Eloise...18-months

I wanted to give you a real horsey ride at the zoo today to celebrate your 18-months of life, but you did not want to get on Ranchero this morning. Maybe for your 2nd birthday you'll be ready. I'm glad you enjoyed feeding your goat and lama friends though. You also got the whole choo-choo to yourself! I can't believe I am the mother of an 18-month old. You are the sunshine of my life and I cherish dearly all the wonderful time you and I get to spend together. You are my best buddy, Miss Eloise and I love you, oh so much.

Some new things you are doing these days include starting to recognize letters and numbers. You know around 5 letters so far and when you see one you know, you make sure to shout it out! You are starting to form sentences; lately when ask a question such as, "Eloise, would you like to read a book?" you respond with, "Yeah! I do!" Today you also started repeating to me, "No, Ma'am!" while shaking your finger. Wonder where you picked that up from? You have very good manners most of the time, saying please and thank you. You love Elmo to death. And choo-choos. You love your choo-choos. You like to dance with the Yo Gabba Yabba friends, getting better at beat-boxing every day. An absolute joy to be around. You are so loved by all of us around you.

Here are some moments of our day to celebrate your 18-months...

Started your day playing with blocks at the table.

Cheeeeeese!

Going on a train ride!

You're becoming a big girl way too fast. You didn't even want to sit with Mama on the train ride today.

It was a cold train ride this morning.

All aboard!

Favorite thing to do at the zoo...feed the goats.

Can't forget the lamas.

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Ok, who's next?

Leo the Lion was hungry, too.

Your second favorite thing to do at the zoo...play with sand?

Miss Maeve Turns 1

It's really such a bittersweet thing to live so stinkin' far away from my nephew and niece. (And my sisters and brother-in-law, of course...) But we get to experience "living together", all of us (with Grandma, too!) under one roof for several days at a time. I'm afraid that would not happen if we lived in the same city. So as much as I know I'd love to have them living across the street from me, I love to be able to tuck the kids in together and wake the next morning to eat breakfast together in our pajamas. Man, I love that bunch. With Eloise rounding the 18 month-old mark, that means it was birthday time for sweet Miss Maeve. What a fun time we all had, watching as our little ones continue to grow and learn. It's fun to get to see them together. Here's some of the fun we had...

Cupcake time!

Aunt Tami and Maeve

Maeve and Grandma.

Story time with Grandma. Thanks for sharing all your choo-choos with the girls, London!

London is quickly turning into quite the little man. He's busy now with school and friends. So the girls got to spend some nice, quality time with each other. I foresee many a sleepovers of them playing together with their dollies or trains. There is something so sweet about having them so close in age. We couldn't help but dress them alike and have a photo shoot.

Sweet girls.

The one and only, London Shirley.