Birthday number one

EllenI’m not sure how it happened, but somehow a year has passed since Ellen came along. It went by quickly, and it seems like she’s been with us all along.

She’s not walking yet. She’s pretty confident standing though, and this weekend Frits coaxed her into taking a step or two. It won’t be long, but so far she doesn’t really seem to think it’s an option anyway.

The way that she’s changed the most though, is her comprehension. She catches on to things that she wouldn’t have figured out before. She’s not solving equations or anything, but you can show her something and she’ll try it herself.

Ellen Ellen examines a gift Extreme concentration is required...

This also means that she’s quick to catch on when we prevent her from doing something she wants to do, like play with the laptop or climb the stairs, and she’s not shy about protesting such injustices. Luckily she’s still pretty easy to distract, but that won’t last.

MarieWe had a birthday party on Saturday both for Ellen and Marie, who turned 14 on the 9th.

Lisbeth made pizzas, which were delicious, but I’ve yet to fully adjust to some of the things that Danes do to pizzas. There are quite a few toppings available at the average pizzeria that you won’t find in the US, including egg, shrimp, and potato. Lisbeth made four pizzas, one with ground beef, one with salami, one with potato, and one that you won’t find in any pizzeria: a grape pizza. Which may sounds disgusting but it was sort of a desert pizza with honey as well, and it was surprisingly good.

DSC_4238.JPG Ellen's birthday cake Ellen, displaying a bit of attitude

After lunch we had cake and coffee. Lisbeth and I had some discussion in advance about whether Ellen would get her first taste of cake for her birthday, but I feel like there’s no rush for her to discover sugar. So Ellen didn’t get cake, but she did get a small taste of ice cream, and all indications are that it was the beginning of a life-long friendship.

Stine Storm Storm and Hanne

After that we went sledding. On crazy old-fashioned sleds — the kind I’d really only seen in movies. It was a lot of fun. But, right before quitting, I suggested one more run. Lisbeth, Kaspar and I got on the the big sled, climbed the big hill, and had a little wreck on the way down. I twisted my ankle just badly enough to give me a limp for a few days, but Lisbeth and Kaspar were fine.

Ellen takes a quiet nap in the country Anne and Karen haul a napping Storm out to the sledding hill Marie, Rikke Naja, and Mogens Hanne Anne Lisbeth and Frits with Ellen Hanne, Kaspar, and I prepare for launch Mogens Lisbeth and Anne Mogens prepares a run for Marie, Rikke Naja and Frits Lisbeth, Hanne, and Kaspar Anne

5 Thoughts on “Birthday number one

  1. Auntie Heather on February 18, 2010 at 12:32 am said:

    What a beauty! She is looking less like a baby and more like a little girl! I can’t wait to see her this summer :) (I’m secretly hoping– although I guess not too secretly now– that she will be able to say “Auntie Heather” by then ;) )

  2. Feliz Cumpleanos, mi sobrina linda! Mucho amor, Auntie Connie!

  3. Oh my! Our little girl gets bigger every day. I’m glad to see that the Trujillo features are coming through. The other features are OK too.

  4. Seriously, Adam, take a picture of her wearing Lisbeth’s bathing suit. Do it every year on her birthday, using the same suit, until she grows into it. It would be great to make a photo gallery of the different years.

  5. Cousin Sarah on February 18, 2010 at 8:07 pm said:

    No cake! Was there no sugar in the ice cream? She’ll probably make up for her lack of sugar in Denmark when she’s visiting New Mexico. The Coppocks do love sugar!

    Ellen is beautiful and the emerging personality is amazing, isn’t it? We can’t wait to see her again.

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