2008 - What a year!

Wow what a year 2008 has been. In the last year, our family has laughed and enjoyed life more than ever before. Mary Ella has been the best blessing from God. We have watched her grow from a newborn to a sweet toddler that grins all day long.

These are a few things that she does that make us laugh. She…

loves a plastic bowl and spoon.

says "tata" (thank you)

grunts when she sits down on Memaw's bottom step

walks around with the phone saying hello "lo"

loves to "rock rock"

calls our dogs Duke and Annie, “dukduk and nanie”

will push her lawn mower up and down the driveway as long as we let her

gives us the sign for more when she wants to eat

loves to get into our bed on Saturday morning

barks at the dogs in the neighborhood as well as the mounted deer on the wall

laughs hysterically when you play chase with her

says “bless you” when you sneeze

loves Winnie the Pooh, “pooh-pooh”

calls any kid no matter how old “babe”

loves her cousins

pulls the blinds up and calls for her “dada”

sneaks into the foyer to play a tune on the piano

loves to sing while her “dada” plays the guitar

quacks at the black duck at the pond

loves to have music going at all times

loves goodnight moon and time for bed

kisses the duck in her little duck book

tries to hold the animals on the pages of her books

always wants to play with the phone and remote

dances all the time and says "danzing"

will play for hours with her kitchen set

likes to in hide in our closet in the dark and says “boo” when you find her

says “mama” 1000 times a day

wants cheese “cheeeeese” and fruit “fuute” for every meal

says “did it” when she turns on her sound machine

has a new favorite animal…a horse…she can make the sound too

loves to snuggle with her bunny

has mastered cup, bye bye, luv you, and hey

will say “uh uh uh” until she gets what she wants

has a guitar lip when she is studying something (her daddy does too)

loves to walk around naked patting her big belly before bath time

hugs her stuffed animals and says “ah wee”

waves at everyone while we stroll

has an obsession with crayons and pens

knows to do her prayer hands and say the blessing before eating

has the best smile and a contagious laugh

We love you so much Mary Ella.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans the I have for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope.