12.03.2011

My birthday girl

This little girl had a birthday. We celebrated with a simple get-together with close friends and grandparents.
It was perfect. 

Ellie (thankfully) got a nap in on our way to my mom's. She's a sprawler like her mama.


Ellie was so excited as we waited for everyone to come over.



First, we enjoyed some pizza. Since it was her birthday and all, we let Ellie have her request of holding and eating a full size piece by herself.



When she opened her presents, she was good about saying, "Wooooow!" and "Thank you." When she opened a handmade little skirt from the Waltons, she said, "It's so cute!" That's my girl.




She requested a pink birthday cake, so I tried a new red velvet recipe (close enough to pink, right?) and made some mint oreo ice cream. Mmmm. Ellie excitedly joined in the "Happy Birthday" song and loved blowing her candles out (with dad's help).



Cute new jammies and slippers from grandma

She was showered with presents and love and had the time of her life. The fun thing is that we still have Christmas to look forward to with her!

Now I am going to record some fun things she does at this stage in her life so we can read back and remember them:

The other day she said, “Mommy, I miss you.” “I love you, mommy.”

She also said in the car one day, “Mom, you’re gorgeous.” melted my heart.

She is a great eater and says “mmmm” when she eats something she loves.

Every time she sees a dog she wants to go pet it, even if it is the size of a horse like the Great Dane we saw the other day.

She loves playing with other kids, regardless of their ages. She will make friends with random kids at restaurants or playgrounds and run around laughing with them.

All she wants to do all day every day is pretend. Her favorite pretending games:

-In the middle of doing something she will randomly say, “The babies are throwin' up!” we instantly have to go take their temperatures and get them some medicine, stat. She loves playing with her dolls – taking them on picnics, on the “school bus” and saying, “where we goin', mom?”

-She also plays what she calls the “bye” game. She will put a tote bag around her shoulder and say, “I’m goin on a trip to Florida/Australia/Arizona,” then leave. About 5 seconds later, she runs back with a huge smile on her face and says, “I came back!”

-She comes up to me and either says, “Mom, I wanna buy!” (I know, scary.) or “I gotta buy my food.” I then play the cashier and offer her different items from her toy box for her to buy. She hands me her card from her play wallet and I swipe it. One time I said, “Thank you, Mrs. Christenson,” and she said in a corrective tone, “E-O-N.” I realized she meant “S-O-N,” which I constantly find myself spelling to people since Christensen is more common.

-She is potty training like a champ.

We love our baby girl!

11.28.2011

Santa's in Town

We decided to take Ellie to see Santa before the Christmas rush set in.
While we waited in line, she kept turning to me with wide eyes and saying, "It's our turn!"
Once she sat on Santa's lap, she was in awe of him. She could hardly talk, and just repeated the last few words of whatever Santa said.
She hasn't stopped talking about him since.

Since my camera battery was dying, we just got a short video clip and a phone pic:



It's fun how having a little kid makes you get excited for Christmas like a little kid!

11.19.2011

First Christmas festivity of the season

We went to a local lights-on festival and loved it.
It's true -- we are getting into Christmas festivities early this year.
Christmas music, decorations and all.

 Ellie enjoyed a cookie and apple cider while we looked at the gingerbread houses.

 This little cutie and his parents joined us.

The highlight of the night was the carriage ride. Ellie wanted to get up close and personal with the horse, Charlie. I thought he looked hungry for fingers.

Note for next year: Get in line for santa super early. After 10 minutes of not moving up in line, we decided to try the santa thing another time, despite Ellie's begging to sit on his lap.

11.18.2011

Sweet Babies

 When my sister came over with her baby Kaylyn the other day, Ellie begged to hold her little cousin.
She then put her hand on Kaylyn's head and held her hand. It was so sweet.

Can you tell how much she adores her?





11.09.2011

Ellie & Rachael Ray.

Have I mentioned that this girl loves to cook? She always wants to help me measure out ingredients, pour them into the bowl and mix them together. She can't stand to be on the floor while I am at the counter cooking. She has to see what is happening at all times.

Maybe it's just childhood curiosity, but I'd rather think I am instilling a love for cooking in her. 

One day, she skipped her nap, so I told her she could watch one of "mommy's shows" with me. 
She had no complaints. In fact, she was mezmerized.  



Her interest in cooking makes me think she will really like her Christmas present.

11.04.2011

A Scrumptious Halloween

Our Halloween costume plans changed at the last minute when I found Ellie's little cupcake outfit at Old Navy for 5 bucks.
A couple Krispy Kreme hats and a makeshift cupcake necklace later, we became the Christenson Cupcake Company.

We Christensons make some good cupcakes!


Our nephew Chase was a cute little bat.


Halloween is no small matter around our house, and we couldn't wait to take Ellie trick-or-treating. She LOVED it, but was all business. Once she said her "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you," she shouted, "Next house!" and off we went. She is still talking about Halloween and trick-or-treating.
Good thing there's next year!

11.02.2011

Cornbelly's

Clay and I have been going to Cornbelly's pretty much since we got married. We love it. This year, we coaxed some friends into coming with us, despite the bitter cold weather.

First, we stopped at my favorite cafe: Flour Girls and Dough Boys.


 


Ellie couldn't take her eyes off the pumpkin princess.


Ellie didn't want to go further than this into the Creature.


 Love these girls and these babies!

 Ellie adores Krugh and talks about him pretty much every day. No joke.

My favorite pic from the night.

Ellie and Jayne sharing the wheel.


It was such a fun fall night with friends.