Ella's Valentine project

We spent a very snowy Saturday in the art room with glitter, stickers, cardstock, and ribbon. Ella did over half of the hearts (I cut them all out; she did the decorating). We made one for everyone we love, and decided to hang them around the house. We hung them all up in one place first so we could review our new sparkly decor. Ella was in heaven.

19 weeks

We find out next week whether this baby is a boy or a girl. I am on pins and needles.

Anne and I went for a massage last week though, to celebrate her birthday (I felt that is was my duty as her BFF to make sure that I not only treated her, but treated myself...because it would be selfish of me to have her relax alone!) and I had a remarkable therapist work on me. She started asking questions about this second pregnancy, and our 3 year old girl, when all of a sudden I realized that I had not told her anything about my family at all. She humbly apologized for freaking me out and noted that she is "blessed and cursed by seeing things around people." She could describe Ella very well, and went on to ask if I'd like to know what we are having. Of course I nodded...she predicts a very rambunctious BOY. We'll see on the 9th if she's right...

Making our 2009 Valentines

Every year we do a valentine in lieu of a holiday card, for a two reasons: 1.) the mail traffic is much lighter in February so people really seem to appreciate the thought, and 2.) I happen to be plagued with an endless love for Valentines Day that supersedes all other holidays...even my own birthday. While I am not normally a super-priss, I could swim on a lace doily through a sea of red glitter every February.

The theme is always "love is..." and a verb or adjective that describes what Ella's been up to lately. The obvious thing (given my current pregnanct state) this year was to borrow from Corinthians and note "Love....is patient." So Ben brought the Nikon and we shot some great pics of Ella to capture her very real anticipation about this new baby. We used one on the valentine (we do this blog more for our own memory keeping than for an audience, but if someone is reading this and you're not on our list, please leave a comment and I'll be glad to add you!)

Here are the rest of the best shots from that morning:


The one above is not what went on the Valentine, but is truly my favorite. She does this almost every night before bed, listening and singing.

At Least We Have Each Other

Nellie leads a pretty boring and predictable life. She never leaves the house, knows exactly which sounds come from which parts of the woods, gets fed every morning at 8, and goes to sleep every night by my side at 10:30. With all the family activities and change in routine, it did not surprise me that Nellie was in need of some love. I returned to the living room after an hour of leaving Nellie in there alone. She and lambchops were on the sofa watching a movie, in full-on snuggle mode. Too cute!

50 Candles

I checked it several times with each parent. How can my brother (who will forever be frozen in my mind as the guitar playing, do-rag wearing, Older Brother in College) possibly be 50?

Yes indeedy, the years checked out. This was a BIG birthday. Chris had a get together at a local restaurant, and they had a great turnout. Too bad both of his little sisters are pregnant or we would have made sure to haze him until the sun greeted us the next day. :) (Hog-tie, anyone?)





Happy Birthday, Steve!!

Ringing in 2009

We headed down to Lexington for a NYE party at Cindy & Ben's. There were four couples, with kids ranging from infancy to age six. The key was separate dinners (mac & cheese/broccoli for the kids; steak and asparagus for the adults) and a decided reprieve from the usual bedtime routine—we let them stay up as long as they liked. 35 karaoke songs, 14 party hats, 4 kissing couples, 2 pounds of chocolate fondue, and one pinata later, it was officially 2009. Ella was one of the very last to go to bed and spent most of the wee hours in her play tent with Ellie, Ben's other niece, eating lipgloss and acting out tiny stuffed animal dramas.



The next morning we took a walk at a local arboretum and I got this shot of the Isenhours (pre-baby #2, due next month!)

The Merriest of Holidays

Ben caught this shot of Erma, my 95 year old grandmother, and Ella, my 3 year old daughter. Absolutely precious.


Ella was about to open the most fabulous dollhouse ever...complete with a car that plays several radio stations, a crib with working mobile, and a vanity for mom with a blowdryer in the drawer. This generation has got the GOODS!


Sean and me at my Dad's house on Christmas Eve


Poppa Gary in a tickle fest with the girls...yep, that's ella in the furry leopard dress. She wore it for days!


Dos prego sees-tors!!


The final soiree was at Mimi and Papa's, which included a great meal and several tea parties hosted by Papa Stan. He even lit candles and served them jelly beans with their grenadine and sprite "tea" in tiny cups. A wonderful Christmas indeed.