Author: Brand_New_World_Betsy

IMG_6006

Originally uploaded by griffey

Here it is, the 4-year-old post. What is Eliza like these days? Some things haven’t changed a bit. Others have changed a lot.

Likes: dressing up, singing, dancing (loves her ballet class), coloring/”making art”, playing princess, listening to books, making up stories, watching all kinds of movies, going to the movies and eating popcorn, the beach, Disney World, vacations of any kind, hotels, swimming, cooking.

Dislikes: blueberries, beef in any form, itchy clothes, putting anything in her hair (which makes this picture really rare), getting up early

Milestones/development: Can write her name! And recognize and write many other letters. Can put on her own clothes, shoes, and socks. Takes showers instead of baths. Can draw representational things now, like stick people, faces, several shapes, flowers. Can brush her own teeth. Does chores every night.

Favorite things: Phineas and Ferb, Disney stuff (especially Disney World), princes and princesses, Wow Wow Wubzy, stuffed animals (especially kitties), candy.

IMG_5377

Originally uploaded by griffey

So many nice things happened in 2011. Another wonderful trip to Disney World, Eliza’s 4th birthday, Eliza learning to write her name and other letters, fun visits with family and friends near and far, Jason having successes at work, and decent health for all of us, among them. We’re lucky people. Here’s hoping 2012 is even more wonderful.

Happy Fourth of July!

Originally uploaded by griffey

Eliza and I had a blast this summer. She stayed with me most days while I enjoyed the last gasp of my sabbatical.

We did so many fun things, it’s hard to remember them all. Some of the highlights were: trips to KY to see family, a week-long visit from cousins, trips to Atlanta to see friends, swim lessons and lots of pool time, Lake Winnie, lots of visits to the Aquarium, Coolidge Park and other fun places around Chattanooga (like Pump It Up), and a few weeks staying at Nana and Pop Pop’s (such a big girl!). We also had a fabulous 4th of July in Sewanee with our friends, and Eliza got to stay up late enough to see the fireworks. There were festivals and rides, shopping trips, birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese, and so much more.

She went back to school today, and while I’m sad to see our summer of fun come to a close, I think we’re both ready to get back into a routine. No more sleeping in and PJ days…time for Eliza and mommy to get back to normal.

IMG_1754

Originally uploaded by griffey

Don’t know where the time has gone, but Eliza is now turning the corner toward 4.

She’s still really into dress up (as you can see in this pic from the Renaissance Fair). She loves kitty cats, real or stuffed. She is really into Scooby Doo movies and watches at least one every day. And she has developed a hilarious sense of humor. There’s nothing like her smile to light up the whole world.

She has taken dance class, swim lessons, and had play dates, stayed with Nana and Pop Pop for extended periods of time, and traveled to many fun places. She’s quite the big girl now, as she likes to remind us.

photo

Originally uploaded by griffey

Our annual trip to Rosemary Beach was a huge success. Eliza absolutely loves any body of water, so she was thrilled with the ocean and the swimming pool. We also loved getting treats at the Sugar Shak, meeting the Easter Bunny, doing the huge egg hunt, listening to music in the parks, and shopping at Gigi’s toy store. We also spent some time at Alys Beach for a tea party, where Eliza met Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the white rabbit. We even spent a little time shopping and hanging out in Seaside, another wonderful little beach town. All in all, a great little vacation that we all needed!

IMG_3510

Originally uploaded by griffey

Eliza did an amazing job during her first dance recital. Her first (but undoubtedly not the last) time on a big stage. She was fearless. In fact, she loved the whole experience. And she looked adorable as a caterpillar dancing to “Under the Toadstools” from Alice in Wonderland, which is one of her favorite Disney movies (the cartoon). We’re so proud of her, especially all the hard work she has done during rehearsal and the tough lessons of working in a group, being part of a “team,” etc.

IMG_3366

Originally uploaded by griffey

It has been teasing us, coming in and out, but Eliza is loving the idea that Spring is (sort of) here. If it’s even close to 70 degrees, she’s begging to wear a sun dress. She’s excited about all the fun things coming up in April: her first dance recital, a trip to the beach, local festivals, egg hunts, and a trip to KY to visit our family. Mostly, though, she loves digging in the dirt and finding worms (in her dresses and sparkly shoes). She also loves to plant and water flowers. If she could live outside, I believe she would. What a fun girl.

IMG_2516

Originally uploaded by griffey

So this photo isn’t great, because in addition to awesome gifts, she also got a sinus infection for her birthday and wasn’t feeling well (Dec. 15th).

But in the tradition of this blog, I wanted to give a quick overview of what Miss Eliza (“Princess Eliza,” if you please) is like at the ripe old age of three.

Likes: playing dress-up, books, made up stories, playing in parks or at the gym, Disney movies of all kinds (even the scary ones), playing games on the iPad, playing with “lovies” (stuffed animals), playing in the dark (no kidding), cooking with mom and dad, role play of any and all kinds, singing, dancing, talking, asking questions.

Dislikes: too much noise, kids who hit/push and other social no-no’s, wearing clothes that she doesn’t deem “fancy” enough, eating breakfast, falling down.

Favorite toys: Calico Critters, anything related to Disney’s Ariel character, Disney figurine sets, baby doll that talks and cries, dress up stuff and jewelry, her billions of stuffed animals, especially her beloved “kitty cat babies.”

Favorite media: changes quite a bit. Right now she prefers long movies over TV shows. Current favorites are The Wizard of Oz, Jungle Book, Emperor’s New Groove (yuck), Nightmare Before Christmas, and Monsters Inc. What can I say…she likes dark things. I think she likes to be scared a little bit. That explains her love of Halloween, too.

Milestones and changes: Can tell stories, narrate in the past, ask complicated questions, use huge words (she LOVES adverbs), and carry on a conversation about anything with anyone. Is finally wanting privacy in the bathroom. Can run like the wind, but still falls down quite a bit. Is managing her anger / frustration so much better these days; she even has invented her own technique for calming down (it’s a visual thing, I can’t really describe it). Can recognize quite a few letters of the alphabet, count up to about 18 or so and do some simple math, knows all colors, most shapes, can tell you where she lives, understands family relationships.

She is absolutely amazing. One of the most observant kids I’ve ever been around, and she simply stuns me with her sense of humor, deep thoughts and questions, and her love of life. She’s so much fun to be around. I can’t wait to see how she keeps growing up!

IMG_1851

Originally uploaded by griffey

What Eliza wants for Christmas is a Calico Critters house full of furniture and “all different kinds of critters.” And in her stocking? “Candy and lollipops.”

She loves to be the center of attention, and getting her photo taken with Santa at the Chattanooga Choo Choo was no exception. He seemed charmed by her, and honestly, who wouldn’t be? She’s adorable, if I do say so myself.

I love my new pumpkin!

Originally uploaded by griffey

Had an amazing time at Grandaddy’s Farm in Estill Springs, TN with our friends Heidi, David, and their daughter Ally (also 2). There was a hayride, a huge box of corn for Eliza to dig around in, a hay maze, a giant tire hill with a slide, animals to feed, and a pumpkin patch to explore. She chose a gorgeous pumpkin to bring home and can’t wait to carve it.

There is no doubt fall is my favorite time of year, and she has heard me say it enough that she says it, too. We are enjoying the crisp breezes and can’t wait to see the leaves turn beautiful colors.