SICK IN THE WINTER WITH A NEWBORN

So right now we are faced with 3 obstacles to having busy, fun-packed, run-around outside, imagination stimulating, full of learning, exciting days:

1) the weather - while we did enjoy some creepily 70 degree weather earlier this week and took several walks, most of the time its been too cold to get out and do much except get the mail.

2) Ellenie, the newborn, should be inside, not outside.

3) Mommy doesn't feel well. cold, crud, whatever it is - let's hope it leaves soon!

So sometimes moments in our days look fun like this:

or this:

while other moments look sleepy, bored, or grumpy like this:

then there are those precious moments like this:

this:

or this:

that make the rest all so very bearable.

L-O-V-E

(Sing the words to the Nat King Cole favorite)

L is for the way you look at me

O is for the only one I see

V is very, very extra-ordinary,

E is even more than anyone that you adore

Love is all that I can give to you, Love is more than just a game for two. Two in love can make it, Take my heart and please don't break it, Love was made for me and you.

Ellenie is nothing but love.

She is so greatly loved especially by her sweet big sister who shared all her toys and blankie in the second picture with her.

We are all busy and tired but so very , very good.

Love to each of you!

Life with 2 is too good!

Lillianna really has been better than we could have ever dreamed.

Love this picture above. As Brad says, you can just see the pride in her eyes.

"This, Baby Stister Ellenie, is our world. It's alot of fun."

First few moments at home. Lillianna and Ellenie's rendition of ET phone home.

Sweet and content in Ya-Ya's arms.

Naked for her first bath.

This is sweeter than it looks. Lillianna is sharing her BLANKIE with her little sister. whoa.

T-Tiny little feet.

Lillianna fed Ellenie some fruit this morning. Hey, it's sharing.

Lillianna wanted to wear her Cow costume all day last week. Whatever keeps her happy.

My little Kitten.

Our first playdate....Ellenie, Caroline, and Virginia.

Caroline & Virginia are cousins and Caroline is exactly 9 weeks older than Virginia and Ellenie.

The birthday girls.

Big sisters still have all the fun.

Lillianna an dBibby continue to love eachother more than ever, especially since they have little sisters together too. What fun!

Welcome Ellenie Lane Parsons

We welcome with GREAT JOY
Ellenie Lane Parsons

January 7 at 8:30 a.m.

5 pounds 7 ounces

Ellenie and her best friend Virginia were both born this morning about an hour apart. Both Moms, Babies, Daddies, and Big Sisters are doing well. I will post more pictures later. Virginia and Ellenie

I LOVE FALL!

Fall has always been my very favorite season and sharing it with Lillianna this year has made it even more so. All of our walks, sitting on our front porch bench, talking about the leaves, collecting treasures, and crunching acorns and leaves...these are all the things I love getting to share with her.

Now that winter has suddenly rushed in and colds have settled in our heads and chests the past week, I wish I could have just a few more fall afternoons to spend like this:

Fun in the sun

We have been under the weather and also busy. I wanted to post some pictures I'm behind on for all those daily viewers (YA-YA) who need their Lillianna picture fix.

This was a couple of weeks ago, one cold, sunny morning when we had exhausted the day's events by 9am. We found ourselves dressed up and ready to go....play in the backyard!

So I can really go out in public like this?

I lub this necklace!

Hold this Mama.

Mind if I take a seat Boone?

Practicing my fake "Cheeeeese" smile.

Weeee. Here's my real one.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We wish we could be with ALL of our family and friends this Thanksgiving!

We are so very thankful for each of you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Who is this?

almost.....

almost.....

got it.

So as you can see, she looks like the same adorable little girl on the outside. But on the inside, something has changed. At first, I couldn't put my finger on it but over the last few days Brad and I have found ourselves saying, "who is this little girl?"

First, she walked right over to a little boy in a public place, waved her hand three inches from his face and said, "hi"

Then, she waved to everyone in the grocery store and answered one, if not two, questions to perfect strangers.

I really couldn't believe when she did NOT cry, whimper yes, but did not cry at the doctor's office for the first time in her short little life. And after he was done and backed away from her, she ran around the room, smiling, being silly, and offered him her stuffed elephant.

He said himself, "I never thought I would see her like this."

So, needless to say, we are very excited that she is coming out of her shell, sharing her adorable spirit with others, and showing the world what she has to offer.

But...

Along with these have come:

- Sudden urges to climb on furniture she has never even seemed to notice was there.

-Put things in her mouth! Even as a little baby she didn't do this but now she has her fingers, paper, and most shockingly, a painted styrofoam ball that she made into a spider at school. Just bit right into it.

-Scream and yell for no reason. Just a good ol' RAARRARARRRRHHHHRRAAAAH when she feels like it.

And I'm not the only one who has noticed this sudden change. Today, her teachers both commented that they had never seen her act the way she was today. Since they didn't have school on Monday, they said they couldn't believe how much she had changed. They said she even got in trouble for "being too loud" and for fighting with Bibby (not that new).

Maybe it's the time change or the cold medicine she's been taking the past week.

What I really think is Lillianna has just discovered how much fun it is to be two and that she really does have big plans for living a BIG life. All I can say is...I can't wait to be a part of it.

Caught!

I just have a nibble of cracker with my face full of peanut butter, thank you.