Daddy's Home!

My dog likes to bark.  A lot. 

When he barks loudly in the early evening, it can only mean one thing...

Daddy's Home!

I rush to the door & giggle with excitement.  I tap on the glass and Daddy taps back.  Then he scoops me up into his arms!  I'm a lucky kid. 

Elmo-Lee & other Ramblings

Can you say this? 

Can you say that?

  These parents of mine never give me a break!  And guess what?  I love it! 

The only thing I don't like right now is hearing the word, "NO."

Mommy and I have been practicing saying "Emily" but I get a little confused between my cousin and my furry red monster pal.  Sometimes, I say "Elmo-lee".  It's pretty close. 

Like my hair?  This weather hasn't been too good for it.  Today, it looks like a science experiment.

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Mom says I should tell you about my visit to the doctor last week.  I weighed 22.8 pounds & I am 2 feet, 6 inches tall.  Fifteen more inches and I can ride the Phoenix!  Anyway, Nurse Angel came in the room to give me some shots -- I foolishly thought she was checking out my knees until I felt an intense pain in my leg!  So I reached down and ripped the needle out of my leg.  You can bet she wasn't expecting that!  No more shots until kindergarten!  Yahoo!

Lucky Doll

Over the weekend, Daddy, Mommy, and I went to Hilton Head. Wasn't that a good idea? It was warm enough that our whole family could walk around on the beach. The first thing I did was run towards the water. It looked like the biggest bathtub ever! When I got to the ocean, it started to chase me and I didn't really know how to feel about that. Then I fell and it was cold...

So I cried.

Then Toby wanted to play chase and that made me happy again.

See how much fun going to the beach is? Mommy let me practice all my yoga moves on Aunt Judy & Uncle Cecil's couch cushions. I am perfecting downward dog.

On Saturday, we had the most fun. We visited with Aunt Judy & Uncle Cecil and then went to Coligny Plaza. We went to the toy store and then to Big Bamboo Cafe. We had a delicious lunch -- three cheers for black beans, cucumbers, & hummus. What?! I have a refined palate. The best part was the music -- while Mom & Dad ate their lunch, I danced to the Jimmy Buffett music being played by Mr. Guitar Man.

After all that dancing, I was SO tired. So my parents did what every responsible parent would do...

they took me to the Cajun Fest at The Salty Dog.

and Guess What??

I can't wait to go back!

Where's My Candy?

Baaaaaaaaaa!

I am such a big girl now! So big, that mommy dressed me up like a sheep last weekend and let me beg for treats in the neighborhood for Daddy. I liked picking out treats and putting them in my bag. Better than that was cruising in my stroller with my friends in the dark. AND there were cheerios.

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I have some new words that I say aloud. As you know from this blog, I am a master of the English language. When I'm not speaking Japanese, I like to say...

cracker!

milk!

ack you (thank you)

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The Road Less Traveled...

"Mama? Can I eat nature?"

"No," said Mama. "Nature is for exploring."

"And enjoying."

I love autumn.

Sibling Rivalry?

I love my fur brother. He is sweet & soft. He likes to roll around in the playhouse in my bedroom. Maybe he thinks toy kitchens are fun like me. I bet he pretends to make omelets. He keeps me company when I eat my lunch. Isn't that nice of him? He just sits right there underneath my highchair.

Good boy.

Now get in my basket...

365 days

Happy Birthday Baby Ellie!

This has been the best year of my life.

Love always,

Mommy

Who says I'm loud?

Ellie Speaks

I am very chatty. Mostly, I speak Alien & Japanese, but I can say a few words in my native tongue. My favorite word is "ball" pronounced, "Baaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhlllllllllllll!" I get very excited when I say this word.

The other word I enjoy is "dog". There are dogs everywhere -- in my house, in my books, & on the television. I see them walking down the street and I point and yell, "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggg!" I like real dogs & stuffed animal dogs. I do not discriminate.

In the middle of the night, I like to say, "Ma. Ma. MaMa." Works like a charm.

Everyone beware: little ears are listening & my little mouth will soon repeat.

My Mommy is Freaking Out

Dear Diary,

Hey, it's me Ellie! I've been distracted by all the things that I can reach and get into that I completely forgot about the computer. Have you ever been inside a pantry?! It is SO fun -- there are shelves down low made just for babies to wreck. I love plastic forks and paper plates. I just carry 'em around and drop them all over the place - it's great! A lot of that junk fits perfectly in my wooden cart, so I stash things in there right next to Elmo.

Do you know what's better than a pantry? Guess! No, really... take a guess! A Lazy Susan! There are so many small glass jars and bowls and tea bags and coffee buckets and spices and I can throw all of them! And when Mommy catches me there, I just take off running with whatever I can fit in my little hands. Yesterday, I snatched Cayenne Pepper & 17 tea bags.

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So, it's my birthday in less than three weeks. I don't really know what a birthday is but Mommy says it's the only thing I really own and that we can have balloons. One thing I know for sure is that I LOVE BALLOONS! They are so fun. I have a purple one from Harris Teeter, but it keeps getting smaller. Why is that? Must be magic. Back to the birthday thing -- Mommy is kinda freaking out and saying things like, "You'll always be my baby." If I could talk out loud, I would totally tell her that she's starting to sound like Papa. And she keeps asking why I have to grow up and all that nonsense. I mean, does she REALLY want me to pee in my pants for the rest of my life?

I need my beauty rest or something like that. More like, I need some fuel for my afternoon of cabinet shenanigans. Smoochie Boochie!

Hugs & Kisses,

Baby Ellie

p.s. What's a toddler? Toddler Ellie doesn't really roll off the tongue...

A Revelation

Do you know what is more fun than walking?

Nothing!

Let's Ask a Baby...

Baby? How do you feel today?

Glad that you asked, computer.

To quote my Uncle Joe...

"My nose is broke. This side is leakin' & this side doesn't even work."

My gums are sad and look like little white pillows. Mom says it's more teeth. She was feeling sorry for herself at 2 am, but she's not the one with erupting gums. I don't mean to complain, but it's really the pits.

On a happy note, I am the best little walker on the planet. When we went to Ikea on Sunday, I insisted on walking everywhere. Mommy insisted that I ride in the cart. So I suggested a duel. She suggested that maybe it was time to go home. I hate losing. So I screamed. Really loud. People looked. Mothers covered their toddlers eyes.

Really, I am quite good at walking. Last night, Mommy took me to Daddy's practice field and the grass was very soft for walking. I walked right over to the cooler of popsicles & waited for an opportunity to pounce. I said, "I'll have orange, s'il vous plait." It was ice cold & delicious. It turned my white shorts orange, which then matched my legs that were already covered in macaroni & cheese. I wish that every Monday could be orange food night. Yum.

It's a Great Day to be a Wildcat!

Today was Fan Day on the Town Green. All my boys were there -- all 100 in their white jerseys. And my most favorite boy of all was there, too... Daddy! I got to ride around in his arms until it was his turn in the dunk tank. Here is a picture of me watching...

Everyone who saw me said, "Oh, just wait! She'll be walking soon."

So I showed them my moves.

After Daddy left, it got really hot outside, & I had had enough.

So I showed Mommy this move:

Talent.

Missing

Uhm, excuse me? Has anyone seen my Daddy anywhere?

Mommy says he's at football camp, but I don't know how to find this place called "football camp".

I looked in my tunnel -- no Daddy.

I looked under the table -- no Daddy.

I called out, "Da Da?" but there was no answer.

Toby started barking loudly and I thought maybe it was Daddy, but it was just a leaf.

If anyone knows where I can find Football Camp, please call me on my Little Tikes kitchen phone. I will be awaiting your call.

Mom Said...

Mom said that trying to cut my fingernails was like trying to give a pill to a cat.

Mom said that my last stinky diaper reminded her of Amish Country.

Mom said that she didn't mind at all if I use the stepstool at the library as a walker.

Mom ALSO said, "Just be sure you don't get caught."

Mom said that she doesn't really mind when I want to snuggle at 2 am because someday I'll go off to college.

Mom said that boxes of noodles make great shakers --- Ooo! And they do!

Mom said that she just can't imagine a life without me in it.

Mom, you never have to. I'm your girl forever.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Three words for you:

I Can Walk.

Pictures coming soon!

I was feeling camera shy this morning, but here is a clip of me from last week.

"Training Wheels"

My Big Day

What a day! Today I was received into the household of God -- pretty big stuff, huh?! At my church, we call it Baptism. This is me with Mommy, Daddy, & Father David. I didn't even cry when he poured water on my head. I knew it was really special and let's face it... I really love water. He sealed me with oil, too. I am marked as Christ's own forever.

After I was Baptized, I did get a little squirrely. Remember, I am still just a little baby. I crawled around and cruised on the pew behind me. I will be walking VERY soon.

When church was over, my whole family went to the Lake for a picnic! I got to swim in the lake and go for a boat ride. If this is what we get to do on my Baptism Day, I can't wait to see what they do for my Birthday!

What We Learn at Playgroup

Oh my gosh, playgroup was SO much fun this week. That's me in the back somewhere. *wink*wink*

Baby Design Star

Welcome to HGTV's new series, "Baby Design Star".


It features me, Baby Ellie, as the designer.

Need help organizing your shelves, repurposing cabinetry, or coming up with an entirely new design plan for your room? If so, then tune in because each day I will choose a room to completely destroy... I mean, redesign.

And the exciting part? It's all done in under an hour!

See your local tv guide for times.

Table Manners

Mommy says that my table manners are a-trosh-iss.

I know what you're thinking,

"Ewww... that baby is feeding that dog!"

That dog is not like any other dog -- he is El Tobe. He's my buddy, my pal, my P.I.C.* He is also STILL afraid that I'm going to pull his fur, so I lure him to my eating throne with cheerios, chicken, peaches, and anything else bite size. It makes him happy & it makes me giggle.

Mommy says, "Baby Ellie, you eat it."

But look at that little face. How can I say no? He is so hopeful for a morsel of whole grain o's.

Bananas are a different story. They are not for sharing. They are for ME only. This does not stop El Tobe from asking, begging, licking my ankles in anticipation.

"Toby, you are not a monkey." Mommy tells him.

"OO-ooo-EE-eeee," says Toby as he hangs from my highchair by his tail and scratches his head.

Nice try, buddy. Bananas are not for sharing. Have a Cheerio.

*P.I.C. = Partner in Crime

My Family

Sand

Sand

A Love Poem

by Baby Ellie

Crunch, munch, looks like lunch

Tiny grains of sand

I eat it by the fistful

From my right & my left hand

Yummy, tummy, making Mummy

Wash my mouth with water

Still I place it in my mouth

"Determination" I have taught her

Daddy, Can We Move to Hilton Head?

New Favorite Number

My new favorite number is 5.

Can you guess what that means? At precisely 5 in the morning, before the sun comes up, before all the birdies are out of their nests, I begin to rise. I rub my sweet little baby eyes, stretch my chubby little arms and legs, and pull myself up to standing.

"Hey, y'all! I'm up! Who wants to play?"