What Did You Do Today?

That's a question I think all moms want to roll their eyes and say "what didn't I do today!"


Here is what I did today, no lie I really did all this and about ten things in between!

To the tune of 12 Days of Christmas

a trip to the grocery store

(and the gas station, dry cleaners, & dollar store)

2 horsie rides

3 meals made

(and snacks & drinks & prep for Christmas meals & cleaned up)

4 loads of laundry

5 dozen cookies

(I'm not saying how many were sampled)

6 diaper changes

7 messes cleaned

(at least!)

8 times picking up

(I think every toy & small tupperware was out at one point)

9 kisses given

(hugs too)

10 minute nap

(not nearly long enough!)

11 "no no" s issued

(at least!)

12 presents wrapped

(one made today)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!!

So, what did you do today?

15 Months

Our little Ella Naomi is 15 months old now. I can't believe how big she is getting! She just got her 6th tooth... it's taking forever to get teeth. She's still just a little peanut, only weighing 20 lbs and is 30 3/4 in long. It's so cute to see her waddle around on these short little skinny legs! We are really enjoying seeing more and more of her personality come out. She has such a tender heart it makes discipline a challenge at times. She can't say 'sorry' yet but when you ask her to say sorry she gives you the biggest kiss through her tears. It just melts you and sure makes you forget why you were mad. Earlier this week after a rough afternoon she got a spanking and immediately started to kiss me all over my face while sobbing her heart out. Boy, I felt bad for having to spank! She is saying more and more which I absolutely love! She learned to say no and of course it's the word we hear the most... everything is "no no"!

She loves to go bye bye and will bring you her shoes, coat, and hat and your own shoes when you say lets go bye bye! She continues to adore babies. Real or dolls. They get lots of love and kisses from her. Another highlight for this month is her very first haircut!!! Gone are those long locks! New hair has been growing in and so she had these long pieces that were so scraggly so I decided it was time. Now it will all grow out even. It was such a whim... I sat her on the kitchen counter and gave a pack of fruit snacks, whipped out my scissors and snipped away. I thought I might get emotional about cutting her hair, after all it's never fallen out so it was like the last 'baby' thing about her. But surprisingly I wasn't emotional at all.

BEFORE

It's actually longer when it's straight

AFTER

Not a good shot and I also cut more the next morning

Winter

It's gonna be a long one!

Twice today Ella brought me my shoes and said, "bye bye!" Later, she was playing by the front door and looked up and saw her coat and hat hanging on the hall tree. She started crying and pointing to them. So I let her wear her hat around for a bit. But this was the face I got when I said, "no, Sugar, you're sick and it's too cold outside to go bye bye."

So long nice weather! We will surely miss you. Hurry back!

This Is Why!

This is why mommies don't take showers when babies are awake!

Cause left unsupervised they mistake your undies for necklaces.

"Farm Livin'..."

"... is the life for me!"

(anyone hearing Green Acres?)

Yep, we were finally able to get in the field this year.

Ella was pretty excited for her first combine ride... no, really she was! Grandpa has been hyping it up all year and today it finally happened.

Farm Girls at heart

(Ella's wearing her John Deere shirt from Grandpa and Grandma but it's hard to see in the pictures.)

Ella loved helping Grandpa steer and trying to push all the buttons.

(ignore the bad attempt at taking the picture myself)

Grandpa's little Deere.

Ella absolutely loves LOVES her Grandpa. He just might be her favorite person but don't tell the others.!

We've Got Spirit! Yes We Do!

I-L-L-I-N-I!

Daddy's request was that Ella be an Illinios Cheerleader this year. It was quite fitting too as he went to the game on Halloween and they won! Against Michigan! (If you know our family you totally get this! 2 out of 3 brothers are MI fans.) So we tricked and treated the night before so Daddy could be there.

My monkeys and my cheerleader! Our niece Baby L, nephew D, and Ella.

How Ella Stays Busy...

because she is REALLY busy!

That's our girl, always cooking up something.

Always the helpful child, she must rearrange stuff for Mommy

(Mommy never has it quite right)

She helps Daddy fix important stuff like toilets

Then there's her homework

(this made me a little teary, all too soon she'll head off to school! Seriously, I didn't sign up for this time flies thing!)

She always has to stop to find her belly button... whew! Still there!

Gotta have a snack. She's loving this campfire and graham cracker weather!

(Hey Nanc, I wanna hear you sing the song again!)

Ella might be a busy little bee but she sure is good...most of the time!