Help-Ah-Me Christmas



 

Last years Christmas was just three of us, Ryan, Elsie and myself. Elsie was almost a year old and enjoyed the noise of the wrapping paper and playing with the boxes more than the gift that was inside. A year later we have expanded to a family of four, Elsie is almost two years old, and Ander is 4 months. Ander practically slept through our Christmas morning at the house, and napped through all the present opening at the Buzzell christmas, but while awake he enjoyed jamming along with Rockin' Elmo (loud gift #1 from Uncle Chapin). Elsie was on the move this Christmas looking for presents to open and toys to play with!



Rockin' Elmo



I like to refer to this Christmas as Elsie's Help-Ah-Me Christmas! Any present that Elsie saw she wanted to open. She had difficulty getting it started so she would grab the present and say "help-ah-me"! I was thankful that we had both Elsie and Ander presents to open, so when Elsie ran out she could open Ander's and not get into anyone else's presents! Once the present was unwrapped we heard another "help-ah-me", at this point the toy was suppose to come out of the package!

Elsie started with a haul of gifts from her Aunt Cheenie and Uncle Richard and Chappy. This year they were very proud of their purchases. Cheenie, for her tradition of supplying my kids with stylish shoes- Richard for his incredible bargins, and Chappy for his obnoxious, noisy toys! I appreciated Chena and Richard's gifts, shoes and clothes are a necessity. Chapin on the other hand provided Elsie with Rockin' Elmo as well as a drum, tamborine, maracas, clicky clacky clam looking things, trumpet, a whistle and cymbals (noisy toys #2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8) Thank you Uncle Chappy for all my headaches!

Ryan and I spent the day making room for all the new toys and clothes and getting our lives back in order. I can only imagine what next Christmas will be like when Ander is on the move and we have two crazy kids to chase after!

The Bell family had a wonderful Christmas full of many great memories! We are looking forward to 2011 and all that it has to offer our crazy family!





Tattoos by Elsie

Elsie loves to color. She has tons of crayons (most of which are broken, biten into, and have the paper peeled off) and color books. Each page is scribbled on in a different way, she is quite particular about what she colors and has a great time drawing circles. 99% of the time she colors in her high chair. I could care less if she scribble on her tray or her seat, and every once in a while she finds a pen and scribbles on a piece of furniture. Today she had a pen while in her chair. I was busy in the kitchen preparing for the week ahead, and I turned around to this...

We have a new tattoo artist in the family...who'd a thunk it! So we washed it off, and Elsie was a little mad, but got over it! Pen's are off limits from now on I guess since the concept of colors are for paper isn't quite understood yet!

Christmas Cards

I know for sure that the Christmas season is upon us when we have snow that actually stays on the ground, and my husband sleeps 98% of the time he is home. UPS has kept him very busy since Thanksgiving and I look forward to the season of online shopping and shipping to be over so we can get back on a normal schedule. So while he sleeps I attempt to accomplish some of the usual Christmas necessities. Christmas shopping is done and now just a little wrapping to finish up. Peanut butter balls have been rolled, dipped and spread to a couple families. And one of the most important tasks is to get out the Christmas cards. Last year we took a simple family picture, but this year I wanted to do something different. I thought I would take a little extra time to send out cards with wallet sized pictures inside. I would get a wicked cute pictures of the kids sitting all pretty in their Christmas outfits; pop it in the card, write a note and off to the post office they would go. Unforunately, it didn't go quite like that.

I set up an "appointment" with a friend. I have seen her capture so many cute moments of others kids I couldn't wait to see what she could do with my kids! A make shift studio in the basement, lots of toys, M&M's and screaming/giggling results in some precious pictures of my kids. I didn't get that perfect little picture of Elsie and Ander sitting all pretty and handsome looking straight at the camera...that would be too easy. We bribed with M&M's and photshopped colored drool and chocolate stains on the new white dress. We chased around and gots the kids yelling at each other to the point that they giggled. We went through a whole zoo of animal noises and "cheese"s. Laughing and crying...but she did it. Becky captured some beautiful and unique pictures of my kids. They weren't all perfect, but they were my kids. There personality was shining through like no other other photo has ever captured. So instead of that perfect little wallet sized photo I was going to use I changed directions back to the photo card with multiple pictures of the kids. It was impossible to choose just one.

I am not able to send Christmas cards to everyone, so her is a sampling of Becky's wonderful work!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season full of memories with family and friends! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cat Food Soup

I'm not quite sure what the fascination with cat food is, but Elsie seems to love it. Typically, our cat doesn't have water in her dish. She begs to drink water out of the faucet in the bathroom, and jumps in the tub after we get out to slurp up the last few drops before they escape down the drain. For once, Hobbies had water in her dish, and Elsie decided it was time to play. Not sure splashing in the water, but making a nice little soup. I would have posted a picture of her wonderful creation, but I'll spare you all. Once I had quarantined her from the area, put Ander in a safe place, and attempted to clean it up the food had absorbed all the water and made more of a slop. Nasty doesn't even begin to describe it!

Other than this nasty event, Elsie had a wonderful day. We have been learning how to say the different characters associated with Christmas...tree, Santa, Snowman, reindeer, etc. She is pretty good with them all. As we looked at the 3 stockings hanging in the entry (Ander's hasn't been delivered yet) Elsie looked at them and said "Santa". I then proceeded to say..Daddy, Mommy and Elsie, as I pointed to the various stockings. It was then that Elsie said her name for the first time. I pushed the envelope a little more the next day when we repeated this situation, and said..."What is your name?" and she responded by pointing to herself and saying "Its Elsie"! She knows who she is!

As most know Sesame Street is a huge favorite in this house. We have seen all the old episodes, the new ones, and tons of the movies. One of the newer episodes of Sesame Street has the dog Iggy, who steals the letter I from Telly and makes him chase him until he finally gets the "I" back. Elsie brought one of her foam letter, the "I", to me and said "Iggy". She is too smart! And it is so much fun watching her learn all these new things!

Ander is doing well as well. He will be four months soon, and has just recently started giving me a decent nights sleep. He also has begun to enjoy his exersaucer and Bumbo seat more than ever. He still is startled quite easily when Elsie comes around, but someday he'll be able to dish it back!

Looking forward to the Christmas season, we hope everyone else is as well!

Thanksgiving to Christmas...

Thanksgiving to me signals the end of my favorite season and the beginning of a cold, nasty, snowy winter. I like to hang on to my favorite season as long as possible, so decorating, or thinking about Christmas a moment before Thanksgiving is illegal in this household! This year it took an early morning trip to JoAnn Fabrics for a few doorbuster items to get me into the Christmas spirit. I drove the short ride home with the Christmas tunes on, and am ready to decorate the house and the tree next weekend!

We finished off our Thanksgiving weekend with a trip to the Parade of Lights in downtown! It was a little chilly, but we bundled up the kids and met up with Nanny, Pa, Uncle Ricard and Aunt Cheeny! Elsie had a great time watching all the floats go by, seeing "the nowman" and dancing to the Christmas tunes. The fire trucks weren't a favorite, but they were at the end so overall it was a happy experience for all! Ander took a quick cat nap before the parade and was quite alert to watch all the lights and people passing by. Although Elsie doesn't understand the idea of Santa we are very excited for this Christmas with her and Ander.

I typically spend Sunday afternoons up to my eyeballs in laundry and getting ready for the week ahead. This Sunday includes a little baking. Elsie loves to sit on the counter with me while I'm baking. Today was a very special day for both of us. Elsie realized that cookie batter tastes delicious! I then proceeded to teach her how to lick a beater. I remember when I was a kid and mom would make cookies. It was crucial to claim a beater before she put them in the sink or a sibling took them! She had a blast, making a nice little mess and I'm sure the next time I have the mixer going I'll have a little girl at my ankles begging of the beater! If you have ever been around Elsie for any length of time there is no doubt you have heard her "motor". We refer to it as her concentration noise, and pray that she outgrows it before she goes to school. In the picture you will notice her upper lip is up, as if she is doing an Elvis impersonation. That is not the case, she is just concentrating really hard, trying to get all the batter off the beater, and her motor is running!

So I am now officially in the Christmas spirit! Bring on the snowmen, Santas, peanut butter balls...but hold off on the snow until about Dec. 23rd please!!

Just when you think life is boring...Elsie happens!

Life these last few days has been unremarkable. The kids have been sleeping, eating and playing as usual, nothing out of the ordinary...and then last night it all started.

Every mom (I'm assuming) dreads the day when their daughter doesn't want them in their room. The battle for privacy begins...stay out of my room, leave me alone! I figured I had at least eight years before I might possibly experience this with Elsie. There is no doubt she will be an independent young lady some day, but now...not even two years old yet, give me a break.

 Let me explain...We were puttering around upstairs, Elsie was on the loose, hoarding and playing as usual, when she decided to steal Ryan's cup from the bed stand with ice and a little bit of water. As we called to her "Elsie, give Daddy back his water!" She turned to us, smiled and kept walking away. I followed her, only to find her proudly sitting in her mini armchair. My next request..."Elsie, take a sip and then bring the cup to mommy!" The answer..."Buh bye" As she stood up from the chair (with cup of water in hand) and walked toward me, stretched out her arm, nudged me until I was out of the door frame, and returned to shut her door! I continued to watch her through the glass as she returned to her arm chair, rather proud of herself, and sipped her water like a big girl! This whole independence thing isn't going over well wit Mommy!

And then it continued this evening...

I must admit that towards the end of the day the "Mommy, Mommy" count has gotten quite high, so on occassion I will ignore the continuous "Mommy, Mommy" on account that she just wants to hear herself talk and make noise. Tonight I learned to never ever do that again! I also learned always empty the tub water when Elsie is on the loose!

Elsie took the first bath of the evening. Daddy got her dressed while Ander took his turn...after being wrapped up in his towel, I dumped his tub and ventured back to his room to get him dried, diapered and dressed before heading downstairs to wind down for the evening. As I got Ander dressed I heard "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" coming from the distant bathroom. I ran to the bathroom to find Elsie leaning over the tub like a beached whale, feet flailling in the air, unable to push or pull herself down to the ground! 1) Thank goodness she hadn't fallen into the tub square on her head and 2) the tub was empty so if she did fall in she wasn't going to drown. So my lesson has been learned, always empty the tub of water and don't ignore "mommy's" no matter what time of day!

Along with causing trouble Elsie has had some major breakthroughs with the potty. For the last month she has been going on her potty inconsistently. Sometimes she sits for 30-40 minutes before going, and sometimes just a few seconds. This morning she said "I poopy", when she got on the potty she very quickly went pee and got her "Abby's" (M&M's from her Abby Cadaby pail). This afternoon she started crying and said "I poopy" but wouldn't let me get her on the potty. Once I told her she would get Abby's for going on the potty she let me take her diaper off and set her on the potty. She then proceeded to do her business! I was so excited, we're making progress!

Ander hasn't even begun to think about causing trouble like Elsie, but just the same he's growing into quite the little boy. He is full of smiles and coos, and enjoys playing with his sister, swinging and hitting at his toys. This morning as Elsie put her head in Anders lap and he hit at her head, he smiled and cooed at her. It is too cute! And since Elsie gets all the stories, Ander gets all the pictures for today!

To finish off the evening Elsie played with her "spoons" until it was time to go get her blankie and dolly. And as I sit here typing, I am listening to Elsie chatting to herself in her bed... "cow..daddy ...mommy ............ernie, ernie, ernie"

Hobbies

My dearest Hobbies...

I remember when we picked you up from the ghetto and made you a part of our family. I remember you hiding under the couch for the first few days you were with us, and then refusing to be quarantined to the downstairs of our house. Scaling the curatins until they were ripped to shreds, and batting at Ryan's head with your huge double paw and almost taking out his eye with your claw! The constant meowing at the door until we let you in to sleep on the bed. We were such a cute little kitten, and you're still a cute cat even though you are crazy ( I think still withdrawing from the ghetto) and can't keep your food down (grrrr).

I take these few moments to remember the great memories we've had with you, but more importantly to apologize for being a gentle cat to Elsie. Your tail has been pulled too many times to count, you have been chased around the table and up the stairs so many times you shouldn't be as fat as your are. You have been "petted gently" numerous times, and still have not shown your teeth. And most recently you have been closed into drawers and cupboards by Elsie. My sincerest apologies Hobbies, if only you understood that I try daily to keep her from harassing you, but she just loves you so. Some day she will be nice to you, I promise, but for now interpret her aggressive behavior as love....lots and lots of love!

Sibling Love!

Ryan and I often worried about our son before he was born and how he would deal with his older crazy sister. The first few weeks after he arrived the mere sound or view of her from the other side of the room made his little lip quiver with fear.  Elsie loves Ander so much, and so desperately wants him to play with her toys, she just doesn't understand yet that he can't. She is constantly bringing him toys and stacking them up around him until they are up to his ears, or stacking his tray on his swing full of blocks. We are constantly redirecting her to stay away from his head, or put toys on his tray to avoid bumps and bruises. She just gets so excited, toys fly and we've had a few bumps.

In the last couple weeks Ander has actually enjoyed his sister. He smiles when she comes near, and "plays" with her the best he can. Today he was swinging his life away while Elsie wandered around, when I turned around she had grabbed his bottle and was trying to feed him. I immediately grabbed my camera to capture the image of what a good big sister is like, and managed to capture what I thought was a priceless image. The picture is a bit blurry because Elsie wasn't still, but to see Ander smile at Elsie, the crazy, loud, energetic little girl he has to claim as his sister, was awesome! For now, they love each other and aren't yelling at each other, or causing trouble. So this moment I will cherish...

"BUH BYE"

I wish that I kept a diary, not for the purpose of pouring out my heart and soul, but simply to chronicle the events in the kids lives. At this point I mean Elsie, Ander isn't crazy..yet. And I'm not sure there were any crazy genes left after we had Elsie! I attempt to keep a fairly detailed photo album of all the major events, but life gets busy and I forget to update their books. With Elsie quickly developing her vocabulary and learning to put words together she is quite a ham. Yesterday we were in her play room and she was playing music and dancing. I approached the table because the music had stopped and I was going to play another song. Elsie quickly brushed my hand away and said "BYE". I got the hint, and left her alone. She often wants to "Sit, sit" on the counter while I'm working in the kitchen, and when I suggest that she come downstairs with Ander and I, instead of playing in her room she says "BUH BYE, BUH BYE".

A few facts about Elsie: 1- Elsie loves her peas! She has always loved them, and it doesn't seem like she can get them in fast enough! 2- Elsie knows her anatomy! Since Ander was born Elsie has pointed to Anders various facial features and named them...ears, eyes, mouth,nose, and most recently "cheekies". 3- Elsie frequently sticks her fingers in her ears and runs around the house, as well as up her nose! Nothing we encourage, but hey, she's curious! This evening at the dinner table Elsie combine two of her favorite things...peas and her nose! Fortunately the pea didn't get very far before I knocked it out of her nose. From that point on, and from this day forward, I will be extra careful with peas. I proceeded to provide stern education on where our food does and does not go! My camera wasn't ready, nor did I want to run and fetch it, to capture the pea in her nose, but I was able to get a nice photo of Elsie and her dessert!

Ander is growing like a weed. He is quite a little chunk weighing in at a little over 14 pounds. He is starting to become more vocal, cooing and smiling. He even enjoys his sister on occassion. He use to cry whenever she came near, but now he enjoys "playing" with her, and Elsie with him. She doesn't quite know what toys are appropriate for him to play with, but she's trying! I took this picture today because he was in his swing (rare occurance), happy in his swing (rare rare occurance) and I love his outfit (everyday occurance)!

"Colors"

My search for Halloween costumes for the kids started with Sesame Street, but when cuteness and price compromised my ideas I turned to crayons. A yellow and blue crayon...definately the cutest crayons in Maine (Texas produced a few adorable crayons as well). Elsie loved being a "colors" and thought her hat was pretty cool too. If it weren't so windy it probably would have stayed on her head.

We ventured to a few houses around our neighborhood, but because it was insanely cold, we made it a quick trip and were back home to pass out buckets and buckets of candy. Our neighbor across the street is obsessed with Halloween. Not only does he have an overly decorated yard, but his front porch is a haunted house full of skulls, blood and guts! People drive from all over to see his decorations and as a result we get tons of trick or treaters. I was rather bummed with the costume selection I saw this year, nothing cute at all. Elsie didn't get a whole lot of candy because our outing was short, but she knew where her candy came from. "Apple, apple" she kept saying, as she pointed to her cloth pumpkin bag she put her candy in! "Candy, Candy" she says. I'm afraid she has a sweet tooth like her mom!

Its hard to believe it is already November, we have had a brief snowfall and it is getting really cold. I hate the winter, or at least driving in the winter, but I love the feeling of the wood stove burning nice and hot! Looking forward to winter only because it means warmer weather will be here soon!

"I Stuck"

Elsie has been very fortunate in her 20 months of life, and especially the last 6 months to keep the number of major catastrophes to a minimum. We have had many, many bumps to the head, and one bloody lip, but yesterday we got our first bandaid. Ander was napping soundly in his pack 'n' play and Elsie was "assisting" me with cleaning the downstair bathroom. I was scrubbing the toilet while Elsie ventured into the shower. I didn't think there was any way for her to get into trouble, everything was out of her reach (shampoo, soap etc). All of a sudden I hear "I stuck, I stuck". I thought to myself what the heck can she get stuck on in there?! I opened the curtain and found Elsie with her finger stuck in one of the drain holes. She was holding her finger out, while the blood oozed out saying "Yucky". I got it cleaned up, but was kinda bummed when I realized I didn't have any cute bandaids to put on it. She had to have a regular one, but I was quick to purchase some pretty princess bandaids for future use. Now if only she would keep them on, and stop calling them "tickers" (stickers).

Now to give both kids equal blog time, Ander is unable to get into any sort of trouble these days, but is growing like a weed. Seems like over night he jumped a size in clothing and is filling everything out quite nicely. Time to get into the bazzillion tubs of clothes and get out the next size up! This morning I was finally able to put Ander in one of my favorite onesies! This is how I roll!

Apples and Punky's

Brrr... It is starting to get real chilly these days, so we are attempting to take advantage of the "warmer" days to get out and enjoy what is left of fall. Since the last post we took a trip to the Apple Farm with Nanny and Aunt Cheenie! Elsie loves apples. Anything that is round is referred to as an apple, but most recently she has said "punky" when prompted to say pumpkin! She helped Aunt Cheenie pick apples in the tree and was very focused on eating her apple. She even managed to swallow it instead of her usual chew, juice and spit out the skin. Ander, as usual, slept through the outing to the Apple Farm, but does make an appearance in the family picture with the pumpkins!

Halloween is fast approaching and the kids costumes are ready to go. We will have two crayons this year...a blue and yellow! I'm excited to post picture of our "colors" as Elsie calls them. Ryan is excited to take Elsie trick or treating. I decide he could take Elsie out this year. Last year Elsie was 8 months old at Halloween...what eight month old child eats candy...not mine thats for sure, so the candy would be for daddy. I don't think so. This year Daddy has a child that is capable of eating the candy she acquires...a little more acceptable than last year, in my opinion. We have a ridiculous amount of trick or treaters in our neighborhood, so my blue crayon and I will hold down the fort and hand out candy!

The upcoming week will be my last week of maternity leave. I will be heading back to work the first week of November. Hard to believe my 12 weeks is up already. I am excited to get back to work and for the kids to get back into their routine with Daddy and Nanny!

Fall Fun

    It was an absolutely beautiful fall day. What a shame it would be to waste the day sitting inside. We bundled up and headed outdoors. Unfortunately Ander doesn't make an appearance in any of the these pictures because he was sleeping soundly, despite Elsie's screams of "Buddy" and constant attempts to poke at him.

Ander Update

Hard to believe that Ander is already two months old. We had a visit to the doctors office today to see how he is doing. He is 11 pounds 6 ounces and 22 1/2 inches long. That places him in the 50th percentile for both areas. After the doctor was done, they sent in the nurses...I hate that part. He got a couple shots, but handled them pretty well. He came home to take a nice long nap after all the poking and prodding.

Elsie tagged along to the appointment as well, she needed to one shot. This seems to be her best doctors appointment yet. She got her shot and didn't cry until she passed out...for that I am very thankful. We did get a good chuckle when the nurses came to give Ander his shots Elsie bolted to Mommy's arms. She thought they were for her. Once she realized she was in the clear, it was okay to get down and play again!

Very thankful for two happy, healthy children!

The Beginning

WELCOME!

We have been struggling to find a location to post pictures and share the stories of our family, mostly the kids, but we think we have found the solution. With family near and far, we hope we are able to share bits and pieces of our life, so you can catch a glimpse at the craziness! Elsie and Ander keep us on our toes (mostly Elsie) and we look forward to sharing some of these moments with you all. So here goes our first attempt at a blog, it is bare bones now, but we're hoping we can spice it up a little as we get better. Our most recent family photo was taken at the 60th anniversary for Alyssa's grandparents. We hope you keep checking in on us and enjoy our pictures and stories!