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?"

Today is my Nana & Papa's Anna-Verse-Ah-Ree!

I am really happy that they married each other because if it weren't for their love, I wouldn't be here. And I really, really like being here. They've been sharing the same toothpaste for 33 years. And not to bring this back to me, but I am also officially 9 months old today. Yea, me!

Things I Help Mommy With...

I help Mommy load the dishwasher.

I help Mommy find higher places for books & magazines.

I help Mommy cook dinner!

(Hmmm... I wonder why she put me in my crate? Could it be because I like to spill Toby's water? Or is it because she doesn't like it when I rearrange the contents of the kitchen cabinets? Nah... I'm pretty organized, so it couldn't be that. I wonder if it has something to do with all those cookbooks I like to throw on the floor? Or because the oven is hot? Might be on account of that table that I broke. Ahh.. all in a days work!)

Remember... I AM FAST!

First Father's Day

As Daddy picked me up out of my crib on Sunday morning, I shouted, "Happy Father's Day!" which sounded more like, "Iddle diddle diddle, sphghthth!"

I bought Daddy a hat & a fishing license because he promised to take me fishin' at the lake. Just FYI, Daddy -- you probably shouldn't let me touch the bait because I'll probably try to eat it.

After my nap, we went out to the boat. I love being out on the water -- I am JUST like Daddy.

Take a guess at who I look like! Do you like our matching dimples?

We even have the same hands & feet.

"Is now a good time to talk about that pony?"

I love you, Daddy!

When Babies Attack!

Never underestimate this species of baby. While we may look friendly, we often attack without warning. Our ability to move quickly and climb aids us in our quest to dominate your lap.

What did I tell you? Never turn your back for a second.

Gotcha!

Freedom!

Dear Diary,

You should see me now! With one knee down & a heel to propel me forward, there is nothing outside my grasp. Crawling = freedom. The freedom to pull baskets of magazines off of coffee tables & baskets of files off of desk shelves. The freedom to find every cord attached to every lamp in the house. The freedom to pull myself up to standing wherever I choose.


Daddy is away in Floor-i-duh, but he comes home today. So, this morning Mommy & I read the newspaper all by ourselves. I especially enjoyed the classifieds -- they are a lil' bit slippery if you crawl on them.


Now that I have crawling crossed off my "to-do" list, I've been working on some other tricks. I will keep you in suspense and post about those later with pictures included, so STAY TUNED!


Here is the latest photo montage:

Hugs & Kisses,

Baby Ellie

Inspiration

Eight & a half months, 27 crackers, 96 Kix, & a visit from the Landis Family gave me

the Inspiration to...

Danger Baby: Episode 3

On today's episode of Danger Baby, you will learn the importance of never turning your back on someone small. I understand that you needed to chop the broccoli for dinner. And I understand that you had only turned your back to me for a few seconds.

But understand THIS...

I AM FAST!

I am... Danger Baby!

I think I'm gonna need a cape...

Diary of a Baby

Dear Diary,

Check me out! I am really growing! My hair is getting fuller, my legs are getting plumper, & my feet are getting big. I'm still not crawling and it's really beginning to disappoint me. Just when I think I'm going to go, my feet get caught. I really need to stop sitting criss-cross-applesauce.

Last Wednesday, Mommy & I flew to Pennsylvania again. Flying is so cool & the boarding pass is so fun to chew on. Mommy brought me some new books to look at on the plane, but I felt like being squirrely instead. I wanted to get down & play, but she kept making me sit there. So, I pulled her hair, stole her sunglasses, climbed her torso, & put my fingers in her diet coke. She didn't like that too much.

Uncle Joe graduated from high school this past weekend & they let me go to the ceremony! I loved the orchestra, but I jumped everytime the people clapped. The program was pretty good to chew on & Aunt JuJu let me drool on her calculator, too. I hope it still works. Mommy was so proud of her little brother and Nana took lots & lots of pictures. I will be sure to borrow some pictures of the evening from Nana's Facebook page soon!

I had a really fun time playing with my cousin Emily & today I feel cranky because I miss her. She & I played all kinds of games, like jump on the air mattress (FYI - she jumped, which made me bounce -- FUN!) & we read stories and shared cereal puffs. Emily is so funny -- one day, she dressed like Tinkerbell & did a little dance in her tap shoes. She is like Elmo & Zoey but BETTER!

We are back home today. We had lunch with Daddy & when we were done, he bought me a football jersey at the bookstore. It's never too early to be thinking about football season. I am learning this early.

I will close for now. I am off to find Toby to see if he wants a belly rub.

Hugs & Kisses!

Baby Ellie

Food, Glorious Food!

Whoa! Where did you come from? You snuck up on me!

Is it just me? Or am I always covered in food?

Who wants a sweet potato kiss?

I'm coming to get you! You better watch out!

Oh, and by the way... I love strange foods. You know, the kind of food that grown-ups give babies so that we make a nutty face and you can snap the moment with your camera?

Go ahead... give me a lemon! Yum!

A Pickle...

YUM!

8 Months Old

Can you believe that I'm 8 months old already?

It feels like it was just yesterday that I was swimmin' around in my mom's tummy. Here I am sucking on my toes. I only weighed 1 pound in this picture.

Here's a picture from the outside. Mommy's "got back" & "front". Heehee! She said if I post how much she weighed in this picture, that I could never have the pony -- no matter how many people voted yes.

What a difference a year makes, huh? What did these people do without me?