We wish you a Merry Christmas

I think this will have to wrap up my entries for 2007, as the holiday is nearing and Mommy is a busy little elf. Elena's favorite things about Christmas include:

• Tiny snowmen ("tiny like me," she says.);



• Cookies;



• Lights;



• Piggy pants (warm jammies); and



• J Bells.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Rockin' around the Christmas tree

The Harper-Grohs house is all a-buzz with the holiday spirit. Elena is either singing "J Bells" or "Bippity Boppity Boo" at any given time (and though it has nothing to do with Christmas, have I mentioned her obsession with Cinderella? Hence the Bippity Boppity Boo).

We decorated our tree today and Elena's favorite parts included the hot chocolate, removing the ornaments from the branches or playing with my old nativity scene and baby Jesus ("Jay-zus"). She put him in his manger several times so he could sleep. Mama Mary held him first to tell him, "ni-night."

I'm not sure it gets much sweeter than that.

It's Christmas time in the city....

Or in EDH, I guess we're in the country.

Elena is full of Christmas cheer. She gets a little of it, but mostly she loves the commotion around her. The lights, the trees, the wrapping of gifts. Every night we go outside to look at the lights on all the houses. She looks for the moon to say "ni-night, moon" and we go inside to read her a goodnight story. After a little milk, it's lights out for Lala. She is the sweetest she's ever been and a bigger handful than I can explain.

Mommy's days are very full. They are full of Lala and kisses; whining and dramatic cries over nothing; sweetness with hugs and; fits of anger over things that we've done wrong (i.e. not putting her pretty shoes on IMMEDIATELY, not understanding that we MUST drink the pretend shake she's made us, or not sitting with her to color at the art table). She's certainly got a little sass in her.

She remains as loved as any child has ever been.

It's Christmas and I've never been so happy that it is.

And here's to Sr. Celine who died this weekend. I'll remember you always. Chocolate and potato chips, my friend. Thank you for laying the groundwork.

Jingle all the Way

J Bells, J Bells, J all the WAAAAAAAAAY. Hey!

And so goes Elena's version of Jingle Bells. We can't even figure out how she knows that much - it just played for the first time today and she has the chorus down.... cute. But weird.

We had a nice Thanksgiving and we've spent the two days following in Marin, Sausalito, Napa, etc. for a short holiday. Stinky-Lala-J-Bells loved the Discovery Museum and all its glorious toddler fun. We could've spent days there.

Home again, we're looking to tomorrow to start holiday-decorating and present-wrapping. It feels as if the Christmas season has really arrived. J Bells and all.

We give thanks

In the days before Thanksgiving, I've actually stopped to give thanks. Novel idea. I am thankful for my family and our lives. I am thankful for my sweet Lala who makes me laugh and pause in awe every day. Her sweet smell and her kisses/hugs, the way she calls for me and the way she loves her Daddy and uncles and grandparents and friends. I love her curls and her voice, her mouth and her big 'ol cheeks and the way she runs from the front door to the family room in anticipation of... well, nothing. She anticipates something wonderful around every corner. It's this that I love most about her. She finds happiness and light in everything. She does this because she is Elena, because she is young and because she is all that is good and happy and light.

For this, I am truly thankful.

Yo, yo, yo...

Busy days again in the Harper-Grohs house. Elena's vocabulary is ever-expanding and she'll point out ANYTHING you do. God forbid someone should burp (or worse) in front of her. She calls you out, boy.

"SCUUUSE YOU, DADA."

Or if a stray dinner morsel might make its way to your chin, Elena makes sure you know right away.

"WHAS DAT, MAMA?" I could share much worse, but let's keep the blog clean.

We're all set for the holidays (Mommy is done shopping early again) and we're hoping to find time for Christmas pictures soon. This time of year always stresses me out a little, but Lala makes it as exciting as when we were little. I'm sure Santa will invoke tears again this year, but the last thing I want to do is rush through these years. She'll be looking forward to all those things before we know it.

Until next time... Peace out.

Cheeser

"Smile, Elena!"

This is what we get. Big cheesy grins with giggles and lots of teeth.
How 'Mommy' am I that I love this too?

This Little Piggy...

Halloween was certainly a different beast this year than last with Lala loving every bit of the candy-collecting process.


Step 1) Smile;
Step 2) "COME ON, DADA!" (And she'd drag Ryan to the next front door where she and her trick or treatin' buddies gathered);
Step 3) "Chick or Cheat"; and
Step 4) "Taaandy (candy), Mama!!!" (Accompanied with begging Ryan and me for another piece... She only got two).

She was every bit hiliarious in her piggy costume. I really didn't like the costume this year, but she loves those piggys and I have to admit, she made it awfully cute. I can only imagine next year when she REALLY understands. She'll be right out there with her friends bathing in the excitement of snagging free candy from grown-ups on that special Halloween night.

SO Big!

A short entry...

Elena had her two-year appointment yesterday and (drum roll) she was pronounced an official drama queen by Dr. Lloren (Sweet Stinky Marie whined every time Dr. Lloren took a step toward her). I warned him!

Elena is narrowing in on 3 feet tall at 35 3/4 inches (93%). She weighs 29 lbs. (77%), and still has a big 'ol noggin in the 83rd percentile.

Happy Halloween!

The Glamour

Claire Huxtable, I ain't.

Elena has been really sick with her umpteenth 'virus' that can be helped by no medicine, save Motrin and Tylenol. We're on day four of fever, runny nose and cough, but her once 104.3 temperature has fallen significantly, so I'm hopeful that we're on the up-swing.

Saturday was fun. At one point, I had barf on my shirt and poop on my hands and of course, hadn't showered in more than 24 hours. Quite the looker. The glamour, oh the glamour.

And of course the worst part was that my sweet girl was just miserable as she rarely is even in times of sickness. But this fever really got her and we spent much of each day watching Shrek and Cinderella. Funny combination, but she loved them both. She also took turns putting Daddy and Mommy to sleep. A pat on the back, milk, a blankie ('D'), a pillow and a smoothing of our hair made the process complete. It really just doesn't get any sweeter than that.

Here's a photo of Elena during the weekend-0-barf. The popsicles and popcorn seemed to be the only appealing thing....

Stinky Marie

Our little Lala (affectionately called Stinky Marie) is every bit two years old and enjoying a lot of silliness and light. She has had a busy few weeks full of pumpkin patches and birthday parties (it seems every kid we know has had a birthday this month too!). Elena thinks she is very funny and she'll say it... "I funny" and then put on a cheese ball grin and laugh.



She loves to color, play with her friends, attempt her tricycle, play in her kitchen and help us do anything. But mostly, she still loves to dance. It's like nothing we've ever seen. This kid loves music and will dance to anything, including the beat of the coffee grinder.


Her vocabulary continues to grow and she's definitely a parrot these days, mimicking anything we say. You can imagine the fear that instills so our days of colorfully expressing ourselves are over. I guess that just can't be a bad thing.


Until next time...

Now I'm TWOooooo!

Elena's second birthday passed with all the fanfare she's earned in her two years. And it was a lot. Grandmas and Grandpas spoiled our Lala and she's knee-deep in new clothes and toys. But most importantly, she spent the week encased in hugs and kisses.

She's learning to ride her new tricycle (A spiffy pink Schwinn Roadster that looks like a cruiser bike, courtesy of her cycling Daddy) and scooter. She also loves the new kitchen where she makes us 'shakes' and vegetable soup. And the new clothes... she's one cool toddler in her happening duds (Did I just say that?).

Her piggy-themed party was a hit complete with pig balloons scattered on the play room floor, piggy footballs and boomerangs and homemade piggy ice cream sandwiches (they melted a bit, but the kids loved 'em!). I even made ceramic piggy banks with each kid's name for the guests to take home (Gawd... I'm SUCH a mom... and I love it). :)

Terrible (Almost) Twos

We've been waiting and (gulp) I guess it's safe to say our little girl has entered the Terrible Twos. Don't get me wrong, she's still a love with lots of hugs and kisses for Mommy and Daddy, but goodness almighty - the tantrums. The tantrums.

Elena - "Shirt ON, Mama."
Mommy - "OK, let's put your shirt on."
Elena - "NO Shirt. Pants."
Mommy - "You want these pants?"
Elena - "Yeah..... NOOOOOOOOOO. Paint."
Mommy - "We can paint in a few minutes (and then we do)."
Elena- "NOOOOOO. Shirt ON."

Screams, whining and an arched back accompany this typical type of exchange at all times. Who has a glass of wine for Mommy?

Regardless, she's a sweet little girl most of the time and as we prepare for her 2nd birthday next week (complete with her very own piggy-themed party), we are filled with more love for her than ever. The years are going fast, but we love every minute (am I awful to say except for the tantrums?? :)).

At the Carwash, Baaaby!

Washing the car by hand, I'll admit, isn't very common around here, but it'll just have to become fashionable again because Elena is geared up and a very BIG helper. So much in fact, that she and Mommy will be washing the (SO mommy car) Pilot on Saturday.

We continue to work on 'colors' with Elena and she's catching on slowly. Very slowly. Purple is mastered, but all other colors are simply red or blue to her. We'll get there.

Elena is also getting very demanding and a little contrary with "NO" being the operative word in most sentences. We're starting time-outs (the naughty seat) a little more lately and plan to read (ASAP) about the right way to handle discipline, as we're not totally sure we're doing it right.

She remains the love of our lives. I just wish I could bottle her sweetness (and mmmm.... 'cookie-toast' smell). We love you, Lalala...

Big girl!

Elena is as sweet as they come and every day, she does something new that melts us. We're closing in on her 2nd birthday and she still loves to cuddle, give kisses and hugs and lately, check to make sure her babies, woof and kitty haven't 'poo-pooed.'

She says, "thank you and please" almost always (In fact she says it more than most adults) and the other day when Ryan sneezed, she promptly said, "Bless you, my dada."

She loves her grandmas and grandpas A LOT and has really taken to a stuffed, walking/talking/oinking pig that her great-grandma Ann got her during a recent visit. So much, in fact, that her birthday party is now piggy-themed. She asks for that %*$:) pig the second we get in the car or home. It makes her very happy, though we find ourselves wanting to hide it sometimes.

She is our little Lala and she just keeps getting better.

Pismo and Elena - Saturday Night Fever

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Picasso

Elena loves to play with her friends but I think she may be a little TOO willing to please. In this instance, the moms were chatting on the couch, but when we popped over to check on the too-quiet kids, Noah and Haley (each about 2 1/2 years old) had already made a masterpiece of young Elena. :)

It's safe to say there was a lot of laughter in the room following.

Oh and p.s. The pens were washable - it all came off with water and a paper towel.... :)

Summer Lovin'

Elena LOVES the outdoors and in this instance, loved being at her friend, Olivia's, second birthday party. The kids were a riot playing with the 'mister' (See photo).

Elena is also learning her letters. She can sing most of the ABCs and can identify about ten letters when shown. She and Daddy have been working on them and the other morning, they brought Mama breakfast in bed (Elena carried the napkin) and were both so excited to showcase her new tricks. We'd test her on the letters and then she'd turn it around and ask us, "Whas dis?" What a smart little cookie.

Potty Time!

Elena is newly interested in the potty and says, 'pappers' when she goes near it. Translation: Take off my diapers. The other day, she sat there for about five minutes and kept getting up and looking in to see if there were any eh, hem... results.

So far, nothing, but we know she'll tell us when it's time to potty train and we're not going to push it. It it's pretty cute in the meantime though.

Sleeping Beauty

I know I just posted something new, but I had to add these. Elena's 'night night' routine is getting funnier. Just look at the full crib -- we're surprised she still fits in there with her baby, pillow, Elmo, lamb, bear, two blankets, four pacifiers and Dee Dee (her giraffe). She seems awfully content that way though.

And lastly, Elena's hair is getting so long! It's actually past her shoulders, but when it dries, it just curls back up!

Oh, how we love our LaLa.

Walking a mile in Mama's shoes

If I've learned one thing in the last 22 months, it's that when a child is quiet for too long, it can't be good. We've gotten pretty accustomed to looking for Elena under furniture or behind doors these days because she just loves to hide. But yesterday, I didn't hear Elena for a couple minutes (Usually, she's in her playroom putting a baby to bed or something... after all, she can't go far). But this time, just as I was about to finish the dishes and look for her, she came walking down the hall very slowly. I think if you look at the picture, you'll see why her usual fast-paced gait was hindered. :) Mama's shoes.

She just LOVES shoes and constantly grabs ours, places them by our feet and orders us to put them on. But I guess she's getting more coordinated, because she managed these. I got the scene on camera and video because it was just too cute watching her teeter in the wedges.

Such a little girl!

The Naughty Seat

Elena had to sit in the Naughty Seat today. Problem is - I think she liked it...just take a look at the photo (Please forgive me the ugly shirt from school).

The scenario: She hit Mommy and was escorted to the little bench where she remained very patient and sat (30 seconds) until Mommy came over and told her (again) not to hit. She was asked to apologize to which she promptly replied, "I sorry." She got down, gave me a hug and padded off to re-claim her abandoned baby. The end.

-------------------

Elena is such a good little sleeper (knock on wood). At bedtime, she tells us to 'shhh' and grabs for as many pacifiers as she can find in her crib (as she is only allowed them for 'night night.') She always has one pacifier (or 'fire,' as she says) in her mouth and one in her hand. When she wakes in the morning, she greets us with a VERY LOUD, "HI!" and waits to be picked up so she can return her pacifiers to their places in the crib until naptime. Although yesterday was the exception. I caught her under the dining room table, sneaking a couple of illicit sucks on her favorite red pacifier. When she knew she was caught, she ran to deposit it back in her crib. All the while, a smile was on her face. It took everything I had to resist laughter until I was out of eye/earshot.

What a sweet little stinker.

FISHY

Elena is our little fish. She has been in swim lessons for two weeks and loves them, though going under water is still a little scary. She can pull herself up on the side and 'jump' to mommy and daddy. Her favorite pool game is "Motorboat, motorboat... go so fast!"

Elena is also saying new words every day. She really likes the word peach this week. She is also very obsessed with toes and points them out on everyone. She is saying a few full sentences, including, "Mama, where ARE you?"

Lastly, Elena's hair is getting SO long. She can even wear a pony tail if we get it when it's still wet. Dry, it becomes a bit unruly with her mass of curl.

We think she is the smartest, most loveable child ever. :)

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

Our little one is quite the football fan and in this instance, she might be dreaming of punts and pigskin.

Lately, she has really taken to naming EVERYTHING... "Ball, tree, mama, dada, toes...."It's truly endless. She's starting to say, "Sorry, thank you and please" without being asked. Not every time, but often enough to think she's getting it.

In case we haven't said it enough before... We sure love that little girl!

Elena poses

We just loved these sweet pictures.

Elena does a somersault!

Though Elena has done one or two of these before, today she somersaulted on her own half a dozen times! She's getting so big and she looks so proud with each roll.

She loves to play in the back yard and thoroughly enjoyed 'streaking' for a couple hours the other day. Back yard favorites include washing her baby, washing the table, and well, washing anything. She loves to 'paint' the sidewalk with water and amuses herself with virtually no toys. The hose, her baby, a watering can and the pool seem to do the trick.

Mama and Lala share clothes!

Elena fits in the top Gramma made for mama when she was little... what a little sweetheart.

Her favorite thing to do these days is say, "shhhh..." to us so she can put her 'baby' to bed. We'll be talking and Elena will "shh" us immediately. Then she tosses the baby on the floor (face first), covers her up and pats her back. Then she does it all over again.

She also LOVES Dumbo (Courtesy of cousin Isabel)... She calls him, "Mummo"

She talks up a storm and can even say her own name... kind of.... (LenAAA-A)

We adore her