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Mommy and Ellie Time

One week from Tuesday (at the latest) it will not longer be just Ellie. So I wanted to take the day just to spend with her. We all slept in a little bit and once we finally woke up, Daddy headed to the garage and us girls went to see Tangled. I gave Ellie the option to either see it regular or in 3D. In the past she only wears the glasses for a few minutes and then takes them off. But she said that 3D is what she wanted to see.

Posing with Chloe all ready to leave

We were excited because they have kid size glasses.

She actually kept them on most of the movie. It was a really good movie, and she enjoyed it-but not sure if she enjoyed it as much as the popcorn and Cherry slushy though. After the movie we went to Target to get a few items to finish up our decorations.

The greatness of the day was short lived, however, when we got home. She instantly got in mood and cried for a while. We are not used to this because she NEVER cries. I keep asking her if she is sick, but she insist that she is not.

But I am glad for this last bit of time I got to spend with her before both our world's change forever.

Charlestown Christmas

I didn't realize how blessed we are to have a city that decorates so much for Christmas until this year. Ellie really enjoyed the lights and all the festivities that the city offered.

Riding the "train." It was no really anything big-but Ellie sure did love riding around the block

The beautiful square

The train I speak of :)

This was definitely her favorite part. She could not wait to see Santa

For the first time we went into the park and walked around. It was so nice. Ellie loved looking at the lights. She even got to make a craft to take home. We finished the evening with a yummy dinner at Pizza Company. I am a little sad to think that we only have a little over a week as just the three of us. But then again I am excited to finally be a family of four.

It's beginning...

...to look a lot like Christmas.

Ellie decorating one of my tabletop trees with her ornaments to put in her room.

I went light on the ornaments, I wore down quickly

the mantel

Ellie is almost finished

Happy Birthday Shelby

We celebrated Shelby's birthday today at Thanksgiving. It is hard to believe that she is already 12. She got lots of good presents, but I actually was excited to get her gift this year. She has found the joys of reading. This makes makes me so happy. I was so thrilled to go into the new Books a Million in Clarksville to pick out some great reads for her.

She also likes to draw and design things.

Here she is with a new gift where she gets to design outfits

It did not take Ellie long to figure it out

5 minutes later and she is still trying to blow the candles out :)

Little Princess

Yesterday after my Sprinkle one of my besties from Indy, Amy, came down for a visit. Even though she was only down for a few hours, it was still great catching up with her. She brought down Ellie's birthday gift, which Ellie absolutely loved. This evening when I went into Ellie's room to check on her this is what I found.


She has on her birthday tutu, a magic wand that she has had for over a year, a Hello (or as she called it Ne Hi) Kitty wallet from Amy, as well as the princess crown Amy got her. She told me she was ready to be a princess. Oh the imagination.

Sprinkle

A couple of months ago Susan and Meghan had discussed have me a little Sprinkle for Baby Girl (who is still nameless) #2. I have almost everything big saved from Ellie, but there were a few things that we needed. I just wanted something small and did not want to make a big fuss.

Meg

and Sue

My best friends who went through all the trouble :)

Ellie got a few gifts as well :)

Cute cupcakes from Sandy's

I had a lot of fun and baby Jenkins #2 got a lot of cute stuff. We are so blessed to have such great friends and family in our lives.

Teacher Day

I love when periodically throughout the year different organizations celebrate teachers. Today all the musems on Main Street in Louisville were offering free admission to teachers and a guest. That pretty much means every good museum. Ellie and I went through all the museums, and she wanted to visit the Bat Museum. She had never been and it has been years since I have gone. Plus they had a Charlie Brown Christmas exhitbit, and she loves CB. Shebly game with us.

Someone started to get really sleepy

They had a Charlie Brown Christmas display

Mom and Dad were putting up decorations and we stopped by to check them out

Mimic

Ellie is so funny sometimes . I have not been feeling well (3 weeks from today and we are having this baby--unless she wants to come sooner) and all I want to do is come home when I get off and rest. Yesterday Ellie immediately went to her room when we got home to play Barbie's. After about 45 minutes of resting on the couch I went to her room where I knew she would have a full agenda for me.

She was next to her Barbie house with her head under her baby stroller. I asked her what she was doing, and she said she was cleaning the Barbie's house out. And she was moving all the "junk" to the garage. It was so cute. She had a little box filled with little Barbie pieces that she had moved to the garage she built from her stroller.

Needless to say we have been moving a lot of "junk" ourselves to the garage to make way for Baby Girl (who is still nameless) #2.

I love this kid. Bob and I keep saying that we have know idea what people are talking about when we hear references to the terrible twos. However, I am quite certain that we will find out when baby girl #2. The twos were definitely our favorite year by far with Ellie.

Three Years and 36 Weeks Check-ups

Today both Ellie and I had doctor appointments. First we started off with Ellie. She had a different attitude this year about going to the doctor for a few reasons. 1. She is older and can be reasoned with, 2. She is finally old enough to get the flu mist (instead of the shot), 3. She does not have to get any shots :) From the time that she was born she has never had a pleasant experience when it comes to getting weighed. She hates it. But this year she walked right on up to the scale and got excited when we found out she weighed 26 lbs. She is also nearly 35 inches tall. She has grown three inches since the summer. When we got into the room, she was so chatty with the nurse. We also try to get the late appt. so that means we see the nurse practitioner-which we have had great luck with. When she came in Ellie started chatting away, the NP said "well it looks like she is fully developed." She has no idea. I was still a little worried about how Ellie would do with the flu mist, but like everytime I clean her nose out with saline solution-she did great. She said that was so much better than a shot. Ellie is a healthy little three year old. I thank God everyday for all his blessing with Ellie.

I also had my 36 week check-up today. Everything looks good. Nothing new to report. Baby is still in the right place and I am progressing nicely. The only thing that was a little of a concern to me (but the doctor says there is no reason to worry) is my blood pressure. I normally have pretty low BP, but it has steadily been increasing each week I go. Today was the highest it has been (which is still normal levels).

But all looks well. Ellie goes back in a year, and I go back in a week.

3 Wonderful Years

It is so hard to believe that our little 6'9 baby girl is already 3 years old. It seems like yesterday you were born. We have always heard the "stories" about the terrible 2s, but wow we can not imagine a more fun year. You have been such an added joy to our lives.

You are very independent. You want to do things your way and by yourself. You can play for hours in your room, but you like having Mommy and Daddy with you--but just hanging around.

You love TV time, and it is so sweet how you ask for it at night time. Your favorite shows are Dora the Explorer, Diego, Wonder Pets, and Olivia. You also enjoying hanging out with Daddy during his TV time watching DIS (NCIS). You have fallen asleep many nights in Daddy's arms watching this show. Your favorite movies are Mickey's Twice Christmas, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Cars (or race cars as you call them).

You like to give kisses and you have a special place for Mommy (on my forehead) and for Daddy (on his cheek near his jaw line). You love to also give hugs. If you get in trouble for something you instantly ask for a hug and kiss (but you are giving the kisses). You don't get in trouble often, but when you do it is timeout for you. Which you hate and quickly resolve what issue you got in trouble for.

You are so polite, and nearly always say "thank you" and "please". You "God Bless" those who are sneezing around you. Your Aunt Donna has started to rub off on you because I will catch you saying "Yes/No, Ma'am." Mommy is working on "no thank you," because it just sounds so much better than NO, which is also one of your favorite words.

You have such a large imagination. As I said earlier you love playing by yourself. Most of that time is spent playing with Barbies, My Little Ponies, and now your new favorite Little Pet Shop. You can carry on a conversation for a long time with any of them. Just recently you have discovered how much fun your American Girl doll Elizabeth is. She has become your best friend. You want to take her everywhere, she is right next to you at bed time, and you two are always having great conversations.

Eating is not your favorite thing to do. Actually sometimes you just prefer not too. But when we can get you to eat you love Chicken Nuggets, Fruits (grapes and bananas are your favorite), any kind of bread, "NO chocolate...just nilk" (milk) which is odd because this time last year you would only drink chocolate milk, peanut butter and jelly, pancakes with syrup, and sometimes you like macaroni and cheese and fries. The only think you would probably eat and drink everyday are pizza and cold, cold water. You are not a big sweet eater, but you get on kicks like Smarties, chocolate mints, or suckers. But a week later and you do not want any of them.

You are the child of many nicknames. Some of them include Grace, Gracie Lou, Lou Lou, El, and Ellie Belly. You answer to them all :)

You are excited about your new baby sister and are convinced that she will be named Arianna (even though Mommy and Daddy has not officially chosen a name yet). You get pretty mad when we suggest something else.

We are so thankful that God has given us three wonderful years with you, and we are looking forward to the next year as we move toward four.

We love you baby girl.

Happy 1st Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday

Happy 3rd Birthday

Birthday Party

For several reasons we decided to have Ellie's birthday party a week early. Being 8.5 months pregnant and planning a three year old's birthday party is a little much. I spent most of the day cooking...well baking, I don't cook. I found this awesome recipe for potato soup on line at pillsbury.com. I modified it a bit. It was a crock pot recipe that I accelerated the cooking time. I was not sure how it would turn out, but it was amazing. I got so many compliments and people who wanted the recipe. So I have linked you up.

She woke up in an amazing mood. Here she is doing her "it's my birthday party dance."

Daddy was in charge of the helium tank pick up. He also brought home a surprise balloon.

Susan was so nice to bring Shelby up to help us get decorations and set up complete. Shelby's greatest accomplishment was to get Ellie to fall asleep and take a nap. SUCCESS. After she was sound asleep in her bed, Shelby and I headed to town to pick up the cakes.

The theme of her party was pink and blue.

Mom (who shares a birthday with Ellie) will turn 50 this year, so I had a cake made for her.

Earlier in the day Ellie asked me if we could get Big Minnie out of the closet so she could come to Ellie's birthday party. After I picked myself up off the ground from laughing I said sure.

Here was Ellie with Big Minnie last year. She looks so small.

Here is my little pink and blue princess waiting for her guest to arrive

Notice the tea lights-she refused for me to pick up candles and then decide right before we sang "Happy Birthday" that she wanted them. Tea lights were all I had.

Tasting the icing

Kasey helped her open all her gifts

Pinata time

Eme's turn to take a swing

Stashing the candy in her shirt

Play time with Shelby

Here she is ready for bed
(I think it was about midnight and pretty sure it
was before we set our clocks back)

She had such an amazing night. She was so excited, and she appreciated everyone who came out to celebrate with her on her special day. Mommy was DONE. I could not feel my legs, and baby made me know how she felt about my hard work all night. But I am glad that we got this opportunity to spend one last birthday with just Ellie.

More Painting Fun

Daddy had to get in on the action also. They finished up the last three today. We had so much fun painting all of the ornaments. I think we will be doing this again.

The Last One

No School

Today we were off due to election day. Ellie and I went shopping for her birthday party, and Eme and Meg joined us. But not before we made sure to cast our ballot. Ellie was excited that she got to see her Uncle Herman and Aunt Linda at the poll site. I am glad that this year's elections are finally over. Just when I think that the political campaigning can not get any worse...it does.

I always have a hard time remembering thank you cards (don't know why-but I do). So this year I took Ellie to Click to have her picture taken. From those pictures we designed a thank you card that we would give to everyone who came to her party.

Also my creative genius (haha) clicked in, and I decided that we would also give a little thank you present to each family that came. I decided on ornaments. I went to Michael's (really love that store) and bought a lot of the white plaster ornaments and some paint. Since we knew we had about 25 to decorate, Ellie and I sat down after nap time to start the painting process.

Ellie loved painting, she is so creative some times

Here are some of our masterpieces

Ellie was getting in the Christmas spirit