You sit quietly in the corner murmuring under your voice. It’s a cute song, a short conversation with the toy your playing with or the reading of a book. To an unfamiliar eye, a quiet, soft-spoken, mild mannered child is happily entertaining herself. Yet, to those of who know better, it’s just one side of the fiercely independent little girl you are. It’s a girl who is doing what she wants on her own terms.

There is a spirit in you Elle. A confidence and security beam from you. There is a sense of self and strength not seen in some adults. You walk your own path in a way that suggests maybe the rest of us are walking the wrong way. Yet, you never look back. You never say follow me. You walk, and the rest of us follow.

I love you Elle

You have a love that is deliberate. There are no superfluous hugs, or cute little smiles with an agenda. Every kiss, hug, smile,squeeze and every “I want you” radiates with authenticity. You’re hugs are weighty with love, as they are never dolled out with disregard.

Elle, Daddy cherishes your hugs, the big squeezes, the “I love you the mostest’s” and your sweet kisses. I cherish everyone, for how deep they come from inside of you. I feel honored to be the recipient. I feel special, because you chose me. I feel happy, because I know you’ll kiss and hug me again.

Elle, you’re diligence amazes me. Your raw, humble confidence teaches me. You have a mature soul. Not an old soul, but a mature soul.

Yes, you are still a child. That reality is never lost on us. You let us know everyday. You are a special child, Elle. You have a fire in you. You have a shriek and they are piercing. Why you shriek is still a mystery. Sometimes, it’s because you are unhappy and want us to know it. Other times you just seem to want to yell. Oh, lucky us!

Your voice is LOUD, it carries through out the house, and your not shy to throw it around. You have presence, it is growing every day.

To call you spunky is trite. But, ya got more gumption than the average kid.

I admire your strength Elle. I admire your sense of self. I admire your confidence.

You sing and dance over and over to “Hard Knock Life” and “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” You are the first to want to go play in the snow when we wake up in the morning. You get excited to go skiing every time we are in the mountains, even though you’re still on the bunny hill. All the ski instructors know who you are and have all fallen in love with you. You have your own Vail Ski School fan club.

You have a special something deep inside you. It’s a spark, a flicker, a fire, that drives you. It sets you apart. It’s molding you. It’s molding me.

It’s amazing to watch and I’m excited to watch it turn you into an amazing young woman.

I love you Elle and thanks for calling me Daddy.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Wow, here we are….baby girl is due to arrive on April 5th.  Here what seemed like a pregnancy that would never end is indeed coming to an end and very soon.  I have to say this has been by far the toughest pregnancy I have ever experienced and this is for many reasons.  Abnormally tired for the first 16 weeks, very emotional at times, major hip pain throughout the day-worse at night to the point of keeping me up about every hour or two to change sleeping positions, basically feeling old!

You really  do not know the meaning of sleep deprivation until you experience it for yourself and this is by far the worst symptom I have had to deal with.  Nothing can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that is coming your way under these circumstances.  Let’s just say having a newborn who has her days and nights mixed up sounds much more appealing to me, I will at least get two straight hours of sleep!  Crazy.

We have a very busy last week ahead of us here in the Keenan house hold.  First and foremost Elle turns 3 on April 2nd, we will celebrate with a party on the 3rd.  Easter then follows the very next day- Hello, the bunny is coming to our house.  Ok then the very next morning at 5 am we check into North Suburban Hospital to be induced.  Hmmm, that’s not too crazy is it?  Mom has a double whammy coming once the baby comes I get to keep my epidural only to look forward to a tuba ligation.  What shines at the very end of all this “ick” stuff is the very fact that I will be holding my sweet, fresh, soft, adorable little baby girl.  Nothing beats that and truly makes it all 100% worth it all.  I even have to admit the finality of not ever being pregnant ever again is an odd concept and a bit sad to me.  I am at the age where it is no longer going to be my choice, but my bodies.  You just think you will be young forever and have all these choices to continuously make about your body when you want to make them.

My time has been an amazing trip and would not change a thing.  I have or will have 5 beautiful children and have been blessed enough to become pregnant right away, then go on to have healthy pregnancies as well as smooth deliveries- no cesareans.   I am officially “done” and feel ok with it.  Now I have the next couple of years to get to know this baby inside of me and I can’t wait!

Kenna and Elle love the Easter Bunny at the mall. Every time we go, even in fall, Elle asks; Where is Mr. Bunny?

What blows me away is how much the girls can change in one year.

Look at how much they’ve changed. Especially Elle. Where does the time go? Before you know it they’ll be too old to want to sit on the good ole Easter Bunny’s lap.

2010

Either Jim or myself read to the girls just about every night before bed.  One of the girls favorite books are “The Little Critter” stories.  A couple of nights ago I was reading “Just me and my dad” to them.  One of the pictures shows the dad and the little critter in their tent for the night reading.  On almost every page of this book you can spot a familiar spider and grasshopper hanging out somewhere.  When I asked  Elle what kind of bugs they were she answered “Pider”, and the cutest one “A jumpy hopper” translation- grass hopper.   Of course I  being mom about melted at her creativity and sweet little mind.

My girls continue to make me laugh and bring me joy each day!  Thanks girls.   I  Love you- Mommmy.

After skiing the traditon is to stop at the Park Hyatt outdoor fire and make smores. It’s a blast and the girls love it. Nothing like a sugar and marshmallow high after an entire day of skiing!

“I want to give Santa a hug.”

Elle, after opening her last present.

The girls and I spent 4 days in the mountains together last week. It was just the three of us. We had a fantastic time. I had to work, so the girls went to ski school each day. I posted about that a few days ago.

I would get up early each morning, lay out their ski clothes, wake them up, make them breakfast, and get them ready. We’d be on the hill by 8:30 every morning. At the end of the day, I’d pick them up and we’d take a few runs together. It was like magic.

My time with the girls makes me smile. They make me laugh. Kenna is a nuclear power plant, constantly creating energy. Elle is a lone wolf, lurking just outside of the pack, picking and choosing when to jump in and when to watch. Being with the girls is not like being with kids, it’s more like being with little people. They are sharp, inquisitive, engaging and emotional. Me and the girls are connected when were together and it is a wonderful feeling.

I’m loving every minute of this. It’s almost impossible to imagine it getting any better.

I love you Kenna and Elle. Thanks for the killer 4 days.

Love Daddy

Big day for Elle. She officially has her first ski pass.

way to go Sugar!

Elle and I went skiing today for the first time. We had a blast. We rented her, a pair of her very own skis and then headed to the gondola at Beaver Creek.

I learned a lot about Elle today. She is a very focused young lady. I dont think she spoke but 10 words the entire time, and half of them were in response to me. She was completely focused on the task at hand. No emotion on either side of the emotional spectrum.

Once on the slope she did awesome. Elle has unbelievable balance. Gliding down the bunny hill all by herself was a cake-walk. She looked like a pro!

One of the few things Elle did say was, can I go over there, pointing to a steeper hill.

We gave it a try. She was doing great until her head of steam became a bit much and she did a face plant. Ouch!

Like a pro she just jumped up. I was blown away to watch a two year old face plant and just shake it off.

I had a blast with her. She was unbelievably low maintenance. No crying, no complaining (it was snowing and windy) just skiing.

Ellen asked how did you know when she was done. It was simple, at the end of a run. I walked up to her and she said; “Can we go home now?” That was is it, nothing more, nothing less.

So we went home.

Kenna had her first day of the 09/10 ski season today. She had a lesson in the morning and we got to ski in the afternoon together.
This will be Kenna’s second full year. She is a BC III (3) which means next level she goes to the top of the mountain.

Cant wait to ride to the top with her.

Stay tuned, Elle is next.