she still seems so small and young...but now that she's walking and learning to talk I think I have a big girl on my hands now....and she'll be a help to me later I hope. So, if you have any advice on how to prepare a 1 1/2 year old for a new baby bring it on!

Yosemite....our backyard ( well sort of)

Mark, Taylor and I had a chance to hop over to Yosemite National Park for a few days last week. It is absolutely gorgeous there! Unfortunately the waterfalls were dry because its the summertime...but we were not disappointed with the breathtaking views of Half dome and El Capitan! Mark and taylor hiked together in the new Kelty backpack I got Mark for father's day. And lucky for me I only had to carry snacks and water. :) We had a great time and Taylor had a ball in the great outdoors. A mama deer and her two babies crossed our trail about 12 feet from us and Taylor got really excited! I think she thought they were doggies but oh well she did see them...and well they do kind of look like our dogs. We did see a baby black bear too crossing the road one night.

After we left we found out there had been a big rock slide later in the day and the park service had to evacuate part of the Valley..Thank you Lord that we were not there at the time! We're slowly beginning to explore around California. I guess everyone makes their sacrifices in order to live in this beautiful state. We're finding that most of those sacrifices invlove finances...its costs money to do EVERYTHING here! But we are taking it all in stride. We know God has a plan and an adventure for us here for the time being. And when we've seen and done it all this year we'll move along. We've found a great church with lots of activities for families. We've even made a few friends already! So, life is starting to normal out for the Ellis family here...even though we miss family and friends terribly.

I posted a few pics from our trip below. Theres more posted on our facebook page...its so much easier to upload photos to facebook for some reason. So if you have a facebook acct and you are not our friend let me know and I'll add you so you can see more...if you arent on facebook...get one and we can be friends.

Taylor and Mark hiking up Yosemite falls....it was bone dry

Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half dome

Mama and Taylor at Lake Tenaya



BIG Pine cone

Californians

We've been in Cali for almost a month now. Its hard to believe we actually made it here in one piece. We had lots of "snafus" you could say during the moving process but we're finally moved in and settled down for a bit anyway. Mark's family drove our Tahoe here and were here to help us for a week, which was soooo great. Mark has already traveled to MT for a conference in wilderness medicine. While he was away David, my brother, came for a week to visit and help with Taylor. Since our family has left its been very quiet and lonely here. Mark has worked a few shifts and I spend alot of my days chasing Taylor around and of course letting the dogs in and out of the house. We did manage to get a short hike in last week. There are parks and hiking EVERYWHERE here! Its amazing! We're planning to spend a few nights in Yosimite Natl Park next week and do some more hiking before it gets chilly here. Speaking of the weather...I'm a total weather nerd and the weather here is BORING. I know I shouldnt complain but we're talking 55-85 degrees everyday!!! NO clouds, no rain, no nothing! We dont even get the ominous fog that the nothern bay area gets daily. I never realized how much I need that weather action.
But on the flipside you can do almost any outdoor activity any day you want and you know you wont get too hot, too cold, or wet. So, I think I should be happy.
We've found a great church, Menlo Park Presbyterian, which is very contemporary and very kid-friendly. I've already met a potential friend there and we're trying to set up a coffee date this week.
Mark is getting used to the Stanford system and we're both loving the 8 hr shifts! I see him so much now! Not much else to report. We're still praying for our house in Orlando to get rented.
I've made a few goals for myself this year....I'm going to learn to be a fabulous cook and I'm going to attempt to make at least 1 quilt. I ordered an easy amy butler pattern and fabric so we're see. I'm not crossing my fingers but I really want to try. I hope I dont get too frustrated.
I'll take some pics of the house soon and post them!

Almost walking!

We are only a month away from Taylor's 1st birthday and she will definitely be walking by then! This video was from last week when she first started taking a few steps. Since then she has really been improving and practicing her walking skills. She's very proud of herself too!