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.)

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 :). )

Big News

Take it away, Ella...

The Eagle Scout ABCs

"Look Mommy. I broke this stick and I turned it into an A."

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!

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!

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!

Hello?

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.

Small

Sometimes when you spend a lot of time with the same two-year-old you forget how small they are. They act grown, they seem grown, and they want you to think that they are not two--by acting as two as they possibly can.

And then sometimes you're reminded just how small they really are...What's up, shorty?

Fairy Trucker School

Here's Ella packing her things for Fairy Trucker School. All she needs is her pants and her tutu, of course.

OK. Got my fairy tutu and I'm ready to go! (I might take a nap on the bus on the way to school)

Have a good day Mom, Dad, and Dewey. I'm off to Fairy Trucker School. See ya later!

Catching Up On North Carolina Spring

We've been so busy having fun this spring that we just haven't had time to share our fun. We're having fun--don't worry. Here are a few highlights from the beginnings of our 1st southern spring...

Ella has learned to pick, and say, daffodiwls.
Ella and Dewey have enjoyed sitting outside ALL DAY every day
Springtime makes us all like to kiss a lot.

Our Daffodils are gone and our azaleas and tulips are in full bloom. We're working on our summer herb, vegetable, and flower gardens. Outdoor life is good this spring!

Cause and Effect

I have long believed that the consistent ability to determine causal links is one of the truest benchmarks of intelligience. Simple, and complex, cause and effect problem solving is an important key to success in life.
Tonight while I was getting Ella ready for bed she had a cause and effect breakthrough. As I was changing her diaper she was playing with a clean pillowcase--off the pillow. When she began to put the clean item down by her bottom I quickly put a stop to it. Here's the transcript of the rest of the conversation:
Me: No. No. Please don't put that clean pillowcase on your tush!
Ella: (resisting my demand) Why?
Me: Because I don't want my pillowcase to be dirty!
Ella: (still resisting, but no longer jamming the pillowcase up her &%$) Why?
Me: Because I don't want to put my head on your poop.
Ella: But I'm not putting my poop on your head i'm putting my poop on your pillowcase.
Me: But where do I put my head at night?
Ella: (lightbulbs go off and she makes her SMART face) Um...If I put my poop on your pillowcase and you put your head on your pillowcase then my poop gets on your head (she laughs, and finally puts down the pillowcase for good).
She's brilliant AND I get to sleep easy and poop-free for another night.

Downward Dog

Will You Be My Valentine?

The Statue of Liberty or a Young Picasso?

Thank you for the easel and paints, Bubby and Zaida. Ella's got her smock on and this is her first paint creation.

Still Leaning to the Left

You may remember Ella's reaction to last year's State of the Union Address. With our President looking stupider and stupider these days Ella's reactions are getting stronger and more sophisticated. What does this face, recorded soon after this year's address, say to you?

But this year we're excited to take more action. Along with the many candidates we have to choose from, we got off to an early start on the campaign trail and joined our local boy, John Edwards, for a rally last month.

With the Illinois roots running through this house it is likely we'll end up an Obama family. But for now we like John Edwards' message. He's for not waiting until January 2009 to change our country. He's promoting activity and volunteerism now and I believe that even if he doesn't win his impact will be positive. And if we support him some now his impact could even be far-reaching.
So Ella says get busy making change AND Obama '08.
Side note: It is REALLY cute when a 2-year-old says Barak Obama.

24 months of Ella

Happy Birthday(2 weeks late)!

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!

23 months

Ella's 23 month birthday came and went before Thanksgiving. Now we're almost to two but I'm going to pause here for a moment to share a little of what life with our 23 month old is like. In a nutshell it is non-stop fun, an unmeasurable pleasure, and wondrous at every turn.

Here are some of the more interesting highlights:

On Thanksgiving morning Ella and I watched some of the Macy's Parade. At one point I said, "Those are some elephants at the parade!" To which she responded, "Those are just pretend elephants." Thanks for the clarification shorty. Good thing she's half Jewish because we might have a hard time convincing this 2 year old that Santa Claus isn't pretend.

On our drive home from Thanksgiving with Bubby, Zaida, and Double-Bubby, Ella was singing unprompted blues from her carseat. "I bumped my head...in my crib...it was so, so bad. Oh I bumped my head...in my crib...it was so, soooooo bad!" Where did that come from?

This morning Kelly and Ella were talking about our friend and the baby in her tummy. Kelly was explaining that the baby will come out of her but in some animals the baby comes out of an egg. She asked, "What comes out of eggs?"

Ella, "A bird"

K, "What kind of bird?"

E, "A chicken."

K, "Where does the chicken go when it comes out of the egg?"

Pause...a nest right?

E, "My esophagus...and then my tummy!"

Right.

All that brilliance and she's still got those cool eyes. We love you Ella B! Can't wait for the big T-W-O.

Autumn Fun

Don't worry Ella, there's plenty more fun where that came from. We'll be having this kind of (homeowner with a yard) fun for weeks!

The Happy Itsy-Bitsy

The Angry Itsy-Bitsy

How dogs say hello...

Will the Real Dewey Please Stand Up!?

The sugar high is over, the painted nose has rubbed off, the streets are quiet again, and Ella and Dewey are asleep. Happy Halloween! Ella dressed up like Dewey this year and had so much fun on her first trick-or-treat adventure. We ran into some trouble with a few scary masks but we fought through the fear, met some nice not-dressed-up people, and got some candy.

Thanks for the great Dewey Costume, Mom!

Ella begins to understand the real pleasure behind Halloween. Hello bag full of CANDY!


Which one is the real Dewey? Hmmmmm?

Just like last year, Halloween ends with a tired Ella.

I Don't Like Pie (Usually)

Much is made of my frequent proclamation that I don't like pie. Over the years I've made some exceptions but in general I just don't really like pie. Some members of my family find my claim to be ridiculous. They ask, "How could you not like pie? Everyone likes pie! Pie!"Well, now I like pie. If this girl asks you if you want some pie how could you say no?Yes, baby. Of course I'd like some pie. Thank you.

Losing Daylight

As it is already October we are really starting to lose our daylight evening hours. Ella hasn't gotten to play outside in the dark since last April. Clearly she's enjoying it!