It's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love it all – the decorating, the baking, the present buying, the music.. the list goes on and on. One of my most favorite “tasks” of the holiday season is getting our Christmas cards done. I love finding/taking the PERFECT picture, finding the perfect design and waiting to hear what people think of it once they get them in the mail!

Shutterfly has always been my “go-to” site for ordering Christmas cards from. Our last year’s card was so different and well received I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store for 2010!

This year has been a year full of changes for our family: the main one is that I had gastric bypass surgery and have lost over 100lbs. This year, for the first time since Ellery was born almost 4 years ago, we’ll be using a family picture on our card. I’ve been thrilled with the choices available from Shutterfly as I eagerly anticipate the reaction to this year’s card!

I don’t want to spoil the surprise and show you which card we’ll be using this year, but why don’t you take a look at the links below to cards, as well as some of my favorite products – which, by the way, make great gifts for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc on your list!

Cards: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

Calendars (GREAT for the grandparents): ttp://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/wall-calendars

Ornaments: (a gorgeous way to display a cute picture):

http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/pewter-ornament

The Week You turned 3 - THE day!!!!

Today's the day!!!!
Ellery is 3 today - where does time go???
This was my baby 3 years ago today:

Today you went to preschool with cupcakes for the whole class.....you wore your birthday girl shirt, cupcake socks and abby bows....you were THRILLED.

After your nap I got you up and you were telling me ALL about it...and asked if I made you the cupcakes . . . I said yes. You said "thank you mommy" and gave me a huge hug and said "this is the best birthday ever"

OMG

Happy birthday sweet girl....I love you more than you can imagine.

xoxo

mommy

The Week You Turned 3 - Day 3

Today is day 3 – tomorrow is the big day – THE birthday. 3 years old. My oh my how time flies. Mommy is feeling especially nostalgic and emotional this week. Daddy just rolls his eyes at Mommy LOL.

Your quirks at age 3 – this is a fun one. . I think that in some way I am responsible for the quirks that you possess, but who knows. The things you insist on doing and the way certain things have to be done make me laugh.

You MUST be tucked in a certain way in your crib every night. Daddy usually puts you in and you have to then put your knees up while lying on your back; Daddy then gives you your giraffe friends (Argyle and Genevieve) and you tuck one under each arm (after Daddy puts the wrong one under each arm and you yell “HEY!” and switch them back), your taggie blankie must be laid out on top of you after Henrietta is placed on your tummy. Those are the musts, oftentimes you’ll add other friends to the mix, but those are the core ones. You also insist on 2 binkies at bedtime – one to hold and one to use.

After you brush your teeth at night you have to lock and then unlock the bathroom door twice (OCD much – wonder when I should worry about these behaviors)

Every night when we get home the first thing that happens is that your shoes and socks must come off – you are SO like me in that way – Mommy would rather be barefoot than anything else.

You prefer your food to be cut up into smaller pieces that you can get with a fork and you HATE having your hands dirty (this is Daddy’s influence, and I think it’s wearing off).

The Week you Turned 3 - Day 2

Day 2 of Ellery’s birthday week

Today (like all other Tuesdays and Thursdays) is a school day for you. You absolutely adore school. You go from 8:30-11:30 at the Learning Garden Preschool in Billerica. Mrs. McFeeley is your teacher and your bffs are Anya and Riley. Apparently the 3 of you are like the three musketeers.

For today’s entry on the week you turned 3 – I’m going to document you at (almost) 3:

At almost 3 years old you have definite favorites. You know what you like and what you don’t like and aren’t shy about telling us.

You love your My Little Pony toys for sure, I think those would be your favorite. You love to read and be read to and are starting to like to “read” to anyone who will listen.

Your favorite stuffed “friends” are your stuffed Mr. Tivo, Argyle the Giraffe, Genevieve the Giraffe and Henrietta the Hippo

You love Phineas and Ferb, the Backyardigans and Olivia the Pig on Television and all of the shows on the Disney Channel! You love a show called Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks as well!

Your favorite books are: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, “Bear Snores On”, “Guess How Much I Love You”, “The Grouchy Ladybug”, “Llama, Llama Red Pajama”, as well as all of the “If you give” books (i.e. If you Give a Pig a Party etc.)

You like to play with play doh and color and LOVE matchbox cars and hot wheels.

You have an imagination that rivals any I’ve ever come across and are always playing “pretend” – whether you’re a fairy, or a ballerina, or having conversations with your “bee friends” or pretending you’re a ladybug – this is one of my favorite things about you.

You’re not the biggest fan of dolls, and dislike most vegetables. You love to snack and would graze all day if we let you. You like goldfish (mix ups), craisins, pretzels, raisins, crackers, and fruit snacks. Applesauce, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, pears and peaches are some of your favorites and you’re not a fan of any melons or cherries or citrus, although you’re okay with a bite or 2 of grapefruit. Daddy and I can get you to eat corn, green beans (canned only), carrots (now that we call them reindeer food), and peas occasionally. But then you LOVE foods that shock me - super hot salsa, tacos, soups etc.

You LOVE your crib and your binkies. :)

You still nap up to 3 hours a day and go down at night between 7:30 and 8:00.

We’re working on potty training and some days are better than others.

The Week You Turned 3 - Day 1

Well this is it folks - the week she turns 3 - How is it possible that my baby is going to be 3??!!

I stole this idea from another scrapbooker's blog - but since I am not home with Miss Ellery all day I have to modify it.

The idea was to document EVERYTHING that happened during the week (or so) before a child’s birthday – what time they woke up, what they had for breakfast, and so on and so forth

So, I’m doing a VERSION of this, clearly mine’s going to be different.

Ellery, you turn 3 in 3 days – and are the light of our lives – although sometimes you drive us batty – you are headstrong and stubborn like, ahem, your daddy, and creative and energetic like mommy.

You burst with empathy and love for others – you’ve never met a stranger, and everyone is your friend. I hope that this is something that you carry with you for the rest of your life.

Sometimes you seem so grown up and mature, (as mature as you can be at almost 3), and fiercely independent and then other times, when you’ve hurt yourself or are feeling unsure and a little lost – you show signs of needing Mommy and Daddy’s comforting embrace, and a whisper of “it’s okay baby”.

I knew my life would change when I became a mother; I am just not sure if I knew how totally and completely it would change. Three years ago this week we were preparing for your arrival, and having NO idea that everything was going to be turned upside down!!

You, my little angel, my sweet princess, have given us so much in 3 short years. I know that you’ll continue to give those around you so much love and joy and laughter.

Happy 3rd birthday week little monkey, Mommy & Daddy love you very much.

xoxo – 01/11/10

From the Funny Ellery Files

Hello faithful blog readers (ummm no one. . . echo. . echo. .echo)

I just HAD to share our funny little monkey's latest

Last night on the way home we were listening to Christmas carols (yes. . i know. . i love it. .shoot me) and Ellery determined her favorite song is. . .. .

"Fleece Nady Dog"

HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHA

2 other gems from last night:

I asked her. . who comes on christmas . . her answer. .."santa claus!!" "and his mother"

She's very into jokes now too. . her popsicles have riddles on them and we read them to her and she laughs hysterically. . even though she doesn't get it

so we get home and she says "mommy how does the reindeer cross the street"....the answer to her joke "PICKLES"

Pictures Pictures Pictures

The pictures are all out of order and messed up LOL but i'll try to add where they're from!

we took ellery to Hampton Beach

Posing for Mommy

Over the weekend at Nanny & Nonno's pool - bathing suit #2 for the day!

Juice box like a big girl!

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the playground a few weeks ago

4th of July at Nanny & Nonno's

Strawberry picking

4th of July

modeling her funky flamingo glasses from Bermuda

First ice cream truck treat

Father's Day

Ice cream truck again

At Auntie Kerrin's

Attitude!!!

Since I haven't posted in like a million years

I thought I would check in with some stuff and definately some pictures!!!



We're having a fun , busy summer. Lots of swimming on the weekends, we've gone to the beach and seen friends a whole bunch :)



Ellery is pretty much a fish - she swims with floaties in the pool, deep end and all. . . we're currently working on her JUMPING in as opposed to walking in. She has to be bribed to get out. LOL so that's good. . . she's just like I was!!!



She's still doing tinkles on the potty - not telling us she has to go but sitting and going when we put her on. .at this point, I'll take it!!!