A Day in the Life of a 13 month old ....

So what's a typical day like in Catherine Ellis's life - we'll give you a glimpse - it's a full day filled with lots of fun, laughs, a few tantrums here and there, and never ever a dull moment! I'll tell it from Catherine Ellis's point of view - it's much more fun that way:

5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - I like to keep Mommy and Daddy on their toes, sometimes I feel like an early bird start - who says parents need 8 hours of sleep? Other times I feel like a late morning start and I'll sleep until 7:30 - just depends on my mood. This is MY world after-all.

Hey Mommy and Daddy - time to rise and shine!

I just love greeting the cool morning air ...

Hello world - it's me!

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. - I drink my ba-ba (bottle), usually insist to see the dogs (or sometimes referred to as the ha-has) and go out to the patio for my first morning breath of fresh air and then hang out with my toys and dance along to my morning shows on Nick Jr. I sure do like Jack's Big Music Show because I can dance my little heart out.

Watching Jack's Big Music Show - we like to dance together!

I usually have a Mum Mum (rice cake crackers) during this time too. Mommy thinks this will occupy me, but typically I just drag my Mum Mums all over the floors of the house while crawling after my parents. Or I get on my walker and roll around the house squealing and laughing and chasing my puppy dogs. I don't understand why Mommy and Daddy have to get ready in the mornings and can't play with me. I think they need someone to help dress them and comb their hair too. I make sure I have my bracelets on as we prepare to leave, no fashionable toddler leaves home without them.

A walking machine...

What Mommy and Daddy typically see ..... a view from behind ...

7:45 a.m. - 7:50 a.m. - I blow kisses to my Daddy and then Mommy and I pack up and head to school. I squeal in delight when the front door opens - I think outside is God's best invention ever. I hope my room is outside one day. I want to live, eat, breathe outside.

Blowing kisses ...

I get in my forward facing car seat - make sure my bracelets made it safely and my Mum Mums if I'm not finished - and then wait for Mommy to run back in the house at least 2 more times because she forgets something (and sometimes she even has to do a u-turn 3 minutes into the commute when she realizes something else she's forgotten).

Waiting on Mommy to grab her last minute things before we take off

Backseat cruising with Miss Emma (yes, that is an actual lick you see!)

We listen to my Camp McDowell CD with songs from summer camp and I dance and clap and talk to Mommy all the way to school. Oh and my expressions - they are a dime a dozen these days - here are some of my many 'faces':

Determined Catherine Ellis

Hard working Catherine Ellis

Charming Catherine Ellis

Frustrated Catherine Ellis

Silly Catherine Ellis

Pouty Catherine Ellis

Peaceful Catherine Ellis

8:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. - I play at school with my friends Monday - Friday. I have one toddler friend left in my class, Josie (16 months) and we play (translated: wrestle, scratch and bite) all day! Most mornings I go riding in the bye-bye buggy - my all time favorite past-time - and then play on the playground. I'm usually SO dirty that my teacher has to undress me and bathe me in the classroom sink. Most days I nap, but since my teacher, Miss Dana, left me last Tuesday, I'm revolting and not taking a nap until she comes back (Mommy says she's not, but whatever). I am eating people food at school and it's really not my thing. I like most of my morning meals, who doesn't love a good breakfast, but lunch is usually not my style. But, I'm learning. Mommy checks in on me a couple of times a day (sometimes she thinks I don't see her sneaking by but I do). I usually want to go with my Mommy when she pops by - Hey, I know there is more to this building than this classroom, people! All in all, this is my favorite part of the day.

Sitting in my big girl chair!

Miss Dana calls these my 'hot pants' - I clearly think they are good lookin' too!

Eating breakfast with my bestie - Josie (16 months)

Playing and dancing with my piano at school

Mommy, get me out of here!!

5:30 - 8:00 p.m. - Mommy picks me up - I'm very glad to see her. We ride home and sometimes I fall asleep if the wind is blowing just right - I love to ride with the windows down and sunroof open (not so sure how much longer we'll be able to do this since the high Monday was 97!!). If I fall asleep Mommy lets me snooze while she unpacks the car and prepares my dinner. If I don't fall asleep, I help Mommy prepare dinner. I unload the dishwasher - silverware mostly, then reorganize the inside of the fridge (I get it honest!), and sometimes decide to have a ball playing in Cain and Emma's water bowl - what's not to love about water filled with doggie slobber? Around 6:15-6:30 my Dada arrives home and the fun begins. We go outside and play with my ha-has, I point, Daddy takes me. Sometimes I help him with other chores, like cheer him on while he's mowing the yard or taking out the trash.

Helping my Daddy around the house!

I do my best to be an integral part of the nightly chore routine. Then dinner is ready and I love to eat with Mommy and Daddy - I make quite the mess but have a really good time. Next up, bath time - probably hands down one of the best parts of my day - this is Daddy time and we have a blast - we cut up so much Mommy can hear me giggling all the way across the house. Then it's time to go to bed - approximately 7:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Mommy and I read stories and then rock before I lay down.

Weekends - we are on the go! Mommy and Daddy were big travelers before I came into the world and as soon as I was old enough to start traveling we've hit the road and never looked back - we go to weddings, birthday parties, park play dates, pool play dates, and anywhere our hearts desire to go! This weekend we're headed back to the beach for my first trip since I was 5 months old! I'm SO excited!

I love traveling and attending a party!

Entertaining the table next to us at dinner ...

The family at Aunt CoCo and Uncle Jamie's wedding

And last but certainly not least, a little video of my newest skill I've mastered in the past couple of weeks - I'm growing into such a little girl - Enjoy!