Snow Day in NC

Our first official snow this season in the Triad. Despite grass sticking through everywhere, school was actually cancelled! I still can't get over that... We've come a long way from Michigan, New York, and Colorado I tell ya.

Ellison was so excited to see the snow when she woke up that morning. She was plastered to the foyer, where she just watched all of the older neighbor kids sledding down the driveway. So I bundled Ellison up into a little pink marshmallow, and we headed out to play in the (scant) white stuff. She loved being outside, but she did not want to touch the snow with her mittens, and she would not walk on the grass areas of snow. I think we're raising a true southern belle here. At any rate, it was nice for us to get some fresh air, and we had all the entertainment we wanted across the street.

Ellison and Alyssa

The big kids (all boys except for Alyssa) were so sweet to Ellison. They would clear the slippery hill of a driveway and give up a sled so she could try it out with Alyssa, but at the last minute Ellison kept deciding she didn't want to try it after all. She just loved watching all those crazy kids.

[January 20, 2009]

Hiding Spot

One day, Jonathan couldn't figure out where Ellison ran off to. When he called for her, he heard her little voice inside the lazy susan. It's now an often-used hiding spot for Mookie. Pretty crafty, silly girl.
[January 16, 2009]

Oops...

It's been brought to my attention by a couple of people that I haven't given any updates on Papa since his last hospitalization! Praise God - he is doing SOOOO much better! He's been doing great, and we thank you for all of your prayers and concern. We have no doubt it helped get him through all of his health challenges. He has said he definitely has changed his priorities in life now - a good reminder that good things can come from big challenges. Thanks again for all of your concern!

Journaling for Mommy

Some of this may have been mentioned in previous entries (I think I've mentioned before how much my memory stinks), but here are some of Ellison's little tidbits that have been going on...

She absolutely loves helping me organize. I was cleaning out the linen closet a few weeks ago, and asked her if she would like to help. She squealed, wrinkled her nose, got a big grin, and jumped around and said, "Oooh, organizing! So excited!!!".

She has a new laundry responsibility. She took it upon herself, people. She folds all of the washcloths and neatly puts them in a pile, and does a darn good job if I do say so. I hope I never forget the way she says "washcloths", 'cause I think it is so darn cute. She says something along the lines of "clopf-clopfs". :) She wants to hang up her own clothes in her closet, too.

When she sees a commercial on TV for some cool kids' toy, she says, "Want to buy that (insert whatever the object is)". The one she says regularly is "Want to buy that Dora & 3 Little Piggies" (a DVD).

No idea why this is, but she is always putting socks - whether mine or hers - (or slippers) on her hands, and then actually plays like that for a while. I guess it goes without saying that she loves mittens, too.

EVERYTHING is "by myself". She wants to put on her own clothes, pick out her own clothes or shoes, take off her own clothes, etc. She becomes easily frustrated sometimes and whines or kicks her legs, but if I offer to help, I still get, "By myself!". Once again, my mother quickly giggles and says it brings back memories. Surely she's speaking of my sister...

We go through about 10 diapers a day. OK, not on her, but on her babies and animals. Every single day she changes some diapers. I must say, she actually gets them on perfectly. As soon as it's on, she then says, "Oh, poopied!", opens up the diaper, lifts their legs, and either wipes them and starts over, or she'll say, "No poopy" and gently replace the diaper.

Several times throughout the day, Ellison can be found hiding out in the pantry. Usually it involves some form of sneaking a snack, but she does all kinds of things in there. As soon as we open the door to spot her, she gets a silly look on her face, and quickly shuts us out.

She loves watching her Veggie Tales (thanks, Lindsay!) "DVDVD". (That's what she calls them). Still Curious George, The Wiggles, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends, Max & Ruby, Wow Wow Wubbzy, and Toot & Puddle (sounds like a big accident if you ask me). Interestingly, if I happen to have on the adult shows, "A Baby Story" or anything similar, she's totally glued to the screen. If I try to change the station to a kid show, she asks me to turn it back to the babies.

Ellison still does her "ballet dance" throughout every day, and is ever the singer, talker, and whisperer. She thinks it's funny if we have a whispering conversation. Still loves doing dishes, helping cook, and just about any other "chore".

She still colors and draws up a storm ("happy faces" are still her specialty), which is difficult for her sentimental Mama. She started tearing out the colored pages in her colorbook to present her creativity to me, and I can't bring myself to throw any away! She's really into Play-Doh, too.

On the potty-training front, we're still not going to try real hard again for a little while, but Ellison's been great with going on the potty here and there, without us even asking.

This week our MOPS class and my Bible study class both start back up, so Ellison's back into the nursery 2-3 days a week. This is good for us - we just signed Ellison up for pre-school in the fall, which is exciting yet scarey at the same time. I just can't believe our little baby girl is at an age where we're discussing pre-schools! It's one of those things that feels like it's so far down the road when they're born, yet here it is... I get a little twinge in my heart, too, since Ellison started once-in-a-while calling me "Mom". Not Mama or Mommy (though I still get those), but "Mom". What -- did she turn 10 overnight?! For the love of Mike, at this rate, I expect her to start rummaging through my closet next week for something to wear and asking to borrow the car.

Random Pics

Ellison's showing more of an interest in Bo now. She just walks up to him and puts her arm around him.

Very sleepy just before bed, sitting on her giant bear.

[January 2, 3, &5, 2009]

Indoor Sunglasses

Ellison has a thing for her sunglasses this past week. She takes them out of hiding every single day, wears them, then puts them on her head.

Thumbs up!

Now all she needs is a pair of skis. Oh, and a mountain.

[January 1, 2009]

Happy New Year!

We didn't have a babysitter for New Year's Eve, so we thought we were going to miss out on fun with others. As it turned out, the Schwankes didn't have a sitter either, so they invited us over for a nighttime playdate and dinner. We had a great evening - delicious food, good wine (good smoothies for the girls), and good company. We all knew the girls wouldn't last til midnight (shoot, we knew the parents wouldn't either), so we let them play til they were pooped out, then we headed home. Mookie rang in the new year dreaming away, and well, so did Mommy. Jon woke me up for the final 5 seconds of the ball dropping, then I fell instantly back to sleep. My, how my New Year's Eves have changed!

Ella James

Ellison, Jonathan, Dave, & Ella James

Ellison borrowed Ella James' cool New Year's headband for a photo op.

[December 31, 2008]

Repeat Request

Prayers for Papa, please... I'm afraid 'tis true. Ellison's poor, poor Papa is back in the hospital again. We'd greatly appreciate it, folks. He sure needs 'em.

Hold the Bus

Heh, heh... We're giving potty training a little break from the Soto household. :)

A Work In (Hopeful) Progress

Yesterday we officially started potty-training Ellison (for various reasons, so stop saying "You're crazy" to the computer screen). She was a willing participator, but it has been a very bumpy road. It is definitely more challenging than one would think. Last night after we put our "big girl" to bed, I started getting very teary-eyed that we're training our baby girl to be a big girl. Even though she's at the age where it's perfectly normal to do this, it comes with very mixed feelings. Just one of those things... I've never been a fan of hanging out in bathrooms, but we feel like we're on bathroom overload right now. This photo depicts Ellison's very first trip to the potty during our boot camp. Notice that beautiful little grin. I wish every potty trip was like this... ;)[December 26, 2008]

Christmas Day

We had a lovely Christmas Day. After opening a couple of presents from Santa, and some presents from each other & family, we layed low. After Ell's nap we went on a nice walk, then it was off to dinner at the Sbihli house. After Ellison went to bed for the night, Mama & Daddy drank wine & played the Wii. (Mommy's still a little sore).Our little Munchkin checking out the presents under the tree.

Wrestling around with the GARGANTUAN bear Titi Ana bought her.

A new bed for her babies

Mookie picked out matching PJs as a gift for Mommy. We're enjoying tea and crumpets with E's new tea set from Grandma & Papa.

Daddy's turn

I think I gave birth to another child. Ellison got a new baby doll from Santa that you actually feed baby food and a bottle (with real water). She then will seriously poop and pee on the potty, and tell you when she has to go. (We had no idea she was so complicated - there are actual instructions on how to potty train her! As if potty training one toddler isn't enough...). Anyway, Ellison loves her - we haven't done the "real" stuff with the doll yet (not a bad idea when she's a teenager), but Ellison's having a blast changing her diaper over and over, and listening to her talk and suck from the empty bottle.

Ellison enjoying one of Mommy's presents. My sweet in-laws know I love Florecitas, so they sent me a giant container of them for Christmas. It was Ellison's first time trying them, and needless to say, she's a girl after my own heart.

Our diaper-changing maestra

[December 25, 2008]

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was an eventful day. Mommy lost her keys at Harris Teeter, and didn't realize it until we were in a crazy, snaking line at the checkout with about 3/4ths of Greensboro's population. Thankfully some nice person turned them in. That evening we went to church, and Ellison got to stay in the nursery room where our friends, Dawn & Eric Placke, happened to be volunteering (bonus!). After church, we took a drive to a sub-division that is well-known for it's Christmas light display. Then off to bed to await Jesus' birthday (Ellison was excited to sing her rendition of "Happy Birthday" again).All dressed up and ready to go

[December 24, 2008]

Evening Fun

Just had to throw in a couple of pics of Ell. She was all juiced up from getting her new horsey, "Echo". She named him (after her love of shouting "Echo!" in places that, well, echo). She fell in love with him at Walgreens when Daddy had to stop in for something. She absolutely sobbed when they had to leave, heartbroken that she couldn't be with the horsey anymore. A sweet lady actually started going around to people in the store trying to collect money so they could pitch in and buy her the horse, because the lady could see she loved it so much! How incredibly sweet of her, but that made Daddy feel terrible. So little Mookie cried the whole way out of the store (after Daddy purchased it with Christmas money sent to Ellison by family) since she couldn't ride him while strapped in her carseat. Amazingly, she forgot about Echo, as Daddy must have some mean distraction skills, and we got to suprise her by wipping him out of hiding the other night. She was SO excited!
She was still so pumped up from Echo that she grabbed her must-have accessories -- high heels, a purse, and a wand. I think she thought Echo was going to be her tranportation for a night out on the town.
[December 23, 2008]

Update on Papa

Thank you to those of you who have been praying for Ellison's Papa - we appreciate it so much!!! I am thrilled to report that today he is doing so much better! When I talked to him on the phone Sunday night, his speech was slurred because he was so weak - it was absolutely awful. Yesterday he started to show some improvement, and today he sounds really good. We are so thankful the worst-case scenario possibilities didn't pan out (I'll leave out the details of what's been going on or else I could type a book). He seems to finally be responding to the antibiotics, and he may even get to go home tomorrow. One of the unfortunate things with all of this, is the weather in Michigan. The hospital he had his surgery in is 2 hours away from their house, and the hospital he's in right now is 40 minutes away. They have been absolutely slammed with snow and horrible conditions, which has made life tough for my mom, who has been trying to go back-and-forth. For those of you who don't know, my parents live out in the country - roads get really bad. As they are bracing for another 8 inches over the next couple of days, certainly we're all worried about the drive home for my dad if they discharge him tomorrow. If they get stuck, or even in a fender-bender, that would be awful considering my dad has limited mobility now & has to use a walker. So please pray for safety with the travels for my parents (and aunts, uncles, and my siblings who have been helping). My poor mom - I have to tell you - what a trooper. When she brought my dad home from the hospital the first time (after being away from home for almost 7 days), they came home to a flooded basement. Over the last 2 days, the garbage disposal and the garage door both broke! I tell ya... like Mom says, "If you didn't laugh, you'd just cry...". Thanks again, for your care and concern!

Please Pray for Papa

Please, please, say a little prayer for Ellison's Papa. He had knee replacement surgery 8 days ago, and what was supposed to be a 3-day hospital stay turned into a 6-day stay - though his new knee is doing relatively well, Papa has been quite sick. He was starting to do a little better, and finally went home Thursday. Tonight he was rushed to the ER (per the surgeon's instructions) because he has a 103.8 fever and is apparently very, very sick. It could be several things, we're just praying that it's not a couple of bad scenarios that are possibilities at this point. And please pray from Ellison's Grandma - she has been through the ringer this past week, and she's still riding this roller coaster (as are my siblings, who have been much more of a physical support than I have been). We would so appreciate if you could lift him (and them) up in prayer for us...

It's Hard...

It's hard not to LAUGH at 3:45am when you are startled awake by this:

"Hoooooold you, Daddy... Hold you, Daddy... Daaaaddyyyy... Where aaaare you?... Daddy, where are you?... Daddy, come in the door... Daddy, rock you in the chair... C'mon, Daddy... Daddy, where aaaare you?..."

Who Is In Charge Of Whom Here?

Little Ell sure is getting demanding at times. I guess I should take that to mean she's very comfortable???

Most days anymore, as soon as I reach for a rubberband to pull my hair back (which happens several times a day), usually when I'm just around the house and want it out of my way, she immediately frowns, whines gently, and starts pleading, "No that! No that, Mommy! Take it out!". (No, I do not let her rule me or my hair - it stays in). I mean, I know my hair looks bad, but come on - is it really THAT hideous? (Please don't answer that).

Well, apparently I can't dress myself properly either. Today after I got her up from her nap, I had on a different shirt - just a long-sleeved red T-shirt. After she finally takes a good look at me, she frowns and points to my shirt: "No that." After my look of disbelief, she says quietly, still frowning, "Wear something else".

Oy... Perhaps I have a pint-sized Scrooge on my hands - not up for some festive color.

Our Soto Tradition

Our 2nd annual Soto family Christmas cookie bake. (There was no way this tradition was going to start with a 1-month-old baby, hence only the 2nd one). Ellison loves any opportunity to "help" in the kitchen, and this was no different. She was our official sugar and flour girl. And once we had dough, she had all kinds of fun. She probably just thought it was boring-colored Play-Doh. Needless to say, our fun made for quite the mess. And that meant Daddy spent more time trying to clean up things more than he did making anything, but we were all together and listening to Christmas music. :)

Frosting her very own Christmas cookie, which she followed up with some sprinkles, of course. :)

For whatever reason, Ellison wouldn't show off her little creation, so Mommy had to do so. She certainly had no trouble picking at him to get to the sprinkles and frosting after that, though.

Mommy & Daddy frosted and decorated the rest of the cookies after Mookie went down for bed. After Mommy ate about 10 of them (okay, maybe 9), she swore she never wanted to see another Christmas cookie ever again. Ask her how many she has had today...

[December 14, 2008]

Last night after dark we went on a great walk since the weather was so balmy. We delivered cookies to all of our neighbors, then went on a walk to see some Christmas lights. Ellison kept saying, "No go home!" as we would come close to our house. This child would've stayed out until 2am if she could've. I guess it's been too long since we've played outside. Well, Mama's gotta work off those cookies now, right?

Ethan's Visit

Ethan came over for a few hours Friday night so we could babysit. Of course, Ellison and Ethan had fun, but she was completely puzzled as to why he was going to bed at our house. And then in the morning, she was very concerned because Ethan wasn't in the pack-n-play anymore.
[December 12, 2008]

Decorating the Tree

We finally got to the point where we could hang the ornaments on the tree. Ellison gasped with excitement for each and every one that we pulled out of the box. It was so cute! She hung a couple herself, then decided it was funner and quicker to just keep getting them out of the box.