Pink Skies make the Ellie go wild!

Last night, the sky was beautiful

After Ellie's bath, we took her to the window to look at it. She kept saying "PINK SKY! PINK SKY!" She was so excited!

She laughed and laughed

She did a little dance

She blew some spit bubbles

She was all around happy to see it

Tonight she was asking "where's the pink sky?"  She was very upset we couldn't turn it on with the light switch!

Fun to get away

Earlier in the summer Scott and I went to Detroit for an overnight stay.  We watched the Tigers, ate deep dish pizza, and did some shopping while Ellie stayed AT HOME with aunt Joy and uncle Joy (she now knows his real name is uncle Ryan).

Later on, we took a mommy, daddy, Ellie trip to Great Wolf Lodge.  Also an excellent time.

A few weekends ago, we went a few hours up north with the whole family (Grandma, Grandpa, Ryan, Joy, Mommy, Daddy, Ellie).  It was tentatively on the calender for almost a year, but we weren't sure if we were going to be able to go.  Two weeks before, we got a call that a room opened up at the Pinestead Reef Resort. We had a great time eating, relaxing, and playing in the bay.  The weather was sunny and in the upper 70s!  We even squeezed in a brunch at one of my favorite restaurants - Apache Trout Grill.  The great thing about vacationing with family is that there are extra hands to keep the little one distracted!

Usually something funny or slightly bizarre (uh-hmm, sanitary napkins anyone?) happens while we are on vacation. This time we were relaxing on the patio and a seagull dropped a perfect bomb into my brothers coffee.  Thankfully we saw it land because it was perfectly centered and only made a small splash. Now that's what we call a Traverse City Latte.  OK, on to some pictures:

Some updates

It seems so weird to say we have a two year old!  I stopped counting by months and just say "she's two" or "she turned two in July" if someone asks me how old she is.  Momma has been very tired with this pregnancy, but things are going fine this time around and not as many complications as last time.  We've been very busy trying to get the house ready, work (Scott has been working mad crazy hours) and trying to keep up with a very moody, emotional, yet so sweet toddler.  Here are some things Ellie has been up to:

• Screams THAT'S MINE! all the time.  All the time...
• Adores her Tiger monkey, takes it everywhere, reads to it, dances with it, etc
• Pees on the potty at daycare but refuses to at home
• Demands certain outfits, shoes, and hair accessories
• Had a blast at critter barn and just adores animals
• Got stuck up at the top of McDonald's play land. Had to have some little kids get her down since I'm too pregnant to get her down.  The first boy said "she wouldn't listen to me" but a different girl got her to go down the slide on her lap.  Ellie thought it was hilarious.
• Says "I sorry" so sweetly if she thinks she did something wrong.
• Also says "Momma is a big girl" (when she walks in on me in the bathroom), "Ima gonna getcha" (this is when SHE wants to be chased, "Ellie's happy," "Grammas pool is cold," "I love you more," "I love you mommy (or daddy)."  and many many other things. Sometimes combines up to 5 words
• Really likes to say "I'm scared" and tremble and shake.  Can't figure out this one but she'll say she is scared of the light or something else weird.
• Knows circle, square, rectangle, star, cross
• Asks a ton of questions like "whats that noise?" and "what's that?"
• Sometimes counts to 20
• Avoids sleep by asking for a ton of things
• Sleeps horribly, always something new in this department.
• Sings along with songs.  She can sing the whole ABC and twinkle twinkle little star song. Knows a good portion of Old McDonald, I'm a little teapot, and Jesus loves me.  Also busts out with songs that she must be learning at daycare because I've never heard of them
• Still loves dancing

Here are some pics!  Not too shabby eh?




I didn't post her 2 year stats last time.  They were 25.5 lbs (33%) and 35.5" (80%).  She wasn't supposed to have a shot, but they messed something up with a previous vaccine, so it was another appointment filled with tears and heartache. 

Also I'd like to give a shout out to the Tigers!!!  Go Tigers!!! Keep it up. I'm telling my unborn child that her birth year will be the year they take the division!!!

You may have had to have been there

This was last night's dinner conversation:

Mom: What color are daddy's eyes
Ellie: Blue

Mom: What color are mommy's eyes
Ellie: Red, no BROWN

Mom: What color is mommy's hair
Ellie: Brown Brown!

Mom: What color is Ellie's hair
Ellie: Brown!

Dad: What color is Grandpa's hair
Ellie: (Extremely puzzle expression and silence..pondering...) NOOOO!!! (While shaking her head and smiling)

My parents have been out of town the last two weeks, but she still remembers what grandpa's head looks like:

Final 2nd Birthday Post

In addition to going to Great Wolf Lodge, we also had a small birthday party for Ellie.  Unlike her first birthday where we crammed almost 40 hot bodies in our house, we kept things simple and had a very small gathering. It was much easier on my back and I think Ellie had fun with the relaxed environment.

Mom, Dad, birthday girl, & little girl #2



My mom made this cute cake


We had lots of food


Ellie was cute




She got lots of great gifts including play food, a drill set, rocking chair, dollhouse, and some wall art for her new room




We played with balloons


We were wild and free


And it wouldn't be the same without a video video

Sleep Wars Cease Fire

Ellie has always been an on again off again bad sleeper. Just when all starts going well, something else will come up that will cause her to fight sleep.  About 6 months ago, she started screaming endlessly at night. She would cry when we put her down and often cry at various times during the night. We tried both checking on her at longer and longer intervals and also cry it out.  I'm not sure what, if anything really worked but eventually she just got over it.  That lasted about a week.  Then she started a new phase where she refused to have her blanket put on her and immediately threw it out of her crib and cried for it.  It happened right when we put her to bed and during the night.  Very very loud. That's been our life for the last 2 months.  We started off going in to check on her, trying to have a rational conversation about the advantages of keeping her blanket in her crib all night, and then giving her blanket back.  She would immediately throw it out and start the process over again.  Next we delayed our visits to 10 minutes, 20, and then a half hour hoping this would be less of a fun game for her. We calmly walked in the room, said "lay down" and gave her the blanket as soon as she laid back down.  No other chit chat or smiles were exchanged.  Despite our best efforts, she still loved playing so one night I decided to be firm and let her cry it out.  2 hours later, she was still crying and I caved and got her the blanket.  I was hopeful that the next night would be different.  She apparently still wanted to play, and I didn't feel like listening for 2 hours again, so I fetched it after 15 minutes and she didn't throw it again.  We continued the 15 minute pattern for about a week. 3 nights ago, she just stopped throwing her blanket.  I really hope this is the end!!! 

Going to the lodge...

For Ellie's 2nd birthday, we took our first family trip as just the three of us to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City.  I was a little worried how she would do, but we all had a blast.

First, isn't she just so cute? And isn't our table so messy?

We spent 2 days and 1 night, which seemed to be the perfect amount of time for her age.

Sweet, can't wait to play!

Awesome! I'm short enough to ride this ride!

Whoa, Ellie face!

Playing with Daddy

Splish Splash

Fun Stuff!

Chillin with Momma

Family Photo

Snack while watching the xtra large bucket drop - wow!

Can we take the bear home? Please?

Story Time

Momma and me

Yum Yum at the critter cafe

My parents have to comb through this every morning

And a movie of me prancing through the halls. When asked if she wants to go swimming, she says "grandma's house?"

When asked how old she is, she says "party! cake! balloons!"  We're still working on it.

When we got home (actually on her birthday) we didn't have any presents for her yet. Thankfully Grandpa Mars and Becky sent a present that arrived on her birthday so she had something to open. Thanks!!!  She got a bunch of new shirts, socks, and a xylophone.  She loves to bang on it and sing the first half of twinkle twinkle little star (how i wonder what you are).