HB to Giggy and Picture Catch Up

Happy Birthday to my Mom/Ellie's Giggy! We love you!


Ellie likes to sit in every container she can find - the smallest spaces she can get her tiny tush into!
Please don't think that she doesn't have any toys...she's just dragged them all out of the drawers into the living room!
Ellie Bean is very serious about her reading.
She got a water table so that she could *stand* and play in the water. Ha! She promptly decided it was for climbing into headfirst. Who taught her that tables are for standing on? Giggy? =)
I just LOVE this water table!
Finally keeping her hat on... It took so long to apply the sunscreen and bug spray I'm sure Ellie thought she didn't need anymore covering up!
Throwing things...one of her favorite pastimes. Tell her no sternly and she'll burst into tears. Mommy shakes her head and sighs...
BTW, that tower didn't last long once she realized it wasn't fixed on the table. Just look at that concentrated effort! She's got quite an arm, my girl!


Ellie is learning how to feed herself. Going well, don't you think? Again, mommy shakes her head and sighs...
Shu-Shu (E's uncle who went to China with me) took his two kiddos and E to the park on Memorial Day! (Thanks Shu-Shu!) This was Ellie's first ride in a wagon.
Ellie playing with her farm in her sweet lil' penguin and polar bear pajamas from Special K! (Thanks again, K!) These cute 18 month pj's fit just about right and are perfect for the a/c.
She is teething like crazy (first molars and possibly two incisors) and she uses her pacifier as a teething ring. No pacy in so I tried to snap a lot of smiley pics. Learned from my mom that the easiest way to get her to smile is to fake a sneeze! My Ellie is such a cutie!!

Memorial Day Weekend...Finally!

...which means 13 days left before summer vacation! Ellie is now 17 months and very much showing her independence. Not talking much (which as a speech therapist is killing me!) but her receptive language is pretty darn good. Today I told her to get the (toy) tractor from the farm set. She knew excactly which toy. Hey, my girl can sign frog and recognize a tractor-she's ready to take on the world!
Referrals finally arrived over the last few days...only 20-ish days overdue. Give or take 2 years or so. Mary and family now have Emily's picture! Emily is a cutie! And Tate's mom and Emerson's mom and dad are in Beijing on their way to get them! It's going to be a great weekend and I hope to get some pictures in soon. Yeah, not far along on that new blog it seems... =) School and home and LAUNDRY are taking over!

Happy Mother's Day

So no new blog yet. 24 more days til school is OUT! Maybe by the end of summer I'll have my act together? Snicker.

Felt I needed to blog today as this, of course, is Mother's Day and oh my goodness...I guess I am one and finding it a wonderful challenge full of amazing moments and love. My heart aches (good ache) and I am smiling and tearing up as I type this. The smiles and tears happen a lot these days. =)

Happy Mother's Day to my mom who makes this mothering thing look so easy- especially as she is still putting up with me. =) Ellie *adores* her Giggy and thankfully she has her Giggy nearby to help this new mommy out.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Those Moms hugging their child(ren), those still waiting and dreaming, and those who have lost their little one(s). You are in our thoughts and prayers.

It's been a lovely but strange day. To be wished Happy Mother's Day just felt odd. Like I wanted to say, "To you, too" right after. Kind of like if it was Thanksgiving. I received several beautiful cards and even two from Ellie! Seems Ellie whispered in both Matt and my Mom's ears regarding cards and gifts. (Good girl!) Ellie needed a battery recharger so her mommy wouldn't keep running out of camera batteries when taking pictures of Ellie. Thanks, Matt. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of it before posting. =)
Giggy and Ellie had a whole elaborate gift plan going.
This bracelet has several charms to represent the past year-air travel, China, squeaky shoes, Mother/Daughter. Ellie will eventually get to pick out a charm she would like to give her mommy. (I fear an Elmo charm next year...) So thoughtful and pretty. Thanks, Giggy/Mom. =)


It was such a nice day that Matt, Ellie and I went to the zoo again. Ellie didn't seem to think much of it this time. Too much construction going on.
Then again, her hat is a bit big so it probably blocked some of her view. The kid hates having anything on her head. She wouldn't take the bait that every other kid in the park was wearing one....

The animal cookies were a highlight for the train ride around construction.


On our way to the FCC playdate! Yes, the seat straps are most obviously not where they should be when we decided to play around and take the picture. =)

Somebody come and plaaaaay.
Loving the swings at our playgroup meeting with Abba and new friends.






We also met up with these friends at the Kite Festival held at the beach. Think this was one of water touching toesies for the first time! =) It was so nice to see Ella Ray and parents who just got back with their girl-Welcome Home!- and Delaine and family who are waiting (probably not so patiently) to finally see their little one in this next batch which is laaaaaaaaaate due to this flu/latest bump in the ride. Thinking of you!








Kickin' it in our new lawn chair with our pet giraffe.




I see you sneaking up on us Gracie Dog and you will NOT get your slobbery mouth on my pet giraffe! =)

Poolside at home.










Lounging in the pool with the cousins. I think D is squeezing her cheeks and calling her "Baby" and not checking to verify that her 1st year molars are coming in right and left/upper and lower. Still missing those incisors though...


Yeah, and you thought I was gonna go to sleep! Bwahahahaha! Bedtime is a work in process. =)

I'll check in again when I get a chance. Thanks for looking in on us.