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

Grey Areas

Kyle Idleman just finished up a series that he and Dave Stone were doing on questions we ask God. Today's question was "May?" Kyle referenced Paul and I Corinthians 10.

Paul says "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial."

Boy was this a powerful message. I have never heard a preacher explain those "grey" areas in our world so clearly. One example he used was drinking. Does the Bible say not be drunk (yes), does it say not to drink (no). But just because it is permissible does not mean that it is beneficial to everyone. But that is just it. Having a glass of wine at dinner is not wrong for some people, but having a glass in front of your recovering alcoholic friend is not beneficial for them.

Paul also says "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

He also brought up a very good point. Just because you think that it is wrong to have a glass of wine at dinner (or whatever one of the grey areas may be) does not mean that you have the right to condemn or judge me.

Paul again says "For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?"

Again such a powerful message, and if you have often wondered about the "May I" check out the sermon. You can download it on podcast via Itunes or off of SECC's website.

One another note, I never got the opportunity to post Ellie's bed now that we have it in. So here is the final product.

Also she has that nice comfy bed (which she has now slept in for over two weeks) but she chooses to lay on the floor and watch TV.

Trunk or Treat

What a crazy mess. I knew that it would be packed, but jeez I wish it had been more organized. The lines were crazy, so we just visited the people we knew. Ellie kept wanting to go back to Dad's truck to hand out candy. So that is what we did. She could care less about getting candy. But she sure was excited about handing it out. I am so proud of my little girl. She already at 3 thinks of others most often before herself.

Sorry about the glare, but I love this picture

She had to pose with Chloe (could it be Belle's horse????)Ellie and one of her pumpkins she pickedEllie and MemawEllie and Tyler

Painting

Ellie has been wanting to go to Earth and Fire to paint for a while now. She loves making things and then bringing them home. Friday night E & F was having Midnight Madness from 9-Midnight. Ellie did not take a nap until late (waking up about 7:30) so I knew that she would not be tired for a long time. I entertained the idea of she getting the opportunity to paint, which she absolutely loved. So about 9:30 pm we pulled into E & F expecting it to be packed. WRONG. Ellie was the only kid there; however, there were several adults.

But we had a great time, even if we were the only crazies that had our almost three year old out that late. But it was nice, and they had refreshments and door prizes. And Ellie painted a cute Halloween piece. :)

Trick or Treat

Last week in the Leader I saw an advertisement for community trick or treat at River Crossing, the assisted living home in Charlestown. I thought that this would be good for Ellie and not going to lie, good for the residents because Ellie sure can bring a smile to anyone's face.

We met Meghan and Eme for a yummy dinner at Ctown Pizza Company, and then we stopped by Bob and Janet's to get the girls ready. Ellie was so excited. She kept saying she was trick or treating at the Nursing home and she could not wait to make them people smile. :)

I was very impressed. Ellie had so much fun, and we enjoyed it as well too. They really had a nice event for both the residents as well as the community.

Ellie and Grandma

Ellie and PapawThe cutest bumblebee

8 Years

It is so hard to believe that eight wonderful years have flown by. It seems sometimes like yesterday Bob and I were starting our life together. Now we are growing our family. I love him more each day, and I thank God for the blessing he has given me.

On another note I went for a check-up today and all is progressing nicely. It looks like baby girl #2 (still have not decided on a name) will be here the second week of December. I can not believe how fast it has gone. But boy do I feel pregnant. It just hit me last week. Everything does happen so much quicker with the second one. I go back in two weeks and then I am on weekly appointments.

I am excited to see the next precious gift God has in store for us.

Huber's

Huber's is my favorite place to go this time of the year. My favorite part is the YUMMY food. And it is a particularly good time to go because I am pregnant and do not have to feel guilty about eating so much. Bob is not a fan, and he was plenty busy today at home so Ellie and I headed out. For the past three of four years we have shared our annual Huber's trip with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. So keeping with tradition Ellie and I invited Kendra and Kasey to join us for lunch.

We had a very enjoyable time. We did not get a pumpkin this year (already took care of that earlier) but we did make sure to grab a caramel apple before we left.

Ellie and Kasey

Feeding the ducks (sort of)

TV Time

Tonight's TV time consisted of us digging out the old VHS player and all my favorite Halloween movies which all happen to be on VHS. Tonight's play list included "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and "Double, Double Toil and Trouble."

Ellie was ready to go. She had her new blanket that I made for her birthday to match her bed, her Elizabeth American Girl Doll (which she recently started really playing with--guess it is time to fork out some money there), and that hat. She found that when we were transferring her clothes into her new bed, and now wears it all the time.

I love my baby girl (who is no longer a baby anymore), I am a little sad that we only have a few more weeks to be just a family of three. But I am more excited that in a few weeks we will be a family of four.

Boo at the Zoo

Wow what a crazy place. It took us forever to get in and find a place to park. We thought by going on a Sunday we would not have to face a large crowd...WRONG.

But once we got in and started going the crowd thinned out as it was dispersed at different activities around the trail. Ellie does not like crowds so she did not want to get out of her stroller for pictures with any of the characters. But she loves to people watch. She also loved going up to the stations and saying "Trick or Treat," and then smiling big "thank you."

She is ready for some more trick or treat.


She is our little Belle. The weather was so nice. She could wear her cute little outfit and not freeze to death.

And we wait...

Ellie's bed should have been here today, but I got an email from Amazon saying that it was sent to the wrong facility and is stuck in Indy. Go figure. Hopefully it is here soon.

But she is still enjoying her mattress :) And has slept in her room for the past two nights. This is big because she has never slept in her room. This is just as big of a step for us as it is for her. It seems like her room is so far away, but we have Chloe now sleeping with her.

Last night we are awaken at 3 am to Ellie yelling--"Chloe get back in here. Get in your bed. Chloe come back." Bob got up and took Chloe (who had come to our room) outside and then but her back in Ellie's room. Bob asked Ellie if she wanted him to stay with her until she fell asleep. She told him no and to go back to his bed.

Tear..my little girl is growing up.

Happy Early Birthday

We knew that once the baby came we would have to move Ellie from the baby bed (which we had converted two years ago to toddler bed) to a new bed because we would need the baby bed again. So we promised Ellie for her birthday we would get her any bed she wanted. We started the search in early summer, and she quickly set her sights on a princess bed. We looked at all the toddler beds but we could not see paying that amount of money for something that may or may not last very long (plastic). Plus this child is TALL and she would out grow a toddler bed (which only uses a crib mattress) within a year or too--she already nearly fills her old bed.

So finally last week we ordered her a bed. It one that is like a box with drawers underneath it. We thought this would be best because then we would save money and not have to buy another dresser yet for the baby or Ellie. We also had already bought all the fixings for her Princess bed. This is the theme she wanted.

So tonight Bob brought home a new mattress and the bed should be here this weekend.

She is so excited and loves her new bed.

She is having some TV time in her room
she only is allowed a DVD player, no satellite in her room)

She is stuck on Mickey's Christmas--go figure--she is going to love Christmas this year.

Birthday Pictures

Today I took Ellie to Click to have some thank you cards made for her party. I also ordered a small package of my favorite pose. She is growing up so fast.

I can't wait to have her official 3 year pics done with Mr. Foto-we are holding out until the baby is born so we can get them all done together.

BTW: Here is my plug for my friend Mr Foto. He is an amazing photographer (and has won several honors nationally for his work with Seniors--including two years ago top Senior Photographer in the country). You should click on his link and check out his work.