Anna

One year old. 

• Busy, busy little bee. 10 fold busier than her sister. But I suppose she had to learn how to occupy herself seeing how there was no one to dote on her every whim.
• "Sweet"is the word that is most often used to describe her. She is just a little sweetheart. 
• She had a few rough patches of early rising, but now she is sleeping great. 7 to 7 with 2 naps.
• Her first word was Ella. Other words include Dad, ba and yah and a whole lot of jabbering.
• She can do patty-cake, peek-a-bo, itsy bitsy spider, blow kisses, give kisses, tell you that she's one, shake her head no, wave, high-five, sign all done and more (although all of these things are subject to whether she's feeling it or not)
• She loves to try and put clothes on. Especially socks and shoes. Yesterday she got half of her sweater on herself.
• If we are walking up the stairs and then Ella starts to come she gets SOOO excited. She shakes her fists and kicks her legs and laughs.
• 4.5 teeth
• She started walking one week before her birthday.
• Her favorite hide out is my shower. She loves to crawl in and hang out. 

"Rain"

Ella made this painting for Avery last week, sans parental involvement. Pretty good for 3, right?

sledding

We have had the mildest winter I can remember in ages. While the skiers aren't loving it, the three-year old sledding crowd thinks it's great. 

mystery solved

I think I've mentioned that when Ella is doing her business she requests that we "don't clap or say anything." I've always thought she was just being modest but today I learned that the real reason was slightly more pragmatic. 

"Mom. I've got to go potty. Don't twap or say anything because then I can't hear and don't know when I'm done."

Right-o. Logical to the nth degree. There's a reason she and Aunt Jamie get along so well...

Happy Valentine's Day

3 years old + hearts + candy + cards for friends and family = 1 great day for Ella

happy birthday

Project Run & Play FINALE

So, Danielle has made it to the finals of Project Run & Play! And she is neck and neck for the win. When I just checked it was dead tied--385 to 385. Every vote counts--take 2 seconds to click over to vote for her.  Thanks!!!

a l o h a

We had a fantastic time in Hawaii with Doug and Janet. Mostly we lounged around, slept, watched movies, ate wonderful food and soaked up the Aloha spirit. But we did get our adventure on once or twice. We went on a zip line tour and whizzed over the canopy and dropped into a waterfall fed swimming hole. It started out a bit weak but ended up spectacular. 

We caught an amazing sunset overlooking the Napali Coast.

We went on a helicopter ride and landed in front of the waterfall that is in Jurassic Park

And after spending an awful lot of money and and an awful lot of time getting scuba certified I got so sick on the boat ride out (despite a double dose of Dramamine) that after the first dive I got back on the boat and "fed the fish" over 20 times. When I thought I was feeling well enough to stand up and walk over to get my towel I had the strange sensation that something was not right. I felt like I was waking up from a dream. I was puking again off the side of the boat and Ryan informed me that I had fallen down and passed out. Lovely.  Ryan didn't have a great time either, but he gave it another go the following day and convinced me that perhaps I can give a shore dive a try someday...maybe in the Caribbean with warm, calm water...

It was a fabulous trip. The weather was perfect and the whales were plentiful. But I never figured out how to appropriately use "aloha" and "mahalo"....hmmm....I guess we'll have to go back. 

Project Run and Play

My good friend Danielle is a part of Project Run and Play, a cute sewing competition. She made this darling coat for this week's challenge. Not only did she make the pattern, but she dyed the fabric and hand quilted the jacket. All while having a horrible, knock-down, kick you in the gut stomach bug (I know it was horrible because I had the same thing). She's this close to being eliminated, which kills me because I can't wait to see what she's got in store for next week. So...take a quick second and click here and vote for her. Every vote counts :)

Thanks!!!

A Pony for Christmas

Apple stamping

From time to time I play the role of Good Mom and do crafts with Ella. Today was one of those lucky days.

Things I will likely forget if I don't write them down somewhere

We enjoy "Ella: The Musical!" 24/7.  I wish I had a recording of it, but I never know when she's going to break out in song. "Can I get some milk...please??!!??" "I don't want to go to bed....now." I think it's thanks to the Wonder Pets who are good little singers.

Ella is the squirmiest little sleeper/ cuddler. She can't hold still to save her life. (In med school my friends diagnosed me with restless leg syndrome...can't imagine where she gets it.)

Anna is a busy thing. So different from Ella. With Ella there wasn't really a need to keep things out of reach. With Anna every drawer in the house would be emptied given the chance.

Anna is trying to learn to whistle. She purses her lips and makes a noise.

Anna gives Ella hugs and kisses. It melts my heart.

Ella's imagination continues to expand. Her "kids" to date: Ah, Dah, Saw, Vah, Nah, Eda-pho-Eda, Grassie, Hensie and now Ella. She told me this morning that "Ella does not listen to me! She will not do what I tell her to! She is just too busy."

Ells will carry on with her kids as well as the Wonder Pets, Dora and Blue. I'll often reply to something she says only to be told, "I'm talking to Linny." Sorry. My mistake.

Ella's memory astounds me. She honestly remembers more than I do.

I stopped nursing Anna when she was 9 months old. I was slowing down, and then when I got the stomach flu over Thanksgiving I was done for. I couldn't eat or drink and lost my milk. Still, I'm happy to have made it that long.

Ella was getting out of bed a few times a night for various things. A cup of water, going to the bathroom, finding her teddy bear. Combined with Anna's midnight prowl it was getting to be too much. So I did a sleep training refresher course with Anna (I was surprised at how easy it was) and made a sticker chart with Ella. (This worked great!) It was magic. Ella has not gotten out of bed once since we started. Today she earned her first prize, a harmonica. Anna follows her around trying to imitate the noise.

New Year's Card

resolute

I'm not great at resolutions, but honestly, who is? (Remember this? Still working on it in 2012) This year I am going to try a different approach. First introduced to me by a wise friend, you pick a theme, or a word, to try and embody during the year.  

So, for 2012...

Charity

Based off of this quote:

A tall order, I know. But if by 2013 I am a little better than I am in 2011 I will count it a success. 

Hopefully more so than my posture...

Post-edit

My talented friend Karisa designed the quote for me to hang--I love it!!

Happy New Year!

Love,

Ella & Anna