A Dog's Life

This picture was taken this past week. It was sunny and almost 70 degrees and Dewey was totally lounging in the sun on the screened-in-porch. It is December. Welcome to the south old boy! Enjoy.

Dance Party

Ella and Cousin Caleb dance, dance, dance!!!

Grammie helps take the party to the next level.

Ashes, ashes, they all fall DOWN!!

Text-to-Life Connections

This one's for all the reading teachers out there...

Ella towards the end of dinner:
Ella--Can you turn on music please? I want to dance?
Me--We're still eating. We can turn it on when we're done.
Ella--Dewey, can you turn on the music?
Me--Dewey's upstairs, and besides he can't turn on the music. He's a dog.
Ella--(now kind of frustrated) Carl turned on the music?
Me--Yes he did. You're right (WOW). And they danced too. (Where'd that come from?)

By Carl she meant, Good Dog Carl, who "babysits" a little girl and does in fact turn on music for her. Next we'll conquer the reading skill and literary tools of fact and fiction.

Responsibility

Ella got a goldfish and a snail for her birthday. Grean Beans and Woodrow. You can bet this picture is the last time I do anything for this fish. This is about responsibility big girl. Responsibility!

Well, since their aquarium is higher than you can reach I guess I'll feed them.

A Guest Blog from "Aunt" Anna--Part Two

(Anna spent all of Kelly's labor and Ella's delivery with us two years ago. She was one of the first people ever to meet our girl and she'll always be one of Ella's best friends. Thank you Anna. Thanks for another year of thoughts about our girl)

It's hard for me to refrain from feeling sentimental on December 18 (and if you need proof of that, feel free to revisit Ella's 1st birthday). Being present for Ella's birth remains one of the most amazing moments of my life.

As I write today, though, I am more struck by the incredible person that Ella has become. She's brilliant, and sweet, and wonderful beyond words. Her parents say this often, and I can assure you that they do not exaggerate. She's creative and talkative, and visiting her world is delightful. This weekend, I loved watching her play with her new stuffed-animal dog, Sierra, who she named herself and took on several walks around the living room (using a plastic bag to clean up the pretend dog's mess, no less!). I loved hearing Ella sing Christmas carols, loudly joining in with her mom whenever she knew the words. I loved watching her take care of her babydoll, oddly named "Baby Jesus" (and I can assure you that she bestowed that name as well). I loved watching her move around the house, so excited to be doing whatever she was doing that she combined skipping and running to get there faster. It is as if her feet are constantly too happy to merely walk. Ella is so clearly adored, and it shows in her joy, her confidence, and her willingness to love others. Her birthday, no doubt, is as much a celebration of Kelly and Zach's parenting as it is her own life. Watching them with her, from before she was even born through the past two years, continues to be inspiring. I am so happy that they have Ella, and so grateful that she has them.

As I was making Ella's cupcakes yesterday, I was thinking about how it should be a tradition, on birthdays, for everyone to have candles so that they can make silent wishes on behalf of the guest of honor. I did not have a candle in front of me yesterday, but I have a million wishes for this precious little girl. I could only begin to sum them up by saying, Ella, I wish for you a life that is full of joy, safety, adventure, laughter, good naps, fish cakes, locopops, Dewey, and all of the good things you have yet to discover. And I wish that you one day have in your life a little girl to love, just like I love you.
Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet Ella Bella Boo! I can't wait to see where this year takes you.

The Joke's on Dewey

O Christmas Tree!

A guest blog from Mommy (since Daddy wasn't home): Ella and I decorated our Christmas tree today. It's a nice one... in Ella's words, "It's really big! And it has a towel on it!" (actually a blanket around the bottom) It's taller than Zach and looks great next to our fireplace. To get the decorating party started, EHP spent almost a full hour unpacking our ornaments and meticulously sorting and arranging them on the yoga mat all by herself. Here's a peek into a brilliant and logical almost-2-year-old brain:

The bears all go together, and the reindeer and elephant go next to them because they're also animals.... except for the dog...

...which goes all the way across the room next to the real dog.

Wait a minute, Ella, what the heck do a Maryland blue crab and a little green elf have in common? They were both deemed "scary" and exiled off the yoga mat.

Unsolicited Love

Often I say, "Ella, when Daddy or Mommy say 'I love you' you should you say 'I love you too!'" Sometimes that works. Most of the times it doesn't. We understand. She's learning and her language and emotions are developing rapidly and randomly. Even if we could get her to say it regularly what would it really mean, right?
Well, the other day as we put coats on and walked out the door Ella gave Dewey a special pat on the head and a kiss on the nose and then as we walked towards the door she turned back to him and said, "I love you, Dewey. See you later." Clearly he didn't say it first. She just really wanted him to know and she meant it!
Good job, Dewey. You win!