Pumpkin Patch, Take 2

For those of you who are blog regulars, you remember last year's Pumpkin Patch debacle. Major meltdown at the patch, which continued in the car ride home. We had high hopes that this was our year. We had such grand visions of our happy family, Titi Ica in tow, frolicking through the Pumpkin Patch, only this year EK would be old enough to enjoy it...

Yeah right.

She had other plans. They included running wild through the fields and throwing rocks as well as tantrums.

Excited to be in a Pumpkin Patch. Smiling and following directions.


Thrilled with her prize, until she noticed the back side was completely rotten.


Still being good, but her attention span is waning. She was not happy with the truck of pumpkins since we wouldn't let her throw the pumpkins on the ground.


And she's off!


With all of the activities, food and treats at the Pumpkin Patch, Miss Sassafrass would rather play with rocks. That's my girl.

Happy Halloween

Since my 22-month-old little girl is the size of a three year old, cute and cuddly Halloween costumes aren't as easy to find. We opted for a 50s girl, complete with poodle skirt and cateye glasses. She looks so much like my Mimmie in her glasses! It's only fitting, since we named EK after her. Enjoy. :)

Month in Review

I've recently come under intense pressure to get this blog updated with recent pictures of Miss Sassafrass. Admittedly, our lives are bit more hectic now. My new company brings more work hours and Ella Kate demands much more attention. But, that's no excuse for keeping our little girl's preciousness from the world.

Without further adieu:

Recent pictures

REUNION!

It finally happened! The Lowery-Pullen family is back together, under one roof, with furniture! I can't tell you what a great feeling it is to be in one place, to meet for lunch, to snuggle with Ella Kate before leaving for work, to eat dinner together, to come home to so much love! My heart is so happy.

I'll focus on taking a few photos of EK in our rented Nashville accomodations. This blog is in serious need of new pictures!

Say It Isn't So...

I found a gray hair last. Actually, that's not quite accurate, I found several gray hairs last night.

I turned 30 a mere 14 days ago.

Here's my list of probable causes, because I still feel 22, and it can't be age:
1. Being away from EK, Richard, P&P
2. Washing my hair in hard hotel water
3. Stress of starting a new job
4. Eating "out" every meal without my usual nod to veggies
5. Driving 200+ miles every weekend
6. Living "dangerously" in hotels around the Nashville airport

No matter the cause, I need to find some Nice N Easy, stat.

Cheeeeeeeese Face

20 Months!

Tomorrow Ella Kate turns 20 months old. I'm overly sensitive since this will be the first "birthday" I've been away from her. Hopefully it'll be the last.


She has blossomed the last month she's been at Poppi and Gigi's house. Her vocabulary expands daily and she definitely has no trouble getting her point across. She's an excellent mimic and loves to snuggle with her family, the animals, her toys, her food, books and her bath water. We're really having to work on NOT snuggle-loving bath water. It could get dangerous. She doesn't seem to mind a mouth full of water, though.

When you ask her about her favorite letters, Mr. M gets top billing. Mr. T is next with Mr. N a close third. She knows their sounds and asks to watch Letterpeople videos every half hour. She's nothing if not persistent.

When in Decatur, I'm too busy cuddling to take any pictures, but will update the blog with updates as soon as I can!

An open letter to family and friends...

To our family and friends:

The Pullens are aware that we've been terrible friends. We are in hunker-down mode, just trying to survive living apart for a few more weeks. We aren't drowning, but Richard and I are focusing on swimming parallel to the shore - keeping our heads out of the water and bodies above the rip tide.

On a bright note - September first is our reunion date. We've found a house to rent in Franklin and we'll all be together in the same state. We might not have furniture since we need to leave our for-sale house staged, but we'll be together in sleeping bags and pack n' plays. Just in time for football season.

So, if you haven't heard from us, we still love you all! Life is just a bit odd right now. We'll reconnect soon. I promise.

Love and miss,
Richard, Allison, Ella Kate, Piper & Penelope

Georgia's On Our Minds

After a week in Colorado Springs for work, I picked up EK in Alabama and headed back to Atlanta for two days. Our realtor scheduled an open house for Sunday, so EK had to be sure the house was spotless, of course.

Nina and Titi Ica came to visit and we all had a great time watching Elmo and eating Chinese food.

Tomorrow, EK and I are meeting Poppi and Gigi in Franklin, TN for the baby drop off. Then I'm off to another week at work and EK is off to another week of playing and meeting the Letterpeople.

I don't have any new photos of this weekend - we've been way too busy. But here's a blast from the past. I miss those two lonely teeth!

One Week Down

Ella Kate has been hanging out with Poppi, Gigi and Sara for a week and all is great in her world!

Aunt Sara has a goal of teaching her one new thing each day - and this day was the letter "F" and his funny feet.

Monday Morning: 1:54am

House is quiet. Mommy, Daddy, Piper and Penelope are sleeping. Out of nowhere:

EK: MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!

Allison groggily hobbles into EK's room.

Allison: What's wrong baby?

EK: Me's belly button! Pulling up her nightgown and pointing to her belly button.

Allison: Yes, you have a belly button. Now it's time to go back to sleep.

EK: Shaking her head "no" wildly. Mama's belly button! Pulling up my shirt to look for my sleepy naval.

Allison: Yes, Mama has a belly button, too.

EK: Walking over to Pedro, the 5-ft tall stuffed teddy bear. Dro's belly button.

*** Conversation shortened by two hours ***

4am, EK has enough belly button chatter and finally goes to sleep.

18 Months and Counting...

Nashville Bound!

Yes, it will be a logistical nightmare. Yes, we discussed it at length for weeks. Yes, the three of us will temporarily reside in three different states.

But it feels right!

I start a brand-new job in Nashville on July 6. Richard will continue working and finishing up school. Ella Kate will hang out with Poppi, Gigi and Sara for a few weeks until the dust settles. She wouldn't like hotel living.

I'm so thankful for Richard, who understands my obsessive-compulsive desire to
A) be successful in my career, and
B) love that career and feel like what I do matters.

Even if that means picking up and moving to another state. A state famous for the type of music he hates most. That is swimming with the color he hates most. That's love!

Wish us luck!

The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards. -Paul Bear Bryant

A Few Recent Pictures

What's better than playing with toys? Playing IN toys.



Why we can't take our eyes off EK for a second. No, this isn't the first time she's jumped in the tub in her pjs.



Running = Sweating = Crazy Curls


Daddy - Daughter Bonding

Dear Diary

Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 5:17am after a night of no sleep.

If I ever say that I want more kids, shoot me.

Proof That Laughter Is Contagious!

The camera shakes because I'm laughing so hard I could hardly breathe. Our favorite part is when she notices how hard Richard and I are laughing and takes time out to make sure we're okay. Coco had to quit because she couldn't see from the tears in her eyes. This is the BEST part of parenthood.

Slippin' and Slidin'

Mommy has been traveling quite a bit, which means I get to spend lots of time with Poppi and Gigi. Since I demand entertainment, they bought me a new slide! It's so much fun and doubles as a great seat for watching Barney.

Climbing the ladder is just as much fun as sliding.


WWWwwwhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I found out that Mommy's socks help me slide faster.

HOORAY for Richard!

Once again, the Pullen's resident overachiever brought home all A's in his MBA program!

Sure, it would have been nice if he could have taken a work sabbatical to focus solely on school, but he wasn't willing to ask his family to sacrifice the little luxuries. It seemed a nearly impossible venture two years ago, but he has excelled in every class, every semester. And, of course, he's excelled at being a husband and a father.

Only two more summer classes to go! Then he can take a break and only work a full-time job and be a dad. That's all. :)

Fun Friday Pics

Nothing says Fun Friday like a dip in the sink.


When Mommy wasn't looking, this happened. CURLS!


"I love babies, and this one is particularly cute and charming."


"Poppi, I know you are tired from the chemo. I'll sit beside you and be a sweet girl. IF, you will open these Cheerios for me."


Singing Twinkle Twinkle in Gigi's floor.

Ella Kate's Poppi Had A Farm. E-I-E-I-O

This is our version of Old McDonald. On Poppi's farm, he has some cows, goats, bees, ants and rocks!

While we had grand visions of EK visiting the family farm, playing with the animals and running free, we quickly learned that a very sassy 16 month old isn't quite ready to listen to instructions with such excitement around. Something else Ella Kate's Poppi has on his farm? T-R-O-U-B-L-E. You might not know it from the pictures, but she was a nightmare toddler 98% of the time we were there.

And, after ignoring Mommy's 15 warnings about running on rocks, she enjoyed her first skinned knee. E-I-E-I-Ouch.