Monday, November 24, 2008

He's really, really, REALLY here!!

So, you're probably not going to be hearing much out of me for the next three weeks because, "Hey-la, hey-la, my boyfriend's back!" I couldn't possibly be more excited and it's likely that little Eleanor is even more excited than me!! In fact, as I'm writing this, her Daddy is sitting next to her bed, patting her back while she falls asleep. I have suddenly become chopped liver, but, in this particular instance, I am not sad about it at all. He really needs to have the experience of sitting by her bedside night after night until she drifts off. (Just as long as she doesn't think I'm starting that business again once he leaves!!) Anyway, he is not allowed out of her sight for a second. He even uses the bathroom to the sounds of Eleanor pounding on the door, shouting, "Where's Daddy go? Daddy, where ahhhh you?"

Here we are yesterday getting ready to head to the airport to pick Daddy up.

Here is Miss Priss patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for Daddy to get off of the plane.

And "Der he is! Der's Daddy!!"

There's a whole lot of this going on here.

Do I look happy or what?!!!
A (sort of) family photo.

Snack with Santa

So, my sister found this super fun activity for us to do with our girls on Saturday called "Snack with Santa." (Check out last year's "Breakfast with Santa" for a flashback!) The girls seemed to have a lot of fun, and it was a great way to start getting into the holiday spirit. Although, I'm pretty sure Eleanor thinks it's Christmas right now, and she won't stop requesting to hear "Jingle Bells."

First, Eleanor sat with Santa, but only because he gave her a 'John McCain.' She seriously kept calling the candy cane "John McCain," which is going to make me laugh for a really long time.


The girls (read 90% mommies) decorated goodie bags. Here's Chloe holding hers while giving El-nor a super big hug.

This was supposed to be a bean bag toss, but really, who tosses the bean bag when you can just place it in the hole?!! (And get a prize anyway just for being cute!)

This happened at snack time...not sure what this face is about, but it sure cracks me up!
PS- Before you think I have totally become the snapshot-only queen, you can check out some recent photo sessions over here at the photo blog.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Being brave

Today was our fourth attempt at going to a bouncing place like Pump It Up. The past three times that we've been to some such establishment, Eleanor has chosen to play with anything they have there besides the bounce houses and/or slides. (I'm sure I need not remind you of her extraordinarily cautious nature.)

Well, something got into my girl today! I would have sworn she'd been body-snatched and replaced by a look-alike if I hadn't spent every minute with her in a 500 square foot room that some people call an apartment.

Anywho...she was all over the place and all over the bouncy stuff and was jumping all around like a maniac.'

Here she is contemplating entry into the bouncy obstacle course:

And here she is totally owning it...
She climbed up these little climby steps (that's the technical name) all by herself!
And then had to slide down this super huge (smile) slide...

And she was oh-SO-proud when she was finished...
Other random bouncy shots...

Not sure what this particular activity was about, but it was hilarious...
Me and my brave girl!
And I just have to post this picture of Chloe who does not have any problem with bravery whatsoever!! She was rockin' even the biggest slide while Eleanor slid down the ramp that you're supposed to use to get to the stairs to go up to the biggest slide.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Oprah

So, the clip was super short, but I'm really not disappointed about it. First of all, my kid was on freakin' OPRAH!!! I noticed that there were a ton of kids even from the website who weren't featured on the show at all. Also, Oprah talked about my kid, which is awesome and will be pretty cool to write in Eleanor's baby book! I have to watch it again to be sure what she said because I was so stunned seeing Eleanor's little face on TV.

I wish Jared could have seen it. He'll be able to watch the recorded version soon since THIS SUNDAY!!!! he comes for his visit! So happy!!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Eleanor on Oprah on Monday!!!!

I received the following e-mail today...


Hello again from The Oprah Show, Now that our episode is complete, we want to confirm that a clip of your child will be a part of the show that airs this Monday, November 17: "Oprah's Search for the World's Smartest and Most Talented Kids." We included brief portions from dozens of our favorite videos and your child's submission was one of them. So gather friends and family around the TV on Monday and keep an eye out for your superstar's Oprah Show cameo! Again, our sincere thanks for submitting your video and being a part of the program. We hope you have as much fun watching the show as we had making it. -Oprah's "Talented Kids" Team

This email is the property of Harpo Inc. This transmission may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Woo-hoo!! Get your Tivo ready!!!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

tap, tap, tap...

...is this thing on??

Yes, I am a horrible blogger. I could try to make excuses for myself, but I'll spare you the drama. :) Here's what's going on in our lives...

Eleanor is becoming more and more interested in and capable of reading well. I discovered today that she can read silently. I would write a sentence like, "Chloe is sleeping in the bed," give her a chance to read it, and then ask a question about it like, "What is Chloe doing?" and she would say, "Cho-e is seeping in da bed." I was amazed. That smart little cookie surprises me everyday with this reading thing.

She has been very into pretending. Tonight, we had to "ride" pillows around the apartment pretending they were horses, and don't even think about forgetting the Giddy-up, thank you very much. She also pretends a lot with her doctor's kit since the surgery. She likes to listen to people's hearts (which apparently go, "tkk...tkk...tkk) and take their "bwood pesher", and of course give them medicine. All the patients are appropriately rewarded with a lollipop at the end of their exam.

She's becoming quite the little comedian. She does these hilarious voices that I can't even begin to describe. They come out of the blue, but I promise you can't keep a straight face when she's doing it. She also makes jokes like putting her finger in her nose and saying, "Put it in da nose. Dat's a YES-YES!" (Like instead of a no-no. So witty, I tell ya.) Tonight, when I was cutting her toenails she said, "Mommy cut my foot-nails." That is going to be crackin' me up for a long time.

She sings like crazy. She knows tons of songs. Sometimes she makes up new words to a familiar tune or sings familiar words to a made-up tune. She can also clap the rhythms of songs really well, which is impressive to me, since I personally have not one musical bone in my body.

I have been doing a ton of photo shoots. Too many, in fact. As of tomorrow, though, I'm done until Jared's visit is over. HE GETS HERE IN THIRTEEN DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! (I started crying just typing that.) I cannot wait!!!!!!!! So, probably no blogging then either. Sorry. :)

Since I've been focusing (ba-dum-bum-pshhh!) on pictures of other people's kids, this is all I have to offer of my own...straight out of the camera, on-board flash, terrible lighting, shot in auto mode pictures of her playing in the outfit she picked out today. And she's STILL cute...