The big E.B.

The Easter Bunny, or Daddy as Elena calls him, was a hit! I have a feeling I'm going to owe Ryan big time for awhile now. :)

Elena was petrified of E.B./Daddy, but the rest of the kids just loved him. The early egg hunt is going to be a new Laurel Oaks tradition. What a neighborhood - we feel very lucky!

Back in Black

This speaks for itself...

And she sings, "Come on, come on... listen to the money talk." Okay, okay... not the best lyrical message, but she is hard core and she can't hide her rocker side.

Go Lala... Go Lala.

My big girl pants

Well, Elena began expressing interest in the potty after a long spell of running from it. Then she got sick - again. And nothing has really happened since. EXCEPT that she loves to sit on her little potty now and wear big girl underwear. She pees through them within a half hour, but progress is progress. We'll take it.

Elena has also grown into a five-year old overnight. This morning she asked me if I had my keys ("Got keys, Mama?") and has taken to short stints of referring to us as "Mom and Dad." (My name is MOMMY or MAMA, *%#$)!!) :)

I went to Atlanta last week and Grandma Yvette came to stay, take care of Lala and help Ryan. Leaving her was awful, but much less so because I knew she was in good hands and having fun. Plus, it allowed me some time to be me. When Elena saw me again, she RAN to me in the airport and kept yelling my name. Sweet love... Ryan told her I went on a trip to the moon. Neither of us wanted to tell her I was working because we didn't want her to think I'd be gone that long every time I went to work. So the moon was the obvious choice. :) I brought her a 'moon jelly frog' (fresh from the Georgia aquarium) from the 'moon' and she loved throwing it at the wall, watching it goo and fall off the wall. The frog since sprung a leak and is 'done.'

Gramma Frankie then took us to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery where Elena could feed the fish and watch them jump for food. She couldn't have loved that more.

We are preparing for Easter and excited for our neighborhood egg hunt this Saturday. We'll keep the blog posted on our little bunny's progress.

Hair. Long, beautiful hair.

After a post tonight, Ryan and Elena bathed and I couldn't help adding one more. Sweet goodness, this child's hair is beautiful and LONG.

And then, she wanted to go to sleep with Daddy....

And here is the outcome.

Art Schmart

Elena is discovering her creative side, thanks to a new box of 'hair fun' from cousin Isabel. She can sit for an hour examining all the joys it holds. She is also learning about glue - and gluing everything in her path (that Mommy says is okay to glue).

She is sure making us laugh these days, belting out things that seem to come from nowhere in long sentences that were virtually impossible a month ago. We were commenting today on how 'little girl' her face has become. It's so sad and so sweet all at once.
We still get asked daily when the next child is coming. Our standard answer is, "Not today," but bear with us... the day is coming- just not today. :)

Until next time...

Tickle me, Lala.

Elena's toe surgery was without a doubt, more traumatic for Mommy than for her. We expected the day to be a little rough, but she was so good. We propped her up on the couch in front of endless epsiodes of Caillou with popsicles and saltines at her disposal. She is now on the mend and we hope to be issue-free for awhile.

Elena is very funny these days, full of new sentences that have as many as seven words. Her loves include:

• Making us laugh;


• Pretty dresses (seen here in Isabel's flower girl dress from our wedding);


• Being tickled and read to; and


• Her babies or any blankie.

And lately, Elena is very possesive of me. It's very sweet and any time she is nervous or shy, she'll make sure everyone is aware that I am HER Mommy. I can't lie, I kind of love it.

We met Elena's beautiful new cousin {once removed}, Jake today and she was very happy to 'hold it.' She liked the baby and talked about him a lot in the car ride home. She's still our baby though. Where does the time go?

Rest and relaxation

After a very busy January, we decided to go to the snow with some friends of ours and enjoy a little R&R. Elena (much to our surprise) embraced the idea, as you can see. We've since learned she was coming down with her umpteenth illness and what seemed to be her enjoyment of a slower pace, was really just a cold working its way to the surface. Pffff.....

Regardless, what a nice weekend with nothing to do but enjoy downtime! We almost got snowed in, but made it out at the perfect time yesterday. Elena enjoyed a little bit of the snow outside, but mostly watched it come down from the warmth of the cabin (It was just so darn cold outside and her sniffles were looming).

Elena's vocabulary is just growing every day and we love watching her turn into such a wonderful little person. She's still my baby though.