The Ears are Pierced

Johnny and I have always said that we would pierce Elle’s ears when she was good and ready, and when she had the desire to have them done. Thus far, in her little life, she has not had much of a longing for earrings. However, all that changed last week.

Elle was just randomly talking to me about when she would get her ears pierced. I was kind of surprised that she was talking about it, so I asked her if she would like to get her ears pierced. And that’s all it took. From that moment on she was hooked—she had to have her ears pierced. Nothing else mattered. I think she asked me every hour of everyday, until finally, today, Elle and I had a Mommy/Daughter date to get her ears pierced.

Elle was ecstatic. She held my hand, and was all smiles the entire way to the store. When we got there, she picked out some earrings, and happily sat in the chair. She was still smiling as the lady made the little dots on her ears. The smile was still there when a second lady was called to help do the piercings (Elle would never have allowed them to do the second ear if they did not do them at the same time). But as the two guns were pulled out and placed at her ears, the smile wavered—she was a little unsure. And when they counted to three and pierced her ears, the smile was gone. It was replaced with a frown and tears. Elle was shocked by how much it hurt; and so was I (I was two when I had my ears pierced, so I definitely did not remember how it felt). I gave her a hug, and told her how exciting it was that her ears were pierced. She was not comforted in the least—she was upset. She did not like at all how the entire process felt. Her ears were red, they hurt and she could not get past the shock and pain. But with a little more encouragement from me, she stopped crying, and looked in the mirror. And that is when the smile returned. Her ears were pierced, and she loved them. Everything was fine.

After that, we topped our date off with a cinnamon twist, a rocket ride, two gumballs and some window shopping. It was a great day, and Elle could not love her earrings more. She is so happy to FINALLY—a week is a long time to wait for a four-year-old—to have her ears pierced.

Face Paint

Since the circus, Elle has become obsessed with face paint. She begs me everyday to paint something on her face. I have found that it works wonders for bribes. She now cleans her room without complaint, because she knows that I will paint her face the second it is done. So let the obsession go on. I’m not complaining.

A Birthday and the Circus

It was Dakota’s birthday Saturday, and Elle was in seventh heaven—cheesecake, candles, presents. Does it get any better than that? Not for Elle. She loves birthdays; whether or not they are hers. If there is a birthday, than it means fun. But Dakota’s birthday was especially fun for her, because Dakota and Jae Cee took her to the circus. Elle loved it—of course—and was completely spoiled. When she came home, she looked like this, and then she proceeded to tell me all of the spoils Dakota and Jae Cee allotted her. I don’t think she had one whim or desire not satisfied. She was definitely indulged upon. I wasn’t sure who’s birthday it was—Dakota’s or Elle’s? But I guess that’s what Aunts and Uncles are for. It’s the parents who have to say no (and deal with the sugar highs). But I am certainly glad she had a good time. Sometimes it’s great just to be a kid.

Forts

There is nothing like playing in a homemade fort.

Seven-Month-Old

Hudson is seven-months-old today. My that seems fast. Every time I turn around he is older and bigger. He doesn’t seem much like a baby anymore. He is now a big boy—he’s not so helpless; and he responds to so many things in his surroundings. I love that he can now crawl. He can get anywhere he needs, and I am not stuck carrying him around as much. I especially love it when he follows me around the house, and when I get close to him, he lifts his little arm up to me so that I can pick him up. It is so cute, that I can’t help but give in every time. I am a sucker. Hudson also pulls himself up on anything or anyone stable (obviously there are some toys, as well as Elle which are just not steady objects to use).

We all love Hudson so much. He is such a content, sweet baby. He is almost always happy, and never cries—except when Elle is loving him too much. He loves to laugh and giggle, and it is quite infectious. He makes us all smile, and our lives feel complete, whole, and joyful with our little Hudder Budders.

Four-Year-Old Stats

It’s that time of year again—time to go to the doctor and get some statistics. I always look forward to our annual doctor visits (I like to see how she is growing and progressing); Elle, on the other hand, does not in any way look forward to such visits (Numbers mean nothing to her at this point). However, even though she was not wanting to go to the doctor, we still had a fine time. Elle got to play doctor, eat two suckers, and she received a Lion King sticker. For those things right there, the visit seemed worth it to her. And for getting her growth percentiles, the visit seemed worth it to me.

Her growth percentiles for the age of four are:

Weight 30 lbs (10%)
Height 37” (10%)

I was not surprised to find that she is still staying strong in her current percentiles. My little girl loves the 10th percentile.

At the age of one, her growth percentiles were:

Weight 19 lbs 13 oz (20%)
Height 28 3/4" (25%)

At the age of two, her growth percentiles were:

Weight 22 lbs 12 oz (10%)
Height 2' 9" (44%)

At the age of three, her growth percentiles were:

Weight 26 lbs 8 oz (9%)
Height 2’ 11.5” (11%)

All in all it was a good day at the doctor.

Happy Fourth Birthday Elle!

Today is Elle’s fourth birthday! What? Where is my little girl? How did she get to be so big? I can hardly believe that she really is four. But despite my disbelief, Elle is four-years-old. And Elle has no problem believing she is four—none at all. When she woke up this morning, she immediately wanted to put her birthday dress on, she then topped it off with her new party hat, which sat by her bed all night long. After the birthday attire was established, she proceeded to show me how big she was. We then had to go in the bathroom and weigh her—30 lbs. I’m sure as she gets older, she will drop that little aspect of birthdays. After confirming her new growth, we went downstairs to open presents (first thing of course), eat doughnuts (a suitable birthday breakfast), play games (something every birthday needs), and get ready for church (a fun twist to Sunday birthdays).

Elle loved going to church on her birthday. She was lucky to get to give her first talk in Primary on her birthday (I’m the Primary Secretary, so I planned it). She gave her talk on the first vision, and she did phenomenal—she was not nervous or scared; and she spoke clear and precise. And to top her Sunday birthday off, the Primary sang to her, and she got a new CTR bracelet. After church we had more birthday fun with her lunch pick (hamburgers and chips), her cake pick (a lion; would it be anything else?), more presents (such a big part of birthdays), and lots of playing (that’s the best part of birthdays).

Elle loved every part of turning four. She adored her lion birthday; and I had so much planning and executing it. Her main present, the swing set—a gift from the grandparents—, was a huge success. I know she will spend many of hours playing and pretending. All in all Elle’s fourth birthday turned out to be all she could have ever imagined and dreamed.