All over the place

Kolby and Olivia came over to our house last weekend as part of a babysitting swap we did with Dan and Sab. Kolby and Ellie had fun jamming to music in her Jeep (that she still hasn't really figured out how to drive). I tried to video them dancing to the music, but instead I got Ellie accidently driving and then her attempts to receate her newfound driving ability.

Jeep music from texasholly on Vimeo.

Ellie has finally figured out how to ride her little mini Schwinn bike, though. She has the pedal thing down and even manages to steer. Of course, I have yet to remember to capture it on camera. And I try to capture her talking on camera, but she just clams up. So uncooperative, that one.

Speaking of uncooperative, I am running late every morning now because Miss Independent thinks she has to do everything herself. She wants to close the tabs on her diaper, put her clothes on, climb up in her carseat, and do the buckles all by herself. All I hear these days is "My do it!" And she can't do the carseat buckles by herself, but heaven forbid I do it because then she totally freaks out. So, I have to wait forever while she attempts it before she finally lets me help. The other day she told Tom, "Hurry, mommy be late!" Um, I wonder where she picked up that cute phrase? Seriously, I think she is so cute that I can't stop kissing her all over. Now she tells me where to kiss, "Kiss my feet. Kiss my nose. Kiss my elbow." Yeah, it's a fun game.

Tomorrow I am leaving for may massive roadtrip with my brothers. Wish me luck!

I may never ride in a car again

Well, the funeral arrangements have been made for my grandma. My three brothers and I are making a roadtrip out of it. When I say roadtrip, I mean a trip for crazy people who will probably want to kill each other by the end of it. We are leaving Thursday evening and driving straight through the night (from Texas to Iowa). My grandma's funeral is at 11 am on Friday and we will spend the day there and then drive the 14 hours back that same night. Two consecutive nights of driving. Ugh. I really do enjoy hanging out with my three brothers. I just hope I still enjoy them as much after this trip. Anyway, when we get back, I will have just enough time to revive before getting back in the car and making the 5 hour trip to Dallas for a friend's wedding.

I am glad that all of my family are able to make it to Iowa this weekend. My sisters all live in different states (Arizona, North Carolina, and Idaho) and my parents live in Aruba so it isn't often that we are all able to get together. (Hmmm, I feel like I use the word "all" too much, but really, what is the alternate word choice?)

On to other things, Tom planned a lovely surprise for our anniversary, even sneakily lining up a babysitter (thanks, Nana!). It really cheered me up. I feel like I have been spoiled by Mother's Day and our anniversary. I wonder what other holiday I can milk for all its worth? I guess Memorial Day is coming up, but I don't see how I can really make that all about me.

6 years ago today

...I married my best friend.
Although I sometimes want to hit him over the head with a frying pan, I can't think of anyone else I would rather spend the rest of my life with.

Loss

My grandma passed away today. Although I knew she was dying, it still feels so sudden. When I think of my grandma, I don't think of the confused woman she was at the end. Instead, I remember the kind woman who used to worry over us when we'd come visit. Who loved music and loved to sing. Who would tell me about the latest book she was reading and pass it along for me to read. Who loved to play games on the kitchen table. I will miss my grandma.

Bits and pieces

I was giving Ellie a bath the other night and half listening to her identify her foam letters and and numbers when she held up the letter L. "L!" she said. Then, she turned it upside down, "7!" I was so proud of her for figuring out that an L turned upside down is a 7. It's like how proud I was the first time she ate solid food or sat up. I love that Ellie still amazes me.

What doesn't amaze me is her new deal of chewing up food and spitting it out on the table. Carrots, for example. She always begs for more baby carrots, but all she does is chew them up and spit them out. And then she asks for more.

Ellie has started sleeping on the floor again. After the huge hassle of putting her bed together, I really hate to see her not using it. But, no, she wants to sleep on her "grass," meaning the shaggy lime green rug we put in her room.

I love how when Ellie asks for something and I repeat it back to her, she says OK like it was all my idea. For example, she just came into the room asking for a banana.
"I wanna nana, I wanna nana."
"You want a banana?"
"OK"
And then when I give it to her she says, "Thank you. Bye Bye."

Tom showed Ellie this YouTube video yesterday. She went berserk, dancing like a little maniac. He must have played it for her over 20 times. She shakes her little bum, puts a leg out, waved her arms around...too funny. So, if you have a little toddler who likes Elmo, plays this clip for them. I guarantee you will see some booty shaking!