The Grizz and Ellie Show.

So, the other day we were hanging out with Grizz, as we do, and he had the webcam on and was making some little videos of Ellie, which she found fascinating. I mean, who wouldn't. Seriously though - I love these videos, partially because it's a chance to catch all of her new skills on camera. When I pull out the camera or my phone to tape her cleverness, she immediately waddles over and wants to see the baby in the camera. That vain baby. But on the webcam, she was happy to perform like the trained monkey she is. Perhaps you will enjoy these videos as much as I do. Perhaps they will be seven minutes of your life you can never get back. But I think it'll be the former.

Week End.

Another fun, busy weekend! Friday night we had a baby dinner party. I brought Ellie's stroller along, and it was a huge hit. The kids were chasing each other around and fighting over pushing it. It is the present of the century - loved by all children, and super easy to fold up and throw in the car.

Part of Ellie's playing house also involved giving her buddy Jonathan a little smooch.

Saturday we went up to Reseda to hang out with Frank and Jasmin and baby Fluff, Pari and James and Jesus (or as I always call him, baby Jesus.) It was such a nice afternoon. Pari hadn't met Luke yet, and she was suitably impressed with his cuteness. I continued to fall deeper in love with him, and he let me snuggle him up plenty. There are no pictures, because OF COURSE I forgot my camera at Frank and Jasmin's house. 90 miles away. Ugh. I am going to meet up with Frank at UCLA this week to do the exchange. It's another long drive, but Ellie's never visited UCLA before so it should be fun. She will be rocking her UCLA cheerleader outfit, naturally. Expect many pictures, partially because a baby Bruin is always adorable, and partially because I will be very happy to have my camera back.

Today we had a laid back morning and a nice visit to Grams and Grizz's house. Ellie went with Grams when she dropped Sara off, and said something like, "we're going in Grams' car." Ellie got all excited at the word car because she thought she was going in her little car-car (as she calls it) but it was a TRICK! Into the hybrid she went! (though she did get a ride in car-car when she returned.) Then tonight we got to go out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Jake, which she much enjoyed - who wouldn't love dancing in the booth and eating a big piece of bread?

I don't know if I've mentioned in here, but next weekend (or rather, this coming weekend) Tim and I (and Jake, my other husband) are going to Pittsburgh for our friend Rocco's wedding. Without the baby. I am SO excited about it, but as it grows closer, beginning to get a bit panicky. I know Ellie will be okay - her grandparents have raised four great kids between them and love her with all their hearts - but I worry how she'll do without the comforts of mommy (and nursing) at her beck and call. I wonder how I'll do not seeing my darling girl for two whole days! The good news/bad news is that I'll be across the country, and can't come home if she cries all day. She'll just have to figure it out. And I will just have to kiss her as much as I can in the next couple of days.

It does feel good though, to be ready to be out and about. A couple of my mom friends have announced second pregnancies recently, and I did the math and realized that they are going to have two under two, for a few months at least. Crunching the numbers made me realize how not ready I am for a second baby. It's so fun to have a walking, talking little friend... to escape from!

Oww Sigh.

After having a week lounging with the Nollins, Ellie is now obsessed with going outside. Or "oww-sigh," as she says it. When we're over at mom and dad's, she'll go and point to the front door and let us know where she wants to go.

There's good stuff outside. There's flowers (and the occasional cactus) to smell. She plays with the shells and pinecones mom has collected with even more enthusiasm than she does some of her inside toys. She likes to walk down to the edge of the sidewalk and send a forlorn "woof woof" over to Bear and Bailey barking across the street. Then she cries when we sternly tell her to get away from the street.

But as you can imagine, when you hang with Grams and Grizz, there is very little sternness. There is a lot of this, in fact:

World's unhappiest little girl.

You're in Luck, Auntie Becca.

Here is the chatting you requested.

Hi Ho Silver, AWAY!

Grandma and Grandpa gave Ellie a rocking horse for Christmas, which she didn't take much notice of until the tree came down and all of her favorite ornaments were put away. But once she and pony had a moment together, they fell in love. My friend Flicka, for real.

That is one delighted baby.

Here she is being especially delighted with her dada, who is trying to teach her how to say the word pony. It comes out a lot like "poe."

She has already become such a good horsewoman that she feels confident riding with her baby.

The only downside is that he does sing a song if you squeeze his ear. The upside is that Ellie probably won't notice if I take the batteries out. Battery removal is every mom's favorite hobby.

Sconnie.

Just as a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,
A little Wisconsin cheerleader will look as cute in her cheerleader outfit even if the team loses the Rose Bowl.

Elizabeth and her epic boinger in an antique rocking chair.

Reading a little Coco with her Auntie Sara.

One of my New Years Resolutions is to make sure Ellie gets her teeth brushed every night before bed. It's important to start good habits! She has apparently resolved to be less of an ingrate, and has started, after many months, to call me Mama. I shall keep her.

Happy New Year!

Last year we barely made it to 9pm at Ed and Erl's house before having to pack up and go home - at that time, I was easily in bed by 9 every night while Tim fought Ellie for another hour before she gave in and went to sleep. This year, it's a different story. Not that we made it to midnight, or that we could lay Ellie down in a pack and play and have her go to bed at our friend's house, but hey, at least this year she had a friend her own age to play with at the party.

Our friends Cara and Colby invited us over to their house for dinner and fun. Their daughter Clare is a few weeks away from turning 1. When Cara first started coming to Friday mom class, it seemed like Ellie was SO much bigger and older, and then all of a sudden, BOOM, they are the same age and little best friends. Clare has just started taking a few steps at a time, and Cara jokes that it's because she hangs out with Lexi and Ellie and is sick of crawling after them.

Dinner was delicious and amazing, and we had a few glasses of champagne - why wait for midnight? After dinner, we tried to play Trivial Pursuit, boys versus girls. We didn't get to play an entire round because we hit pumpkin hour for little pumpkins, but let it be said that the girls were beating the boys when we hung it up for the night.

Oh, look how helpful the nuggets are being. Thanks ladies.

Ellie walked out on to their little patio and then started taunting Clare from the outside. That's Clare's sippy cup, of course.

Oh, what? Me?

We went to bed before 11 last night, because we'd had enough bubbly, and didn't want to stay up and watch Ryan Seacrest on tape delay. Then at a few minutes to midnight, our little friend woke up crying, so I went to lay down with her for a few minutes (she pretty much instantly goes back to sleep - she just wants to be spooned for a minute.) So as 2012 dawned (and fireworks went off) I had a sweet little auburn haired girl with her head tucked under my chin. And by 12:03, I was back to my own bed with my sweetheart, giving a fat cat belly a quick scratch.

This morning, we had some delicious pancakes, and unlike last time, Ellie knew what was good for her and ate the pancakes as offered.

So, in short, 2012 has been treating us quite well so far. It's amazing to think how much happened in 2011 - how quickly our lives and our baby friend changed. I can't wait to see what kind of nonsense she gets into this year.

So excited to help sweep the front stoop.