April 25, 2012

Pete was out of town on Ellie's actual birthday so the plan was to wait until Saturday to do cake and presents.  However, I didn't want her day to go completely unrecognized, so I managed to squeeze a few special things into our busy day.  When we came down in the morning (at her new wake-up time of 6:30am - eek!) there was a giant butterfly balloon waiting to greet her.

I finished her birthday banner the night before - just in time!

Evie came over in the afternoon and we walked down to the local cupcake shop where Ellie chose her first-ever cuppy cake:  vanilla and chocolate marble with vanilla buttercream frosting.  Seemed like a wise choice to me!  Evie seemed to know that moderation is the best policy when it comes to baked goods, but Ellie must take after her mommy - she dove right in!

Ellie wanted it all - down to the last crumb!

We had a 'Skype date' with Ellie's daddy at 5:00pm.  Unfortunately, she took an uncommon third nap at 4:30pm (probably crashing from her sugar high).  Luckily, she woke up the 2nd time I checked on her, shortly after her birth time of 5:09pm and Pete and I sang to her.  Then I took a still picture of us to commemorate the official anniversary of her birth.

sleepy head

Then at six, Joanne and Jerry took us out to Rincon so I wouldn't get sad reminiscing at home alone.  Joanne and Jerry were the first people to come see us at the hospital - when Ellie was just a few hours old!

who doesn't love birthday beans?!?

J + J gave Ellie two great things for her first birthday: Luis the Lamb and a lilac bush

big cheesers

Ellie and the real Luis, Rincon's manager

not too keen on wearing the birthday sombrero

 We arrived home not too late after Ellie's usual bedtime and I read her On the Night You Were Born before laying her down in her crib.  It was a busy day for us (we had swim lessons and pilates in the morning as well) and I was glad not to have too much down time during which I might get weepy.  So that's what we did on Ellie's actual birthday, wait until you see the fun we had on Saturday once her Daddy was home!

52 weeks of ellie

Ellie's birthday weekend is coming to a close and I have tons of pictures and videos that I will eventually edit down and post.  But for now, here's a slideshow of Ellie's weekly photos - enjoy!  I'll post a still collage of all of them once I can figure out my free 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements.

Swim Class Success!

I have been taking Ellie to parent/child swim class at the Y twice a week for the last three weeks. It has been really fun watching her learn to splash in the water and jump off the side. She hasn't gotten the hang of blowing bubbles or kicking yet, but we still have two more classes to go, so who knows what she will learn next week.

Wednesday Pete was able to come to class - so I snapped some pictures while they played in the water. Look at all the fun they had!

meeting ellie's classmates and their moms

'swimming' for the rubber ducky

kick kick kick!

blow bubbles!
singing songs
and her favorite - SPLASHING!!

51 weeks. say it ain't so!!

No, I'm not ready for my baby girl to turn one. No, I've not planned a huge party for her. No, I don't want to talk about it.

Yes, I am still taking a picture of her every Monday morning. Yes, it is becoming a more and more difficult task. Yes, I will show you some examples.

last week

this week

I am, however, pretty excited that I have stuck with this project for the whole year. Sometime this spring/summer I will post a collage of all 52 weeks :)

Ellie's Chubby Bunny

I started on Ellie's bunny when I was still pregnant - probably January of 2011. Somehow, with working full time at my rotation, studying for comps, and decorating a nursery it never got finished.

Plus, it was knit using 5 teeny tiny needles and had a stitch I had to look up and try a million different times before I could master it. Note to self: if the pattern is 4 pages long, single-spaced, maybe think twice before tackling it.


But I finally got back to knitting him a few weeks ago and and am so glad I finished it in time to give it to Ellie. She really loves it! A thin strand of mohair is used along with the cotton yarn and makes it SO soft! Whenever we get him out, she grabs his face and chomps down on his little ears.

Easter Weekend

Saturday morning we got up bright and early to attend Breakfast with the Works at Keeneland. On Saturdays during the Spring meet, you can go to the race track and watch the morning workouts while enjoying a nice hot breakfast. They also have all kinds of activities for kiddos - face painting, temporary tattoos, bingo, jockey costumes, etc. Ellie is still a little too young to participate, but we can't wait to go back next year!

Truce Wither was the name of this work horse that stopped to have his picture taken with us, and let us pet his nose. He was a racehorse 4 months ago, but had to retire because of weak knees. Now he escorts the thoroughbreds on and off the track.


Ellie was a little unsure of Buckles, the Keeneland mascot, but definitely interested in his giant head. (Buckles is named after Keeneland's Bugle Blower, Bucky.)
Going to Keeneland during the races is great, but you don't get much of an opportunity to actually see the individual horses very much as they are running, this provided multiple views of the horses trotting, sprinting, and whatever else it is thoroughbreds do (walk?) around the race track.

Later in the afternoon, we headed out to the Kite Fest at Jacobson Park.

This multi-pieced kite was by far our favorite.


Then, early, early this morning - The Easter Bunny visited our house!! He was so generous for Ellie's first Easter.


Ellie loved her little chubby bunny!

She was also pretty excited about her pinwheel once her daddy showed her how it worked.

After church we headed over to Ashland to take some pictures of Ellie in her Easter dress.

In the sun, there's not much denying her hair color!

Happy Easter!