Big Girl Bed

In preparation for the new little baby to join our family we've been working on getting Ellie to sleep in a toddler bed. We moved the bed upstairs and let her to pick out new bedding.

Needless to say, she LOVES, her bed but isn't crazy about sleeping in it. We try every nap time and bed time but haven't lucked out. We read stories, sing songs, say our prayers and she gets really close to falling asleep but then grabs her toys sits up and says "back in crib".

Last night we had a break through. She ran to her bedroom and said "big girl bed" and jumped right in. We read books and sang songs and everything else under then sun for about an hour and then she finally caved-in and fell asleep. An hour later I hear her quiet, sweet little voice call out "mommy" and I go back in her room just as she is almost to the door. She says "big girl bed" and walks right back to her bed, climbs in, and falls asleep within 2 minutes. We woke up this morning to her still asleep!

YAY! She was so proud of herself and kept telling us that she slept in her big girl bed.

Skip ahead to tonight. Right after dinner she says "big girl bed" so I'm thinking...wow...maybe we'll get 2 nights in a row! We play for a bit and then get ready for bed. She runs to her bed, climbs in and we start reading and singing away. An hour later she gives up and says "back in crib". I encourage her to stay and ask her if she is sure she wants her crib, to which she replies "I'm sure". So, back into her crib she goes...tomorrow is another day.

Now I know my ABCs...sort of...

I think we need a little more work...but it's coming right along!

Easter Weekend

Our Easter weekend started out with a 1st birthday party for our nephew, Eilam, on Saturday. I totally forgot I had my camera with me until it was drawing to a close and my Grandmas wanted a picture with Ellie and Eilam.

Eilam, Great Grandma Ila, Great Grandma Walter, Ellie

Ellie pinching Grandpa's cheeks

Grandma with Ellie and Eilam

Easter Sunday morning was spent going to my parent's church Battle Creek Friends Church. They decided to join all three services into one and held the service at Harper Creek High School's auditorium. It was a really neat and I heard something like 900 people were there total. After church we headed to Schuler's for an amazing Easter brunch. Ellie fell asleep on the way there holding her Easter bunny.

Brunch was followed by an afternoon at the Yeck's house, complete with an Easter egg hunt with LOADS of eggs hidden for the kids to find. This was Ellie's first Easter egg hunt and she had so much fun. She followed my cousin's daughter, Lauren, everywhere and the two of them found tons of eggs. Ellie insisted on carrying her own basket the whole time too.
Before the hunt (they really were excited...I probably shouldn't have had them stare into the sun)








Needless to say, it was a fun, jam-packed weekend. Ellie was exhausted from all the activities and slept in until 9:30 this morning!

Ellie's First Swing Set

With spring rapidly approaching, we purchased Ellie her first swing set last weekend. We hastily assembled it and hoped to see her play on it the following day. Unfortunately, she game down with her first bout of gastroenteritis and spent the past week throwing up and having diarrhea. This afternoon, the poor little girl got her first taste of her new back yard...



If you listen closely, you'll hear elements of The ABCD Song, Row Row Row Your Boat, and I am sure several others - all sung to the tune of The ABCD...Song



She played for a solid one and a half hours without tiring. We brought her inside and she cried "play outside?" for about a half of an hour before calming down. We think she likes it.