Nanny Diaries

Today Ellery and I were in Learning Express picking out a few gifts for upcoming birthday parties and the sales lady helping me asked if I was her nanny!! She told me I didn't look a day over 18 and that she hoped she didn't offend me. It must have been the lack of makeup I was wearing! I just had to laugh.

Lemons

A few things have happened since I last blogged. Our computer being fixed is not one of them...bummer. We had a service guy come out to look at it and it seems we may have gotten a lemon. They are sending us an entirely new one.
Which makes me sad because I can't post pictures from our ultrasound yesterday! It amazes me how much he/she has changed in 6 weeks. I got to see the little arms and legs waving around. The ultrasound tech told me that I had one cooperative little baby on my hands. Maybe this is an indication of #2's personality? Let's hope so! I asked if she could tell me if it is a boy or girl but she looked at me like I was crazy. So, not until April 10th!
I am craving anything sour. I have never enjoyed lemons in my water but I cannot get enough these days. I am also heavily snacking on sour patch kids!
Ellery is doing great. She is always saying or doing something that makes Nathan and I laugh. She has started this thing where she brushes her hair behind her ears with her hands...what a little lady! I am trying my best to enjoy even the days when she decides to throw herself on the floor of every store in a complete tantrum. I know it is just a phase!

Dentists and V-Day Surprises

Yesterday was Ellery's first trip to the dentist! I was preparing myself for a rough visit but to my surprise and delight, Ellery was an angel! She just sat in my lap and opened her mouth in order for the dentist to remove plaque, floss, and brush her teeth with bubble gum toothpaste. It was amazing! She is a girl after her mom's heart - I love getting my teeth cleaned! The dentist promised her a look inside the huge toy chest which didn't hurt either. We were concerned because one of Ellery's front teeth is not descending, but the dentist said it was from her pacifier. It is good to know that there is a tooth up there! After my consulation with her, it looks like Ellery is headed for a mouth full of braces down the road.

On another note, Happy Valentines Day! I have a great picture to share of Ellery someday (hopefully soon). We were outside this morning before school and she was playing with this huge heart balloon I bought her yesterday at the grocery store that even plays music. Nathan came home for a few minutes which is out of the norm (I will tell you what he was up to in a second) and Ellery was showing him the balloon. He thought it was weighted at the bottom and before we knew it her balloon had taken flight. This of course led to many tears, but he did promise her a new one.

So when I got home today, there was another balloon waiting by the door for her with elmo stamps attached to the string. I thought how sweet of him to have gone right out and purchased her a new one. But the sweetness doesn't end there. He had put elmo valentines in all of her favorite spots around the house - the kitchen cabinet she likes to reorganize all the time, the backyard door, her table and highchair, the bottom of the stairs, etc. etc. It was just adorable! I can't wait for her to get home and discover all of her little surprises! And for me, there was a bouquet of about 3 dozen multi-colored roses and extra-long twizzlers! He sure does know the way to his girls' hearts!

A little of this and that

Wow...it's been a long time since I have sat down to blog. Part of the reason is that I have all these great pictures to post but we are in the process of switching computers and I haven't been able to upload them. So stay tuned for pictures!
We have been staying busy as usual. Ellery is saying new words right and left and I am starting to wonder where my "baby" has gone. Along with all her sweetness, she has started some behaviors that make me think we are already in the terrible-two's stage. She now finds delight in screaming at the top of her lungs (especially in public places) and has become very possessive over her toys and things. "Mine" and "no mine" are very popular words at the moment. I know it is just a phase but it is sometimes difficult to know how to respond and discipline appropriately. I need to read up! She does surprise me at times and show great empathy when another toddler is in distress. I will even sometimes catch her saying "Sorry".

I have been attending the Beth Moore Bible study at our church on Tuesday nights and it has been so timely in my life. I am continually amazed how even as adults we go through seasons of life that take us back to the drama of junior high school minus the bangs and braces. It is in the rough seasons though that I find myself growing so much. If we let Him, these seasons can be used for eternity purposes.

Oh, and guess who will be celebrating his 30th birthday tomorrow? Nathan! He is not really wanting to celebrate but we are! So make sure and wish him a happy birthday. He is such a tremendous blessing to not only me, but to his daughter, his family, and his friends! I will give you all the details from his "surprise" party next time!

No fun

We have been stuck inside the house since Tuesday! I took Ellery to the doctor Tuesday morning because she was still running a fever. Turns out she has an ear infection! She has never had problems with ear infections so I am relieved that I actually took her in. Usually, the doctor (who looks like Steve Carell I might add) takes one look at her, and says she looks great and it is probably just a virus. On top of the infection, it seems she has some kind of a little stomach bug as well. Nothing quite as horrific as ones in the past, but a small one that just can't be comfortable. And on top of that, she has two new teeth trying to poke through. Needless to say, she has been kind of miserable the past couple of days. I think her antibiotics are doing their job though and she will be healthy by the weekend.

And I must add that I am now 99.5% sure we are having a little boy. My morning (or shall I say all-day sickness) peaked this week and I have been pretty miserable myself. Either I never felt this way with Ellery or it has been forever erased from my memory since 1st laying eyes on her as a newborn. I keep asking Nathan if every food tasted this bad when I was pregnant with E. Seems my only real staple is peanut butter and bread or just bread and butter.

Okay, enough about being sick! On an entirely different note, here is a list of items that are in Ellery's bed tonight with her:
5 loveys -She likes to have them all, yet really only likes the two that have her name monogrammed on them.
a pillow - this is new for her and she will only sleep on the side that is silky
a blanket
two balls - she now takes these to bed with her so that her dog doesn't sneak away with them while she is sleeping (which is highly likely)
a laughing babydoll - We tried to make it disappear but she would not have it. it is very alarming when we hear it laugh through the monitor at 2am
3 pacifiers

Wow! What a change from a year ago when I wouldn't even let her have a blanket!

Oh and one more thing, do you think the baby thing to the right is creepy? I am thinking it will look better the bigger it gets!

Big news

It looks like we will be expecting a new little addition to our household in 2008! People have made some comments about how I haven't been blogging much lately...well there is a reason. I am tired, a little cranky, and the sight of some food makes me easily queasy. I use this excuse for not cooking dinner!

We are so excited though and feel very blessed! I had my 1st ultrasound this past Monday and we were able to see the little passenger (this is what Nathan and I called Ellery until we decided on her name). I was having these weird dreams that it was twin boys!! While it still may be a boy, it definitely isn't twins! I think maybe the twin gene went to Paige instead of me.

My due date is Sept. 2nd so that means probably the end of August since Ellery made her appearance about a week early, but who knows. I get to be big and pregnant the entire Houston summer! Needless to say, Ellery and I will be at the pool everyday and our air conditioning bill will be huge!

Today Ellery is home from school sick. She has had the runny nose thing for the past couple of days and this morning woke up running a fever. I am sure it is a combination of things as she is also cutting quite a few teeth at the moment. So we have spent the day watching Nemo and eating Sonic!

Our new poodle

Well it finally happened. Colby's little knees have been messed up for a long time now. They popped in and out at times and we could tell they were starting to cause him some pain. So....we took him to a surgeon and had him evaluated just like the vet has been telling us to do for the past couple of years. It's not that we didn't want it done, but we just dreaded having to see Colby not able to run and jump and chase squirrels during recovery.
This past Friday though we decided it couldn't wait any longer. Nathan took him in early that morning and then the three of us picked him up on Saturday. Ellery was asking for him the entire day on Friday and as soon as she woke up Saturday morning. The animal hospital we took him to was amazing. We received four calls on Friday giving us updates on his condition. They even said they almost took him home because he was such a sweet patient. When we picked him up, he looked like a little poodle with both back legs completely shaved except for his feet. He looked terrified, tail down and everything. All day Saturday he would give his girly growl if Ellery came within ten feet of him. I am sure he was petrified that he would not be able to escape.

I am happy to report that today he is doing much better. He is putting some weight on his legs and can get around a little. Ellery is being extra sweet and gentle with him and is aware that he has an "ouchie". He is going to love his brand new set of knees in no time I am sure!