Happy Birthday Mom

I am a horrible daughter. I completely forgot to call my Mom on her birthday, which was Saturday. I have something for her that I will be sending back with my cute little sister-in-law, and younger brother. Last year Dad and Mom transferred all of the old home movies to DVD. As I watch them over and over with my son, I see new little things. And I never realized what a funny person Mom is. I mean, Mom has always been - you know - MOM.

So, Happy Belated Birthday, Mom. I love you because you are funny, because you are smart, because you are witty, because you know when to say things and when to bite your tongue, becaue you have taught me compassion and service, and because you chose to be my MOM.

Ethan's Impression of Axel Rose (Guns 'n' Roses)

This is funny - Ethan has another cold. I called Larry - both of us on our way home from work - and asked him to pick up some items: milk, vapor, etc. Ethan and I get home right after Larry. I started unpackaging the bags Larry brought home to make sure he got the right stuff, of course. I pulled out this Backyardigans guitar. I pressed one of the buttons, and Ethan immediately started squeeling and dancing - this is how he dances. Obviously, he loves it!

The Ellington's - since 1996

Ethan is a true Virgo - he is a helper. Or thinks he is. He has this love/hate relationship with the vaccum. He chases it around, he tries to stop it, he scolds it, he hugs it, he kicks it:

This is so funny -

Turkey Today, and Turkey Tomorrow

This is the 5th year that Larry and I have made our own Thanksgiving dinner, it's a tradition we started while living in the city. Last year we went to Nancy and John's since Ethan was just a couple of months old. The year before Nancy was sick, so Larry and I cooked the night before, then toted it down to Elmwood and finished it off with Grandma Albers.

This year, Ethan got a little excited and fell asleep before dinner was ready.
But he sure does look good ;) He loves sweet potato's and green bean casserole the most.

Even though he's only 14 mos old, he knows what he likes. He does NOT like his turkey without cranberry jelly on it, and he does not like his mashed-a-tato's without gravy.

This was going to be the opportunity for a family photo - as you can see - that didn't happen. Ethan now has an obsession with the camera.

Gobble Gobble

Playlists

Okay, my sister and I just started "blogging", we are totally addicted. Every day we are calling each other trying to figure out new things. I just found out how to post a playlist - this is very exciting to me since I fought the technical/computer era for so long. This playlist is SO very me, but not so much her. However, since I know how and she does not... we'll see how long it takes for her to figure it out - or rather, figure out how to replace it. I know my nephew will love it.

Tolman Family Vacation 2007

Growing up...

Today Larry bought Ethan a forward-facing car seat. Now, I know to many of you this is not a big deal. To me, it is devastating. It means my little infant is not longer an infant. He is actually a toddler. And of course, I cried - big surprise. After running errands, Larry installed the car seats and put Ethan in one. He was so excited and delighted. He knows. He totally knows. He just sat there talking, as if he were having an adult conversation with us. So, I got in the drivers seat and pretended to drive, and Larry got in the passenger seat. Ethan loved it.

Baby -

My good friend, Ryan's first little girl... Grace K Johnson 6.5 mos

The Incredible In-Laws...

I love my in-laws: Gramma Albers (Dee) lives in Jacksonville with her kitty, Flower. Nancy (aka Maa'ma) and John (aka Pap-a) live in Elmhurst, IL and are working on building a new home in Galesburg on about 35 acres. Rhonda, Larry's only sibling, lives in Ohio and is a firefighter (I think it runs in the family) with her three children - Matt (19), Allie (16), and Chelsey (6).

In Memory of Jeff Duck

Happy Birthday Jeff Duck: 1973-2007 today

Larry called tonight as I was pulling the trash out of the can. Clearly, I was taking too long, because Ethan felt he needed to take action.

Well, here it is: the 21st Century and 34 yrs old. I am just learning how to blog. Well, at least I'm not fighting as much as my spouse, who feels it a technical challenge to use a navigation system. Regardless, I'm pretty excited.

Since, this is my first experience, expect many changes and of course, errors galore. I have recently joined Facebook, a social networking tool, which has actually connected me to a few people with whom I have lost touch with, sadly.

Here's the very long, and - but trying to summarize - short of it:

My husband and I met in 1996, three years after a very long distance relationship and "many ports", I landed a job here in Illinois. Quicker than planned, I immediately moved in with Larry. We moved around from Naperville, to Chicago, to Aurora, and West to Sugar Grove about every 2 yrs. Somewhere in the middle of all of the moves, Larry joined the police force. I switched jobs like I switch purses and shoes (for those of you that don't know - it's often!). I get around - wink, wink.

While Larry was working nights, I was discovering the Chicago nightlife. In January of 2006, I was surprised to learn I was pregnant. Ethan Bishop Ellington was born September 21. at 9:48 pm, 19 in, 6lbs 13 Oz. We got married in July and ever since, it has been a whirlwind of no sleep, chaos, joy, pain, and sadness that he is growing up too fast.
Since birth, Ethan has adapted my sleep habits - as in nocturnal - although, I'm told, it's what babies do. Who knew? I guess I never grew out of it. When Ethan started crawling in May he finally started sleeping more than just 40 minutes at a time, and napping longer than 5-20 minutes, if at all. He didn't walk very long because before he was 10 months he was up and running - literally running.
Oh, and he's a talker - I think he gets that from his Nana. Non stop, running his mouth. He doesn't actually say words, but he knows he is the boss of me, and tells me so every day. He is very dramatic, and expressive and is the perfect combination of both our positive attributes.

November 2007

awwwww