Dylan is 1!!!

I have said it before and will say it again, surprises can be the most wonderful gift.  Graham, Ellison and I were truly blessed a year ago when Dylan arrived into the world.  A year of Dylan...

November 2010

December 2010

January 2011

 

February 2011

March 2011

April 2011

May 2011

June 2011

July 2011

August 2011





September 2011

October 2011

November 2011

Bye, Bye Weekend

I discovered this weekend that I need to set healthy goals.  For instance, finishing my ULWR paper this weekend was not a realistic goal. In fact, it was rather absurd. Especially when I have so many other things to do and such precious adorable children. 

Ellison enjoyed Alana's Birthday Party.

Ellison had a great time with her cousins, Kyle and Riley.

 

Dylan sat at Ellison's table for the first time and enjoyed a snack.
He is growing up!

 

Don't let  Andy's excitement fool you.
He was mocking me while I shot photos.

Expert Counter.

Expert Climber
aka
Handful!

 

It is hard to see, but Ellison took some scissors to her hair.
She now has bangs!

Spirited Child

I love everything about Ellison.  I have always loved how completely different she is from me as a child. I was extremely shy, attached to my Mom's hip, and was obedient to a fault. Where I am a complete introvert, Ellison is a complete extrovert.  I love that Ellison will go up to anyone, belt out a tune in public, and is constantly twirling and batting eyelashes to show off her latest fashion creation.  

I am in the process of reading Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka.  It was recommended to me as a great book to help understanding Ellison and her very strong personality traits. It ends up that I am also learning a lot about myself.  Basically, we both have extremely strong personalities. 

Now before my loved ones text me with a "hello, I knew that", I do realize that I have a strong personality.  Trust me I am lucky to have a husband who can put up with me! (I really mean this)  But, it ends up that Ellison and I may not be as different as I originally thought.  The key differencce between us is that she is an extrovert and I am an introvert.

So for a person (me) that rarely reads child-rearing books, I am really learning a lot about myself, Ellison, and picking up a few tips along the way! Happy Monday!

The Actress

Boy Crazy

Our world is shifting ... Ellison is boy crazed!  And she is only 3! There have been several conversations that have led us to this conclusion...

1. I asked Ellison about all of the lipstick kisses on her mirror.  Her response, "I was pretending like my mirror was a boy".

2. Ellison gets into the car and asks Grandma, "When can I have romance?" She was completely serious, and Grandma responded, "when you are 21". That evening I asked her why she was asking about romance and she responded, "Brody and Ava were riding in the wagon together having a romance. They were about to kiss. It was so romantic. I want to have a romance." 

3. At our neighborhood bbq, Ellison sat on top of a stoop for 20 minutes staring at 2, 14 year old surfer boys.  She thought they were cute. By staring, I mean she was 2 feet away from them and STARING at them, would not move, would not blink, completely zoned in on their cuteness.

4. Grandma and Ellison were walking into Grandma's house and Ellison stopped at the scarecrow in the yard.  She started chatting the scarecrow up.  She went on to inform Grandma that she was pretending the scarecrow was her boyfriend.

To top off Ellison's boy craziness, she keeps locking herself in the bathroom and coming out with makeup, hair brushed and a dazzling outfit.  A few photos from last night at 11 pm when she woke me up to show off her "fabulousness" and asked me to take pictures while she modeled.

Little Man

Our little Dylan is growing up!  He is so darn cute right now.  I love this age!

Trick or Treat

What a difference a year makes.  Last year at Halloween, Ellison refused to get dressed in the costume she had previously chosen and instead chose a combination of costumes and did her own makeup (Lady Gaga-esque). This year, she chose Alice in Wonderland, stuck to it, and owned it all weekend long (phew).  The weekend was filled with All Saints' Fall Festival, Neighborhood Social, and Trick or Treating.  Our neighborhood is crazy on Halloween with hundreds of people filling the streets.  We all had a blast.  This was Dylan's First Halloween and he was a trooper as we strolled him in the wagon.  Fun times by all!

Ellison and baby Olivia.

Mad Hatter

Alice looks so tiny in this photo.

Little boy, big hat!
No wonder why he refused to wear it.

  

Olivia and her Mommy.

Ellison cuddled up with Uncle Tim after the festivities.
She loves her Uncle Tim!