One Year

One year ago I was so ready to meet our precious baby. We waited in the hospital for hours and hours along with friends and family. For a long nine months we waited and we talked about what our baby girl would look like. Would she have more hair than Daddy? Would she have eyes like her sisters? Would she be too big to fit in all of her newborn outfits? She had a beautiful nursery, a closet full of adorable girl outfits and a family ready to welcome her and love her.

Every day with Elli is such a gift. I think this baby was born to laugh and smile and make those around her laugh and smile. Not a day goes by that she does not make me smile. She has changed so much over the past year. Now at 12 months she is walking and really turning into quite the little monkey. Everyone reminds me that her Uncle Chad was quite the skilled climber and that is how Elli is too. She climbs on everything but her favorite climbing toys are Mommy and Daddy. She giggles and laughs if we get down on the floor and play "horsey" with her.

She loves the water and bathtime.

She loves to read books.

She loves to play peek a boo. Patty Cake and waves bye bye.

She loves to cuddle and still takes a bottle. The older girls were broke of the bottle at 12 months. I don't think this little one is going to be broke for a while. She is pretty attached. She still won't hold the bottle or the cup herself. She will bring it to someone to give her. She loves to be snuggled when she takes her bottle or her cup.

She does not say a lot but she has a lot to say. She babbles all the time and it sure sounds like she has something very important to tell us. Right now though she just says Da Da and on occasion Ma Ma. Mostly everyone and everything is DaDa.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl. Welcome to toddlerhood!!! I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

On her way to ONE

Just a few short days until Elizabeth will be the big ONE.

Look how much she has grown over the past 12 months.

Elli First Birthday Party

We celebrated Elli's first birthday this weekend with family and friends. It was a beautiful day for a party. I still can't believe in less than a week she will be a one year old. It just does not seem possible. She is looking more and more like a toddler and less like a baby every day. It seems like yesterday that we all just sat around and held her and watched her sleep and coo. Now she entertains us with all of the silly things she does.

Here is Elli in all her party dress glory.

And...the cake.

All cleaned up and ready to open all the loot. That pink chair was a huge hit. She loves to stand in it backwards.

Growing Up

So all of my beautiful daughters are growing up on me way too fast. Elli will be one in 2 weeks. How did that happen?

Ali is starting to work overnight shifts at work and is trying to work her way up in a job that she loves.

How did that happen? Well I know the answer to that question. The money motivates her. :)

And then Ashli. She is on the go all of the time and just loves life and loves laughing. She laughs more than anyone I know. And a boyfriend. Yep...her boyfriend Brooks and her are so cute.

Isn't she beautiful?

Ash and Syd.

Holiday Weekend Fun

Had some fun with friends to end the long holiday weekend. What a fun time.

Ali hamming it up for the camera. :)

Who knows what was so funny?!

Naked Baby!!!

Happy 4th of July

We had such a fun weekend with friends and family. The weather was just gorgeous all weekend. Great food, great fireworks, great weather, great drinks = a tired worn out family. :)

Here is Elli in her parade glory complete with pinwheels.

And ready to go to Grandpa's house for lots of fun.

Watch Out -- Elli's got some new wheels

Happy Fathers Day from Elli

happy fathers day, daddy

daddy, mommy and me all went to uncle jacks house to have some fun in the sun. we played in the lake and ate some yummy food.

i had so much fun walking around and playing with all of my cousins.

this was me watching all of the big people jump off the diving board.

this was me ready to go in the lake. i found this ring and it was just my size. i tried to give it to everyone and nobody would take me in. maybe next year when i am a little bigger.

i was chilling out in my wagon on the way back home to take my nap. i was a very sleepy baby. all of that fun and excitement wore me out. i chilled out in my wagon with my toys and my snack and let my daddy pull me around. that's his job (i think).



here is me with my grandpa swalley. i love him. i really love watching him drive on the tractors and i can't wait until i am big enough to go with him.



me and my mommy.

happy fathers day daddy. i love you!!

Elli

11 Months Old

Elizabeth is 11 months old. One more month and she will be ONE. WOW time flies.
Elli still only has 2 teeth but that does not stop her from eating anything and everything. She is a very good little eater. I have not found anything that she will not eat. Her favorite though is lunch dates on Tuesdays to Los Toros.
Elli's new favorite game is the always fun lets drop everything from my high chair and watch Mommy or Daddy pick it up and give it back to me and then I can throw it down again!! This is Mommys least favorite game. She also loves hiding and playing peek a boo. She is also a water bug. She loves to play in the water, splash in the water, stick her feet in water, put her head down in the water. Anything involving water is an A+ for Elli. Even if that water is a dog bowl.
Elli is walking and is pretty much into everything these days. If you put something down she is sure to go after it. I had to retire my broken camera and I have resorted to using the daughters camera. I decided Miss Elizabeth could have my old one. I love this look in the picture. She thinks she has something she is not supposed to have.

Getting a decent picture of her has become quite a challenge. She does not sit still long enough for a picture. Since I am not a photographer nor do I own a very expensive fancy smancy camera that takes action shots we have to make do with what I can do. I took over 100 pictures yesteday and out of the 100 about 6 of them are decent. :)


See my pretty teeth? I am very proud of them.

Pretty blue eyes.

See you next month when I will be one year old!!!

Elli Face

Elli has started making the silliest faces. Here is our favorite silly face. I don't know where she got this face from but it is hilarious.

And here is our happy little jelly bean!!!