I had to laugh when I looked through my 2014 Year in Review on Facebook. If you aren’t on Facebook, the site put together a “review” that gathered up your most popular pictures from the year in chronological order and then gave users the opportunity to post this onto the site for everyone to relive their awesome year. Mine was very sweet… and very full of pictures of Tessa. As a matter of fact, every single picture was of Tessa. And this is all well and good (she’s very photogenic), but as I have two children, I felt a little “oops” when I saw the review.
Out of sheer guilt, I went hunting for posts about Ellie. I’m feeling much better now.
I hope you enjoy our year of posts inspired by our wild and crazy oldest daughter…
January 9, 2014
Weird Toddler Behavior #673: Stashing toys in the pull-up. Apparently she just couldn’t be bothered with carrying her Elmo phone, so into the pants it went. Unfortunately for her, you can’t hide much in skinny jeans…
January 28, 2014
I leave her alone with Tessa for 30 seconds… She tells me that they’re “practicing for Auntie Kelly’s birthday.”
February 7, 2014
The joy and terror of popping popcorn…
February 10, 2014
We have such thrilling dinner conversation… Tonight, my favorite lines were “please stop licking the table” and “Ellie, we don’t eat chalk. Spit that out.
February 22, 2014
This morning, we decided to surprise Ellie by jumping into her bed and waking her up. Not only was she already awake when we got there, but she literally smiled up at us and said, “Oh my gracious. You are bothering me. Can you get out of my bed, please?”
February 25, 2014
Me: Hey Ellie, what did you do at Miss Julie’s house today?
Ellie, in the most joyful of voices: I farted!!!!!!!
Me: Oh. What else did you do?
Ellie: That’s all, Momma.
March 26, 2014
…and then there’s that panic-filled moment when your child comes running into the room exclaiming “I really need to screw something!!!” And you turn around and sigh with great relief because she is toting around one of Daddy’s screwdrivers.
April 27, 2014
John: Ellie, walk down the stairs, please.
Ellie: Ahh! I can’t! I can’t live like this anymore!
John: Well, I need your help cutting strawberries.
Ellie: I just can’t work in these conditions!!!!!
May 11, 2014
I am wondering how long this “imaginary friend” phase is going to last. Because I have to tell you, I look like a total nutcase pushing “Millie” in the swings at the park.
May 16, 2014
Ellie: I’m a little girl, so I can drink milk!
Me: Adults can’t have milk? What about me and Daddy??
Ellie: So Daddy has water and beer.
Me: Oh yeah? Well what about me?
Ellie: Just wine!
May 28, 2014
Today when another girl in the doctor’s waiting room refused to share the crayons, Ellie looked her square in the eyes and told her “Fine. Go drink your water. I don’t want to play with you anyways.”
June 12, 2014
Seen: One three-year-old, shaking her naked butt in her little sister’s face yelling, “Do you know what this is??? It’s my butt!!”
June 27, 2014
Happy THIRD birthday to our goofy little comedian, Miss Ellie Bean!!! In true Ellie fashion, when we woke her up singing Happy Birthday this morning, she shoved her little hand in our faces and told us “Not yet. Go away.” Wouldn’t expect any different!!
July 2, 2014
Overheard: “Tessa, are you going to jail with me? We can read books and ROOOOOB the bank!”
July 28, 2014
Three-year-old for sale. Mostly potty trained. Needs work on table manners. Comes complete with a variety of memorabilia from the movie Frozen, an endless supply of jokes with no punchlines, and more sass than a 15-year-old girl. Seller is willing to be paid in chocolate and bottles of tequila
August 24, 2014
Just changed Ellie’s bedding. When I removed her comforter, I found 17 books (12 hard cover), 2 cups, 5 monkeys + 1 Curious George, 3 stuffed dogs, her nightlight, a stethoscope, and a framed picture of John and I. ??????
August 26, 2014
It takes real talent to put a pair of underwear on inside-out, backwards, upside-down, and only using one leg hole. But, at least she’s wearing underwear…
September 12, 2014
5:15 am: Sobbing on the monitor… “I just need ice cream! With all my toppings!! And my favorite circle balls!! I’m scared there’s no ice cream ever again!!”
She’s just like her mother.
October 22, 2014
Half time at John’s football game. Ellie approaches as he is conversing with parents and players.
“Daddy, did you pick out this shirt??”
“Yup, and your pants, too.”
“And did you pick these undies??”
…and proceeds to pull her pants down in front of the entire crowd.
We’re never going back again.
October 26, 2014
So I’m cleaning the bathroom and Ellie comes running in yelling “Oh wow! Thank you so much!” In her arms are all of the Christmas presents that I had already purchased for her.
What am I supposed to do with this child?
November 1, 2014
This morning, she tells us, “I need to eat! I’m not having pancakes. I’m not having oatmeal. From now on, I’m JUST having candy. You all just need to relax.”
November 10, 2014
Ellie, teaching Tessa how to eat: “Look, you just swallow, then chew. And if you don’t like it, you just spit it in Mommy’s hand.”
November 23, 2014
Ellie: Mom! Come see! Tessa is awake!
Me: I’ll be right there, just have to finish writing.
Ellie: Mom! Life is all about making children happy. Don’t you know that??
December 4, 2014
Home with a sickie today watching One Direction on Sesame Street.
Me: El, are those boys so cute?
Her: Oh, Mom. Babies are cute. Those boys are so haaaandsome. Play that one again.
And so it begins…
December 30, 2014
In the midst of our heated discussion about whether to fix the old car or buy a new one, Ellie came running into the kitchen yelling, “Guys! Stop arguing! We are livin’ the dream!!”
There were plenty of pictures of our crazy kid, too, many of which I have shared here and a few old ones that really made me smile. I try really hard to be balances, so today, I feel good about the year we had and where we are going. One thing is for sure – Ellie is not going to allow us to “forget” to love on her. What joy (and agonizing frustration 🙂 ) she brought to us in 2014!
Yo soy La Lay 
Oh man, she is one funny kiddo!! Love this post 🙂
For better or worse, she always keeps us on our toes!
Such a fantastic personality. She’s going to be a firecracker as a teen!!!
Maggie! You had me laughing out loud with this one. Ellie is an amazing, witty, silly girl and we adore her. I love the way you tell her stories. What fun she will have one day when you share all of this with her. Thank you for recording her thoughts and words in such a loving way.
Laughing out loud! She keeps us in check and grounded! When ‘one in a million’ says ‘she’s going to be a firecracker’…..she already is! Always and forever Ellie May Clampett, no matter what!
So I think this post is going to have to bookmarked so I can re-read it whenever I’m having a grumpy day. Thanks for taking the time to share Ellie’s spunk with us! (Also, Tessa’s expression in the New Year’s picture is PRICELESS.)
Haha, yes, Tessa was NOT excited about taking any kind of pictures on NYE. I think it had something to do with the incessant noise-making from her older sister… 😉
I could NOT stop laughing at this post. Oh, my… 😀
Happy New Year, guys! xo
Oh my goodness–so funny!! Ellie sounds like a treat! The Christmas presents one got my biggest laugh. Love it!