Our little girl

Here are some recent pics of Ellie from the past couple of months.



And here's a video from the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Gertie 3.0).

the power of a smile

Smiles are simple, yet there is just something about them that makes them quite powerful - they are infectious. A smile can brighten an otherwise dreary day.

Lately we've been nailed with a series of snow storms that pilled our yards and roads with a significant amount of snow (disclaimer: this comes from someone raised in Georgia). Something about the snow just makes me smile. Maybe it's the anticipation of sledding down snow-covered hills at speeds otherwise not quite possible. Or maybe it's a holdover from the days of getting to miss out on a day or two of geometry. Whatever the reason, I love snow.

Granted, it might not be the most fun thing to drive around in (it certainly makes the commute longer), but it makes me smile. I'm not talking one of those fake smiles, but the real deal. (By the way, test your smile-spotting abilities here).

What makes you smile?

good times

Well, we now have a 2-year old on our hands! She is full of life, energy, and opinions! She has opinions about which clothes and shoes to wear, what to eat and drink, which blanket to cover with, and the list goes on...
We had a fun birthday party for Ellie. Here is a picture of Ellie chasing her "Elmo" birthday balloon.

Birthday girl!

Well, today is Ellie's 2nd birthday. We'll be having a party with some friends tomorrow. I don't think that Ellie really understands how this day is any different from yesterday or tomorrow! But, it is special to me! It's hard to believe that two years have gone by since our precious little one stole our hearts (even before she was born). I remember during my pregnancy Michael would get out his guitar and sing to her. She would always move and kick a little more when daddy sang to her :-).
On the day of her birth, Michael and I both cried as we heard her first scream as she emerged from the womb. She has been such a joy in our lives. Her sweet voice and laugh keep us smiling. What a blessing from God to have her! It's a continual adventure, figuring out how to be good parents to this little girl, reflecting God's love to her. What a privilege (and responsibility) parenting is!

Goofy girl!

Here's a funny Ellie story for you! A few nights ago I put Ellie to bed and she was all set in her warm footed pajamas. About 30 minutes later, I walked into her room and saw a shadow of something lying on the floor. So, I reach down to find her warm pajamas on the floor beside her crib and I see Ellie standing up in the bed--naked except for her diaper. Apparently, those weren't the pajamas she wanted to wear that night. So, I changed her clothes and we tried again! For a young girl of her age, she is quite opinionated about her clothes and shoes (even when sleeping). ha, ha