Dear American Girl,

Oh American Girl.

Remember when days were simple?  When it was just the Pleasant Company sending out an extra large glossy catalog with three different dolls each with three different dresses?

I do.

But things have changed.  There are American Girls of the Year, My American Girls, huge stores, online shopping, Bitty Babies, Bitty Twins, it goes on and on.  Most of the changes are wonderful.  I longed for the days my American Girl doll could be dressed in jeans instead of Victorian dresses.

However, I have a huge issue that I feel needs to be addressed.

You must stop retiring every single American Girl Doll that I have bought or was planning on purchasing in the near future.

Seriously, it's got to stop.

My beloved Samantha, gone.   

My sister's Kirsten, banished.

And now, just when my almost 4 year old has fallen in love with the doll she shares a name with, Elizabeth, too, is being sent to the archives along with her bestie, Felicity.

There were no plans to get our Elizabeth her own AG doll until she was at least 5.  But now with Elizabeth being sent to the archives, we're thinking Santa will bring her this year instead. 

On our last visit to American Girl Place I made a rookie mistake.  So excited to walk Ellie through the historical character section, I was dishing out my expertise left and right.  Here is Molly from the 1940's and look!  There's Julie!

When we arrived in the 1700's and Ellie asked who the beautiful redhead was having a tea party with her most favorite Elizabeth, I didn't hesitate to say, "Oh, that's Felicity.  Elizabeth's best friend."

Yep.  Rookie mistake.  Now Ellie thinks that she needs them both.  She even saw them packaged together as a set.  Did you know that everything is more appealing as a set?  Of course you did, you spend gazillions in marketing I'm sure. 



So, American Girl, I would like to know your plans so I can make mine.  If I buy up Felicity with all of her accessories and keep her locked away until our Madeline is ready for a doll of her own, are you just going to have a 2012 Girl of the Year named Madeline? 

Will the archives ever be opened so I can buy Samantha's trunk or is my only option to shell out hundreds on ebay?

Help me, please.  I can't make a decision and I'm sure I only have hours left until the dolls are sold out. 

Yours truly,

Kristin

AG Doll owner since Christmas 1988

PS  I think my sister-in-law and niece have their eyes on Molly & Emily so if you could keep them around for a bit that would be super. 

xoxo

Scared of Santa?

Elizabeth's first visit with Santa was epic.  So epic it made the Big City Paper in color with the title "The Yanks are Comin'!".

2008?  Yeah, not so great.

In 2009, Ellie tried to be polite but really wanted nothing to do with the guy.

And 2010?  Success! 

At least for Ellie.

While she didn't mind that she almost slipped out of his lap last year, this time Mads is not a Santa fan.

And Ellie was totally embarrassed to be sitting next to her.  Don't get me wrong, she tried to be the good big sis and hold her hand, sing her a song and make her laugh.  But when none of that worked, she looked down and had a 'I don't know who this baby is sitting next to me crying her head off' look on her face.

Do you have a favorite Scared of Santa pic?

It's beginning to look a lot like....

CHRISTMAS!

Unlike some of our neighbors who had their Thanksgiving dinner lit by their Christmas tree, we wait until the day after. 

At 6:01 am, Ellie ran into our room screaming, "I'm ready to deck! I'm ready to deck!"

Ryan and I looked at each other confused and asked, "Huh?  Deck what?"

"DECK THE HALLS!!!!  With holls of bolly and stuff."

Right.

So deck we did.

On her way to 4, Ellie is an expert ornament hanger.

Last year Baby Madeline was not even 12 weeks old when we put up our tree.  She is much more interested this year.

She is also now know as Cinderella.

Taking picture of two kids in front of the tree isn't exactly an easy task.

One is much easier.

Unless she is screaming "Deck the Halls" at the top of her lungs, then she gets a little blurry.

The stockings are hung. 

 And our tree is covered with ornaments old {my baby's first Christmas from 1980!}

and new.  Isn't Hello Kitty so stylish?  Ellie thinks so.

And while we wait the next month until the real Santa comes, we have a stand in.

Growing up we only had 'classic' Christmas decor.  In other words, no plastic or colored lights allowed.  With my first paycheck in 1996 after a Saturday shampooing at our neighbor's salon, my dad drove me to the local nursery and I picked up my very own, very first piece of Christmas decor.  48 inches of plastic. 

Every year until Ryan and I got married, I propped him up on my overturned garbage can and placed him in my bedroom window where he watched over our cul-de-sac.  My dad still misses him though their neighbors stole borrowed my idea and have one in their attic across the street now.

Plastic Santa now sits in our front yard, close to the house.  You can only see him if you are directly in front of our house, I don't want to commit HOA suicide.

As you can see, our halls our decked.  How about yours?

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had the preschool Thanksgiving Feast,

made the annual Turkey Hand Cookies,

scoped out the best place for Black Friday shopping and said what we're thankful for this year.

I think we're ready!

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone in Ellie-Town! 

Mads Rocks It Out

You get to listen to music that rocks instead of my voice shrieking because my baby just walked across the living room!

Her new record is walking the entire way across the mats at Gymboree, more than 20 controlled steps and then putting playballs in a hoop still while not holding on.  Way to rock it, Mads!

This post is part of Wordless Wednesday and linked up at

5 Minutes for Mom

Live and Love Outloud

A Beautiful Mess

Baby Deals Dujour

You must read this before you plan your Black Friday.  You might not be waiting in line in the freezing cold at 4:30 am after all!

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How much do you love the baby daily deal sites?    

How much do you hate getting 15 emails a day with sales beginning and ending at all different times and then, when it's too late, realizing your were on Gilt when you should have been on Haute?

So much?

Me, too.

But there is a solution.  BabyDealsDujour is the site that lists all of the baby daily deals in real-time.  You can subscribe (for free) to BabyDealsDujour and get ONE email with all of the deals.  How genius is that?!

BabyDealsDujour has every daily deal and member's only site you can think of from BabyAge to Zulily.  If you haven't ventured into the world of Woot and Mamabargains yet, now is the time!  Just today there were deals on Petunia Pickle Bottom, Rockabye Baby, Angel Dear, blabla and Melissa & Doug.  Can I tell you how fab it would have been to NOT pay full price for my treasured PPB Boxy Backpack?

I know you are already in love.  And you may have already opened a new window to sign up for your daily email from BabyDealDujours, but I still have two more great things to tell you:

1) There is a $50 Pottery Barn Kids Giveaway going on right now on the BabyDealsDujour Blog.

2) BabyDealsDujour donates 10% of all proceeds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

If you want to stay updated even more, you can follow BabyDealsDujour on Facebook or Twitter.

BabyDealsDujour has tweeted that the baby daily deal sites will not disappoint on Black Friday.  Instead of waking up when it's still dark out, heading into the freezing cold and throwing elbows, I'll be snug in my pj's sipping on my Via, snagging the best deals online.

You can thank me on Saturday.

We are thankful.

The meaning of Thanksgiving really hit home for Ellie this year and she is taking being thankful very seriously. We know Madeline is thankful, too, but just needs a little help verbalizing it in full sentences.

 

Ellie

• I am thankful for Nonna and Poppa. Especially when they bring me a Hershey Bar.
• I am thankful for preschool and dance class.
• I am thankful for my little family (people in our house) and our big family (extended family).
• I am thankful for my house and everything in it.

 

Mads

• I am thankful for my big sister. Who else would give me half full juice boxes to sip on and do a crazy dance every time I cry just to make me laugh?
• I am thankful for books. I love to pull them off the shelves, read them, sit on them, kiss all of the babies in them and chew them.
• I am thankful for music. I love to dance to every beat and have mastered the shimmy.
• Most of all, I am thankful for my family. For snuggles and kisses, and being my biggest cheerleaders.
• Oh, and I'm thankful that I don't have to see Santa again until next year.

 

Ryan and I are thankful for so much. Every time we look at our girls we can't believe what amazing, beautiful little people they are and have no idea how we got so lucky to know them. We are thankful for our big family, too. For cherished ones who have healed after being broken this year. For all of the support and love we receive from as close as 10 minutes and as far as 1700 miles away.

 

We are thankful.

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Have you asked your children what they are thankful for this year?  Their answers might surprise you or just make you want to squish them up!

Last Year

Last year:

This year I'm hoping for a Santa who will actually hold Madeline so it doesn't look like she is going to slip right out of his lap.  Did you see the head angle of that 9 week old baby?!

It would be nice if Ellie would get closer than 5 feet, too.  Last year we told her to just hold Madeline's hand because she sure as heck wasn't touching Santa's.

And I know, I know. 

It's not Thanksgiving yet! 

I get it.  But this is the annual weekend where we make our pilgrimage to the big city for the Festival of Lights and a swing by the big department store to see the "Real" Santa.  It's a tradition.  Despite the fact that the local easy listening station changed to the holiday format a week ago, when we are driving back out to the burbs on Sunday we will finally be able to turn our dial to hear classics like "Dominic the Donkey" {they don't have the best holiday taste}.

But fear not, we are all super excited to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I am in charge of planning the Thanksgiving Feast at preschool, which might be compared to herding cats, and we will all be in our Fall best next Thursday.  Maybe I'll even post Ellie's "what I'm thankful for" list because it is quite amusing.  We'll just say Hershey Bars are involved.

Have a great weekend!

Dear Taylor Swift,

Hey Taylor! 

I just wanted to let you know that my oldest daughter, Ellie is your biggest little fan. 

About a year ago, when you made your Oprah debut, Ellie caught a glimpse of your long, curly blond hair and was hooked.  She was playing in her playroom and as soon as she heard your voice she stopped in her tracks, walked straight over to the TV and stared until Oprah went to commercial break.  Ellie was 2.5.

Immediately she asked me to rewind your live rendition of "Love Story" and then we proceeded to watch it on repeat for the next hour.  By the time that hour was up, Ellie had her echo mic rigged up to the 'popcorn popper' to sing the chorus and had every hair flip down right on cue.

Ellie's love for everything Taylor has just grown this past year and your new song "Mine" was an instant favorite.  Your video "The Best Day" might be Ellie's favorite because she loves to see the home movies of you as a little girl.  It makes her think she can grow up to be just like you.  Not famous or rich because she has no idea of those concepts at 3.5, but a girl who sings and dances while wearing a sparkly dress.

So thanks, Taylor.  Thanks for being a down to earth girl who sings and dances in sparkly dresses.  A girl who writes her own music and is true to herself.  A girl that I am happy to have my girl look up to.

Ellie can't wait to meet you.  We tell her she has to be at least 5 before she can go to a concert.  Hopefully you'll be on tour in March 2012.
Sincerely,

Kristin
Mama of Ellie-Town

PS Video to come soon...

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This post is part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

Open House

To say I was stressed over preschool would be a gross understatement.  Ellie's first organized activity without a parent kept me up at night.

I had my reasons, like the playdate from hell.  Plus during the week preschool started we had another baby's big milestone, a beach vacation and dance class happening so you can see why I thought the transition might be a little rough.

Ellie wavered from being super excited to a little nervous.  At drop off the first day she didn't cry.  But she did cry on days 2, 3 and 4. 

Miss B described Ellie to me as shy on week 3 and I thought she must have had her mistaken for another kid.  My singing, dancing, joke telling Ellie shy? 

As the weeks have gone on, Ellie has become more and more in love with school.  She even sees her friends out about town.  And now when I pick her up?  She buckles the top buckle of her car seat on her own and sings out, "I didn't even miss you.  I was just too busy having too much fun."  It feels so good not to be missed.

Tonight we had our first ever Open House as parents/kids.  Ellie gave us a tour of her school and snacked on a brownie while Miss B told us how Ellie has improved in the last weeks.  Not that our Ellie wasn't totally fab to begin with, but Miss B told us how she has matured and soaked up everything being thrown her way.

Now when Ellie shows me the papers in her folder after school, her letter tracing is almost always perfect.  Her art projects are coherent to someone who wasn't in class to hear the directions.  And she is just thrilled to tell me all about it.

The school has a stoplight for discipline.  You move from green to yellow to {God forbid!} red throughout class when your behavior warrants it.  Ellie has ended on green everytime.  Maybe she'll be like her mom who not once, never ever had her name written on the board at school.  Or maybe I just jinxed us with this post.

How is your 2010-2011 school year going so far?

Toddlers & Tiaras Mads Style

There is just something about a baby in a tiara that I can't get enough of.

Especially when she puts it on herself and leaves it on all afternoon.

 Yes, afternoon. 

Today was declared pajama day at our house.  I love it when we have absolutely nothing to do and call it pajama day.  Because a baby in a blanket sleeper is just too cute to pass up.

After wearing the tiara while building a tower, reading books, playing with a naked Barbie {Ellie wouldn't share one with clothes} and teaching herself how to use Tag Jr., Mads tossed it aside.  Ellie and I thought her reign was over.

But we were wrong.  She scooted over and put the tiara back in its place to eat a snack and go a little crazy dancing to her favorite Kidz Bop tunes.  Which is how I snapped this photo:

But half a baby face is still cuter than no baby face at all, right?

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Thank you SO MUCH for your support the last few days!  As of the time I went to bed last night, Ellie-Town was in 2nd place with over 3,200 votes in the contest.  Being nominated by readers and then chosen as a finalist by theBump.com editors was an honor.  Thanks again!  :)

LAST DAY to vote for theBump.com Awards!

Best Stay-At-Home Mom Blog

Just click the link above and click ellie-town.  Takes 2 clicks and 2 seconds.  You can vote daily so if you've voted before, thank you, now head on over and vote again!  ;)

It was seriously an honor to be nominated and an even bigger honor to be chosen by theBump.com as a finalist.  Thanks so much for your support these last days!

Two Times Seven

Seven was a popular number at our house over the weekend.

Madeline took SEVEN unassisted steps across the room.  Seven!  To begin her strut she stood up in the middle of the room, clapped for herself and then began to go.  Completely in control, she tottled from me all the way to Ryan and then clapped again.

I'm pretty sure the houses on the other end of our subdivision heard our squeals. 

Then today Madeline climbed up SEVEN stairs.  Stairs were an obstacle Mads had just began to tackle on Wednesday.  Just goes to show you that our girl is determined.  She doesn't crawl on her knees, instead she puts her foot up like a mountain climber.

Physical Therapist M doesn't think that going up the steps like a mountain climber is the safest way to go so we are trying to reprogram her to use her knees but it's tough.  There has to be something bothering her about being on her knees but we can't seem to figure out exactly what it is.

Mads also learned how to put together a puzzle this weekend and play hide and seek.  The puzzle is a big knobby Melissa & Doug.  A similar one can by found in my Open Sky shop HERE.  {like how I slipped that in?  A full holiday gift guide is coming soon.  I've added GREAT stuff that will fill everyone on your list!}

As for hide and seek, Madeline waited a little bit while Ellie hid - this was all discussed and mutually agreed upon by the two of the them.  In other words, Ellie did all of the talking and Madeline just didn't shake her head no.  So, after waiting for a little bit, Madeline took off scooting on the hunt for her Big Sis.  Mads found Ellie hiding behind our bedroom door on her third try.

Now I'm thinking my 14 month old is A-MAZING.  She walked halfway across the room, climbed a mountain of steps, did a puzzle and now she's playing hide and go seek with her sister all by herself!  What can't this baby do?!?!

Here's Ellie's response after she was found:

Wow, that's great that you found me Mads.  You're actually playing hide and go seek all by yourself.  But you didn't count.  Didn't I tell you you're supposed to count?  Yep, I did.  So next time make sure you count, kay?

Gotta love the Big Sisters.

g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s

Not usually a term I use to describe my everyday life, but every once in a while the stars align and poof!

You are out with the famous. 

But after mingling with the super stars, excuse me, the champions of past and present, we were at our table and back to our regular selves.  The big foam hands were an added perk.  Technically they were for the live auction, but we found other ways to put them to use.

It's just a shame all of my pictures of famous people look like this:

I didn't want to be that person so I went for action shots.  Mistake.  In case you were wondering, that's a guy that will be playing in a stadium today.  And I'll be cheering for him from my living room.

It was a great night.  Lots of money raised for a children's hospital and a chance to put on make up and heels and take a break from being a mom.

The girls did great with Nonna & Poppa.  Ellie worked on her negotiating skills with Poppa and Hershey Bars and Madeline learned a joke.  Everyone was sleeping peacefully when we came home.  Everyone.  ;)

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Thanks for your support for The Bump.com's Blog Awards!  Only 2 days left to vote.  Just click this link: Best Stay-At-Home Mom Blog

Thanks so much!

Stay-at-Home Mom: Dream vs Reality

In my stay at home mom dream sequence before I was ever a mom, here is what played:

My husband and I are invited to a charity benefit.  We live in a vintage brownstone on a fabulous tree lined street.  I am in my large master bedroom while my daughters are sitting on the over sized four post bed, giggling to each other and watching me get ready for the evening. 


The girls try on sparkly earrings and chunky necklaces as I put on make up.  The younger one asks for mascara so I take my poofy brush and turn her cheeks pink instead.


Together they oohh and aahh over the updo I effortlessly crafted.  The girls move to the vanity where they take delicate perfume bottles and spray lovely scents into the air.  While they are happily spraying away, I emerge from the closet in my gown.  The girls stop what they are doing and run to my side.  I am showered with "oh Mommy you look so beautiful!"s as I notice my husband peeking in from the hallway.


Together, my husband and I walk down the hall....

I may or may not have been inspired by a Calvin Klein commercial.  This was years ago so that part is a little foggy.  Now here is reality:

Ryan and I are attending a charity benefit.  It begins at 6:30 pm so the ball gown stays in the closet.  We would love to send the girls to the grandparents' and stay in the city for the night but Madeline could finally be getting in those bottom teeth and has woken up four out of the last five nights.

Since we live in the suburbs, the girls and I will get up e-a-r-l-y to drive Ryan to the train station so we only have to drive one car home from the city.  The jewels will be swarovski crystals not in need of their own private security.

But there will be giggling on the bed, asking to try on make up and wearing of necklaces and earrings.  There will be "Oh Mommy you look so beautiful!"s. 

How do I know? 

Because it has all already happened.  While my "second day" hair was tied up in a pony tail, bangs pinned back with bobby pins, I tried on dresses one by one and each time I walked into the bedroom I received oohhhs and aaahhhs and clapping from Madeline.

While reality might not be as glamorous as the dream sequence I had pre-kids, it's just as rich.


What was your mom dream sequence?  Is your reality anywhere near what you imagined?

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Thanks so much to everyone who has voted for Ellie-Town!  Did you know you can vote daily until Monday? 

Just click this link: Best Stay-At-Home Mom Blog 

Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!

My Garbage Picker

Mads {this nickname is sticking} is obsessed with drinking Ellie's old juice boxes. 

Let me explain a little better.  Ellie drinks 95% of her Motts for Totts and then tosses them to the side.  We've explained to Ellie endlessly why the Simple Human is sitting at the end of the cabinets but she doesn't quite get it.  Or listen.  Or care.  Whatever.

Madeline will scoot over and grab the juice box from the couch/chair/floor/where ever it was cast aside, drink a little and then play with the straw and empty box.  When I take the juice box away from Mads, she throws a Baby Fit.   But being the smart cookie she is, she knows where to find the empties.

Wouldn't the physical therapist be proud to see her up on her toes like that?  I'll have to make a note for next week.

 And BUSTED.

Madeline had no clue that I was right behind her.  Stunned, she turned around to see me while scratching her chin like a villain out of a bad movie.  I'm not sure how the dress got tucked into the leggings but we'll go with it.

 
Now I never would have let this happen with my first baby. Drink out of an old juice box? Are you kidding me?  But with the second, if empty water bottles and juice boxes make her happy, who am I to judge?

Are you more laid back with the 2nd/3rd/4th, etc than with your first?  Why do you think that is?

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Did you hear?  Ellie-Town is a finalist for theBump.com's Top Stay-at-Home Mom Blogs!  Voting is easy, just click the link and vote for Ellie-Town!  Thanks so much!  :)

Vote here -----> Best Stay-At-Home Mom Blog

EEK! Ellie-Town is a finalist at The Bump for "Best Stay at Home Mom Blog!"

Thank you so much to everyone who nominated Ellie-Town!  It is so exciting to be nominated and a now a finalist at The Bump! {which is why I'm using so many !!!!}

If you wouldn't mind just giving a little click to the pink box at the top of the page, you'll be directed to The Bump and then just one click on Ellie-Town and you're done.  Easy and takes 2 seconds!

Thanks again!  This is the most exciting thing to happen in my bloggy career.  :)

xoxoxo from Ellie-Town

Tiny Prints Holiday Card Review

Our Tiny Prints holiday cards came and I couldn't be more thrilled. But I wasn't surprised either. I expected beautiful, high quality cards because that is what I've received in the past.

{sorry for the sloppy editing on the above cards.  I didn't have a blog then!}

And, drum roll please........

Here is our 2010 holiday card by Tiny Prints:

It is a Tri-Fold so in person it looks like this:

And it is AMAZING.  Can a holiday card be amazing?  Yes.  It can. 

Not only is there enough space for us to display our fabulous Gina Cristine Photography photos, but I was also able to put a little blurb about each of the girls and what they've been up to.  They are busy little peeps you know.

My previous cards had been the matte finish but this year I decided to go with the semi-gloss and I'm glad I did.  Printed on super thick cardstock, they have just a tiny bit of sheen to them. 

A little while ago I read on the Tiny Prints Blog that sending a holiday card is like sending a little gift. I totally believe that to be true.  There were so many fabulous cards to select from, it was a difficult decision.  But I knew that no matter which one I chose, in the end it would be wonderful.  And I was right.

I am so excited to put these cards in our mail box the day after Thanksgiving and flip our little red flag up.  I can't wait to hear reactions from family and friends after they receive or card in the mail.  {and I'm sorry to ruin the surprise for some!}

Thank you to Tiny Prints for making this an easy and fun process.  From the live chat options to personalizing the card in real time, it couldn't have been better!

Disclaimer:  Tiny Prints provided holiday cards for this review.  The opinions expressed above are mine and were not influenced in any way.  Thank you!

Baby Steps

Remember THIS?  Well, look how far we've come:

Please excuse the messy house.  This video was taken in the last half hour before Ryan comes home from work.  You know, the mad dash to pick up all of the crap clutter that has plagued your house all day?  And the music is to drown out all of my 'be careful!'s and 'watch out!'s.

But that's not the point.  Look how far we've come.

More on this on Monday. 

We have one last costume party before we hang up Halloween until next year.  I love that.  One last chance to wear costumes, unexpected and so fun. 

Hope you have a fabulous Fall weekend!

Dear people who design public restrooms,

Can we please go back to toilets with handles and paper towels?  Please?

When a 40" kid sits on a toilet with an automatic flush, it flushes while they are still sitting on the toilet.  It's a little traumatizing.

Also, when the 40" kid is trying to use the facilities and a jet plane takes off hand dryer starts blowing, again, it can be a little scary.  Cause, you know, public restrooms don't have bath mats, rugs, or anything to absorb all of that sound.  It just echos off the bare walls and cold tile floors.

Before you think, "oh crazy lady, it's just your 40" kid that has these issues!" I assure you it's not. 

And Madeline?  My poor sweet 30" baby completely loses her mind gets visibly upset when an automatic dryer turns on in the bathroom.  You try wrangling a toddler during a poopy diaper change while screaming bloody murder.  No?  Doesn't sound like your idea of a good time?  Hmmm, me either.

Remember the good days when you reached over and flushed the grimy public potty with your foot or wadded up an acre of rainforest's worth of TP to push the handle down?  Let's bring those back.  Because do you know the most traumatizing thing a parent can hear while driving down the expressway 35 miles from the next rest stop? 

I have to go potty.

If only that public restroom at the party had a handle.  We wouldn't be crossing legs, fingers and toes to avoid an accident in the Britax Frontier. 

While my suggestions may not be the most eco-friendly, they are the most kid friendly and these days I need to choose my battles wisely.

Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely,
Kristin
Mama of Ellie-Town

Physical Therapy and Gymbo Stamps

For background info on Madeline's physical therapy, check out Part 1 and  Part 2.

Madeline has her first physical therapy session under her belt.  She rocked it.  Doing tricks like cruising around the ottoman in both directions, pulling up on everything and even making an attempt to climb the stairs.

Mads {Ellie's new nickname for her} also began Gymboree classes to help strengthen her right leg and get her walking.  Gymboree is a funny place.  I remember the first time I walked in to Gymboree with an 11 week old Ellie.  The first thing I saw were clowns and thought to myself, "Yeah right.  My baby will hate this.  What kid likes clowns?!"

She loved it.  Ellie went to Play & Learn classes at Gymboree from 11 weeks until she was over 2.

Madeline had the same reaction.  She was ecstatic.  Mads was going down slides, scooting through tunnels and rolling balls.  When it came time for the parachute, she was stunned.  Smiling and laughing, she was the happiest baby around.  Bubbles didn't disappoint either.  Madeline's chubby little hands were reaching everywhere trying to grab the bubbles all the way up to the rafters.

Gymbo the Clown {puppet version for those of you in the know} came out and we did the Gymbo Dance all around.  Madeline "took her little hands and waved bye-bye-bye" and we made our way to the door.

The last stop out is getting a Gymbo stamp on the hand.  Since she had never received a stamp before, she put her hand out like the other kids and was amazed when a purple Gymbo appeared, one on the left, then one on the right.

Mads looked down at her hand, then up at me, then down at her hand again. 

We put on our shoes, grabbed the diaper bag and headed out to the car.  As we were walking, Madeline began shaking her hands.  Harder and harder. 

She looked back up at me and there was panic on her face.  I knew exactly what she was thinking.  "What the heck, Mom?!  Why won't this clown come off me?!?!?!?!"

She screamed the entire drive to pick up Ellie at Nonna's house.

Two days, one bath and countless Seventh Generation baby wipes later, a faint Gymbo still remains.

We'll be skipping the stamp next week.

But our little Mads?  She took four steps on her own this week.  I even made Ellie put on a pair of pants that matched her dress in case I needed to video "official walking."

She's making progress.  We're learning how to help her make progress.  It's good.

MilliLee.com Review

MilliLee.com sent me this adorable organic cotton dress for Ellie to review. 

Not for Ellie to review, but for Ellie, for me to review.  Although Ellie has pretty strong feelings about this darling dress.

When the package arrived, tied with raffia, Ellie could hardly contain her excitement.

She carefully untied the bow and squealed when she saw the dress.  Soft and flowy, Ellie knew it would be perfect.  After a few minutes of "please can I wear it now?  Pleasepleasepleaseplease?!?!?" I caved.  She wore it the rest of the afternoon and wanted to give up her favorite ballerina nightgown to wear it to bed.

The dress has elastic around the neck and around the sleeves to give a perfect fit.  It's great with jeans or leggings and boots for the fall and winter.  Expertly sewn, the pattern gives a modern twist on a classic silhouette.

Oh, and it washes well, too.  We know because Ellie spilled chocolate milk on it the first day.  And it came out from the wash good as new. 

Ellie's dress from MilliLee was a huge hit.  With Ellie, with strangers at breakfast, with me.  Here are some of the things you can find on MilliLee.com:

MilliLee.com does custom orders, too, from cloth diapers to children's clothes.  I will be placing my order for a coordinating sister look any second!

Thanks MilliLee.com!

Disclosure:  MilliLee.com sent this darling dress to review at no cost to me.  However, the opinions in the review above are completely honest and my own.  No other compensation was provided.