Monday, April 8, 2013

A Fairy Fall from the Past & A Catch Up to the Present

Well, hello there! I know what you're thinking; where in the heck have I been? Well, life got crazy...like whoa there, what's going on, who am I, crazy! In the last few months, I have learned that finding a house, leaving a house, moving, attending big girl school, being the big sister of a 1-year-old, and keeping Mom sane is A LOT of work! However, the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be approaching, and the land of the crazy is starting to resemble the land of the norm once more. Let me rewind a bit though, for I am getting a bit ahead of myself. I believe that I neglected many months of news, so this must be a continued blog of catch up, one that was actually started long, long ago but left unfinished as the whirlwind took on full force. I shall fill you in on the new land of norm from the new stomping ground at a later date. Get ready, for we have a lot to discuss...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words; well then, my Mom has a heck of a lot to say every single day! Therefore, we are going to try and let the pictures do most of the talking for the last 5 months, for I need to get My World caught up, and with Ethan now crawling, I've just got no time at all. I mean, rolling his little ball away from him, waiting for him to crawl to it and pick it up, then ripping it out of his hands to roll it back in the opposite direction takes up an exorbitant amount of my time. Someone has got to fulfill the big sister duties though. We are going to strip this blog post down to the quick notes that I jot down for myself throughout the months and then add a few pictures and several montages. Enjoy!

Before this fairy begins her fall, I must wrap up summer with a bittersweet August:
  • Starting at My New "Big Girl" School with Parker - Montessori at Vickery Village, which is a private Montessori school just like Dad attended; awesome teachers, Ms. Luckhurst and Ms. Jessica; rocking the school uniform; made a new friend named Katelyn, but Parker is still my BF, except for the days when we get into a fight and decide that we are no longer BFs, which is pretty much for a couple of hours everyday; by mid-semester, several other names have fallen into the daily gossip, like Apollonia and Grant;"Time to Put Your Work Away and Come Sit on the Ellipse" song and many others now fill the nonexistent silent void in our house; I am a natural at Montessori independence, and the teacher told Mom that I am one of 2 girls who compete for class leader; already learning the continents and everything about our state, Georgia, and by mid-semester, I am literally reading; Ethan now takes his breakfast in the car in the gym parking lot to make the new 'drop me off, feed Ethan, run or go to the gym, home for Ethan's nap, pick me up' routine run smoothly; after school exhaustion, which leads to cranky, hysterical, random fits, but at least one was followed by a very sincere, unprompted "Mom, I'm really sorry that I was so rude and had a fit after school; I was really tired" apology about 30 minutes later. Mom and Dad are very impressed with the new knowledge and maturity that I gain every week, like I'm not already the picture of maturity...Geesh! I love my new school, for it is "big girl school".  
  • New gym - Bodyplex has a MUCH better kids' area, and although Ethan refuses to nap while he is there, he only cried once or twice and forced the ladies to come and get Mom. By October, Ethan had settled into the grove and found his favorite gym lady, Ms. Judi. Mom is now able to get about an hour or more in before he gets cranky, and the ladies just love him and talk about how sweet and cute he is every time she comes in to get him. He's a lady killer already. We also acquired a new babysitter from the new gym, and I really like when Ms. Falon comes to watch us. Mom's car has not fared so well with the routine since Ethan eats breakfast in the front seat outside of the gym. I am pretty sure he is trying to grow a Cheerio tree inside the car.

  • ~ I already feel the notes only version of this blog slipping away.
  • Ethan has become a jogging pro this month, and he does pretty well for about 30 minutes.

  • I started really and truly swimming on my own right before the pool closed. Really, I can swim quite a distance with my face underwater and no water wings! Now, I have to wait a whole year to perfect my swimming skills. What's with that!?

  • We are going to miss our pool party days over the next 8 months! There is nothing like a Saturday, or any day, at the pool with good friends, yummy food, and, in Ethan's opinion, an attempt at a grown-up drink. Oh, Ethan! It always wise to cap off a great pool day with a little Ring around the Rosie.

  • I got my first bike injury when Daddy let goof the bike while I was going down a hill, and we both fell. I got right back on though. You can call me Merida, the Brave...if you get the reference, you can be in my new secret circle, only real princesses allowed!












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  • We visited the Georgia Aquarium with Aunt Steph and Harper, which was a bit crazy, but I loved seeing all of the fishys, and Ethan enjoyed the stroll. It was Ethan's first aquarium experience; although, he is a fishy pro already; we started our tank when he was only a couple of weeks old. Harper enjoyed Ethan way more than any of the aquatic life. Mom let me get a stuffed Nemo before we left since "I was a really, really good girl", and I now have a Nemo, whom I lovingly refer to as Ne-Ne, OBSESSION! That being said, between August and now, I have also gone through a dolphin obsession, a French doll obsession, a dog in the purse obsession, 3 new pig obsessions, a pink teddy bear obsession, and a unicorn cuddle blanket obsession, but Ne-Ne does still have a place in my bed. I think I need to go to stuffed animal rehabilitation.


















  • Ethan turned 7 months old and is doing a great job of sitting up all on his own. He can even sit up in the shopping cart now, and he showed off his new skill at his shots appointment, which was really not too terribly exciting! He got shots; he cried very little; that's about it. He is becoming such a happy and fun little brother, especially when hanging in his favorite spot, at home with me. We always bring the fun. I'm definitely Ethan's best friend, but his pacifier doggy is now coming in as a close second.



































  • When I'm around, Ethan can't take his eyes off of me, and I am always sure to give him a good laugh. I can't believe how fast he is growing up!

  • Bath time is always one of Ethan's favorite times, with the exception of the time he got water all in his face and threw a fit over bath time every single time for a month.



  • Let's play a little game of who's who!

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    
      
  • Catch Air - Woot, Woot!

  • Gelato and Daddy's Finger - Double Woot, Woot!



  • Look at me; I grew some yummy tomatoes...and got my hair did.
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  • Ethan is trying new food after new food. He detested parsnips, and his absolute favorite is still sweet potatoes, which he prefers mashed with cinnamon. Fruit is still on the blech list. He's also started using a big boy sippy cup, which he figured out almost immediately, with a little help from the big sister!

  • Ethan has really developed a fascination with Opie, and he is constantly trying to grab his fur, with which Opie kind of puts up; I can see things going very wrong between those two in the future though.
  • Ethan had his first "I want my way" fit over wanting the wash cloth in the bath tub, and he threw down until he got it! In the end, he got the wash cloth. Bye bye, Mr. Easygoing!

  • Ethan went to his first baseball tailgate and game, which was also Hudson Bickers' birthday party at the Gwinett Braves' stadium. Ethan and I both had an absolute ball, pun intended!



  • I also got to see Lucas at his 4th birthday party! I hadn't seen him in far too long now that he has moved further north and we no longer go to the same school; he actually started real Pre-K! We were beyond happy to see each other, and we didn't stop laughing and chasing each other during the whole party. I ask about my Lucas all the time: "When will we see Lucas? Will he be there? What is Lucas doing?". I've missed you, birthday boy! It seems that Ethan is quite taken with Lucas' little sister, Juliet, too; he couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and Ms. Joanne couldn't keep her hands off of Ethan, her little boyfriend.

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  • Ethan had his first experience in a restaurant booth when we visited Aunt Mal at Pearle Vision and took her out on her lunch break. Her co-workers have been dying to meet Ethan, for they get to see all of his adorable pictures.







  • August was a happy reminder that I always love hanging with my Atlanta peeps, like McKenzie, Roe, and Roe's brother, Malcolm, who is sure to become one of Ethan's besties! We have a blast whether it is a pool date or just a stay-at-home play date. I'm totally down with a little rough play with Roe, but McKenzie and I also got him to play dress up with us; he's a good sport. Ethan and Baby Malcolm are learning the importance of sharing; although, Ethan looked a bit confused when he tried to confiscate Malcolm's hand, and Malcolm somehow switched it up and took possession of Ethan's hand. Too cute! I'm coming down your way for good very soon, Atlanta peeps!

  • It is always good to hang with my Cumming BFs as well, and we do a lot of hanging! Friday mommy and kid night at Vickery Village rocks my socks off! Shout out to the crew, Tyler, Ella, Madden, Lyla, Parker, and Grayson!

  • Mom got to meet newcomer to the world Avery Molletta, and we are so very happy and excited for the whole Molletta clan!

  • Ethan, Mom, Grandma, and I learned how a tow truck works on the way home from the pool one afternoon. The tow truck operator was super nice to entertain us while we sat and watched the entire process; he probably thought we were crazy, but he didn't let on. It was fascinating! Ethan thought he was learning to drive.

  • Mom and Dad get to hang out with friends besides us sometimes too, and in August, they learned to make meatballs at Sugo with the SoloHealth team. SoloHealth has done and continues to do more than we could have ever imagined, and Daddy is helping lead the way!
  • A Noteworthy Dinner Conversation with Daddy: "Dad, how does the world work?" "What part: the universe, people, the ocean, etc?" "Ummm...elevators, how do elevators work?" Long, complicated, technical answer back from Dad. "Oh, okay." Back to eating. My questions literally NEVER END! I can ask about 30 questions just on the ride from home to school, and we live less than 5 miles away!
  • The highlight of August was finding out that the real Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast is coming to my birthday party! I got soooo excited when I found out; Mom should have had the video camera ready when she told me because it was the most excited I have been in my entire life. I was practically convulsing, and I kept asking "the real Belle!?", as well as one million and one other questions. I literally almost forgot to breathe. I did not let a day go by between then and my big bash without talking about Belle's attendance; Mom's communications with Mrs. Pots, the teapot and Belle's social secretary; or the Beast's unwelcome presence at my princess and pirate themed b-day.
  • Last, but most certainly not least for the month of August, my Great Grandma had to have heart surgery, and we were all so worried, but like the incredibly strong woman that she is, she came out like a champ, and she is doing great! We love you, Great Grandma! We think about you all the time, and I honestly ask about you almost every day. Hugs and Kisses!


  • Hey, Silly Monkey in the back, keep this blog a rollin'.













    September:
  • We spent a chunk of September trading colds back and forth around the Kendig household. We'll blame it on school. Thankfully, we beat the germs in time to celebrate a very special birthday.
  • Harper True turned two! It was a bubble-filled day of fun. Harper was focused almost solely on the present opening, but the cake and bubbles were able to divert her attention briefly. I think the new baby doll and baby bed were the hits of the present pile; the boa, however, was no baby doll. It was a wonderful day of family, hugs, love, bubbles, Elmo, and a thumb for Ethan. Happy Birthday to my beautiful, sweet, smiling, happy, funny, incredible cousin! The years are just flying by.

  • Mommy joined me on my first, school field trip to Amicalola Falls. Most of the little kids were not down with the waterfall hike and stair climb that culminated in 425 additional stairs to the very top, but my friends and I insisted, and I did not slow down even for a moment. In fact, once we reached the very top, boy Parker, Apollonia, and I ran up and down the small staircase leading to the parking lot and carried a log around the grassy knoll while Parker pretended to saw it in half. There are no bounds to our endless energy. The highlight of the trip was getting to hold Ms. Luckhurst's hand on the way down the trail. I really, really, really like my teacher.





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  • The house hunt had gotten serious by September, like out house hunting 3 or more days a week with Mr. Mike serious. It created quite a stressed out Mommy and two tired babies, but looking back now that we are in our new house, it was worth it. It was exhausting though, and we took quite a few naps in the car. It definitely helped Ethan learn to go with the flow from very early on, and he is still pretty good when his schedule is a bit crazy from time to time. I was constantly questioning Mom and Dad about what and how we are going to take everything in our house. I was especially worried about the toilet; I told Mom that I like our toilet better, so I want to take it with us. We'll see how that works out for me. Ethan and I were really good about the whole tedious process, and Mr. Mike, our realtor, became "my new best friend"; I picked him flowers and asked about him everyday. He told everyone and made a special point to really tell Mom throughout the process how well-behaved Ethan and I are and how great our parents are doing at raising us. That Mr. Mike is a pretty wise, and sweet, man. We, unfortunately, lost one house in September, about which Mom was super sad, but as of November 15, we got the approval on a short sale that we have had under contract for a couple of months. I get to look out over a lake from my bedroom window, and I get my own bathroom in my bedroom! We'll have pictures and updates to come, so stay tuned. *Update from 4 months later, that dream house is now our actual house!
  • We are going to miss the beautiful sunsets from our old backyard though.






  • Ballet started back up for the season, and I got to move up a class. I have also added tap to my repertoire. I think I like tap even better. Loud shoes that you actually get to stomp around in, what's not to like? My sweet baby brother escorts me to every practice with very little complaint...most of the time. Just remember, it is imperative to stretch properly before you break it down.















  •  From Outside the Door on the First Day of Tap: Olivia is the one closest to the door dressed in black. 
  • Dancing with Daddy is one of my favorite things; I'm getting ready for that big first dance...someday.

  • Guess who I saw at Barnes and Noble during one trip to the bookstore in September? Santa! The Real Santa! I just about jumped out of my skin when I saw him sitting at a little table reading the newspaper. Mom didn't believe me until I very emphatically announced his presence several times, and she finally was forced to peek around the corner. He even said hello to me and told me that I have been very good. I introduced him to my baby brother and just grinned from ear to ear. That sneaky Santa; he is already making that list, and I will be on the nice side.
  • My birthday is almost here! Mom took my princess pictures for my invitation, and I have told everyone about my special guest! It's going to be so much fun! I am beyond thrilled about turning 4! I constantly remind Mom and Dad that when I am 4, I can do anything.






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  • Ethan makes a pretty princess too. While Mom is out of the room, I like to crown my prince and take commemorative photos. It's like having my own, personal, real-life baby doll, and I take full advantage. He's totally comfortable with his masculinity. I have been wondering lately, "Will Ethan be my kids' daddy?", to which I receive a resounding, "No!"


  • Speaking of doing anything, "When I grow up, I want to work at Publix; be a doctor, a veterinarian specifically; work at a restaurant; and be a princess", in that order as I informed Mom. I also told Dad and Mom that "when I grow up, I'll cook, clean, ummm...stay up late, and drive, just like Mommy does". That pretty much sums up everything she does in my mind. I probably shouldn't be a personal stylist though, but then again, neither should Ethan with his questionable hat choices.


  • Madden beat me to the big 0-4, and we got to celebrate his September birthday with chaos and friends. Happy Birthday, Madden!








  • Ethan is still on the new food train, and he is loving it. Food is definitely the way to my baby brother's heart. Some of the new items that have been added to the list: eggplant, not his favorite at all; chicken, must be mixed with sweet potatoes; blueberries; tofu, about which he seriously debated; mango; and even some mixes, like green beans and peas. Mommy is still cranking out the purees.

  • He is still on the fence about eating out; sometimes he loves it, and sometimes he just wants to get home to his own high chair. Cracker Barrel did not disappointment in his book though; the rocking chairs definitely helped. I, however, prefer Dutch Monkey Doughnuts.



  • Ethan is seriously attached to Mom. If she is anywhere nearby, no one else will do. Mom has to hide around the house to get anything done because if he sees or hears her, he screams until she gives him her undivided attention. Good thing they go pretty much everywhere together. I don't mind if Mom gives him attention, but if Grandma turns her attention to the baby brother, my jealousy-meter spikes!






  • Ethan didn't cry one bit at his 2nd round of shots for the month. The nurse, Mom, and I were all very impressed; he is so brave! I think he is a shoe-in for the Merida-secret-circle.
  • He was even super brave on his first-ever wagon ride down to the park. We buckled him in tight, and he enjoyed a slide or two before trying to ingest large amounts of wood chips.












  • I think he is so brave because he is now 8 months old! My, how time flies! We added some Mom-made 'professional' shots to the regular monthly shoot since the sheet was already up from taking my princess pictures. I mean, really, have you ever seen a baby cuter than this!? I think not.


  • Even cute princes pee in the bath. I insisted on joining Ethan in the tub, but after he added a little of his own extra liquid to the bath water, Mom has decided that we best keep bath time separate. It didn't deter me in the least though; what's a little pee amongst siblings!?
  • The weekly Publix trips are back on; it takes a lot of structure and several tricks, but we are making it through each Monday. I'm happy to be back, and my Publix friends seem happy to have me back. Ethan even gets a weekly balloon from Ms. Suzana now. I'm really going to miss everyone when we move. *sniff, sniff*
  • After a headache of a time transferring records, we made it to a new dentist who decided that I do not need to get any cavities filled. That other dentist was just trying to hurt me! I like the new place, Dental Town, much better; the office is even divided up into a little town. I got my teeth examined in the sports shop, which was perfect for this ballerina athlete. The appointment made me a little late for ballet, but I sure am glad we went. No fillings for me!

  • Ethan is a crazy jumperoo boy! If jumperoo jumping was an Olympic sport, Ethan would most certainly win gold!

  • Speaking of jumping, we hit up the Fowler Park Fest this month, and I got to jump in a real princess jump-jump! The wait was a bit of a bear, but jumping beneath Belle was well-worth it! I even got Belle painted on my face in tribute of my favorite princess, who inexplicably got bumped by Cinderella in November. My good friend Madden, who thinks the world of me, got his painted for the first time with a tiger, and Tyler stuck around for the hugs. The butterfly inflatable I got to bring home with me was also well worth it. Ethan took it all in, but I'm not sure how much he enjoyed versus how much he comfortably tolerated.







  • It must be said, although I am sure you have already figured it out; I am princess crazy, and that is putting it mildly! I dress like a princess, but only at home seeing as Mom won't let me wear my gowns out, for she is the evil witch. I demand to be called a princess; I get married to a prince and dance at my own ball several times a week; I crown Ethan, and any other eligible bachelor who enters my castle, my prince. I want to read, eat - literally because they make princess-shaped noodle soup, - and breathe princess everything all day long. Poor Mom, she desperately wanted to avoid this specific obsession, but it only took one Beauty and the Beast viewing, and I was hooked!
  • Ethan is crazy for me; I know, I'm just hilarious.

  • Ethan got 2 teeth during the month of September, and it has made for a grumpy little man, but we sure are glad he finally got some. He spent the first several days after his first tooth popped through incessantly running his tongue across it. I'm sure it is quite a surprise when that first tooth shows up out of nowhere! That being said, as of December, no other teeth had made their debut. He does darn well without them though; nothing will keep that man from his true love, food.

  • Naps are nutty these days! I don't want to go down at all; although, Mom is still insistent on quiet time in my room, which usually results in my falling asleep. Mom even found me passed out on my floor with a tiara on and a tea cup in my hand. Those tea parties can get a little out of hand, and sometimes, you just fall asleep mid-sip. Other times, you fall asleep in the middle of your doorway while trying to spy on Mom downstairs. I'm still sticking to my story that I don't need naps anymore! Ethan's naps are all over the place because of my busy schedule, but we are trying to fall into a routine.
  • I adopted a lizard in our backyard this month. I spent an entire afternoon getting him water, drawing a chalk house for him, and taking his picture, because from my experience, that's what Mommy's do, take pictures of their babies.











  • On the same note, Mom got a new lens, which has just fueled her desire to take endless amounts of pictures of her sweet babies, aka me...and just a bit of Ethan.










  • Ethan started to really stand up on his own, with support, but in September, he was not interested at all in crawling. He just flips onto his stomach then bounces his legs like crazy, gets frustrated, screams wildly, and gives up. He can get a good ways using the circle spin, knee bounce move though.

  • Ethan found his voice, and he is so loud and quite demanding. It is practically impossible to go out to eat these days; although, we are continuing to try; he'll just have to learn, I suppose, because I love to eat out as a fam. A straw works as a momentary distraction, but Mom will have to come up with a few more creative ways to appease little, crazy man.


  • He started to really light up for Daddy during this month, and he is winning the old man over. Daddy always says that he would have a lot more babies if they would just come out at about 9 months old, but Mom isn't quite on that same train.
  • Baby brother wants everything that is mine, so things are getting a little more volatile at times. Sometimes, I let him have whatever he wants, but sometimes, no way! I think I am dreading his crawling; even though, I act like I can't wait for him to do big boy things. Once he crawls, he will really be able to get my stuff. That being said, I still love him always, even when he is trying to take off with my precious Ne-Ne.

















  • How can you stay mad at this cute, little bear though!?

  • However, that little bear is a total remote thief!











  • The highlight of September was our family trip to Lake Chatuge over the Labor Day weekend with the Loiseaus. It was Ethan's first vacation and my first weekend slumber party. Ethan was perfect during the entire trip; I don't think he made a peep the whole time, despite missing a couple of naps. He wasn't a fan of the life jacket, but the boat put him right to sleep. In fact, he slept through pretty much his entire first boat experience. I had the best weekend of my life! We danced, we sang, we traded iPads, we played, we jumped, we chatted, we hugged, and we had a blast. I cried hysterically when Daddy first dropped me into the lake water, but in my defense, he did just plop me in, by myself, without warning. Once he got it in with me and I could hang on to him, I was okay. The best part of the weekend was the slumber party! Grayson, Parker, and I got to stay in the same room together, and although Grayson fell asleep right away, Parker and I stayed up both nights, all night long talking, giggling, and creating mischief. It was awesome, despite the million and one warnings from the parents! I can't wait to go on vacation with them again!
  • * Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the verb tense in this post is a bit erratic, but bear with me; this one has been written and added to over the course of 5 months, which means I don't know what the heck is going on with it!

    October:
    The King of all months finally arrived!
  • Why, pray tell, is October the King of all months...because it's my birthday month! This year, my birthday landed on a Saturday, so I got to have a whole day of celebration truly dedicated to me. When I woke up as a big 4-year-old, I followed a trail of 4's down to my first set of gifts; I blew out candles at every meal; I got to have lunch with the fam at Mellow Mushroom; I got to open gifts with Aunt Mal - she did cut the hair of one of my dolls by accident, but I forgave her; and best of all, I finally got to have my Princesses and Pirates Birthday Extravaganza! It was a party fit for a princess with games and stories and a parachute and costumes and nail painting, because every birthday princess should get her nails painted by a real princess, and piggy bank painting because I collect piggy banks and face painting and balloon animals and, most importantly, Princess Belle! She didn't quite look the same in person, but I know it was her nonetheless, and I was beside myself with excitement. In fact, the party was so incredible that it was a bit overwhelming, which was apparent from a few emotional breakdowns that I had during the event. I mean, the real Princess Belle at your party would overwhelm you too. She even sat with me during the customary birthday singing and cake cutting. It was amazing! A few of my boyfriends seemed quite taken with Belle as well. The boys were supposed to be pirates, but most of them jumped on the Spiderman train. My friends Cole and Boris and Boris' little brothers were awesome pirates though! I hope all of my friends had as much fun as I. I had so much fun that I couldn't even stop playing at the absolute brink of exhaustion, and I insisted on capping off the day with a viewing of Cinderella, which came out of the Disney vault just in time for my b-day, in my Cinderella crown. I am finally 4!!! Now, I can do whatever I want, and the first thing I wanted to do was lose the booster seat at the dinner table. Done!
  • Although I thought my birthday was the best ever, Mom did try to give me a run for my money when Dad whisked her away to Paris for her 31st! They had the trip of a lifetime, and Mom drug Dad to every museum possible with a tour of La Champagne to cap off their 4-day stay. I think it was definitely her best birthday ever. Happy Birthday, Mommy!





















  • During their time away, Ethan and I got to spend 5 days with Grandma. She says it was easier than she thought it was going to be, and I thought it was super fun! We painted pumpkins with Aunt Steph, Harper, Aunt Mal, Ms. Sharon, Cameron, and Haley and spent an entire day with Aunt Steph and Harper. Grandma succeeded in toting Ethan and I to all of my weekly events, and she even let me sleep in her bed twice, which bit Mom and Dad in the butts upon their return. Grandma did an awesome job though, and although I love my Grandma so much, I did miss Mom and Dad a bit more this time. They called every day to check in on us, and during one call, Daddy got on the phone to tell me he missed me, and I insisted that "I should be talking to Mommy." That's right, when we are at home, Daddy gets all the love, but when they are away, I miss Mommy the most, probably because she never goes away, but eh, she'll take it how she can get it. For the first few days after they returned, I told Mom about 10 times a day "Mommy, I really missed you" and "Mommy, I just love you". I'm pretty sure she ate it up. To make their absence up to me, I did get some neat gifts from Paris, like my Parisian doll Alexandra, a birdie whistle, a French shirt with the words 'Forbidden to Scold' in French, a book from Musee d'Orsay, and lots of chocolate. Ethan got some goodies too: a matching shirt, a little cow, and a book from the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. Sweet Ethan was kind enough to wait until Mom and Dad got home to acquire any new skills. The day after their return, he pulled up to standing for the very first time. Mommy was so worried that she was going to miss the first time he crawled, but he held back, just for her, I think.













  • Okay, those were some biggies, but now, I shall honor my promise to be more brief.

  • Picture Day at School, which coincided with my first stye in the eye. Nothing like having a droopy eye on picture day. I hope this isn't an omen of picture day disasters to come. I still pulled off a great shot, just like a pro.














  • Traditional Burt's Pumpkin Patch Trip, which was Ethan's first taste of this yearly outing and picture frenzy

  • Our painted pumpkins turned out awesome, thanks to Grandma and Mrs. Sharon.











  • We got a scream-worthy box of toys and Halloween goodies from Gramma Eileen. We fought over the baby toy for awhile, but I have since relinquished it to him. Thank you, Gramma Eileen!






  • Cumming Fair with some of my favorite pals - The fair was a hit, and we all got to ride a ton of the rides this year. I was solely concerned about winning a stuffed animal, and Dad made it happen. My totally random, tie-dyed dolphin was even my special guest at my birthday party. I'm a stuffed animal junkie; it's the way to my heart. We went to the fair on the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Kids' Night with overwhelming anticipation for the Super Heroes Show; I even wore my cape. However, the Super Heroes Show was a super bust that left almost all of us in tears. I was almost the last of my group to insist on leaving, and I only lasted about 5 minutes before the crying began. The bad guys hit the stage first, and they were terrifying! That's okay though, for it left us with plenty more time to ride the boat again while Ethan took in every sight, sound, and Puff with utter content.















  • Cameron's 14th Birthday Celebration - I think it ended up being a party more for Harper, Ethan, and me, so thanks for letting us crash your family party, Cam. Still, the best part was playing video games with the birthday boy. Unbeknownst to me, he was the one actually controlling my guy, but I was thrilled to think that I had mastered the controller and won all by myself. Now, that is the sign of a truly awesome cousin! As a recap, Harper was, of course, enthralled with Ethan and Ethan's toys, as well as showing off her superior yoga skills; Ethan was enthralled with the dogs and their toys, as well as the giant beach ball; I was enthralled with Cameron and the bubbles; and Cameron and Haley were enthralled with their cell phones. Sounds about right. Harper was very intent on showing Ethan the boo-boo on her finger, and he was quite sympathetic. Happy Birthday, Cameron! We love you, especially me; call it a cousin crush if you like!

  • Another big birthday shout out goes to 2-year-old McKenzie Germany! We had a ball at your pink, bubble bash! Ethan even managed to sneakily swipe some of my icing, and he loved it!

















  • Ballet and tap are going swell.














  • Read the shirts; it's our declaration.











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  • Nothing like a game of cards with Grandma to put a smile on this face;...












  • although, Friday night gelato is just about as good. I think Ethan voted that his first gelato was even a little better than cards with Grandma.


  • Slumber parties at Grandma's are high up on that 'Nothing Like It' list, and I wake up ready to go when I know a Grandma slumber party is on the horizon.

  • My photography skills are getting better and better as Ethan's standing skills do the same. I just gotta get a few shots of "Ne-Ne" in as well.




  • We celebrated another Georgia Tech Homecoming in "downtown Atlanta, not downtown Cumming Fairgrounds" as I like to remind those who might not know. Ethan and I look mighty fine in our yellow and navy, and tailgating is a pastime I quite enjoy with the old man. What Mom isn't so keen on is Dad's old fraternity house; it's nice to visit the past, but those visits may require staying on the outside of the building from now on. Young college kids aren't always so mindful of innocent eyes and ears. We don't mind celebrating Dad's youth with him every once in awhile though. Plus, hanging with the older, college girls is definitely educational when perfecting the teenage, ugh-attitude that I've already got down pat, especially towards Mom. I also totally love playing, cheering alongside, causing chaos, and throwing a little corn hole with some of my closest friends, like Roe, McKenzie, Kylie, Molly, and Avery. Roe's baby brother, Malcolm, was down for a little tailgate partying as well. Ethan seemed to really enjoy his first homecoming too, mainly because of the food; however, Mom is bound and determined to get him to cheer for the Bulldogs since she didn't reel me in before I went to the dark side of Yellow Jacket fandom. By the way, in the pictures where I hug Ethan and then he loses it, I didn't do it...I never do it, promise.












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  • Ethan's 9-Month-Day has come and gone, and this 9-month-old has gotten quite a bit noisier and busier as the months tick by. He is still beyond adorable though!

  • As he rounded the 9-month milestone, Ethan got to start trying some easy solids, like Puffs and bits of cheese, bread, and fruits. He is obsessed with any and all baby snacks, like the baby Puffs and Mumm Rice Cakes, about which Mom isn't crazy, but he is so insistent and goes so nuts when he wants a Puff, that Mom usually gives in. He has a definite opinion on everything these days, and he lets that opinion be known, especially when it comes to food. Goodbye to the days of easygoing, just going along for the ride, baby Ethan. He is a smart little man too, just like his big sister. He easily mastered the sippy cup in no time, and for those of you keeping score, I never mastered the sippy cup and eventually had to move to cups with straws. He also thinks that the fruit net, from which he gets to suck the juice from bits of cantaloupe or pineapple, is the best invention ever, along with the spoon, which he doesn't actually use to pick anything up. Both have become two more great restaurant distractions.













  • He may have mastered the sippy cup, but he cannot figure out the walker. However, that may be because I have yet to give him a chance to figure it out; it's fun for both of us if I just push him around in it like it's my own little car and he's my passenger.












  • With age comes a plethora of emotions that can change at the drop, or a donning, of a hat.


  • One thing that always makes him smile for sure is the park, for he is an outdoor baby! He got to swing for the first time this month, and he loves it! He mainly likes the wind when it blows really hard, which makes him giggle uncontrollably. He also likes to play on the "big kid stuff"; with a cool big sister like me, he is dying to be a big kid too. I am always there to give my baby brother a little sisterly push when he needs it until he is big enough to do the big kid things on his own. "I'm just a really, really good big sister."




  • When the weather won't cooperate to let us enjoy the outdoors, we'll settle for an indoor setup, like the mall playground.
  • One of his funniest new tricks is the head bounce, which he really gets into. He'll also lay his head down to the side when we were are at the dinner table if you say, "Goodnight, Ethan". Too cute!
  • Ethan and Mom's gym routine is going strong; although, the car breakfast is getting a bit messy. After being worn out at the gym, he is always ready to pass out cold, even sitting up, which doesn't look very comfortable to me. He is none too pleased when he has to get woken up to pick me up from school either. Gotta do your little brother duties, little bro.











  • At Ethan's 9-month checkup, we made the discovery that the nurse did measure incorrectly during the previous checkup, and Ethan isn't quite as tall as we thought. The doctor seemed a bit concerned by his lack of growth until she realized that the measurements last time were a little off. Our little man is currently 29.2 inches long, which puts him in the 75th percentile for height, and he weighs about 19.6 pounds, which keeps in the 30 - 35th percentile for weight. His chubby cheeks and arms throw most people off; in actuality, he is a skinny, little thing, which should be changing soon with his recent Puff binges. Everything looked great; he barely cried for his shots, and we got my flu mist out of the way at the same time. I strangely begged for the shot, probably because I wanted a Band aid too. Either way, we both needed a hug at the end. Hopefully, Ethan will now get a doctor break until he turns 1.


  • On October 29, Ethan crawled, just a wee bit, for the first time, but you'll have to wait until the November section to get the full crawling lowdown. Here is a glimpse from his first day of crawling though.

  • An adorable baby can never have too many awww-inspiring hats.



  • As always, October ended with one of the best holidays ever created, Halloween! I was a fairy princess; Ethan was a frog; Mom was a graveyard prom queen; Dad was a banana, and we all had a sugar-fueled, hopping good time trick-or-treating in Madden's neighborhood. To say that our group has multiplied slightly over the years is quite the understatement! Now, we older ones have got the trick-or-treating thing down. The loop of houses that took us 2, exhausting hours last year was finished in 30 minutes this year. My friends and I basically sprinted from door to door while the little ones strolled along for the trip, and then we all partied the night away at Madden's. Ms. Josie even painted our faces with Halloween decor. Ethan was thoroughly pleased with his first taste of pizza, which has become his all-time favorite for now, and his first lick of lollipop, as well as getting fawned over by some beautiful ladies, so it seems to have been quite the evening for all. He also got his first Halloween card, all of which he enjoyed greatly and part of which he ate. Parker and I stuck together like glue during the festivities, and the grownups even got in on the Halloween fun. Ah, and the love between the dead prom queen and the banana is a tale as old as time. (Thanks, Aunt Steph!) Hope your Halloween was just as super and sugary as ours!




















  • Man, we had to get in some much-needed lounging time after a month like that!

  • November:
  • November was the month of the crawler! Ethan finally started crawling on November 1st, and our lives have been amped up to overdrive, for he is a speed crawler and a mischievous, little guy. He does NOT like to be told "No" either; he shoots whomever a nasty look and throws down! He is way worse and more sensitive when it comes to the reprimands and listening than I ever was.










  • So, apparently Puffs are no longer quenching his appetite, for Ethan has moved on to dog food. We have, collectively, forcefully yanked many pieces of dog food from Ethan's mouth over the last couple of weeks. Now, he gets a very stern "No!" whenever he goes near the dog bowl, to which he turns and protests dramatically with cries and shouts, but eventually, he usually listens and crawls away. His dramatic protests follow any "No" directed towards him, but, for the most part, he is getting the concept.
  • I am pretty sure the introduction to real foods and real meals has fueled baby brother's dog food desires. That's right; Ethan now eats real, cut up finger foods instead of mush. He likes grapes the absolute best, but he rarely turns anything down. He is also quite taken with Cheerios, as well as the light fixture above the dining room table, and Mom is pretty sure that her car is going to grow a Cheerio tree from all the Cheerios that get lost during gym morning car breakfasts. After trying many new finger foods, I am pretty sure that bread is bound to be this boy's true love in life.

  • He's getting the hang of Friday night floor picnics!




  • Along with the real meals, big boy Ethan has become a full-fledged crawler! He is also pulling up on everything and taking steps with the help of the furniture. To say that he is into everything would be a gross understatement. He is a speedy little thing too! His personal ad would probably go something like this: My name is Ethan. I'm not even 1, and I enjoy tearing things up, throwing things, moving things, screaming at things, and eating...everything. Whoever said that boys go, go, go wasn't lying. He is into all of my stuff too! Then again, I insist on playing with all of his stuff, so fair is fair. We just take it day by day. He prefers any kind of ball to roll around the hardwoods, and he would rather empty the bed full of dog toys 20 times a day than touch any of his toys. His favorite things to do are chase a rolling ball, steal the mustard out of the fridge - it's always the mustard - and push random, non-push toys around the dining room and kitchen, on his knees, of course. He also likes to try and make out with his reflection in the trash can; don't worry, Mom has been sanitizing it constantly. My new favorite thing to do is roll a ball, make him crawl to it, yank it from his hands, and roll it back in the other direction, as well as tell him "No!" when he does anything and everything. I'm gettin' in some good mommy practice. He is our wild child, and I am the boss! Now, he just has to figure out how to go from standing back to sitting.






  • Although I am a bit bossy, Ethan still thinks I am a hoot. I can get him to laugh hysterically just by looking in his direction, and I love playing baby entertainer! He thinks everything I do is awesome, and he always wants to be a part of whatever I am into, so I've gotten pretty good at ignoring him too. Still, he is my sweet baby brother, and I am his super cool big sister. I am always, well almost always, willing to lend a helping hand to him too.

  • However, when I say play horsey, it is wise to just do it.

  • Someone is quite the musician, if you consider banging wildly on anything that will make noise as music.

  • I am quite the cook, and I love to help Mom prep dinner.

  • We made a return visit to Dental Down right before Thanksgiving due to a week-long complaint of a toothache, which just turned out to be an excuse to return to Dental Town, get a prize, and enjoy a good-sugar lollipop; it, however, ended with a discussion about money not growing on trees and about the boy who cried wolf....again! Ugh. The visit did fuel a desire in Ethan and me for a TV on our ceiling; place a TV in an unusual spot, and you've got our undivided attention for at least 10 minutes, which is unheard of! Ethan's being on the move makes it quite difficult to snap those cute shots these days.
  • Leaf jumping is a right of passage during these blistery fall months. While I enjoy the fall weather outdoors, Ethan does everything in his power to keep his right foot off of the grass; it's just his right foot though, for the left foot seems not to mind.





  • Mom and Dad seem drawn to election years for bringing babies into this world. I was born right before the Presidential Election in 2008, and Ethan, having been born in 2012, joined Mom and me for his first voting poll experience before he even reached his first birthday. Mom laid out a list of rules for joining her at the polls, and she brought enough baby snacks to feed an army of babies, but there wasn't a single person in line, so Ethan and I got "oohs" and "ahhs" from the older ladies and gents working the polls while Mom cast her vote. Each of us even got our own sticker. I'm an old pro at voting now.
  • Check out Ethan and me with our first Presidential Election voting stickers:

  • Ethan's First Fort


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  • Evening Freestyle Dance-off














  • Some Bath Time Envy, which was the catalyst for the best mad face ever! Not to worry though, it was his turn to jump in next. Mom just can't resist one cute, little butt shot.


















  • Some Outside Envy...Poor guy, I get to do all of the fun stuff "because I'm always bigger than him". I'll play the blues for ya, buddy.













  • Ethan did get to have a guys' day at the park with Dad while Mom and I had a ladies' day out and about, which we try to do at least once a month.


  • We even let the 'rents out of the house on their own at least once a month.

  • Mom even got to have a late birthday celebration with Grandma, Ms. Sharon, and the Aunts, and Ms. Joanne got to be a Purnell for the day too.

  • Daddy Love

  • Almost ready for my big, December ballet performance, and I love the sparkly costume! Little brother is one of our biggest fans.











  • Ethan hit double digits, turning 10 months old in November. The sticker pictures are virtually impossible now that he is on the move, but Mom and I tried, for I always help her with the monthly photo shoot. We also took some super cute pictures for his 'little man, moustache-themed' first birthday invitations. I can't believe he is almost 1! This year was the fastest ever; I am currently trying to locate the breaks on this thing called life. Ethan isn't quite ready for facial hair, and the photo shoot was more of a war to wear the moustache. It was worth it though.










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  • Moustache or not, we love this little face...especially since it looks pretty darn similar to my face.


  • I have sooooo much for which to be thankful, so it's good to have a special day every year to reflect on the family, friends, love, and health, which we sometimes take for granted. We commemorated that thankfulness for family with a quick photo shoot at an old barn on the way to Great Aunt Marsha's. It was Mom's first attempt at taking family photos on her own with the tripod, and we actually got a few pretty good ones for this year's Christmas card. Ethan and I had fun being silly goobers for the photo shoot. Mom and Dad feel overwhelmingly thankful for this little family that they have created. I am super thankful for my healthy, awesome little brother, which has given me a forever friend and my own personal prince whom to boss around. Ethan is thankful for each new morsel of goodness that he gets to try, which he proved at Thanksgiving dinner, for he was the first one to sit down to eat, and an hour and a half later, he was the last to throw in the napkin, so to speak. I, unlike last year when I froze up and cried, gave a beautiful and appreciated Thanksgiving blessing this year, which focused on love, for we are so thankful for all of those loved ones in our lives who allow us to experience the truest sense of family. We are thankful for the chance to grow up with our sweet cousin, Harper True, and she is thankful for rough and tumble time with me and hug time with Ethan. Simply put, we are so lucky. Beyond giving thanks, this Thanksgiving included watching the Macy's parade in the morning, testing Mom's baked treats, celebrating with the whole fam at Great Aunt Marsha's, tormenting Great Aunt Marsha's dog, as well as a huge beach ball, a crazy turkey hat, and bacon! Happy Thanksgiving y'all!


































  • To end the month, I got an e-mail from Santa and his elves. I am not yet on the nice list because of my temper tantrums, but Santa said that he knows if I try really hard, I'll get on that nice list. I will be on my best behavior from here on out: No more fits for this good girl. I was super excited that Santa knows my name, and he even had pictures from my birthday party and from Ethan's arrival!

  • Wardrobe change! (Just so you know, I always insist on donning pajamas or a princess dress the moment my foot hits the door from being out, no matter what time of day it is, so yes, I do wear pajamas more than any person you know, but it's not because Mom leaves me in them all day. I am a girl of comfort, and it's a battle she has chosen not to fight.)


  • December:
    So, December happened...in fast forward! I vaguely remember a few noteworthy happenings from the beginning of month, but the big move and Christmas rounded out the month, which trumped all!
    The few noteworthy happenings included:
  • Oh yeah, my Christmas performance happened, and it was awesome! I truly was one of the best in my group. I had the moves down; I kept a big smile on my face, and I ate up every bit of the cheers and attention. Parker and I loved watching the older girls practice, and we were totally excited to eat dinner in the lobby between the dress rehearsal and the big show. Mommy could only record during dress rehearsal, but I saved my best moves for the actual show. Sadly, this was my final performance with CDA due to our move, and I have decided that I want to change up my extracurricular activity for a bit; although, I am sure more dance is in my future. First, I really wanted to switch to karate chop, but after visiting the karate studio, I decided that karate feet smell gross, so I don't want to do karate anymore. True story. Now, I want to take singing lessons; it was totally by my request, so Mom is looking into it. I'm very serious and passionate about my singing; my song of the moment is Britney Spears' and Will.i.am's "Scream and Shout"; I am positive that the lyrics "Oh we oh we oh we oh" are actually "Opie of Pinocchio", which is shout with great enthusiasm and very little beat. I'm also CONSTANTLY making up songs in the car and around the house. Mom and Dad have even been fooled a couple of times into thinking they are real songs. Music is in my blood; too bad a singing voice isn't in my DNA. Oh, and check out the bun this year; the one strand mini-bun has come a long way, baby!



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  • Music may just be in Ethan's blood too; although, heavy pushing seems to be more of his passion.













  • Speaking of music, I got to put my musical stylings into practice during the Christmas performance at my school. We brought the house down and were handsomely rewarded with hugs from our awesome teachers and lots of sweet treats. We even made Christmas trees out of our hand prints for the backdrop. It wasn't quite as big a production as at my old school, but I still greatly enjoyed being in front of a crowd, especially during the song when I got to hold up a green paper plate then a red paper plate. I pulled out a little diva 'tude afterwards and pretty much refused to take pictures with my besties. A great entertainer has to be a bit of a diva.


















  • Christmas music is a sure sign that Christmas is on its way, as is reindeer antlers and decorating that big, beautiful, indoor tree, which we got to decorate twice this year since we spent the Christmas season in two different houses. Ethan wasn't quite as big of a help this year since he just kept trying to steal the Christmas ornaments' container. Boys! We each have our own containers of the ornaments we get each year, as well as a special journal that tells us how and why we got each one.

  • What second house you ask: On December 7, we closed on our new house, and with the exception of the very boring meeting that Ethan and I tried our darnedest to turn into a circus, the closing was a fun-filled par-tee. Mrs. Joanne, Parker, and Grayson met us at the new house to help us celebrate, and we had a blast running around the empty rooms and climbing in and out of the back window since we had yet to locate the key to the back door. Mom, Dad, and Mrs. Joanne had a cheers with champagne and walked around plotting and planning. Ethan was a little confused, but he got in on the celebration by teething on and drooling in Dad's beer. Afterwards, we took our besties out to dinner where someone must have known that was a special day because we were randomly given a huge bouquet of balloons. Best friends make every big moment in life even better. The closing was the catalyst for a crazy two weeks of workers and painters and contractors shuffling in and out to get the new house ready for moving day. Ethan and I were great helps when it came to picking out carpet and colors; we even found out that carpet squares make for great race cars. The new hardwoods, especially, turned out spectacular! During the renovations, Mom announced our arrival to the entire neighborhood by locking Ethan in the new house by himself! We made our neighborhood debut with a procession of police cars and fire trucks and a crazy Mom sprinting around the house trying to break into windows. Add on a large paint crew trying to jimmy locks with credit cards, and we officially look like the crazies moving next door. Thankfully, Mrs. Laura pulled up just in time to lend Mom her phone and keep a hysterical Ethan busy at the back deck window while Mom ran around and called 911! It all ended about 20 minutes later with a broken basement window lock and a hefty fireman shoved through the same window. Ethan was perfectly fine, with the exception of the crying, and Dad got quite a surprise when his plane landed. In Mom's defense, the garage door caused 4 more lockouts between Mom, Dad, and Mal before that crazy lock had to go. Nothing like bringing a little excitement to the new 'hood.














  • I got to bake cookies with Harper True at Grandma's house. I think I did most of the baking, and Harper did most of the ingredient eating. My Gramcrackers, which is what I call Grandma, is the best!











  • Ethan turned 11 months, started saying "Dada", and became a walking pro, at least when he is holding onto something that he can push. He has taken a step here and there, but he is not an independent walker yet. He has definitely developed some 'tude of his own, and he loves to scream at things. I don't get it either. Since getting into the new house, he has become determined to climb the front stairs. He'll act all sly and then all of a sudden take off down the front hallway with his walker. When Mom tries to turn him and his walker around, he picks the entire walker up and slams it down facing his original direction, towards the staircase. He is a VERY determined little guy in general! It is hilarious...at least to me! He absolutely gets the word "No"; he just doesn't like it, at all. The kitchen cabinets have also become quite the battle between Mom and Ethan, but I like to egg him on. In the new house, he has his own playroom on the main level, right next to the kitchen, and he and I have a blast wrecking that place each and every day. The evenings are his grumpy period these days; it seems there are not enough snacks in the world to hold him over until dinner time, and Mom typically has to cook with a crying baby at her feet. I try to help as much as possible and distract, distract, distract, but it seems that nothing can distract this little man from an impending meal.




  • One such distraction is to drag him around or pull him around on a blanket; it never gets old.


  • Ethan is still one heck of an eater! He, alone, has added about $50 a week to Mom's grocery bill, and he hasn't even hit 1! Thankfully, he now eats pretty much whatever we eat at each meal, and he is totally done with baby food, so no more pureeing for Mom. To show his appreciation for each and every morsel of goodness, he makes a loud "Mmmmmm" noise whenever he takes a bite, which he still does to this day; the "Mmmmm" has just gotten a bit more fervent. Bread is still his absolute favorite, especially croissants and French toast, but he eats his fruits pretty well too, and we get the vegetables in with just a little trickery. Mmmmm is right!

  • That Ethan, he is a man of many talents.


  • One of the ladies at the gym, Ms. Judy, loves my baby brother so much that she took a picture of him many months ago and turned it into a special Christmas ornament. In fact, he was supposed to move to the bigger kids' area when he started to walk, which will be part of the February blog, but every time Mom goes to pick him up, Ms. Judy has him nice and protected back in the baby room with her. She is always so excited to see him come in, and she always tells Mom to go back and workout longer when she comes to pick him up. Ms. Judy is like Ethan's Ms. Suzana.

  • We spent an evening at Grandma's house, which is always a treat. Snuggling with Grandma is fun, fun, fun!

  • 'Rents Holiday Night Out

  • 1st semester of "big girl Montessori school" was awesome! I am now reading, and I am already on reading page number 9. I know all of my continents; I know my days of the week; I'm learning some sweet Yoga moves during health and fitness semester; I'm adding and so much more. I got to celebrate my birthday with the other October babies by showing my baby pictures, blowing out the group candle, taking a trip around the birthday world, and eating yummy muffins. We even made stone soup in a kitchen sized just for us during Thanksgiving. There is never a dull day at Vickery Village Montessori! My sweet teachers send Mom pictures over Shutterfly every month. Mom and Dad are so impressed that they have decided to find another Montessori school after the move and to keep me in Montessori for at least another year.

  • We, of course, visited Santa in person during the holiday season! Daddy made it from work just in time, literally, for we were the next people in line to meet Santa when he jumped in with us. I brought a very specific list, mainly comprised of everything princess, and I was sure to make my biggest requests very clear, a Cinderella dress and glass slippers. Santa even gave me a thumbs up for my awesome list. Ethan didn't go half as crazy as we thought he would, and if we are being honest, Mom was a bit disappointed not to get that obligatory picture of terror on Santa's lap. He had a little meltdown when he turned around and saw the jolly fellow who was holding him, but the photographer didn't capture that moment for the professional shot. I just know that Santa will not disappoint! Cinderella dress, Cinderella dress, Cinderella dress...*all fingers crossed*

















  • Our Elf, Elfer, stayed the entire month with us, and I had so much fun with him this year. I was really, really into him and his story! Every morning, I had to find him in his new spot, and every night, I hoped that he took a nice report to Santa. Mom loves the Elf too, for he is an awesome reminder about good behavior. That Elf can be pretty crazy; he hangs from chandeliers, he drinks my hot chocolate, he stirs up trouble, and sometimes, he even has to take a sick day. I think he missed his elf friends and Santa a little, for he did spend a day reminiscing, but I know he had quite the time at our house. He even found his way over to our new house during our first night there. I'll miss Elfer over the next year, but I can't wait for him to come back to us next December! I'll be good until then; I promise.
  • We cheered on the Falcons with Daddy in hopes of their making it to the Super Bowl. We'll keep cheering until next year to keep the dream alive.

  • One thing that is winning: SoloHealth! Can you believe that the first SoloHealth Christmas party was just Mom, Dad, Mr. Bart, and Mrs. Aly the year before I was born, and now, look at the SoloHealth team! They have come a long way, and the exciting growth has no end in sight.

  •  Just a glimpse of the party fun:






  • I got my first ever mani/pedi with Mom because that's just what us big girls do without those pesky boys. I got snowflakes for the upcoming Christmas festivities, and they look beautiful! As I told Mom, "Girls are more prettyish than boys. They get to get their nails done and wear pretty clothes and stuff like that. I'm glad I came as a girl." We now make it a monthly date to the nail salon.


  • Speaking of being a big girl, I had my 4-year-checkup this month, which I do realize was about 2 months delayed, but I was in no rush to get shots. I was actually excited about the visit, and I passed the hearing, vision, and motor skills tests perfectly, but I kept asking, "Am I getting shots?". I knew something was up when no one would give me a clear answer. I freaked when the nurse pricked my finger, and when it came time for the actual vaccines, I lost it...like really lost it. I was literally trying to climb the walls, and it took 3 nurses and Mom to grab me and hold me down. The shots weren't half as bad as the anticipation of the shots, and I got to eat ice cream for lunch due to my semi-bravery. Brother tried to make it all better by creating some chaos with me. I'm still in about the 50% for height but not even the 20% for weight; the doctor said it's nothing to worry about though. "I got my shots, so now, I can go to big girl school!"


  • On December 21st, we made the move to our new home. It was a crazy day! Well, let's be honest, it was the beginning of the craziest month ever! Mom corralled Ethan, me, and Opie next to the master bedroom so as to keep us out of the way of the movers. We were still able to coordinate the move from above. Within just 48 hours, Mom, with a little help from Dad and some unpacking help from Ethan, had the entire main level, both of our bedrooms, and all of the Christmas decor, including the tree, unpacked and in order for Christmas; seriously, look at the picture; that's less than 48 hours. The woman is crazy...and can run on very little sleep. It was just in time too because a little over 48 hours after we moved in...

  • Gramma Kendig came for the holidays! It was the first time I had seem Gramma since I was 3 months old and the first time Ethan had met her, so we were super excited. The 48 hours leading up to Gramma's arrival were quite stressful, but we got to enjoy some good family time once she arrived. We enjoyed delicious dinners out and at home, ala Daddy, and we got to do some shopping, as well as a little bit of relaxing. Gramma brought us so many awesome gifts from home, and she showered us with pjs and clothes and shoes and toys while she was here. Gramma, you can visit any time! Thanks to Gramcrackers filling in for a no-show babysitter - by the way, our old babysitter Falon is officially out - Mom and Dad were able to take Gramma Eileen out for a night on the town as well. It was a good visit, and I told Gramma that "[she] has to come back and see us very soon".


  • While Gramma Eileen was here, we got to celebrate the most exciting holiday of the year, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Christmas Eve is Mom's favorite day of the year, and it is quickly becoming my favorite, and I am sure it is soon to be Ethan's. Every year, we go to Grandma's house to enjoy food, drink, desserts, and PRESENTS with our closest family and friends. Even Great Grandma was feeling all better, and she was able to make it down from West Virginia to celebrate with us. Yay! The desserts were plentiful, and the presents were out of control! I am serious when I say out of control; it literally took 4 car loads to get all of mine and Ethan's presents home! Mom and Dad said that next year will be different because it was way too much, but I'm hoping they lose that battle with the fam. Harper was so excited to open presents; every time we turned around, she was taking a bow off of one or trying to open the corner of another. It was so cute! I knew all about present opening, so I was definitely pumped as well. Cuddle, Cuddle Blanket and Cinderella's vanity stole the show for me, and I literally jumped up and down screaming with delight when I opened Cuddle, Cuddle Blanket; I'd been begging for one since I saw it on TV while Grandma was watching us back in October. Great Uncle Ray spent the rest of the evening torturing me by pretending to steal my Cinderella vanity. I think that the little Happy Feet that Harper got from us stole the night for her; although, nothing can take the place of her beloved Neh-Neh. Ethan wasn't sure what the heck was going on at first, but once he got the hang of presents, he was ripping them open like an old pro. I think the bows and paper were his favorites of the night, as well as the cookies. The grownups enjoyed catching up with one another and watching the chaos unfold. Ethan, Harper, and I got in on the family tradition this year, and we got matching pjs just like Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt Steph, Aunt Mal, and Mom always do. Christmas Eve is beautiful chaos, and we all love it!
  • I can't believe that Christmas doesn't end with Christmas Eve! We watched Santa's progress across the world on Mom's phone all night long. We got home pretty late from Grandma's, but I made sure to leave out cookies, milk, and reindeer food. Opie actually ate the first cookie, so we had to leave out another on a higher table. Opie is lucky he didn't get coal in his stocking. The next morning, Ethan woke up first, and I headed down shortly thereafter, followed by Aunt Mal and Gramma Eileen. Santa was good to us! Ethan got a ball train, and I got "my glass slippers...but they aren't real glass slippers" to my dismay. I still like them though, and I loved my Cinderella ball gown and Barbie house. Ethan thought pulling the little toy cars out of his stocking was the best part, and he was a so sad when the cars stopped coming. It was so cute. Then we got to open so many awesome gifts from Gramma Eileen, Grandpa Purnell, and Mom and Dad. I wish everyday was Christmas; although, we would need about 20 bigger houses! The day was a nice, relaxing day, during which I got to play with all of my wonderful new toys while my baby brother tried to worm his way in on my girl time. Then Gramcrackers joined us for a delicious steak and lobster dinner made by Dad. The grownups even indulged in the big bottle of champagne that Mom and Dad brought back from Champagne, France, and I got to drink apple juice out of a wine glass with them; I felt so cool. Ethan looked so cool, or at least really, really adorable, in his Christmas pjs. All of the craziness and gifts are wonderful and exciting, but the best part about Christmas is the family time. I love seeing my Grandmas and my Great Grandma and my aunts and my Great Aunt and Harper and everyone else. We got to enjoy our first big holiday in our new home. Plus, Daddy didn't travel for 3 weeks! Christmas is the best!




















  • We had our first new house play date with Parker and Grayson while their Mommy and Daddy were at the closing of their old house. I think Parker and I dressed up in every costume and pajamas I own, and Grayson was so sweet to hang with Ethan. At one point while Mom was upstairs with Ethan, the three of us stole her phone and had our own little photo session for her to find later. We were pretty impressed with ourselves. Parker and I are planning a "big bow and arrow race" since we have matching Merida bows. We are obsessed with Brave if I haven't mentioned it before.











  • Speaking of Brave, I got the movie, Merida's dress, and my bow and arrow from my awesome half-brother Tyler and his sweet, sweet family, and Ethan got a big ball and play set; although, he just wants to steal my stuff. I found out earlier this year that I have a half-brother who lives in Phoenix! I cannot wait to meet him at his high school graduation in May! Tyler has been sending me my Fancy Nancy books over the last year, and I am adamant that we read one every night. I even have Fancy Nancy pajamas, and I am pretty sure I am just as fancy as Fancy Nancy! It's one more of my obsessions! I'll save really introducing Tyler and my extended family after I finally get to meet them in May. We are all super excited!


  • The year capped off with New Year's Eve at home with the fam and the Goldsworthys. It was a fantastic night of pizza and play and dancing and hugs and movies. Tyler and I made it all the way to midnight, and we got to watch the ball drop and ring in the New Year with the parents. It was so much fun! Ethan and Ella didn't make it past 8, probably more for the parents' sanity. My New Year's resolutions are to perfect my reading so that I can read a Fancy Nancy all by myself and to wear big girl underwear at night. Ethan's New Year's resolutions are to get some teeth and learn to walk. We've got simple desires. Happy 2013 everyone!





































  • I think everyone is ready for a bit of hibernation after months of go, go, go!

  • However, it was all worth it, for we are finally in our forever, or at least for a long, long time, home, and it feels good.














  • So, these blogs may seem like a bit of an overkill to some, or most likely all, of our readers, but when Ethan and I are big and grown, I hope that we look back fondly on all of the daily memories that would have been otherwise forgotten. This is simply our tell-all family album, so thanks to everyone who helps create each of these memories to be archived for all time and who enjoys journeying through these long rambles with me. I'll catch you up to the current soon, soon.

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