Saturday, August 25, 2007
A Week at the Beach
Newport Beach, California--August 2007
Pictures from a typical day on vacation...when can we go back?
Morning walks with Papi
Constant fun with Grammie. Constant. Like every waking minute.
The little girls got to draw all over Papi with sidewalk chalk. Hmmm?
Ella and her cousin Morgan got to become best friends.
Ella even got to drive a boat.
And most days ended with wiffle ball on the beach.
Pictures from a typical day on vacation...when can we go back?
Morning walks with Papi
Constant fun with Grammie. Constant. Like every waking minute.
The little girls got to draw all over Papi with sidewalk chalk. Hmmm?
Ella and her cousin Morgan got to become best friends.
Ella even got to drive a boat.
And most days ended with wiffle ball on the beach. Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Overheard...
At the beach. Up after dark for the first time all summer...
"At the beach there are even stars in summer. Usually there are a lot more stars in winter but at the beach there are also some stars in summer. That's crazy!"
If you believe there are only stars in winter because you're only awake after dark in winter (because you're 2) that is quite crazy! Perspective is everything.
Returned from the beach. Green Beans the fish is looking a little hungry and a little out of sorts after his week alone...
"Grean Beans looks anxious. He's been in the dark all week long. He's glad we're home."
"At the beach there are even stars in summer. Usually there are a lot more stars in winter but at the beach there are also some stars in summer. That's crazy!"
If you believe there are only stars in winter because you're only awake after dark in winter (because you're 2) that is quite crazy! Perspective is everything.
Returned from the beach. Green Beans the fish is looking a little hungry and a little out of sorts after his week alone...
"Grean Beans looks anxious. He's been in the dark all week long. He's glad we're home."
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Expanding Vocabulary...One Day at a Time
Two wonderful conversations coming from the same song:
Peace Like a River
"I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in my soul,"
E: Daddy what's soul?
Z: (Whoa, that's deep...hmmmm) Well, it's sort of like who you are deep inside, what you stand for...your being. It's what makes us each so special!
E: (Smiling) Let's name my baby brother Soul!
Z: That's a very nice idea, Ella. Let's put that on the list. Right after Flamingo!
Z: You know Ella, I really like this song.
E: Me too, Daddy. It is becoming my favorite, favorite song.
Z: Why do you like it so much?
E: (Yells) Because I really like PEAS
Z: Well me too but this song is about PEACE not PEAS. Peace is like when people get a long and don't fight.
E: I have Peace with pretend Dewey. We're friends.
(Real Dewey is staying with Bubby and Zaida's house right now (thank you) so pretend Dewey lives with us right now)
Peace Like a River
"I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in my soul,"
E: Daddy what's soul?
Z: (Whoa, that's deep...hmmmm) Well, it's sort of like who you are deep inside, what you stand for...your being. It's what makes us each so special!
E: (Smiling) Let's name my baby brother Soul!
Z: That's a very nice idea, Ella. Let's put that on the list. Right after Flamingo!
Z: You know Ella, I really like this song.
E: Me too, Daddy. It is becoming my favorite, favorite song.
Z: Why do you like it so much?
E: (Yells) Because I really like PEAS
Z: Well me too but this song is about PEACE not PEAS. Peace is like when people get a long and don't fight.
E: I have Peace with pretend Dewey. We're friends.
(Real Dewey is staying with Bubby and Zaida's house right now (thank you) so pretend Dewey lives with us right now)
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Potty Humor
So we're going on about 3 solid weeks of total diaperless magic. What fun! Ella just turned on the switch and from then on we've been golden.
A few funny moments of a newly potty-trained 2 1/2 year old:
1. Yesterday Ella was sitting on the big toilet peeing. She farted. I gave her a look, as if to prompt her to say, "excuse me," to which she replied, "Daddy, you don't need to say excuse me when you fart on the toilet." I guess that's right--even if you're in the bathroom with someone else. I guess we don't want her to be saying excuse me to herself until she's 80.
2. Just now, Ella insisted that she go to the bathroom by herself. I told her if she needed me to call me and I'd come help. A few minutes later I heard the familiar whine of an about to be frustrated Ella. She was standing with her pants at her ankles trying to turn on the bathroom light. She can sit, and use it, and wipe, and flush, and even wash her hands...but she still can't reach the light. Drat the luck of that lack of independence--for all of us!
A few funny moments of a newly potty-trained 2 1/2 year old:
1. Yesterday Ella was sitting on the big toilet peeing. She farted. I gave her a look, as if to prompt her to say, "excuse me," to which she replied, "Daddy, you don't need to say excuse me when you fart on the toilet." I guess that's right--even if you're in the bathroom with someone else. I guess we don't want her to be saying excuse me to herself until she's 80.
2. Just now, Ella insisted that she go to the bathroom by herself. I told her if she needed me to call me and I'd come help. A few minutes later I heard the familiar whine of an about to be frustrated Ella. She was standing with her pants at her ankles trying to turn on the bathroom light. She can sit, and use it, and wipe, and flush, and even wash her hands...but she still can't reach the light. Drat the luck of that lack of independence--for all of us!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Ms. Fix-It
On Sunday morning, Ella dropped the garage door opener, and I put the pieces back together, and it didn’t work, so I told her that we must have broken it. I didn’t know how to open the garage door without the opener, so just said we’d wait for Daddy to come back from Atlanta on Tuesday.
Then, yesterday, Ella wanted to ride her bike to the park, and I said we couldn’t, because the garage door wouldn’t open:
"Why not?"
"Remember, we dropped it and broke it, and now it doesn’t work."
"Mommy, it isn’t broken, you just need to put the circles back in."
"What circles?"
"The little circles that came out of the garage door opener."
"Where are they?"
"I put them with my penguin and his skateboard in the corner."
Sure enough, there next to the penguin were the 2 batteries. The garage door opener works just fine.
Then, yesterday, Ella wanted to ride her bike to the park, and I said we couldn’t, because the garage door wouldn’t open:
"Why not?"
"Remember, we dropped it and broke it, and now it doesn’t work."
"Mommy, it isn’t broken, you just need to put the circles back in."
"What circles?"
"The little circles that came out of the garage door opener."
"Where are they?"
"I put them with my penguin and his skateboard in the corner."
Sure enough, there next to the penguin were the 2 batteries. The garage door opener works just fine.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Two and a Half
Two weeks ago Ella turned 2 1/2. Here's some catching up...(Today happens to be my 31 1/2 birthday but this isn't about me)
The 2-year old ride continues to get more and more exciting every day. This week Ella decided to be potty trained. We're on day 6 of underpants and we've only had one accident all week. That wasn't so bad. Really.
Today we got Ella's big bed. I imagine this won't be nearly as easy. Sleeping has always been Ella's biggest weakness. We'll keep you all posted on her transition. Or we won't because we'll all be too tired to even remember how to open the computer. She picked out her mattress and her orange sheets and her colorful blanket and she even has a pillow. Wish us luck.
Ella got her first decent haircut last week. We shared an appointment. We both did a great job of sitting still in the big spinny chair. Ella got a sucker and waited until it was over to flap her wings under her smock. It was real fun!
We're extra proud of you this week, Ella. You did a miraculous job getting rid of the diapers. Wow. It just seems that every time we hold our breath for a big bumpy change you come through with some seriously smooth moves.
And speaking of milestones...Green Beans the fish is 6 months old this month. 6 months later somehow we still haven't been through the parental rite of passage of the toilet bowl fish funeral. Now that's miraculous. Way to go big guy!
Love: Two Ways
Recently Ella has been a totally huggable, snuggable, lover. She loves to give unexpected hugs and announces that she loves you at the most wonderfully odd times. It is just wonderful to be around Ella during this phase and to be the recipient of all this love. Here's two funny "love stories" from the week.
1. Kelly says, "I love Ella, and Daddy, and Dewey." I say, "I love Mommy, and Ella, and Dewey." Looking at Mommy, Ella says, "Mommy loves Daddy, Dewey, Ella...and...Cucumbers."
2. At dinner the other night Ella was distractable and not eating much. We asked her to get it together, focus, and eat and she just wasn't having it. She was talking and whining and altogether not on her best behavior. Just as we got to the last warning before table removal, Ella started going back and forth between us saying, "I love you! I love you! I love you!"
That's tough. How do you punish a kid for that? She didn't eat much dinner that night and she certainly didn't get any dessert!
Ella--We love you too!
1. Kelly says, "I love Ella, and Daddy, and Dewey." I say, "I love Mommy, and Ella, and Dewey." Looking at Mommy, Ella says, "Mommy loves Daddy, Dewey, Ella...and...Cucumbers."
2. At dinner the other night Ella was distractable and not eating much. We asked her to get it together, focus, and eat and she just wasn't having it. She was talking and whining and altogether not on her best behavior. Just as we got to the last warning before table removal, Ella started going back and forth between us saying, "I love you! I love you! I love you!"
That's tough. How do you punish a kid for that? She didn't eat much dinner that night and she certainly didn't get any dessert!
Ella--We love you too!
FahLucas
A while back, our neighbor's washable, wettable all-plastic baby doll was spotted cavorting in the sprinkler and flying down the Slip-N-Slide... while Ella's own not-all-plastic baby dolls (poor Inside Toys!) missed all of the fun. So, after several not-so-subtle hints ("I weally, weally NEED a plastic baby, Mommy."), Ella made her first quest to Toys R Us today.
We beelined for the doll aisle and sat down in front to pick the Very Best All-Plastic Baby- a fat one with pink shorts and a smoochy mouth. I figured her name would be Plastic Baby (which would fit in with Ella's other friends, Elephant and Baby), but asked anyway- "Ella, what is this baby's name?"
Ella thought a minute, patted her little all-plastic face, smiled, and said proudly, "Her name is FahLucas."
(Mommy note: I'm a bit jealous she took our girl name...but I have to say FahLucas is a nice addition to the baby pool.)
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Happy Father's Day!
Guest Blog from Kelly:
Happy Father's Day, Zach!
Overheard in the car on the way home from Ella's babysitter's house...
Ella: Where did you live when you were a big girl?
Kelly: I lived at Grammie and Poppy's house.
E: Why did you?
K: Because kids live with their moms and dads until they are grownups, and then they can move out.
E: Why did you?
K: Because I wanted to live with Daddy.
E: I want to live with Daddy too.
K: You do live with Daddy. We all live together.
E: I want to live with daddy when I am a grownup.
K: You might want to have your own house.
E: No. I will live with Daddy.
K: Why?
E: I really love Daddy.
(Me too :). )
Happy Father's Day, Zach!
Overheard in the car on the way home from Ella's babysitter's house...
Ella: Where did you live when you were a big girl?
Kelly: I lived at Grammie and Poppy's house.
E: Why did you?
K: Because kids live with their moms and dads until they are grownups, and then they can move out.
E: Why did you?
K: Because I wanted to live with Daddy.
E: I want to live with Daddy too.
K: You do live with Daddy. We all live together.
E: I want to live with daddy when I am a grownup.
K: You might want to have your own house.
E: No. I will live with Daddy.
K: Why?
E: I really love Daddy.
(Me too :). )
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Dog Days...
...of spring!
It got to be 90 degrees this Memorial Day weekend. It isn't humid yet so it is just beautiful! We haven't been inside much. We've been busy on boats, in our garden, in our pool, and on our new hammock. It has been absolutely, perfectly wonderful. Come on down and join us if you can!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Kool-Aid Pickles
The Mississipi Delta Kool-Aid Pickle finally gets the national attention it deserves. Yummy!
Check out this article in the New York Times Food Section. I lived in Indianola, Mississippi once and I ate my fair share of Kool-Aid Pickles. We'll be making some this weekend for Ella and I hope she'll share because I miss them!
Check out this article in the New York Times Food Section. I lived in Indianola, Mississippi once and I ate my fair share of Kool-Aid Pickles. We'll be making some this weekend for Ella and I hope she'll share because I miss them!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Ella and Dewey
We've been on blog break for a while and we've been on Ella and Dewey update break for even longer. Here's evidence that the EllaAndouille show is alive and kicking. The love is strong as ever. Basically, they're best friends!
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Here's Ella making a case for a visit to Key West. In the second picture she's trying to show us that she wouldn't let it get too crazy.
Slow Down!
Here is a picture of Ella running across our backyard.
Recently we've noticed that Ella doesn't walk anymore. She either runs or sleeps and barely stops to eat. If you think about it that's kind of nice. To be so excited to get from point A to point B that you always choose to run must be a wonderful state of mind!
"Ella, go say goodnight to Dewey." She shoots into the other room for a big hug and a kiss.
"Ella, let's go get in the car." Vrooom, she's out the door and waiting at the car door (only to then take 20 minutes to strap herself into her carseat, of course).
You name it, she's running to it. The rumble of her little feet is just a wonderful sound!
This weekend we found a way to slow down. Ella and I got out her tent and spent much our Daddy and Ella weekend in the tent. We snuggled, we read together, we pretended to nap (I occasionally napped while she pretended), and we covered the inside with stickers from Great-Grammie (Thank you!). On Sunday morning Ella wanted some time in the tent to herself. I took this picture while I stretched out on the couch reading the Sunday NY Times and she read to herself in the tent. That's the life! That is the life, friends!
Recently we've noticed that Ella doesn't walk anymore. She either runs or sleeps and barely stops to eat. If you think about it that's kind of nice. To be so excited to get from point A to point B that you always choose to run must be a wonderful state of mind!
"Ella, go say goodnight to Dewey." She shoots into the other room for a big hug and a kiss.
"Ella, let's go get in the car." Vrooom, she's out the door and waiting at the car door (only to then take 20 minutes to strap herself into her carseat, of course).
You name it, she's running to it. The rumble of her little feet is just a wonderful sound!
This weekend we found a way to slow down. Ella and I got out her tent and spent much our Daddy and Ella weekend in the tent. We snuggled, we read together, we pretended to nap (I occasionally napped while she pretended), and we covered the inside with stickers from Great-Grammie (Thank you!). On Sunday morning Ella wanted some time in the tent to herself. I took this picture while I stretched out on the couch reading the Sunday NY Times and she read to herself in the tent. That's the life! That is the life, friends!
Bedtime Ritual
Ella bedtime has always been a slightly volatile time in our house. She's come a long way but we're still very careful to preserve ritual and always willing to welcome a new ritual if it means bedtime will go smooth. We'd proudly like to introduce two new elements of our bedtime ritual. First, the coolest cherry pajamas you've ever seen!
And less conventionally, we'd like to share with you the bedtime cup of milk and bicycle helmet routine! Don't ask. And don't worry. She takes it off before she gets in the crib. But as she gets closer and closer to figuring out how to get out of the crib we might let her take the helmet in.
And less conventionally, we'd like to share with you the bedtime cup of milk and bicycle helmet routine! Don't ask. And don't worry. She takes it off before she gets in the crib. But as she gets closer and closer to figuring out how to get out of the crib we might let her take the helmet in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)