New Camera

So, I got a new camera, because my old one no longer zoomed out once you zoomed in. But, I got the same brand, hoping that it would make the transition easier. It has been easy to use, but of course, I had to install new software on my computer. So, I am just now getting to that and getting caught up on pictures. I think that I have it all installed, so hopefully, it won't take me hours to upload pictures next time.

We haven't been up to many new things these days. Mary Ellen comes up with so many new things on her own that she keeps me entertained. She has a new phrase that I am not sure where she got it from. She will look at me and say, "Hey, I know..." and then fill it in with whatever she wants. The first time she said it, she finished it with chocolate. I just had to laugh. She also loves pockets, but her pocket is down her shirt. She puts lots of things in there, but they just fall out. She then tries again. She is less than two weeks away from being two, and we are looking forward to celebrating her birthday with family and friends!


CHEESE!


Posing for the camera


First time to color outside


Continuing to play with sidewalk chalk


Playing outside


Checking out her pocket


This shirt has elastic around the bottom, so she carried around the sidewalk chalk in her "pocket" for a long time!


Look at me!


We went to Fayetteville this past weekend. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here is one with Susie, Aunt Connie and Granny!

Another Wonder Place outing

On Monday, we went to Wonder Place again. This was only our second time, but Mary Ellen was immediately excited to be there. We meet up with Caroline and some other friends from MOPS, including Hiba. Mary Ellen had a great time playing, especially in any section that had play food or kitchen like stuff. She even found a place that she could climb to where there was a lot of make believe items. She had a little tumble down the slide when we first got there, but it did not stop her from having a great time!


This picture is before we left. She had her own dress up time with Daddy's belt. She loves to have me wrap it around her and she wears it all around!


Ready for the slide.


Look, Caroline, do you like my hat?


Now, I can't see with this hat on.


Climbing around with her ice cream cone.


Trying to figure out how this toy works.


Having Tessa read her a book.


Watch the ball go!


Puppets!


She is her own puppet show!

23 months old!

It is very hard to believe that Mary Ellen is one month shy of being 2 years old. We will be soon celebrating her 2nd birthday. But, before we get to that point, we must celebrate this last month of being 1. I hope that you find these pictures as amusing as I do. They definitely show Mary Ellen's desire to be very independent and her determination to find things and do it herself. You don't know what she will come out with some days, and most of the times, it simply makes you laugh. She has such innocence when she brings something to you and is so excited to share it with you. With each day, you see more of her bubbling personality, and some days a little bit of temper, but overall, extreme happiness and lots of fun times!





As you probably know, it is not cold here. It is actually spring all around. But, this morning, since we weren't in a rush to get anywhere, Mary Ellen went exploring in her closet. She found hats that she tried on her and me, and this was the one that won. She then found her scarf and had to have it on. When I asked her if I could take her picture, she led me to the sunroom. I don't know why this is the current picture placing spot, but she seems to know exactly where she wants her picture taken! Like I said, she is very independent and knows that she wants!

Here are a few pics of Mary Ellen and her "garden."



She is growing tomatoes, which she helped her Daddy plant from sitting in her chair!



And this is the grass that we grew for Easter. She helped remind us to water it and has enjoyed seeing it grow!

Easter

We had a great Easter Sunday! Paul was up early for sunrise service, and we joined him at church later. We had a great lunch with Caki and Bo, and enjoyed the afternoon.









Family picture with Mary Ellen's Easter baskets. Since Paul had left early that morning the Easter Bunny came to Caki and Bo's house. We had to hold Mary Ellen off from pulling everything out of the basket until everyone could see what she was doing!


She had to stop and read her new Clifford book.



She has on her new Elmo pj top, and she is trying to put on her new tennis shoes!


Mommy, Daddy, and Mary Ellen




Caki, Bo, and Mary Ellen

Holly

Mary Ellen loves Uncle Tyler and Aunt Rayni's dog, Holly. When we were able to go to their house for a pre-Easter meal, she was so excited to play with Holly. I don't know if Holly felt the same about Mary Ellen! Mary Ellen kept running after her trying to get Holly to eat and to try to pet her. I think that Holly was glad to have some peace and quiet to enjoy her dinner after we left!

"I've got a feeling"

Mary Ellen loves to dance, and her favorite song to dance to is "I've got a feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. Her dancing involves moving her arms and going around in circles in the sunroom. Usually, one of us has to follow. I was able to catch a little bit of her dancing with her bunny. Maybe, one day, I will get the true experience to share on here!




Then, she had to take a slide break!

Sponge Painting

I have not been good about doing something new every day, but we have had a lot of new things going on, and Mary Ellen is constantly exploring things. She does know where I keep all of the supplies. She will go to the cabinet, pull something out, and say, "Look, Mommy!" She enjoyed painting before, that we tried sponge painting. She really got into it, and it helped that I was able to show her how to do it without making her hands too dirty!






Just realized that you can hear the TV in the background! If you are familiar with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, you can catch it on this little clip!