Bedtime Fun

Now that Ellie is getting older, the bedtime routine has become more fun for the girls but a lot harder for Bill and I.  Since Bill has been gone every night this week, I've started dinner and bath very early which leaves some time for play right before bed.  We made a little "train" tonight as I brushed Madelyn's hair and Madelyn brushed Ellie's hair.  They thought that was hilarious!  Ellie would fall back on Madelyn and they just laughed and laughed.  I love watching them play together.  It just melts my heart.  



Sweet Sisters



Wacky Weather

I just had to post some pictures I took of Madelyn today.  We had some very wacky weather  which prompted Madelyn to dress herself in some pretty interesting attire!  We woke up to a light dusting of snow this morning.  For some reason, Madelyn was very excited and insisted on playing on our deck at 8:30 this morning in her pajamas, winter coat and snow boots.  We haven't worn our heavy winter coats since January and have been very spoiled!  Since I am battling a cold today (thanks to Madelyn and Ellie), we stayed in today to watch movies, get things done around the house and watch basketball (Go VCU!).  I just had to take a picture of Madelyn during the basketball game.  She looked like one of the colonial people in Williamsburg.  She was trying to make it look like she was wearing a wedding veil.  Madelyn's teacher told me at her parent/teacher conference last week that Madelyn loves to dress up and is very imaginative.  I agree with her 100%!

The Princess Nightgown completed this outfit!

Ellie's 1-year appointment and she is crawling!

I am a little sad that my little baby is 1-year old, but I know she can't be a baby forever and is ready for the next stage in her life.  The next year is so much fun and I just know the changes in her will be awesome to watch as she continues to grow into her personality, starts walking and will start to play and interact more with her Big Sister.  Ellie had her 1-year appointment on Thursday and it went really well.  At 1-year old, Ellie:

• Weights 19 lbs 11 oz (25%) and is almost a pound heavier than Madelyn was at a year.  It's hard to believe I was so worried about her weight about 3 months ago!
• Height is 29 inches (44%)
• Loves to eat.  She eats anything we eat for dinner and loved baby food up until a couple of days ago.  She's starting to get picky when it comes to the mushy stuff.  She wants the real thing!  Her favorite foods are baked sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese and bananas.
• Sleeps a solid 12 hours at night and doesn't make a peep.  She goes to bed around 7 and wakes up at 7.  She still takes 2 naps a day  Usually a short nap in the morning as long as we have time and a long nap in the afternoon.  Her afternoon nap can often be as long as 3 hours.  It is wonderful. She loves to sleep!
• Stopped nursing about a month ago and absolutely loves milk.  She downs her milk very quickly and just about always wants more!
• Is cruising everywhere around our house.  She loves to cruise around her little Fisher Price Kitchen and pretend to cook.
• Started crawling today at 1 year and 1 week.  It's about time.  We were so excited!
• Can pull herself up in the bath tub only.  She LOVES the bath.  She's a different child in the water and will fling herself backwards, floats,  and loves having water poured on her head and in her face.  She's constantly standing up and trying to cruise everywhere in the bath.  She is going to love the pool in a couple of months!
• Is starting to say more words like thank you, Ya Ya (that is what she calls Madelyn, we have no idea where that came from), Nana, and she says hi when you put the telephone to her ear.  She also loves to mimic you which is fun to hear!
• Loves to swing and enjoys playing outside in the Cozy Coupe Car.
• Has started listening to board books before bed and loves it.  She will actually sit and listen to about 3 books.  Madelyn has several books memorized and Ellie loves to listen to Madelyn "read" as well.

Our sweet Ellie crawing today!

Another Party for Little Miss Ellie!

Today we had birthday party #2 for Ellie.  We were supposed to have another playgroup party on Monday but I had to postpone it because Ellie had a cold.  I know it seems excessive but we are in two playgroups and it's easier to have separate parties as opposed to having a million kids at your house at once.  Today, our stroller strides playgroup celebrated March birthdays so Ellie and her friend, Anne Carter, were able to celebrate their 1st birthdays together.  We met at Crump Park, the kids played, ate lunch and cupcakes, and had a great time.  The weather was a little chilly this morning but it was still nice to be outside before the rain hits later on this week.  Madelyn, Ellie and I are very lucky to have met such great friends over the past 3 years.  Being a stay-at-home mom is a lot easier when you have lots of weekly activities planned with other moms and their kids!

All ready for another birthday party!

Madelyn and Kate having fun together!  They have been in this playgroup together since they were babies.

Sweet Ellie wanted to ride too!

Ellie and Anne Carter enjoying some lunch.  Today is Anne Carter's actual first birthday!

Happy Birthday to You!

Yummy cupcakes!

Aiden and Madelyn enjoying their cupcakes.  They are also in the same preschool class!

Ellie started freaking out at the end when she had the cupcakes mashed in her hands and fingers.  She was done at this point!

Happy 1st Birthday Ellie!

We had a very busy weekend filled with 1st Birthday festivities for little Miss Ellie. I  am still shocked that my little baby is one and she will soon be walking around as a little toddler.  Ellie turned one on St. Patrick's Day and we celebrated by wearing green and had Nana, Aunt Amy and Cora over for lunch to eat some green cupcakes.  It was a fun morning and Ellie loved her first cupcake!  She was covered in green from head to toe. 

On Friday night, Grandpa flew in from CT to attend Ellie's party held on Saturday.  Cousin Carey and John even came down on Saturday to join us for the festivities.  It was so special for them to make the drive down.  Ellie had a great party on Saturday afternoon.  The weather was warm and everyone had a great time playing outside and ate some southern Buzz n' Neds BBQ.  It was a perfect day!

Here are some pictures from the weekend.  Ellie has her 1-year Dr. appointment on Thursday so I will post about her weight and everything later in the week.

St. Patrick's Day birthday party with Madelyn and Cora!

Wow!  Ellie didn't know what to think about the cupcake at first!

She's starting to really like the icing!

Too cute!

Very Happy Birthday Girl

Cousin Carey and John came down from Arlington to celebrate Ellie's birthday!

Ellie and her Nana

Ellie and her Great Grandmother Meme

I made a little smash cake for Ellie and cupcakes for everyone else!

My sweet little 1-year old!

Eating her birthday party lunch of chicken nuggets and grapes!

Big Sister Madelyn loved playing ball outside!

Ellie's favorite outside toy!

Such a big girl!

The best family picture we could get during the party. Madelyn was determined to grab the candle off the cake!

Birthday Princess

Ellie went straight to the bath after her cake.  She had icing everywhere!

Ellie has learned to make the number "1" with her finger!

Grandpa and his granddaughters!

Ellie loves her new rocker from Grandpa and Vera!

Ellie loves her new princess car from Nana and Pop.  She's also obsessed with looking at balloons!

Ellie testing out her new chair from her godparent's Nikki and Nick!

Happy St. Patty's Day

St. Patrick's Day has become a very fun and special day for our family.  I've always loved this day because green is my favorite color and it used to be an excuse to go out and party. Now St. Patrick's Day is super special because it's Ellie birthday.  I am going to post more from Ellie's big day once all the festivities are over with, but for now here are some pics from yesterday. The girls and I went to a St. Patty's Day party hosted by a family in our playgroup.  It was fun to get dressed up in our green attire and we all had a ton of fun at the party.   I'm always looking for an excuse to dress up Madelyn and Ellie in matching outfits so here are some pics I took before we left for the party!

Road Trip to NoVa

Since Bill is on paternity leave right now, we decided to take a road trip up to Northern Virginia to visit our good friends, the Baskettes.  And yes, you read that correctly.  Bill is on paternity leave and using his last week this week because he has to use it before Ellie turns one.  We had an awesome weekend away.  Everyone had a great time with lots of laughs.  I can't remember the last time I've laughed so hard!  Madelyn and Ellie had so much fun playing with the boys, the food and wine was fantastic, and the weather was great.  Karyn and I even snuck in a pedicure on Saturday afternoon which made the trip extra fun! 

It was nice to spend some time with Little Bryan. 



We are pretty sure that Madelyn has a little crush on AJ.  He is 5 months older than Madelyn and almost a head taller!



They love to color and are clearly very serious about it!



Ellie spent almost the entire time at the park picking up mulch and putting it on the picnic table bench.  She had a blast!

Sweet Ellie will be 1 in four days!

Wow, mulch!

This is the best picture I could get of Bryan and Ellie all weekend.  Bryan is 4 months older than Ellie!

Driving the fire truck

Could they be any cuter together?

Ellie loves to swing!

Ellie loves milk!

Ellie started drinking regular milk out of a cup about a week ago and has transitioned great.  She gulps down her milk in a matter of minutes and almost always wants more.  As many of  you know, Madelyn hates to be messy and hardly ever gets food on her clothes and face/hands.  Ellie, on the other hand, is a lot messier and gets food all in her seat, in her hair, and all over her clothes.  I just love this picture of Ellie because she is covered in milk.  It's funny how different our two girls are at mealtime!