The Cook Family Adventure Blog: Holidays and Welcome baby cook #2!!

In early December we got to meet the new baby for the first time at the initial ultrasound. We are so excited to be welcoming baby #2! She or he looks exactly like Mom and / or Dad and / or Elliot. We are very excited about the prospect of expanding our family yet again.

The holidays fly by!

Thanksgiving was in Seattle this year as both Crystal and Mac had to work. Grandma and Grandpa Cook came out to visit and cook thanksgiving dinner. Elliot, Grandpa and Grandma had a grand old time heading out to the Maple Leaf park and swinging / riding on toy air planes.

The rest of November was a series of small Seattle adventures, including a trip to Discovery park. This is a larger park within the Seattle limits - but perhaps the most fun was stopping at a gracoery store afterwards that had toddler sized shopping carts (see picture). Elliot was VERY interested in pushing this around and putting things in it - just like mom and dad. We took advantage of the winter weather in the Washington Cascades to get out for a hike in the deep snow. Elliot had a blast in the carrier as the dogs romped through snow covered woods.

We also traveled down to Portland for a few days to visit friends and combined this Crystal working several shifts at Kaiser and Mac starting the job search. This visit coincided with a snowpocalypse in Portland and it was great to be back in PDX but a bit surreal as everything was shut down to the whopping (2 inches) amount of snow.

We were lucky this year in that Crystal and Mac both had vacation time during Christmas and we were able to travel home! The trip started out with a drive down to Portland to drop the dog's off at the dog sitter (complicated by a poop explosion!!!) and then a flight from Portland to Wisconsin and Elliot was a TROOPER! She had a great flight out, proving yet again that she is a tough little traveler.

We spent the first night in Waterford with Grandma Weis and the next day headed out to the farm where Uncle Patrick was kind enough to let us invade his space and host the Weis aunts/uncles for a lunch. It was nice to see everyone in the same place and it was the first time the Elliot has been in the Weis family farm house. She really enjoyed running around and tossing toys every which way. We were able to have dinner that night with Mandy and Aaron while Grandma Weis watched Elliot and their daughter, Kendall. Elliot and Kendall had a blast playing together and there are a TON of toys at Grandma Weis's house to keep toddlers interested.

The next day brought a Roanhouse family reunion at the coffee shop. Again, it was really nice to catch up with all the aunts, uncles, cousins and the myriad of next generation. Grandma Weis had set up a station for making jingle bell necklaces and bracelets and Elliot fell in love with her jingle bell necklace. Following this event - she slept in the care on the way to Chad and Kelly's in Madison.

We next spent two and a half days in Madison at Chad and Kelly's house. We spent the first day exploring the lake and taking Elliot ice skating (likes being pulled on a sled on the ice, does NOT like skating) as well as visiting the Madison zoo for the zoo lights and a carousel ride. The next day was CHRISTMAS and Elliot seemed to understand the concept that surprises for her were within the presents, although often the box and wrapping paper were more interesting than the actual item. The highlight of the day was a visit from SANTA who made a point to give all the men coal for Christmas. Chad made a delicious dinner of steak and lobster mac&cheese. It was indeed a good night.

The next morning we were up early to fly to Portland, where Grandpa Cook picked up the traveling Cook's and everyone snoozed on the way up to Rome. As this was Christmas eve - we decorated the family tree at Cook's camp and caught up with the family. Elliot fell in love with Molly dog. The next morning was Christmas day which started out with stockings at Cook's camp followed by a visit from Santa and his elves to the Farmington hospital to deliver presents to the nursing stations. Christmas lunch and then present opening happened at Aunt Kate and Uncle Ryan's house followed by the annual hot-tub auction where, as predicted, the staunchest anti-hot tub faction (Grandpa Cook) was the biggest contributor to the hot-tub fund. Elliot received a blue bear back from Aunt Kate and Uncle Ryan that was a major hit.

The next day in Maine started with building an electric train in the entry way followed by a horse drawn sleigh ride through the woods of Maine - a fun, memorable and unique experience. The scouting for "searching for Santa" continues!! That afternoon we took Elliot sledding on the frozen lake, confirming that she LOVES sledding but really is quite unsure about skating. Dad's highlight of the day was getting her dressed up in snow gear, a backpack and a head lamp for a twighlight lake adventure - ADVENTURE BABY!!

The next day was a long drive down to Boston, a touch flight back to PDX and then a long drive back up to Seattle. Elliot was starting to get sick but was a trooper through it all, actually falling asleep on the floor of the plane for a second (parents of the year!). We arrived back in Seattle safe and sound (but exhausted) followed several days later by several boxes of presents from Wisconsin and Maine - to Elliot's great delight.

New years was much less exciting (work and going to be early) and early January has been marked by lower key adventures throughout the city.

Unfortunately our prior nanny returned to school on January 1st and so we have hired a new nanny to help us take care of Elliot. She seems to be wonderful and takes excellent care of Elliot (and us) cooking chicken noodle soup, spanakopita, and enchildas while cleaning the hosue and helping Elliot grow. We are particularly excited about her because she referred to Crystal as a "little hero" for being a mom, a doctor and pregnant while keeping as active as she is. Those words perfectly crystallized what Mac thinks about his beautiful, intelligent and hardworking wife and it was impressive to see Magi identify that about Crystal so quickly.

Hopefully this spring will bring a trip to Hawaii, a trip to Leavenworth for the ice fest and finding out more about the new baby!

Elliot enjoys:

- Eating!!!

- Splashing in the bath

- Asking for "more, please"

- Learning new words (she can say 20-30 words)

- Running around like crazy

- Going to the zoomazium and the greenlake toddler and actually playing with other kids!!

- DOGS!!!!!!!!

- Books

- Her play kitchen

- Putting on her own jacket