Brace yourself...

I want another baby.  But that isn't important right now.  YOLOS is gone (signage and everything).  And I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.  Now where will I go when I am in crisis?  To the new and exciting restaurant coming soon?  No thanks.

She's not a lemon but she sure is sour! #teething

Lilly is majorly teething right now.  She is fussy, drooly, has a rash around her mouth (from the excessive drool), refusing her bottle and not sleeping very well (therefore we are not sleeping well).  If she wasn't so cute we would consider trading her in for a different model.

I finally went to Trader Joe's.  Slow to take to new technology?  Yes.  Slow to check out new or new to the area reasonably priced shops, stores and eateries?  Not usually.  One handful of cinnamon almonds later, I knew the first time would not be my last.

Lilly has proven she can crawl forward (yay!) but she is more interested in stretching and sticking her little bottom up in the air (see previous post) than getting from point A to point B.

We are eating dinner tomorrow night with a family from church, The Waggoners.  They bravely invited us over for lasagna.  Weekday evenings are hit and miss with two tired and cranky girls, who are both usually in bed by 8:00 (out of necessity), and at least one tired and cranky adult, but hopefully we will all rise to the occasion.  Thomas and Phillip have been working together on the church education committee for the last few months (they find teachers for Sunday morning and Wednesday night classes).  Ellen is looking forward to playing with Peyton and Lucas.  It should be fun!

Ellen had her 5 year check up yesterday afternoon.  She is 43.5 inches tall and 43.5 pounds.  She strives for proportionality.  She got 2 shots and there were so many tears, way too many in my opinion, that even Lilly started to cry.  I almost joined them when Dr. Frank recommended Ellen have her eyes checked (she didn't pass the eye test).  I really hope she doesn't need glasses (yet).

David, Crystal and Allie sent Ellen a Target gift card for her birthday (thank you!).  We stopped by Target in between Ellen's doctor appointment and church.  She chose a Barbie that doubles as a mermaid and a surfer.  She loves it!   After dinner (at church) she played with her new Barbie at and around the table.  Lilly was watching as Ellen twirled her through the air.  I mentioned that Lilly was enjoying the show.  Ellen then said sweetly, "I'll let you have one little bite" and proceeded to put Barbie's hand up to Lilly's mouth.  I laughed so hard.  I guess Ellen thought that would be the ultimate act of kindness since she knows Lilly is all about putting things in her mouth.  I love my Ellen!

On the way home from church last night...

Ellen:  s-e-x (saying the letters one at a time).  You know that word, don't you Daddy?

Phillip:  What word is that?

Ellen:  You know, six

Phillip:  You mean s-i-x

Ellen:  Yes, s-i-x

It's parent/teacher conference time around here.  We met with Mrs. Fielder earlier this week.  Here are a few things she said/wrote about Ellen:  she is a good friend to others, well liked by everyone in the class, eager to learn, eager to share, can be quiet and shy but asks questions when she is unsure, uses detail in drawings-artistic, enjoys positive attention and she is happy-smiles a lot.  She needs to work on putting spaces between words when writing sentences.  Mrs. Fielder is a proponent of being the older child (Ellen is the youngest) but she is holding her own socially and academically and in her words, Ellen is a very bright little girl. 

While Lilly napped yesterday morning, I did a little rearranging in Ellen's room, mostly on the walls.  It all started with a cute but overpriced poster I bought for Lilly's room.  Sadly, it just didn't work.  I tried to find a place for it in Ellen's room but no luck there either.  So instead I hung a clock I recently bought, hung a mirror over her nightstand/bookshelf, replaced one picture with another, put a white wooden "E" over her door (it is sitting nicely on the ledge for now), moved the lamp from the dresser to the nightstand, switched out plants, moved the CD player and decluttered as best I could.  Just a few changes but I am pleased with how it turned out.

Lilly recently graduated from her infant car seat carrier, previously used by Ashling, Ellen and Cade, to a regular rear facing car seat.  She is just too big for the carrier, length-wise and weight-wise.  She always lets out a desperate cry or two when we put her in the seat (same with the carrier), but I think she likes her new accommodations.  She has plenty of leg room and a much better view.

Four legged friends and Lilly's signature move

Lilly is enamored with the dogs, especially Lucy (much to Lucy's dismay).  But she gives her fair share of love to George as well.  It's hard to resist the friendliest dog in the world.

Only slightly jealous

Baby yoga.  This happens a lot.

She skates!

We probably would have put off skating for another year or so, but thanks to Sadie's 5th birthday party, Ellen got "early" exposure.  And she loved it.  She had the longest lap time and had a neutral expression on her face the majority of the day, but she was having the time of her life.  The best thing about roller skating, besides the actual skating part, is the music.  If Ellen could have skated and danced at the same time, she would have (she was reduced to skating and singing with the occasional wiggle).  Lilly was loving the atmosphere too. 

Needless to say, Ellen did not want to leave, even after 2 hours on the rink (she was reluctant to take a break for cake and presents).  After we finally made her return the skates, against her will, of course, she demanded to know when we would be coming back.  And she was serious.

I was able to get a few pictures before it got crowded.  Ellen eventually gave up the "walker" but only for a little bit at a time.  She could skate on her own but seeing someone fall would quickly make her reconsider going it alone.

The sweet taste of victory

Cole stepped up his performance today (since we were there, of course) and earned the game ball.  What an honor!  Way to go Cole!

Guess who's coming to dinner?

My family is coming for Thanksgiving this year .  We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner.  What!?  The plan was made several months ago and I totally forgot.  And to think, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!  My sister reminded me this week and now the meal is all I can think about.  Recipes, grocery lists, potentially putting my hand inside a turkey, refrigerator space, seating, crowd control (including the dogs), centerpieces, desserts (which can make or break any special occasion)... you get the idea.  I need this type of challenge.  I really do.  It is time for me to grow and mature and do normal things like cook a Thanksgiving meal for my family (I must say, I thought I would be much, much older when this finally came to pass).

We are going to a skating party Sunday afternoon (Sadie's 5th birthday) and I am so excited.  Skate Haven of Winston-Salem, North Carolina represent!

Ellen's insecurities and the injustices of her day come out at night.  I soothe and reassure.  Listen and comfort.  (And ask questions because that is what I do.)  I hope she will always come to me and/or Phillip no matter what.

Unfortunately, we are missing Cade's birthday bash again this year.  He will be 3 years old on September 27th, but his party is this weekend.  In a month, or maybe two (depending on if we make if home during Ellen's fall break), we will see him and finally get to meet Quinn (the other boy cousin).  Or Shaq, Q, or Dr. Quinn, as I sometimes think of him.  I am pretty sure the reason my sister does not reveal the names of her children until their actual birthday has something to do with my gravitational pull toward nicknames (it has subsided over the years).  Don't worry, I will call him Quinn, unless his look screams something else.

"Bored means you want to have fun but you're not having fun at this moment" - Ellen McCullough

Lilly is in the beginning stages of pulling up on things but only ends up on her knees.  She practices at school and then tries it at home :)  She moves all around when playing on the floor, which is often, but she is not crawling yet.  She likes to have a toy in each hand and bang them together, and she does so with purpose.

This friendly guy hanging out in Kroger can only mean one thing: candy corn.

This is what it's like

Getting a good picture of these two is nearly impossible

Cane Ridge Park

I was able (allowed) to attend my company picnic after all (we found out at the beginning of the week).  It was a beautiful day and we had a good time.  Bonus: I won 2 Predators tickets.  Another bonus: Phillip got to see a lot of his old co-workers/friends.

In addition to being transformed into a kitty, Ellen got a balloon animal (a cat on a leash), spent a lot of time on the bouncy slide, ate cotton candy and popcorn, played on the playground and briefly played corn hole (we were on our way out at that point).

Round 2 

(Uncle Bud's catered and the food was tasty)

 My supervisor, Antoinette, ended up co-winning the hula hoop contest

 Reisha was the other winner.  She also won a TV!

We made the most of our day.  In addition to going to the picnic, we had a fun morning at home (including eating a big breakfast, watching Toy Story 3 and playing with Moon Sand), Phillip and Ellen ventured out to get their hair cut, we shopped for Cade's birthday presents and ate dinner with the Moss's.  Our bedtime routine is complete - baths, books, brush teeth and a bottle (for Lilly) and the girls are in bed.  We are all going to sleep well tonight!

I love days like this.

Ultimate frisbee

You know how it's no fun throwing a frisbee with someone who isn't good at throwing (and catching) a frisbee?  Not a problem with Ellen, frisbee thrower and catcher extraordinaire.  She's really good.

Growing up way too fast, both of them

And this one already knows she is smarter than everybody else :)

All by herself

We grabbed several Ed Emberley drawing books, a bunch of Sharpies and plenty of paper and had some creative fun yesterday afternoon.  The first thing Ellen chose to draw was some sort of witch-like character.  A vampire, maybe.  I was very impressed with her attention to detail.

She took her time and went step by step

And was pleased with the end result



Meanwhile...

Evil looking laundry folder guy doing his thing

Sunday afternoon nap

A place for everything, everything in its place

Ellen got her last book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (Books from Birth) yesterday.  Age 5 is the cutoff.  It made me a little sad.  Dolly's note on the inside cheered me up :)  It really was a nice letter.  Good thing we still have a ways to go with Lilly.

Ellen sneezed on the way to school yesterday morning.  I am sick and have been sneezing a lot so I asked if she was feeling okay (I do not want the girls to get sick).  She said, "Yes.  Just my morning sneeze".

It makes me laugh as I think back to Ellen laying on the table in the doctor's office (the bug bite incident), clearly worried about what was going to happen to her leg, squeezing my hand and looking up at me... and Lilly (who I was holding).  That image just seems so funny to me now.  I wonder what Ellen was thinking.  Lilly was right there in the thick of things, taking it all in.  They both did great!

Phillip and I went to the movies last Sunday afternoon.  Together!  Date night, or date afternoon, is one of many nice things about my parents being in town.  We saw The Bourne Legacy.  We enjoyed the movie just as much as we enjoyed being out and about, just the two of us.  Anyone want to come visit so Phillip and I can go out again?

My parents kindly brought us these old bookshelves they were not longer using (yet another nice thing about them coming to see us).  We really needed tall storage (we moved the existing smaller shelves between the windows in the office).  They are a work in progress but I can't help but think a place for everything, everything in its place every time I look at them (the Whole Foods box is temporary but I do hope to find one or two baskets similar in size, maybe a little smaller, in which to store board games).

Ellen really wants to be a bus rider.  They have a color coding system and she knows what "color" bus each of her friend's ride.  Maybe one day her dream will come true.

I re-registered to vote! (I took a few elections off but now I am back in business)

Ellen has been eating breakfast at school every morning.  As in school cafeteria breakfast.  As in we have been buying school breakfast and lunch every day.  We just found out last week.  If she wasn't eating cinnamon rolls and drinking chocolate milk each morning it might not be a bad thing.

Ellen calls the free samples at the grocery store "examples".  We can't seem to break her of it.

I had to work but Phillip was able to take the girls to Cole's baseball game this afternoon.  I begged and pleaded for him to take a few pictures for me; therefore, he did not.  Playing with Savannah was number one on Ellen's list of favorite things she did today.

She let the bed bugs bite

Ellen got some sort of bug or spider bite on her lower right leg over the weekend.  Fast forward a few days... she is now on an antibiotic for the next 10 days (well, 8 days).  It went from bad to worse all in a day's time.  Her legs were two different sizes when I picked her up from school Wednesday afternoon.  It was obviously infected (before it was just red and her leg was a little puffy) and I knew she needed medical attention.  The doctor had to drain it.  Not quite the "They will just look at it, honey" I had promised.  She is doing fine and although the doctor and nurse both assured me that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this from happening, not the bite but the infection, I still feel bad about the whole situation.  And maybe a little paranoid/confused/concerned.  Do all insect bites lead to copays and doctor visits?  Needles and prescriptions?  If so, I think we will be staying indoors for a while (that is assuming she got bit outside, and I must believe this in order to sleep at night).

She got to wear a cool purple bandage and "everybody in the whole school" asked her what happened (she's since been downgraded to a band aid and neosporin).  It's the little things.



--------------------

Me:  You were so brave.
Ellen:  Even though I cried?

Me:  Yes, even though you cried.

Almost 8 months, almost a crawler

A Lilly Update:

She is not so sure about being in this laundry basket!

Grabs her ear (and the hair behind it) and rubs her eyes when she is sleepy

She is a happy baby (smiles, squeals, laughs and coos)

Chews on anything and everything

Still just has 2 teeth on the bottom (based on the drooling, more are on their way)

Wears 9-12 month/12 month clothes

Wears size 3 diapers but is ready for size 4 (we have a ton of 3's I am trying to use up first)

She is a good eater - smacks her lips in anticipation (still not loving peas and green beans though)

She is on the cusp of crawling (gets mad when she moves backward instead of forward)

When you put her down she gives you that "but we were having so much fun" look

Little Miss Grab Hands II  (Ellen is the original)

She is usually down for the night by 8:30 (Phillip rocks her to sleep when she is restless)

Likes to chew on her washcloth when she is in the bathtub (and as I have said before, she is a splasher!)

She is very interested in the dogs (gives Lucy the biggest smiles)

Not a huge fan of her carseat carrier (it's probably time to transition her to a regular carseat)

She and Ellen are so cute together

She has the kind of cheeks you can't help but kiss over and over again

She is a curious little thing

She is my new "Girl's Day" companion and I think we are going to get along just fine

She takes after her sister in more ways than one

A little somebody likes to swing just like her big sister.  She also tried to eat the swing (she tries to eat everything).  Thankfully Ellen is past that stage.  Not sure I could handle two of Lilly!

[Taken at church tonight before services]

She's five and she's fabulous

We enjoyed a long weekend of celebrating Ellen's birthday (thank you Labor Day) and now that she is officially/finally five, we are all celebrated out!  We did eat lunch with her at school today, and she got to wear a birthday crown, so I think she had a great day despite the lack of cake and presents (she had plenty of both Saturday).  When her teacher asked us if we had big plans for the day, I casually mentioned I was headed to work (my late day) and Phillip was going back to his office... it didn't dawn on me that she meant plans regarding Ellen's birthday until it was almost too late (I wonder about myself sometimes).  We bought her class ice cream so hopefully she knows we care :)

 Jaida and Ellen

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Family Pictures

Nana and the girls

A good picture of all 6 of us wasn't in the cards

But we had fun trying

Ellen's 5th Birthday Celebration

Aunt Laurie and the almost 5 year old

 The Cake: The Belle of the Ball

 Granddaddy and Lils

 Aunt Kendra and Lilly

 Wrapping paper = yum

 This is what Lilly did while Ellen opened presents

 And this

 Making a wish

Testing the icing

 The After Party