18 months old and 7 years old!

Two of my babies have a birthday today. Elle is 18 months old today and our sweet dog Charley is years old! It is hard to believe both of these birthdays are here! It seems like just yesterday that Miles drove to Salida while we were living in Fort Collins, Co, to pick up "Tank". That was Charley's name before we got a hold of him! It was very fitting. He was a husky little thing. He was a pretty active puppy and Nash loved having a friend around. He quickly became Charley's keeper and has bossed him around for many years now. Charley is a BIG dog but very gentle and sweet. He sleeps most days away but always gets up for a walk. He LOVES walks! Happy birthday Chuck, we love you!







Miss Elle has her half birthday today! It is really incredible that my baby is a year and half old. She is not a baby anymore....she is a KID as "Pa" calls her! He is very right!
We talk to each other all day and she understands everything I say now. She will do things that I ask and also fight me on things I ask her to do! We have started to try our hand at discipline and it is no fun. I just have to tell myself she needs it and it will help shape who she is going to become. She is really good for the most part. She cracks me up daily with her crazy faces and long, drawn out conversations that make no sense to me! She will do hand gestures and talk super loud, like that is going to help me understand what she is saying.
She is still very dramatic and always wanting to be the center of attention. She tells everyone "hi", from a random guy riding his bike by us on walks to the cashiers at stores! Most times while we are the grocery store, she requests that she have a banana or cheese while we are shopping. It is a mess but it keeps her occupied!
She is talking up a storm! I swear it just happened one day...I would ask her to say a word and she would repeat it. It just blows my mind how their little brain absorbs so much information. I wrote down the words she is saying in her baby book yesterday and it totaled 45 words! I was shocked! Way to go E!
She has become more of a picky eater but still eats well. She prefers fruit and dairy products over anything else so it has been a challenge to get her to eat veggies. She used to love all veggies and now she really only like peas and tomatoes.
Her favorite toys have to be her babies, books and trucks! So funny that my little girl is obsessed with trucks! I let her pick out a couple toys at Target today and she got a fire truck and a dump truck! Wow! Luckily it balances out with the babies. She pushes them in her stroller and rocks and feeds them in her lap. It is really sweet to watch. We read all day long and daddy reads a couple books to her before bed. I love this ritual they have. I can hear them in the room giggling and singing. Daddy's and their daughters....such a wonderful bond they have!
She is still obsessed with her ball and kicks it a least one time a day around the yard. She is getting really good at dribbling and kicking....we are stunned because it is all her. We have not worked on anything with her so she is looking to take after her daddy!
Well Boots, we couldn't ask for a funnier, cuter, more rambunctious little girl! You light up our days so much and make life such an amazing journey. We love you more and more each day and look forward to seeing all the world has in store for you.
You start Mother's Day Out next month and I am so excited to hear all the funny stories about you from your teachers. I hope you meet lots of new friends and love your time there.
We love you bunches!
Mommy and Daddy


Playing with her trucks!





Eating and head bobbing to music