Here is Nora!!

Image sent from my bro = ) Isn't she just the sweetest. I see a lot of her mommy in her.


And, on the potty training front, Eli had a MAJOR break through last night. He went poopie on the big potty. Go Eli!

I'm an auntie...again!

BIG news!! My brother and SIL had a baby girl last night around 9:05 p.m. Her name is Nora Taylor and she weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz and 20 1/2 in long. Meghan ended up having a C-section but she is doing fine and recovering. Nora is doing fine as well. This is their first child and I'm so excited for them. I can't wait to see my brother as a father! I can't wait to meet my niece and hold her. I'm envisioning her with a head full of dark hair and beautiful hazel eyes, similar to her mommy's. Well see if I'm right! Now, I need my bro to email a pic!!

Speaking of being an aunt, can you believe I'm an aunt to the beautiful young lady below, who will be a HS SENIOR next year! Sheesh. Where does the time go? I've finally had some time to go through some of the family pics from Thanksgiving.

Speaking of seniors, I'm starting to expand my horizons and break into the HS senior market. I'm looking for a few representatives for next year's senior class so if you know of someone, please send them my way. I'll put some info on my business blog, link to the right. It will include a reduced session fee with some freebies = )

Family news... Schuyler can play the harmonica!! They learned it in music class and she is surprisingly good. Not near as screechy as the violin was! Parent visitation was last week and it was so fun to watch the girls perform. We got a sneak peak of the costumes as well. Schuyler's is very simple. Black capris with dance written down the leg with a tank top, in their choice of color, black, white or pink, with dance written on it. Schuyler chose the white. I love her teacher's philosophy. Her mother appreciated costumes that kids could wear again or for everyday where and now that she is a mother, she has adopted this approach for her classes!! Mack LOVES hers. It's bright pink with black and kind of hard to explain!

Eli officially started potty training yesterday. I have decided that little boy briefs and boxer briefs are just the cutest thing = ) He is pretty cute in them. He has also informed us of his male genitalia by saying "my penis"!

There is a yucky flu bug, more like flu monster, that made it's way through our house 2 weeks ago. Diarrhea and stomach flu. Schuyler was the only one spared! Our house smelled very medicinal for a couple of days!

Oh, I almost forgot about the Shirette kiddie clinic. The girls had SO much fun. They did an awesome job performing at half time. Schuyler was center court! Mack was in the front row, right in front of me! Made for a great photo op!

brrrr, baby, it's cold outside

The cold winds are a blowin' here in good ole NE! We have been using the wood burning stove at nights. I LOVE that it heats the whole basement. Last night I was bone chilling cold and could not get warm. Don't laugh... I slept in long pants, a long sleeve t-shrit with a short sleeve t-shirt over it and the kicker... long athletic socks pulled up to my knees! I had to dig to the bottom of my drawer to find those!

Eli had a great bday! It's very evident that he is more interested in frosting then cake! E had to take his "sheen" for a couple of spins. He's not quite sure of the gas - it's a very stop and go ride!

He also had his 2 yr doctor appt AND 1st dentist appt on the same day. Way to go mom! His teeth look good and he is a healthy two year old! The speech concerns we had are completely gone.

The girls just found out their songs for their dance recital in May. Schuyler's is "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and Mackie can't remember the name of her's but she said "it's too hard for me to sing". She's ecstatic about the whole idea of a recital! I'm the interim, we signed them up for Shirette Dance clinic that the Southeast High School dance squad puts on. They will perform a dance at the basketball half-time.

I sentiment Mack's feelings...

my babe is now a terrible 2

Guess whose birthday is today? Mr. Eli. My babe is now 2!! Where have the last 2 years gone? He has brought us balance in a house that was once full of estrogen. We delight in his mischevious grin and boyish ways. He is a handsome little devil with his tow-head blond hair and big blue eyes. He's a momma's boy and though at times it would be nice not to have someone glued to my side or right under foot, I enjoy our bond. The potty training will begin before I know it and the diapers will be gone. Such bitter sweet moments.

We got him just one gift for his birthday. It's a motorized John Deere vehicle with front loader and trailer. Mark stayed up late and put it together so it was waiting for him in the living room with a bow. I wasn't there to see his reaction but Mark said his eyes got really big and he said "my sheen"? (meaning my machine).

Eli and I spent quality time together last week as Mark left for the Gator Bowl and the girls went to MO to see their cousins. I finally was able to paint my accent wall that I have been wanting to do for ages. Now, if I can get Mark to hang my shelf I'm sure I can find something to put on it!

Mark had a rough time getting back to Lincoln. Multiple delays, rerouted flights, and the wait for de-icing. Instead of 4:30 pm it was 12:30 am! Luckily, he has a great father-in-law who was able to pick him up from the airport= )

Mack missed her dad a lot. There were tears the first night but we found one of daddy's worn shirts from the laundry hamper. I said to her, "Here, smell it. It smells like daddy." With her big pout, she replied "It does smell like daddy". Pretty cute! She cuddled it at nights and it made the trip down to MO!

Oh, Cindy that you for your comments. Hope you had a good xmas and happy new year, too!

Eli let me snap a few shots, not many, while the gang was gone. Hat is one of my mother's creations =)