I don't have anything especially exciting to write about, but in trying to update this blog a bit more regularly I figured I better get the first half of February done. I take so many pictures of Elly that it gets a bit ridiculous, but with having no family here I feel the need to share her in the only way I can...and that is in pictures. If I had many people reading this blog I might have to worry that they would be getting bored with so many pictures of Elly, but since this blog was started to keep family and friends updated I guess that it's ok. Anyhow, here is the first half of February in pictures~

We recently bought this little table and chairs for Elly at Ikea. I was feeling bad because she never had anywhere to sit that fit her. She really likes her table and wants to eat all her meals there, but I still insist on the highchair for most things. This night, in particular, she really wanted her avocado at the table so I allowed it.

Notice the big blue water bottle....it's Sam's, but Elly loves it and would rather drink from it than anything. I think the real reason is because it's Daddy's :)

Elly was all set up here reading to her baby. So cute!!

I know this is a rather unappetizing picture, but she was working so hard at eating her oatmeal and thought maybe Mama wanted a bite too. This is one of those things that she asks to eat at her table. As you can see....she's in her high chair.

I'm really not sure how she gets it all over her face.

"Ok, Mom, enough pictures. Get me cleaned up now."

Playing at her table

Elly was so cute this particular Saturday morning. I really needed to clean the house so Sam took Elly with him on his errands. It's amazing to me how much I can get done in just a couple of hours without a little mess monster following me around. It's unbelievable how much I miss her though! I'm never away from her so a couple of hours without her and I'm needing my "Elly fix". When they got home Sam had some things to do outside and Elly wanted to be with him. She loves helping in whatever way she can.

Helping Daddy clean up the walkway

Such a big girl!!

I love this picture! Elly is so ornry and Gabby just tolerates her. Gabby does so well with her considering she doesn't like people very much. Elly loves it when she gets to hug Gabby.

She loves pockets these days.

Elly working hard at washing the windows. Poor little overworked child :)

Daddy and Elly did a great job.

Sam's birthday cake.

Sam's birthday was on a Tuesday this year and it was an extremely busy work week for him, so at his request we waited until Saturday to celebrate. We had a few of his friends over and had a nice evening.

YUM!! Sam likes ice cream cakes so that's what I tried this year. I was shocked at how tall the cake ended up being. It was good though :)

Valentine's Day we met with some of our MOPS friends. Here are all the babies.

I got some beautiful roses from Sam and Elly even got a gift from Daddy.

Opening her Valentine's gift from Oma and Opa.

Seeing what Daddy got her.

Her very first jewelry box with a dancing ballerina. She really liked it.

A quiet house and a 21 month old do not go together. When I don't hear Elly I go looking to see what she's doing because usually it's something she's not supposed to be doing. This particular day she found the diaper cream and had it smeared all over her face.

She had it all through her hair. I popped her in the bathtub and after washing her hair a couple of times I got it all out.

Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to try and keep this updated more regularly. We'll see how it goes. Until next time~

Jolo's

A few weeks ago we got together with my friend, Kristen, her husband and daughter and met up at Jolo's. Jolo's is an indoor play area for kids. It's a great place for the kids to play when the weather is still nasty outside. Elly really had fun, but so did I! I think as adults we forget to play sometimes. I don't remember the last time I was on a huge slide. Anyhow, here are a few pictures from out day at Jolo's.

Elly crawling through a tunnel to get to me.

A thoughtful moment...

The girls had so much fun sliding over these rollers.

Mama and Elly going down one of the slides.

Mama and Elly on a trampoline.

Daddy and Elly heading down the big slide. This didn't end so great though. Elly was facing the other direction by the time they got to the bottom. She wasn't crying though, so all was well.

Happy little lady

She had fun trying to climb this "hill".

Oops!!

Playing on the trampolines.

Trying to get a picture with Daddy, but it was hard to get her to sit still long enough to do so.

Tubingen, Germany

Sam had a day off recently so we decided to check out Tubingen. We live fairly close, but had never visited the city. We've been saying we need to start planning some more trips. It seems like since I was pregnant with Elly we haven't really done much travelling. We will still be in Germany for awhile, but I don't want out time to come to an end here an realize we didn't take advantage of all there was to see. Anyhow, on this particular day we just visited Tubingen, but had a nice day of it.

We had a nice time walking around the city and letting Elly run a little energy off...whenever she wasn't sitting on Sam's shoulders, which seems to be her all time favorite place to sit.

One of the streets in Tubingen

It doesn't look like it in this picture, but this path we were walking on to get to the Hohentubingen Castle was very steep. Elly wanted to walk though. She's very definite with her answers these days. She was walking up that incline and Sam would say "Elly, do you want Daddy to carry you?" and she would shake her little head and say "No, no". She was determined to walk up that hill.

Finally at the top of the hill

Elly taking a break by sitting on the wall

On the other side of the castle

Mama and Elly

There was this area that had a very open yard that Elly had fun running around in.

Elly loved looking out of these holes.

Looking out over the city.