Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas! To be able to see Christmas through the eyes of child was so exciting! Mary Ellen did not know what she thought about having "Ho Ho" come to her house, but when she found the presents that he left for her, she was fine with it! We actually started Christmas on Wednesday morning setting up presents that Nene and Granddaddy sent. We are going to Kentucky, but since we are flying, they had them sent here, so Mary Ellen has already been enjoying them. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Caki, Granny, Aunt Connie, Cousin Philip, and Cousin Susie. Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rayni joined us for Christmas Day! On Christmas morning, when we were handing out the presents, Mary Ellen was very patient about it. Every time someone handed her a present, she would say, "Thank you!" She opened when it was her turn, but if it was a toy, she wanted it out of the package right then. I couldn't get things opened fast enough for her, but it was so much fun to see her enjoy everything that she got!

New slide from Nene and Granddaddy


Playing in the ball bit from Nene and Granddaddy


Showing off her new lunch box while sitting in the ball pit


Christmas Eve dinner at our house. We were suppose to have church that night, but there was flooding, so we just enjoyed a great dinner!


Putting out treats for Santa


Look what Santa brought me!


Beginning to play with her puzzle


Look - there are toys in here!


Starting to feed her new baby doll


She loves her new Clifford cup and her stool/storage container.


The see and say is a big hit. She loves animal noises.


Checking out the Christmas presents and tree.


Playing with Uncle Tyler


Preparing to ring her bells in the family Christmas tradition


Shaking her maraca and also using it as a microphone


Showing off her new pink converse


Playing with the wrapping paper


She laid down in the midst of the presents needing to take a break.


Look, it's Clifford, the Big Red Dog!


New table and chairs, rug, and storage shelf from Caki and Bo. It also has my little people house from Granny on it.


Playing with my new toys at the table.


Finally got a family Christmas picture


Had to wear new clothes to church!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mary Ellen and the boys!

Mary Ellen has always had a thing for boys older and younger. She got to have three of her boyfriends over! 3 of my friends had baby boys this summer. We got together for dinner and enjoyed catching up and seeing all of the kids together. Mary Ellen was in heaven with the babies and wanted to see what they were doing all the time.


We got out some of our baby toys, and before everyone got here, Mary Ellen wanted to ride in the swing. I think that she spent more time in it now than she did as a baby!


Ashlan and Carew, Grace and Luke, Jamie and Jack, and Mary Ellen and me


"Mary Ellen and the boys"
You should have seen the dancing going on to try to get everyone to look. As you can see, the boys weren't too impressed. Mary Ellen thought that it was pretty funny!


Carew keeping trying to hold every one's hand. Mary Ellen was happy to hold his.


Mary Ellen and Jack.


Mary Ellen is checking on Luke, while Carew watches on.

December fun continues

It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. We have been having so much fun celebrating, but also watching Mary Ellen as she explores everything about the season. I don't have any pictures of this, but she loves looking at the lights on houses. No matter what time of day, when we pull out of the driveway, she starts asking for "prettys." That is how she refers to the lights. Many times, as we drive around, she starts asking for "one more." I love lights, too, so it is no problem for me to see them with her. She has been dressed in Christmas attire through the season, trying to bring Christmas spirit to all we encounter.
As you will see in the first few pictures, she is by the Christmas tree. After trying really hard to get our Christmas card picture, she now thinks that if she sees the camera that you have to go in front of the Christmas tree to take the picture!








One night, when Caki and Bo stayed with her, this was the picture that was left on my camera. She loves using the tea towels as her scarves! I guess she found that she could dress up with them too. But, of course, she had to get in front of the Christmas tree!









Mary Ellen is having a lot of fun trying to ride her toys. She was successful with her stroller, but not with the school bus above.



And finally, as the entertain at our Sunday School party, she showed off by wearing mommy's shoes!

Photo with Santa

The pictures say it all!

We did not have a happy little girl with Santa Claus. She loves pointing out "Ho Ho," but she did not like the real thing!

19 months old

There is so much to say about Mary Ellen at the 19 month old mark. She is a very independent little girl, who knows exactly what she wants. She does not want to sit or stand still to have her picture taken, so here is a random assortment of her on her 19 month birthday!

She talks up a storm, and her favorite phrase right now is, "Mon, mama." For those who don't talk toddler talk, that is translated to "Come on, Mom." She is enjoying looking at the Christmas tree, and once the lights are turned on, she says, "Pretty!" She LOVES Clifford and gets so excited when the big red dog comes on tv. She enjoys being read to, and she is starting to want to read to us. When she wants to read to us, she says, "I read."

She is playing more and more with dolls, likes to have them wrapped in blankets, and gives them lots of hugs and kisses.



She runs when it is time to take a bath, but then loves her time in the bath time, where she can play with her ducks and "pups" (cups).

She loves storytime at the library and sings all of the songs from there. If we aren't doing it with her, she calls us out, so that we participate. Mary Ellen is truly a little girl with a great mind of her own. She makes us laugh with all of the things that she comes up with. I am sure that with each month that comes, we will be finding more and more wonderful new joys!

Christmas card pics attempts

Taking a Christmas card picture with an 18 month old is not easy. I have been trying to do it by myself, but found that you need one person to perform and another to take the picture. So, I told Paul that this was the weekend we had to do it. By the time, it was over with, we had played chase around the tree and turned on music to dance to in order to try to get a smile. There were many that I deleted that were simply a flash of light, because Mary Ellen had moved so fast. This is just a sampling of some of the funny ones.

These are when I was trying to do them by myself before we went places this week.

She decided it was more fun to lay on the floor with bunny and watch tv!


She is actually watching tv behind me.



This is her "cheese" smile!


Another "Cheese" Smile


These are from our two part photo shoot with both of us there.

Yes, that is her tongue sticking out of her mouth.


I asked her to sit by the tree. I guess I didn't ask for a smile. Or maybe, she was tired of things.


One of the many pics of her walking around the tree. I just got this when she wasn't moving.


Our little dancer - she was having fun to the music, but it didn't help with the picture!