Some of Elsie's Favorite Things

• Snacktime with Oscar ("Ahhhkey")
• Eating Yogurt ("Go...ger") with a Spoon (emphasis on the "oooooon")
• Pushing the tricycle in the Elmo ("ElmOOO") vest from Grammy ("Gan Gan")
• Sunglasses (usually around the neck or on the back of the head... sometimes on the eyes)
• The Wiggles ("Iggle...Iggle")
• Coloring with crayons ("key-on") and putting crayons in the box
• Going the park to slide ("siiide"), swing, and ride the duckies--walking Oscar from her stroller.
• Saying "hi," "bye bye," and "nite nite."
• Reading Goodnight Gorilla ("goh... goh"), Going on a Bear Hunt ("oh no"), Hop on Pop ("pop pop"), and Dog. (Special thanks to the Remlers, the Todescas, the Nordenhaugs, and the Durdens for giving us these favs.)
• Dancing to down-tempo music
• Looking at pictures of "Poppa" (Grandfather John) in the photo album--"poppa...poppa" she requests--"poppa and ockey" for "Poppa and Rocky"
  
• The soft playscape at the mall
• Elaine ("Nonie")
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Pretzels
• Climbing on chairs, the sofa, and especially places she shouldn't be--like the kitchen table
• Balls
• Oscar's food bowl
• The toilet
• The stacking cups Alice Bachelder gave her for the bathtub
• Brushing her teeth
• Brushing her hair
• Brushing Mommy's hair
• When "Mamahhhh" and "Daddeeeee" come home

Two of Elsie's Favorite Things: Balloons and Hide N Seek




Many favorite things should go together: peanut butter and chocolate, red wine and chocolate, well, just about anything and chocolate, according to D. However, some favorite things might not work so well in conjunction... Elsie loves to get balloons at Publix (and sugar cookies). She also loves to play hide. "Hide... hide," she'll say and scamper away. Since she almost always hides behind the drapes, it isn't too much of a challenge, and of course, the balloon is a big hint.

The Sun Sets on 2007--Best Wishes for 2008!

So we meet again...





Lucy, Tracie, and Erik Jurgensen joined us at Hilton Head to say good-bye to the old and ring in the new year. It was so much fun seeing them and we can't wait to do it again soon.

Hangin' at Harbour Town

Playground Portraits: Part I

Playground Portraits: Part II

Elsie and Lucy on the Farm





"You would not believe how my parents are obsessed with farm animals. Lucy and I humored them by going to the petting zoo at Hilton Head, so they could all sing 'Old MacDonald' one more time... Not a day goes by without Daddy asking me what a sheep says... You would think he would know by now. I guess all parents are like this. Lucy's mom Tracie was all giddy at the farm. Maybe when we grow up we'll be into these farm animals, too."

New Year's Stats



Weight: 25.8 lbs (84th percentile)
Height: 32 inches (94th percentile)
Head Circumference: 46 cm (50th percentile)


At her 15th month check up, Elsie was pleased to learn how she was measuring up. She was not so pleased, however, to receive three big ol' shots. She has recovered admirably and even began to say "Mama" here at the end of her 15th month. Now, that "avocado," "alligator," "Elmo," "Oscar," and "Rocky" are common parlance, she might as well give that commonplace word a whirl...

Arrivals and Departures















So, like Santa (aka "Ho Ho Ho" according to Elsie), we had to cover a lot of ground over Christmas. We arrived in Atlanta the eve of Christmas Eve. Addie treated us all to a delicious Christmas Eve dinner including Elsie's favorite corn pudding. We got to burn off those calories at Christmas mass--Elsie spent the first few minutes of the service bellowing a festive "baaaaa" in the sanctuary, inspired by the sheep in the nativity scene. (And yes, Baby Jesus is still "daddy.") But before the first hymn was sung, Elsie was on the move, up and down the back stairs for most of the service.
Christmas morning meant more presents for Elsie. These generous gifts may have been upstaged by the herd of wildlife at 665. It is hard to focus on your new shopping cart and "See and Say" when you have three frenchies and a pug to corral. Poppa, however, had no trouble focusing. A Christmas morning Bloody Mary awakened his dormant Santa skills, and he had the cart assembled in record time--is there any other kind of time for a Howells? David muses...

Christmas in the Country














It is always good fun to head out to the country to visit the Alabama kin! Elsie was thoroughly entertained by GranAnn and Pop Roy and was generally treated like a little baby princess. Check out her playhouse--Ann, Roy, and Elsie are enjoying a porch sit in front of it since the electricity isn't in yet! Elsie enjoyed the wildlife in the country too--cows, dogs, even monkeys... Roy is working on the monkey's batteries here so Elsie can then tuck him in and put him "night night" after she is done playing with him, a favorite activity of hers. Grandpa David, Grandma Sharon, and Yanna came for a visit as well, and Elsie showed them her stuff. And when Aunt Jamie and Uncle Benji arrived, the party and presents commenced.

Christmas Tastes like Chocolate






Our photo selection will not adequately represent the distance and the depth of our holiday travels. We found ourselves so engrossed in the actual adventures I guess that we did a sorry job documenting them. They will give you a sweet taste, though. First stop on the adventure was three days in Minter Alabama, home of Pop Roy, Gran Ann, Great Grands Meme and the Bushes, the Hollingers, and Aunt Jamie and Uncle Benji. Highlights to follow--these pics do represent Elsie's first chocolate--thanks to Pop Roy!