Halloween and More!

Miss Ellison's Halloween costume was an owl. She didn't do too much trick or treating - just a couple houses in my mom's neighborhood - but from what I heard, she really liked watching all the kids come to the door to get candy! I worked all weekend, but I did get to see her dressed up on Saturday night before leaving for work, and she was the cutest owl ever! I'm hoping that next year Jay and I won't have to work and will actually be able to take the kids trick or treating in our own neighborhood. Since I was sleeping between shifts during our neighborhood's trick or treat, I had to put up a sign asking people to please not knock, and we disconnected our doorbell. No one smashed our pumpkins for not having any candy, so I guess we don't have a bad reputation with the neighborhood kids yet!

Ellison has had some diva moods lately. If she doesn't get what she wants, tears and yelling are sure to follow. She is still narrating the things she does, and that includes crying. Last weekend during one of her fits, she cried, "Crying...tears...!" It was pretty hard not to laugh. It's frustrating to have her getting upset over the smallest things, but we are trying hard to teach her that she can't get her way all the time!

Ellison's mean scowl 

When she's not being a diva, Ellison is a sweetheart. She always wants to give us hugs and kisses, although not always at the most convenient times (like during meals or while we are driving). She started saying "love you" recently, which melts my heart every time! She even wants to "snuggle" sometimes, which she has never been big on in the past. It usually only lasts a minute or two, but we'll take it! Her snuggliest time is bed time. She still likes to be held and have her "songs" after prayers. Usually Bingo, "happy" (You Are My Sunshine), and "Jesus" (Jesus Loves Me), in that order. She doesn't like it when we don't sing the songs! She also really likes to help us. Cleaning, "folding" laundry, cooking...hopefully she keeps this up for the next 16 or so years...

Cleaning her room at Grandma's

Helping with yardwork up north

Laundry assistant

Helping Daddy build a closet organizer for baby "Ham"

Ellison's favorite things right now are her "buddies". All the ones she sleeps with (probably about 8-10 depending on the night) have to come out of the crib each morning. She takes them out into the living room a few at a time and then comes back for more. She arranges them on the couch, then moves them to a chair, throws them on the floor, then starts over. We just went through some old stuffed animals of mine so she just got a bunch of new buddies, and she has been over the moon playing with all of them. She will usually tell us what each animal is while she goes along, so I guess it's an educational game. I can't believe how many different animals she knows. Yak, ostrich, pelican, peacock, iguana...I am constantly surprised at all the animal names she knows!

Ells also really likes books. Specifically, pulling them off her bookshelf and making piles of them around the house. Sometimes she will sit still long enough to read one - usually if the subject is either farm animals or puppies! She is great at all the farm animal sounds now (she only did "moo" for quite awhile), and she even knows some breeds of dog and will point them out in her dog book.

On the pregnancy front, things are going ok. Still having a hard time gaining weight, although I have definitely popped! Ellison calls the baby/my belly "Ham", and we are pretty sure it's because the pig on Toy Story (one of her obsessions) is named Ham, and he has a big belly. Thanks, Ells! I definitely didn't have this many food aversions or such a small appetite when I was pregnant with Ellison. I also wasn't still getting sick at 23 weeks! According to the anatomy scan, baby measures right on track, and that is what's important! I have my next appointment in a few days, so I guess we'll see what the doctor has to say.

Looking forward to starting the baby's room soon...we have changed our mind quite a few times on the theme! We may have our final decision nailed down now though. I'm hoping it will be painted by early December. I'd love to have the room at least partially done before the craziness of Christmas. I feel very behind as far as getting things ready for the baby goes. We have all the big things, but not much boy stuff, so time to get moving. Less than 4 months to go!

Can't believe it's only a few weeks until Thanksgiving...this year is FLYING by! I just celebrated my birthday and can't believe I'll be 30 in less than a year. We had dinner with my mom and Ron on my birthday, and Ellison helped Jay and Ron make me cakes! Both were delicious :)

Just a few more pics...

E loves playing outside! So many leaves up north

All dressed up

Ellison's "piano"

Ellison got $10 for Halloween from my grandparents, and made her first purchase - Mr. Potato Head! She also put some coins in her bank and saved a little money for church :)

She loves looking at animal pictures and videos!

Getting so good at doing her puzzles, what a big girl!!!