What a fun morning!

After a breakfast of whole milk, Cheerios, and a banana...

...we took our new sled out for a spin in the fresh fallen snow!



We got about 4" of snow last night.

It was Eleanor's first sledding adventure! I think she liked it.

Stay warm!



We have enjoyed relatively mild weather for many months...but winter is finally here. And it is cold. So cold.

Hi there, sweet girl. You look ready for the snow!

Eleanor is walking now. Well, kind of. She has taken a few wobble-y steps on her own, but most of the time she is holding on to us or the furniture. But either way she gets so proud of her self, as seen in the series below. And who could blame her? Walking is a big accomplishment.

This picture is not the greatest, but it is the best of have at this time of her cute little I don't know expression. Adam and I will ask her a question, like where's the doggie? And then she will hold up her hands with palms up and shrug her shoulders. Priceless!

Isn't this footed pajama outfit with hearts so cute? It's a 12-18 month size. I ordered it (along with a few other items) online and it arrived just before we went to Texas for Christmas. When I took it out of the box, I was shocked at how large it was.
All of the items were HUGE.

And I thought

there is NO WAY these will EVER fit her.

I must return them immediately.

But with our travels, that didn't happen. And so I tried them on her when we returned home, just for fun...

AND. THEY. FIT.

I think I may have been in denial about how much she has grown up!
I didn't realize all of her clothes were too small.
I was just not willing to admit that my baby girl is almost a toddler now.
It makes me...sad is not the right word....perhaps nostalgic. 

I look back at pictures of my newborn, and I miss my little baby.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE every part of my girl, just as she is right now.

But I miss my baby.

My sleepy, dreamy, lovely baby has become my busy, feisty, lovely lady.

At her 12 month check up early last week, she weighed 20lbs 12 oz and was in the 25th percentile for weight, 50th percentile for height, and 75-90th percentile for head circumference.

Jake and Tucker had their annual check ups as well. They also weighed 20 lbs each.

All of my little dependents at 20 pounds.

The difference is this:

Eleanor is under weight, Jake is perfect, and Tucker is over weight.

Tubby Tucker needs some exercise.

Does anyone want to come visit us and go for walks with Tucker to kick start his weight loss plan?

It's 15 degrees and windy and snowing right now. :)

It has been so long since I posted on my blog! As you've probably guessed by now, our life has been pretty busy and unfortunately a post on the blog is one of the first cuts to be made during budgeted time. I thought about trying to "catch up" now and post pictures of events that were not reported in my lapse in blogging, but I think it's best just to hit the highlights and move forward with fresh news.

For starters, I finished my PhD! You may now refer to me as Dr. Ylitalo. :)
It was a pretty busy two or three months getting all of my work together. I am still actually making some final edits to my dissertation book (to be turned in by January 24) but I passed my defense and am no longer paying tuition, which is the important part. I learned two important things during this process:
1. It is possible to survive on coffee, diet Coke, and milk. And very little sleep.
2. It will get done. It always does. Even if it takes getting up at 3am some mornings. Things will work out and come together beautifully at the end.

And next...we celebrated Eleanor's first birthday on December 23! I can't believe my beautiful, sweet, precious little girl is ONE. The year went by so fast and I can't imagine ever ever wanting to live life without her. Every day she is growing and changing and it just amazes me each time she learns something new. We had some beautiful portraits made the day before her birthday and the photographer has posted some on his website, which I have borrowed to share with you.

Enjoy and I will post more soon as I make an effort to be a more frequent blogger!