Ellie's 1!

Day 1


Baby Ellie is 1 today! Is it just me or on your kids birthday do you think every second throughout the day, "last year at this time we were_______." What a great day that was and what an adventurous year it has been! While some days seem to barely creep on by, the year has flown by. Ellie is full of easy smiles and giggles, very dramatic, and just worships Mommy and Daddy. As every child except the first I'm sure, no big party, no invites, no games/prizes. Just cupcakes and a few presents (not even wrapped) after dinner at home. Bor-ing. Sorry Ellie - it doesn't mean we love you any less; I just figured a few things out after the first go-round. Aight, here's the stats I'm sure you've all been dying to know:

height: tba
weight:tba
hair: light brown
eyes: brown
teeth: 6 - all came in 2 week period.
favorite foods: bananas, spaghetti, oranges, string cheese, peas...basically everything.
comforts: Ellie took her binky religiously until 5 months, then one day threw it across the van and has found relief in sucking her 3rd and 4th fingers of her right hand simultaneously and holding that hand with her left ever since. Same with her bottle. About 3 weeks ago, she was done with it. Doesn't get much easier than that.
favorite beverage: apple juice..she's only had it once but was pretty excited.
favorite toy: stuffed puppy
favorite song: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," "I Am a Child of God."
favorite book: "See the Rabbit"
favorite movie: Whatever big sis is watching.
favorite game: share. Ellie loves to hand you items and have you hand them back.
favorite place: The Library
walking: Feb 1
favorite time: bathtime and when Daddy wrestles with her.
daily schedule: wake up 7:00 a.m.,breakfast (eggs, toast, or cereal), formula, play and get dressed, 9:00 10:00 - nap, go on daily outing to library, or store. 1:00 - lunch, 4:00 snack and play with Mommy while Hannah sleeps for another hour, 5:30: Daddy gets home and plays 6:00 - 45 min nap (yes, she takes 3 naps a day but I think that's because I wake her up from her 1st nap so that she'll take the 2nd while Hannah does). 7:00- dinner, bath. 8:00 bed. Repeat.
Ellie B, our world would be destitute without you. Who knew a 2nd baby girl could bring so much added joy to our lives. You are an absolute angel. All our love "pooky-ellie!"

Day 365
Ellie "B's" (Barbara) bumble B themed table. Who is this girls mother?

They're BUMBLEBEE cupcakes folks. C'mon, use your imagination.

Okay, if you thought retarded tropical guppy fish with earmuffs, I'll give you a break.

Don't worry, I had help

Make that DOUBLE help

Hmm, THAT looks interesting

Never again to be the same woman













What a goof!

Over the course of the day Hannah became more tolerant of the fact that it was Ellie's birthday, not hers...after all, it was just as fun to sing to Ellie, H got cupcakes too and even got to blow out her own candle, and basically took control of each present before Ellie even laid eyes on it. Birthdays are fun for everyone!

The Abacus

What girl doesn't love brand new pink/yellow/blue kitchen gadgets?

28

I'm 28! And quickly cascading down the downhill side to 3-0. My birthday was great! When the girls woke up, Nate said,"Hannah, did you wish mommy a happy birthday?" Hannah stuck out her bottom lip and said, "be Hannah's birthday soon." Poor little dear wanted it to be her birthday. LOL. Two great friends took me out to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. With our kids (some missing) we were a table for 8, including 3 high chairs. We had a group stop by and tell us we were the "most courageous people in the restaurant." Of course Hannah had to bite Ellie's fingers and make her scream, limiting me to eating 1/2 my delicious omelet/hash browns/grits/biscuits breakfast. Sad. Lots of phone calls and emails and well wishers made the day go really quite fast.
For me, each year has gotten better and better. I've never felt this grateful or content in my whole life. I'm more comfortable in my own skin than I've ever been and it feels wonderful. I've identified the things/people that make me happy and the ones that don't and I'm not trying to be anything I'm not. Ahhhhhhh. I've come up with an "Ash's Top 28" if you will; things I've come across and learned from in all my 28 years. Some serious, some not. I know some are mundane sayings that you hear all the time, but each one has real meaning to me...I could have put a paragraph...or 7 behind many of them but figured we both had better things to do. Again, some of these things are very basic. Don't judge, I'm a slow learner.
It also didn't take me long to realize that there needs to be a completely separate list for "Things learned from having kids". Maybe next year. So, with no further ado I give you Ash's Top 28 Lessons Learned:

28 -It is impossible to love anyone or anything else without first loving yourself.

27 -There will never been enough money so learn to live within your means. Today.

26 - By definition, sin is separation from God. So, the person who has a teeny tiny imperfection and the person with mountain of sins of the worst nature are in the exact same boat. We are all temporarily separated from our Heavenly Father, period.

25 -You cannot draw water from an empty well.

24 -Ask for Heavenly Fathers help, even if you think He is rolling his eyes thinking it ridiculous.

23 -A deep meaningful conversation with a friend about the real issues in your life once a year is much more beneficial than endless everyday "small talk" interactions.

22 -It's never too early (or too late) to learn the importance of saying "I'm sorry." Oh, and meaning it.

21 - The things we judge in other are often the very things we hate about ourselves.

20 - The 3 (and only) things you can justify spending good money on are: makeup, perfume, and baby wipes. C'mon, when is the last time you used that last drop of foundation or last crystal of eye shadow?


19 -It's impossible to dye you hair back to it's natural hair color.

18 -The idea is not to bend the gospel of Jesus Christ to fit your style. You change yourself to conform to it's every simple, succinct teachings.

17 - On the same note, you should not pick and choose which gospel principles you'll live. That is not how it works. It's all or nothing.

16 - Constantly living for the future = unhappiness, ungratefulness, regret.

15 -I loathe even a hint of drama. It makes me cringe. Always has, always will. People, shut up and do your thing.

14 -semi sweet choc chips make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

13 -The expectation of getting something for nothing is crippling.

12 -Now days, it takes more courage to conform to traditional norms than to head down the self-serving path of insubordination.

10 -The best way to clean out the fridge shelves is in the bathtub.

9 - "...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all."

8 -The m&ms in the small bag taste much better than the large bag.

7 -There is no point in paying money for "work out" clothes

6 -It is impossible to be honest with others without first being honest with yourself.

5 -having a short sleek bob haircut is just not in the cards for some...like me. It's okay.

4 -A good listener is worth her weight in GOLD. 99% of people, albeit inadvertently, steer all conversation right back around to themselves. Drives me nuts.

3 - love is NOT telling somebody what they want to hear.

2 -When it comes right down to it, 70% of people think they are an exception to the rule. You do NOT want to be one of these people. (Think about this one and its unending behavioral implications).

1 -Unhealthy social behaviors are people trying to compensate for their own lack of self esteem.

HOLD ON! THERE'S ONE MORE!

Lastly and most applicable/life altering:

*****If it doesn't affect YOU and YOUR personal eternal salvation, LET. IT. GO.

So, what are your top three lessons learned?


My very own little beater-lickers:




H with her new coat/purse combo from Nannah and Wal-mart game face.

Bath time

My mom is selling her adorable Australian Sheperd puppies. Interested or know anyone who is?

CLICK HERE

(All proceeds go toward Nannah's airfare to NC:)

We got a package

It was a good package. Like Christmas all over again. Thank you and enjoy families:

Happy B-day Daddy!

The girls driving a fire engine at Children's Museum.

And some coloring...

And then Daddy's birthday which was WAY more exciting for Hannah than him.


My mad cake decorating skills.


Hope everyone is having a great January 2010!

Guess what I stumbled upon the other day....clear in Charlotte, North Carolina?











Yep, it made my day:)