Life is ever moving...

I just noticed that I haven't updated since March. Im lacking in my blogging duties it would seem. Life for us is ever moving, and usually at a fast pace. Ella has taken to being two with great pride. She no longer wants help from her mommy and daddy. She counts to 20 (usually all correct), can somewhat say her ABCs, and knows what she wants and when she wants it. Ella is currently in LOVE with the movie tangled. She has a play frying pan and will point it at us saying, "who are you, how did you find me." It took us a while to realize she was repeating the movie and pretending to be Rapunzel. This weekend we had 3 and 1/2 inches cut from her hair. It made her look so much older. Mommy cried a bit, and Ella proclaimed that she was beautiful.

Ella loves to dance, and insist we, and her toys dance with her. She is a fish and would spend hours in her play pool if we would allow her. She recently got to ride "fair rides." We never thought we would get her off of them.

We experienced the first bad storm since moving in our home. Living in Xenia we knew that bad storms were prone to hit near us (see tornado of 1974...EF5 hit Xenia)....but thankfully until this year we hadn't had to deal with anything too bad. On Monday the 23rd Lisa's sister, Lori, came to visit. The first of the storms hit and we spent some time in the basement as the sirens blared. Thankfully there were no tornados and no damage. On the 25th that changed. The tornado's had hit Joplin, MO and we knew what was coming. While at Kroger the first storm came throug, quick siren, then we quickly checked out and got hom. As soon as we hit our door the storm really began. The sirens went off, we flew to the basement and huddle together. As the hail began to hit we held hands, kept Ella happy, and prayed that nothing worse would occur. Thankfully no major tornado hit, but we weren't without damage. We need a new roof, and siding, and our cars need repairs, but we got out safe and sound.

It was during this time I began to think of the people of Joplin, and how many of them had been in their basements, holding hands and praying, and didn't make it. Or lost everything that they owned. I realized I needed to help. I have quickly put together a team to go to Joplin and help. There are no words for the anxiety Im feeling knowing Im leaving Ella for five days to face destruction that will beyond belief. I want to be able to tell her about it, and hope that she has a heart and spirit of helping others.

Ella loves like no other. She is known as the "mommy" in the nursery at church. She is bossy, but kind. She would share her last nickle with you (how many kids are willing to do that?) We are truly blessed and thankful each day that we have her and that we are able to provide for her.

I'm two...

Our dear Ella,

How quickly you have changed from our tiny little baby girl, too our tiny little toddler. You were such a surprise when we found out we were expecting you, and we loved you so. Now you find ways to melt our hearts everday. Even when you are bad and in time out you find a way to make it very hard for mommy and daddy to say no. You love Dora now and can sing the theme song. You count to 15 on your own and know all of your colors, how you can do this already we don't know. You were born so inquizitive, and this is how you have stayed. You are strong, both physically and in your will. You love gymnastics, and telling mommy and daddy what to do. You love your babies with such grace that I know one day you truly will be the best mommy in the whole world! You have started using the big girl potty and get so excited each time you go. You are in a big girl bed, but are still very unsure about it. You love church and we hope that your giving spirit grows more and more as you grow.

Im Two!

All dressed up for St. Patty's Day

Sleeping with daddy

Bouncing with Amiah

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

A time to reflect

As 2010 comes to an end it is time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year to come. So many things have happened in our home over the past year. We celebrated the first birthday of our beautiful daughter, became members of a church that we feel at home with, Billy finished his last class of his Master's Program and began his 50 page final paper, that will lead him to graduation. We traveled and showed Ella all the many things the USA can offer. We spent time in Florida and got to see sea life at Sea World, Mickey at Disney, and Legos that were larger than life. A trip to Las Vegas showed her the lights of the strip, her first Musical (The Lion King), a trip to The Valley of Fire, and some quality time with her Aunt Lori. A trip to Tenessee where she was able to see the mountains, got to a huge water park, and spend some much needed one on one time with her mommy and daddy.

This year also brought huge changes with both Lisa and Billy changing jobs. Lisa is in the same field, but is working for a different county. It has been a good change, but a challenging one. Billy began working at Wright Patt Credit Union and is just now starting to get his feet wet.
Ella continues to amaze us each and every day. We can't even count how many words are in her vocabulary. She successfully went poopy on the potty twice, however some constipation lead to a halt in potty training. She is very independent and doesn't like help from mommy and daddy unless asked. She opened her own presents at Christmas and was so excited at all her gifts. Ella has become more loving and caring, how this is possible we have no clue.

We look forward to the year ahead. We will celebrate Ella's 2nd Birthday and Billy's 30th. We will also get to watch Billy graduate with his Master's. We are looking forward to a week on the beach in September and any other surprises that will happen along the way.

Happy New Years Everyone,

Love the Carlin Family

The leaves of fall!

Ella continues to amaze us everyday. New words, phrases and even sentences are coming from her little voice. Now if only we could get her to go pee pee on the potty! This fall has been full of fun and busy times. We have gone to the apple orchard and made homemade apple sauce, gone to the pumpkin patch and picked our own pumpkin, trick or treated for the first time, and even got to see the Christmas tree at the local shopping mall have its lights on for the first time.

This week we enter a time of Thanksgiving. We are blessed in so many ways, however Ella is the greatest blessing in our lives. She is sweet and loving. She will kiss your boo boos, and is the best mommy to her babies. She loves to take her friends by the hand and walk with them. She says "bless you mommy/daddy" when we sneeze, and "bless you Ella" when she sneezes.

As we enter the Christmas season we can't wait to put up the tree and have Ella help us decorate. This year will also be the first year that Ella will follow in a Bridge family tradition, baking cookies as a family. Lisa would do this with her mom and we can't wait to Ella help make Lisa's mom's cut out cookies. We can't wait to share the nativity scene and story with her so she can hear about baby Jesus.

Life is good!

6th Anniversary and a Birthday

The 28th of August marked our six year anniversary. To celebrate we went on a zipline tour in Hocking Hills. We were supposed to go on a canopy tour, which was easy, but it was booked and our reservation went missing. We choose another place and found out (after it was way to late) that it was also a high ropes course. Billy made it the whole way, but Lisa had to stop half way through thanks to a bad knee. After we had an amazing dinner at Due Amici. On the 1st we celebrated Lisa's 28th birthday with a trip to the local park. With this blog are a few pics of Ella at the park/18 month pics. Ella talks more and more and is starting to put sentences together. (go night night, hello baby, juice please mama, etc.) She loves to dance and sing. Her favorite song at this time is the itsy bitsy spider!

So far behind...

We started this site to keep our family and friends updated as to the going ons of a new baby and tiny family, however as time passes it seems that I type less and less, which is problematic. I realized the other day that in all reality this web site isn't just for our loving family and friends, but more so as a record for us. Time passes so quickly and it amazes me at how quickly you forget.

As a Social Worker I spend  my time with children of all ages. Recently I aquired a 7 lb baby on my case load. As I sat there holding this child I said to myself, "Ella was never this tiny." She was though, how quickly I forgot. At 18 months she is no longer a tiny baby who wants to snuggle with her mom and dad (not that she has been that for awhile, but still.) Ella is independent, intelligent and so loving. The amount of words she can say these days astounds us both. She will say please, more, hair, mouth, nose, eyes, etc. She can easily pick out any animal that you tell her to look for, and at times will run up to the shower curtain in her bathroom, point to the turtle and say "tur tle." When Ella wants something she makes it know. She will now come and grab either of us by our thumb/finger/hand and "drag" us to her destintation. Her most favorite thing to do at night is lay on the floor with Billy and play with her sesame street house and big bird figurine. Ella weighs 22 1/2 lbs, which is still tiny for her age, but big for her. When she is tired she will say "night night" and head to the stairs letting us know it is time for bed. We sing her night night song and she now kisses us both goodnight. In the morning we are greated with not only Ella, but her arms full of her favorite blankies. When music plays she dances, when the phone rings she says, "hullo" and when she is mad she will scream at you and throw herself to the ground. It appears that toddler hood has offically hit the Carlin household. We love watching her grow and are amazed at her grace and loving spirit. We are truly rich people because no person is more blessed than we to have such a beautiful big girl!