Porterhouse Steak

She is definitely daddy's girl.

Santa Pictures!

Why do we think that kids like Santa?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Jack & Ellie!

Five Fat Turkeys - a Thanksgiving Production

Jack's pre-school class "performed" a song at today's Thanksgiving Luncheon. It's hysterical. Jack was very eager to sing, as evidenced by his announcement he's ready to sing and the fact that he started singing before the music started.

Enjoy!



And, Saturday is Ellie's first birthday party! She turned one on Monday and I've been so busy since that I haven't updated this blog. The other has totally taken over. So, if you'd like to see how she spent her big day, check out this post on The Shopping Mama. And then Sunday Kevin and I hit the waters for a "media" preview cruise on The Oasis of the Seas. It's the new Royal Carribean boat and it's the largest cruise ship ever. We only have to pay for Kevin's flight there and everything else is covered. Ca-razy! I'll update when we get home.

More Ellie Walking!

Ellie is walking more and more every day. It's pretty amazing, actually. Here's some video from tonight of our little one strutting her stuff!

Just a little warning to the grandmothers - there are a couple spills. But, she's fine. She falls all the time.

"Uh Oh"

Ellie says a couple words but never seems to say them on command. What is that about? I did manage to catch her favorite phrase "Uh oh" the other day. Enjoy!

11 Months Old

Here are some photos of Ellie from yesterday! I can hardly believe she will be a year old in one short month. She's funny and into everything. She literally spends all day long pulling things off shelves and out of drawers. The positive is that she's really good at playing on her own. When she's not in the mood, Jack is always around to "occupy her" as he says.

Ellie now has 3 teeth: her two bottom teeth and one incisor. When that thing grows she's gonna look ridiculous. I think she's just trying to keep up with the times and heard that vampires are in.

Likes: Food, dancing!, taking 5 steps, speed crawling, climbing, the boob, sippy cup, high fives, saying "Uh oh."

Dislikes: Diaper changes, when people take away food, sitting in high chair for too long, sleeping anywhere but her bed.
As you can see, her hair is strawberry blondish light brownish and her eyes are still blue. And the cheeks are remain large and in charge.More pictures!

Go Bucks!

Ellie's dressed up for the season opener and she's recently started dancing. In other words, this is quite a cute little video.



I think it's important you know that as I type this, Ellie is slurping up spilled juice off of her high chair tray. We're trying to get her used to a sippy cup. Apparently, it is easier to spill the contents of the cup on the tray and press her face into the tray. Always the lady, that Ellie.

Hungry Hippo

Here's a quick video of Ellie's impression of a hungry, hungry hippo. Or a vaccum cleaner. Yes, she is sucking up pieces of banana off her plate rather than wasting the time on the extra step involving her hands.

(Ignore the background noise - we were having fun with the Krols!)






So lady like. Not. She must be going through a growth spurt because she's been eating more than her father for the past couple days.

9 Months Old!

Miss Elizabeth turned 9 months old on Saturday! I can't believe she'll be one year old in three short months. She is, well, ridiculous. She continues to adore her big brother and has really started to try to play with him lately. She will just crawl around behind him and grab at the toys he's playing with. Jack alternates between ignoring her and getting utterly annoyed that the "Ellie Monster" is touching his toys.

Ellie weighs about 19 pounds, which might not sound like much, but Jack didn't weigh that until he was nearly a year old. She's a very good eater and has been tasting a lot of our table food if I cut it into small pieces. She still doesn't have any teeth, though. She may need dentures, apparently. She is addicted to those Gerber Puffs and will cruise along the coffee table if you place the Puffs like a trail to bribe her. But, seriously, if she's fussy, she calms the instant she sees the Puffs. It's hysterical in a my-child-is-food-obsessed kind of way.So, here's what you're all waiting for... the photos! Sadly, I really don't have a good picture with the "I'm 9 Months Old Today" sign. Yet. We'll cheat and try again when Kevin is around to help out.

All dressed up for her big photos and all she got out of it was a knot under her eye. Poor thing was on the losing end of a run in with the coffee table. I was terrified it was going to turn hugely black and blue but thankfully it didn't and actually looks almost normal now.

Fountains of Fun

We were in search of something a little different tonight so we hit the fountains at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. It was awesome! The shopping area itself is super fancy and there are lots of nice restaurants. We looked super classy showing up Saturday night with half naked kids to play in the fountains. But, whatever... it was totally worth it. Both kids had a total blast.

Ellie even got into the fun!
Showing off her new favorite trick - clapping!
Jack brought his new dump truck, that he has creatively named "Dumpy."
I love how totally adventurous he is in the fountains this year. Last year he was a little timid and not so into it. Now, he runs around like a wild man and has a great time.

Eight Months Old!

Little Ellie Belly is 8 Months Old! Well, actually 8 months and two days. We're such slackers! It was much easier to be punctual on the monthly photos with our first kiddo (and before The Shopping Mama blog).

Let's see... what can we tell you about Elizabeth. It can pretty much be summed up in two words: sweet and stinky. She is genuinely sweet (most of the time) and pretty darn laid back, even when Jack is shoving his hands in her mouth or "showing baby wuv." But, man, is she ever stinky! Seriously, the girl sweats like her father. She is literally drenched when she wakes from a nap and it's all a little smelly. Good thing she's cute.

Ellie was sleeping through the night - for about a week - but has decided that was just too boring. She's a very good eater and, if anything, I suck for not introducing more exciting options more often.

And a few more photos.
Exploring.

Crawling.
Hair.
Lounging.

Pretty Ellie

Trying to crawl... Getting close!
Already addicted to the iPhone.
But, maybe just to try and eat it.
Happy girl.
Does this dress look familiar? I made it! She actually wore it all day long and it didn't fall apart. Of course, I have yet to put it in the washing machine. That might do it in.

Ellie giggling

Laurel Parade

Jack and Sarah running on "the green" of Mount Holyoke before the parade.
A little history for those unfamiliar with MHC's Laurel Parade:

In 1932 the laurel chain ceremony was integrated into the annual alumnae parade and since then has remained the parade's highlight. This moving ritual, which takes place during commencement weekend, marks the transition from MHC student to MHC alumna. During the parade, seniors--linked by two 275-yard laurel chains--process through the ranks of returning alumnae to Mary Lyon's grave. After weaving the chain around the grave site's fence, they sing "Bread and Roses," a poem-turned-song that was taken up by strikers demanding reasonable hours and pay at a textile mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912. The seniors and all the alumnae parade participants dress in white, a tradition that began as a show of solidarity with the suffragettes who wore white when campaigning for women's right to vote.

Read more about the history of Laurel Parade and about this year's Parade.

One of two women in attendance from the class of 1934! Do that math... they are OLD. There were also 12 women from the class of 1939.
The 50th Reunion Class. A sign carried by the class of 1984.The class of 1999! Apparently I make this face at Jack when I'm excited to see him. Poor kid.

With Heather and Alec and Kira pushing Nate. Kira was my roommate first year and Heather lived next door to us! Still some of my closest friends in the world.
My favorite class of '99 sign. Trust me, that doesn't mean much at Mount Holyoke.
The graduating class!
Ellie and me before her first Alumna Association meeting.
Notice her dress (white, of course) says MHC '31.

If you don't cry while watching the Laurel Parade, check your pulse. It's amazing and I'm tearing up just looking at the photos.