sun in the sky.

i woke up this morning at around 3:30 a.m. for a usual early-morning feeding. at around 4:00 i put E down, but could not convince my sleepy eyes to go back down, too. i walked out into our front room and heard rain pouring down on our carport. it really was going to rain on Ellie's blessing day...which wouldn't be a big deal if we lived in a house that could accommodate our families.... feeling stress creep over me like it always does, i took a hot shower, dried my hair (straight, of course, for the occasion) and let the OCD in me take over as i reorganized my bathroom drawers, checked the bogs, cleaned the bathroom floor again, dusted the front room again, checked the blogs again, and did the infamous eyebrow plucking (YUCK).

a few short hours later, E awoke, ready to eat again. after her morning buffet, i walked out to the front room....and the sun was breaking through the clouds. wasn't it just raining? i thought so...so i did a double take and looked again. zero rain. i felt peace come over me.

Ellie's blessing was beautiful. i was so worried that she was going to scream throughout the whole thing (wouldn't have put it past her) but believe it or not, as M started, she looked up at him and smiled...and just stared at him the whole time. he has the theory that things were finally as she thought they ought to be- her on her throne in her royal gown. haha, what a Queen she is. and i'm so grateful for this little queen in my life- she is so sweet, so lovely. M and i are so lucky to have her.

you know, i think sometimes life tries to swallow us in its overwhelmingness... it can seem so challenging, can't it? but then, life gives us little gifts like today- where i honestly have to double take and realize there is zero rain: the sun has been shining all the while. my life is beautiful.

pretty, happy girl

E + Grandma C- the mastermind behind the gown!

mommy + E

Gammy + E

Grandmas, Mommy + E

my sweet girl

precious face and beautiful eyes

happy little family

Hartley family

my loves, daddy & Ellie

whatcha lookin at, foolio?

sweet moment

she makes us so happy!

dear ellie,

i could stare at your beautiful face all day long.


love,

mommy

back to school.

well, i made it. i survived the first day of kindergarten for the third time.


it was pretty scary.

dear mom and dad (#2),

just because i yawn all the time doesn't mean i'm sleepy.

love,

ellie m



p.s. yes, these are three different videos...all of which were taken in the same 5 minute period.
p.s.s. no, i did not go to sleep within the hour those videos were taken.

thinking too hard...

sometimes, when i think too hard, i go cross-eyed.


xoxo

come home, dad!

i miss my dad!

the WOW factor

tonight my mind just keeps thinking "wow."

here's why:

today is 8-8-08. wow.

almost finished with breaking dawn, the final book to the twilight saga. wow.


today, Ellie fell asleep in the car. wow.


2008 olympics began tonight. watched the opening ceremonies: wow.


we're all packed to drive home to utah from california TOMORROW. wow.

joshua was the first street dancer to win "america's favorite dancer" last night on SYTYCD. wow.


after 4 weeks of yucky white patches, single doses and double doses of nystatin, a 0 sugar diet (that has lasted about...2 days) on my part..ellie STILL has thrush. wow, WOW. (that deserves two).


NFL preseason games were on tonight. football already? wow.


summer ends for me today, as school meetings start for me next week. wow.


lots of WOWs.

baby gossip.

ellie's newest thing:

she loves to talk.
she catches me up on all the latest baby gossip...
then i catch her up on all the big girl gossip.
it's so adorable.



p.s. this is a preview of what you can find on Ellie's very own personal blog. yes, you heard me right; Ellie has her own blog. basically i decided i needed to start her own blog so that i could upload tons of her pictures, write about her and only her (without feeling the need to diversify like i do on this one), and keep our long distance family and friends in the loop as E grows and changes at an exponential rate. the catch: it's private. if you'd like to be invited to view the queen E's blog, leave a comment with your email address. can't wait to hear from you!

xoxo