Big Sister Quote of the Day

When sharing her cherrios with Addie, Ellie said "Here you go, Addie. You get the very last ones because you are my favorite friend. You are bigger now and bigger means you play more and more wif me, so you get da last cherrio."

Once Upon a Time...

... a princess was born into the world. She was a beautiful child with a kind soul. She was my princess...

... and my princess grew and soaked in the world around her. She showed me how incredibly beautiful and magical the world can be through the eyes of a child...

... and time continues to pass as the princess learns new ways to laugh and be silly. And when she smiles, the whole world stops and stares for a while - just like the song says.

In all seriousness, these photos have become more meaningful to me than most of the others I have taken. Perhaps I always knew they would, but seeing the results just solidifies it for me. Ellie has changed so very much and I love that I have been able to capture it in such a stunning way. Every time I look at the progression (and trust me I've done that a lot in recent days) I get tears in my eyes. The words aren't there, but the deep feelings certainly are.

But when is the changing going to slow down? It wasn't long ago that she needed to be held up to stand, and even more so for when she was proud to learn how to spin like a princess. Now she can do it all - jump, twirl, stand on one foot... as long as it's fun Ellie can do it by herself. At this rate, the next picture (in a couple years from now) will be of her flying!

Her smile is so uplifting, I'd do anything within my power to make her smile. I know that my own life is all the more fun every time I get a glimpse of her happiness.

So yes, I can already predict the future of my daughters being slightly annoyed by my insistence to get a princess photo every couple years, but I hope they know how much it means to me. I want to be able to capture their youth and innocence. This is the sweet life and I want to gobble it up.

Wordless Wednesday

Daddy's wandering eyes

As a family, we usually go to dinner every Friday night and Daddy usually prefers a sit-down restaurant. We explain this difference to Ellie as a restaurant where a waiter comes to the table and brings us food.

The other day we were at a restaurant where you stand in line to get your food, and then bring it back to the table. It's a magical place where EVERYONE in the family loves the food. Those places are few and far between.

Ellie: I ree-ah like dis restaurant.
Mommy: Yeah, we all like this restaurant.
Ellie: Yeah, we all like dis place 'cept for Daddy.
Mommy: Daddy doesn't like this place?
Ellie: No.
Mommy: Why not?
Ellie: Daddy doesn't like dis restaurant because he ree-ah ree-ah likes waitresses.


DISCLAIMER: The "waitress" thing is how I explained it to Ellie - Daddy likes waiters too. He likes that where there are waiters, there is beer.

Big Sister Quote of the Day

Ellie has been saving up her quarters to buy a horse stuffed animal that she really wanted and she FINALLY had enough money to buy it all by herself! That's almost $9.00!!!

Ellie: Ok, so what we're looking for is a horse.
Mommy: I'll help. How about this one?
Ellie: No, I'm looking for a brown horse.
Daddy: Like this one?
Ellie: Yeah! Look Mommy! Daddy found it!
Mommy: I found one too!
Ellie: Hey, I have an idea! Dis one can be for me wif my own money and dis one can be for Addie.
Mommy: Oh, sweetie, Addie isn't old enough to have her own money yet so I don't think we can buy her one too.
Ellie: No I mean wif my money!
Mommy: But you only have enough money to buy one.
Ellie: Hey! I have an idea dat is a good one! How about I buy dis one wif my own money and DEN I can save more money and buy one for Addie!
Mommy: Oh, that would be very nice of you!
Ellie: Did you hear dat, Addie? I can save my monies so dat you can have a horse too!

Later after buying the horse and getting some change back from the cashier...

Ellie: Look, Daddy! I got some money back and I can already start saving for anoder horsie for Addie! See?

I'm telling you, this girl is an amazing sister. It was a big feat for her to save for the first horse since she has the potential of earning a maximum of 8 quarters in any given week (Ha! Like that's ever going to happen), let alone her offering to do it again for Addie's sake!

Ask Nicely

Addie: Ba ba?
Daddy: Do you want the ball?
Addie: (nods) ba ba.
Daddy: You have to ask nicely.
Addie: Ba ba.
Daddy: Can you ask nicely?
Addie: Nice-shly.

Daddy can you hear me?

Daddy is away again for a short trip for work. Tonight while I was getting the girls ready, I noticed that Ellie disappeared into my room for a while. When I went to see what she was up to, I found her standing between the curtain and the window, talking to herself, almost, but not quite in a whisper. When I asked her who she was talking to, she shyly giggled and said "No one."

After I was done putting Addie to bed, I found Ellie at my window again. This time I snuck up behind her so that I could hear what she was saying:

"... and so if you can hear me, Daddy, I want you to know dat I was just stinking about you and I love you forever. And I'm your girl. Forever. And if you can hear me, I love you very much. Forever. I forever love you and I miss you. Oh, and if you can hear me, Daddy, thank you for being my daddy. You are forever a good daddy. I wish for you to forever love me. I don't know if you can hear me, but I still love you and I miss you and when you come home I will still be here. And den I will give you a hug and play wif you. Can you hear me? I hope so. I hafta go to bed now, so night night, Daddy. I forever love you. Here is my hug..."

OH. MY. GOD.

Wordless Wednesday

White girls can't dance

Ok, so the title of this post is a little harsh. I know quite a few women who are great at dancing and they make it seem so easy. I myself was once one of those women, during my swing dancing days. I have since realized how so much of it is 1. practice and 2. having a good leader. Ha! I can follow like a pro.

I remember years ago seeing this video (though I swear it was longer the first time I saw it) and I knew that someday I HAD to get videos of my girls dancing.


You'll be happy to know that I FINALLY got it on video! And now you understand today's title. Sigh. Perhaps it's the engineer genes?

A lesson on letting go

I guess part of growing up is learning how to let go. I see my little girl playing with Snowball and I am surprised by how difficult it is for me to just sit back and let her explore the playground with her new friend. Does she know how special Snowball is? Does she know about all the adventures the two of us went on when I was just a little girl myself? No, of course she doesn't. Addie just sees what I saw - an adorable little polar bear ready for a hug or adventure. Addie doesn't notice the slight gasping sound that comes from Mommy's mouth whenever she drops Snowball. She doesn't pay any attention to Mommy brushing off the dirt and does not hesitate to squeeze the bear as tight as possible for a hug. And so Mommy keeps her personal turmoil inside and allows Addie to have this innocent moment with a new friend, just as a child should be.

And no, this day was not just a lesson on how to let go of childhood treasures, but how to just let go in general. In so many ways I feel like Addie is growing faster than her sister ever did. I know this to be true because I see her trying to do, not only things her big sister does, but also things her big sister has yet to conquer.

Like the swings. Addie loves the swings and is not intimidated at all by the big kid requirements of holding on. It's me who has to remind myself that it's time to let go and let her swing to her heart's delight. Even if I don't push her as high as I could, I know that the day is close when that will happen as well. My baby really wasn't a baby for long, was she?