One year since I've posted--that's bad!

One year & what has Ellie done! Too much to remember. We took her to Disney World for the 1st time with great friends, she had a blast. Playing T-ball in the summer & gymnastics all year, loves those & started dance (ballet & tap) in the fall. Not the baby I once had, she wants to be a big girl only!!! Swimming in Papaw Fred & G's pool is a must, so swim lessons this summer & off she went with no more water wings! If that's not a big girl I don't know what is! She is ready for school next year-counting (even in Spanish) & writing, learning to spell. I think we are well on our way to start Kindergarten. We have a Chinese exchange student with us for about 8 months & Ellie is enjoying her "big sister", she sure will miss Zoe when she returns to China next year! Zoe is teaching us basic Chinese, maybe Ellie will know 3 languages by the end of May! Such an over achiever! She is a blessing!

End of Summer

So it is now fall & I have a 3 1/2 year old that just isn't going to understand why we can not go outside and play anymore!! I guess we will have to get creative for some fun inside activities this winter. The end of the summer Ellie played in our YMCA soccer league. She had been asking to play & liked it after the first game was over. She even scored a goal the 3rd game but missed her trophy ceremony because we left for vacation. Speaking of vacation--Ellie got to go to the beach for the first time in Jamaica. Some of her grandparents vacationed with us as well, my dad and stepmom and Brian's dad. We had a fun filled 8 days in the sun, on the beach & lots of Sesame Street characters. It was a wonderful gettaway & we are looking forward to the beach again next year!!

Summer 2009

Ellie has had a very busy summer, a trip to the Indy Zoo, Louisville Zoo & several trips to the Evansville Zoo-thanks to Auntie Gayle for our season passes. Played t-ball & has now started soccer, lots of swimming in Papaw's pool (time for swim lessons), the FTIA adoption reunion to visit her Hunan friends and others. A few birthday parties which she always enjoys. A few visits from Uncle Jeff from Nashville who always teaches her "bad" things. She loved vacation bible school making crafts, daddy and I enjoy seeing those crafts in the house (a painted coaster and wind chime)-hand made by Ellie with a little help. A boating trip to Patoka Lake with friends-first time in a lake and no fear & just couldn't understand why she had to wear a life jacket-she is my dare devil. She is learning to write her ABC's-can write most of her upper case and is now learning her lower case, counts to about 15. Still very independent & wants to do everything on her own with not a lot of patience-her daddy claims she gets that from me but I think that is just her personality. I guess that means she will succeed in life. It can be a challenge right now. She is now looking forward to her beach trip to Jamaica in a few weeks, this will be her first trip to the beach. I imagine she will enjoy her "huge" sandbox and it will be a hard time getting her to understand why we have to go home. Summer is coming to an end and the winter is always a challenge since she loves to play outside even though she doesn't like to be hot and requests to be in the shade-funny for a 3 year old who loves to be outside! Every day brings us a smile with our spicey Hunan "big girl" as Ellie would say!

It's Been A While

I've been a really bad mother & not posted since I think Christmas. I have a good excuse-my computer was blocking the website from coming up-really! Brian had to fix it since I'm computer illiterate. It is just easier to email out pictures!

Ellie is doing great. We had our 3 year visit today & she weighs 32 pounds & is 35 inches tall. She is about 60th percentile which is fine. She has become a picky eater but maybe just stubborn because if I can get her to try it she usually likes it. Still as sassy as ever and still "I do myself". So independent. We have at least one tantrum a week sometimes more which the Pediatrician says is "normal 3 year old behavior", sometimes I beg to differ. Maybe she is just strong willed, I have really learned patience over the past year and a half. I can only hope it gets better as age 4 gets closer! She knows her letters & is learning to write them, can spell her name & counts to about 15. I have to brag-she is pretty smart! Such a joy but also a challenge! I have to say we are truely blessed to have her in our lives.

It's almost Christmas

It's almost Christmas and my little 2 year old is asking for lots of baby doll accessories like strollers, high chairs, swings. She loves looking at ads in the paper and picking them out. And "tinklebew" AKA: Tinkerbell movie. She says she will sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wants but we will see when we go I have a feeling she will change her mind. She goes for her "professional" Christmas pics today but here's a few I took for our Christmas card which will be in the mail soon. What a joy Christmas will be this year!