Firsts

Since it is the first month in the year 2011, and we've just celebrated all these neat dates like 1/1/11 & 1/11/11 (how cool is that?  I worked both those days and wrote out the whole date both times, just 'cuz I'm a dork like that.  But I digress... :) ...anyways, since all these 1s are floating around, I thought I would share a few FIRSTS of the new year! 
 To start with, I can't believe this is my FIRST post since Thanksgiving.  Ridiculous.  As if the holidays are busy.  Pshaw.  :)

We celebrated in Illinois, and you can see all sorts of pictures by clicking here (if you're friends with John, at least).  Here are a few of my favorites: 

Ooooo.  Pretty.

Cousins!  So precious.

Wha?  I'm not doing anything.

I need to look at this when Tanner is acting every bit of 3 1/2.

OK, so I didn't really talk about any FIRSTS.  But there were cute pictures, so I'm sure you're somewhat contented.  :)

So, here we go!  Ellery had her FIRST by-herself-stand! 

I'll stand here as long as you want if I get to play with this remote, Nana.

To be honest, this wasn't actually in 2011 - but it was December 28th, which is pretty darn close.  And since that time (just the other day), she decided to stand up on her own with nothing around!  Today, in fact, she is giving a clinic on "How to Practice Standing from Sitting on the Floor."

Again, kindof a lame FIRST, given that it wasn't really in 2011.  SO...here is a cute 2011 video of her getting a special "no-no" if she'll stand unsupported:  (Disclaimer:  We do not believe in bribery as an effective means of parenting.  Mostly.)

OK, so you want REAL FIRSTS since I promised them.  How 'bout my FIRST-born getting her FIRST case of strep throat?  How's THAT for FIRSTS?  A bit too real for you, you NambyPambys??? haha :):):)  (let me tell you, it's a ROTTEN FIRST!  But she was SUCH a good girl pre-antibiotics - it was like a fever-induced bliss.  Antibiotics cleared that right up, don't you worry).  :) 

Oh yes, of course Ellery has had her FIRST blowout.  I'm sure you just assumed that.  I think she made it to January 2nd before blessing us with that FIRST.  :)

Back to the stories at hand...

 A 2011 milestone in our house was our FIRST family pizza night!  In case you weren't aware, Friday night is PIZZA NIGHT at the Hurli-house.  It was a pre-kiddo tradition that endures, and excitedly involves moving chairs into the TV room and watching something fun on the boob tube while we dine. Since Ellery's foray into food, however, I've spent my pizza nights at the kitchen table with her, shoving baby food in her mouth and pizza into mine.  No longer, my friends - no longer.  Our baby girl has now been initiated into pizza night!

A tortuous initiation that involved lots of hazing.

Lastly, a look at a few FIRST picture moments of 2011: 

A few Saturdays ago, we went in for our FIRST family photo session in 2011.  We chose the experts at JCPenney's to do pictures, mostly because it is close (and the professional photo shoot I bought at a silent auction didn't end up working out.  Humphf.)  Anyways, we came away with what is essentially very pricey pictures that could easily be considered on the Awkward Family Photos website:

Elle's half-screaming, Tanner is obviously enthused. 
 Good pic of John & Shannon, though.  Kindof. 
Nah, who's kidding who.  Not a great pic.

Don't worry!  All was not lost.  We also got our FIRST cute sis pic! 

(a collective):  AWWWWW!!!!
Man, our girls are CUUUUUTE!

We also got some FIRST cute pics of the girls by themselves (of course - it was just the family pictures that are crazy rotten!) 

Who's sassy?

...this sweet girl is!

Who's cute?

...this beauty is!

We continue to celebrate a ton of FIRSTs - Ellery's FIRST birthday party was Saturday (post to follow!); tonight we had our FIRST big-girl dinner - we rearranged our dining room seating arrangement to accommodate for a 1-year old who gets to sit in a booster seat like a big girl now!; and just around the corner we are going to see Ellery's FIRST steps and get Tanner's FIRST earrings.  Big stuff in our Hurli-world, I assure you.

Seeing as this is a post about FIRSTs, I would be remiss if I didn't throw a shout-out to my friend, Jess, who is about to celebrate the FIRST of what will be many 29th birthdays!  Happy FIRST 29th, my friend!  (a few weeks early :)
 Happy reading....FIRST birthday pics coming soon! :)