Happy Birthday Kelly!

We had a wonderful visit from Grammie, Papi, and Uncle B for Kelly's birthday. Here's some of what we did:

This picture is kind of blurry but can't you clearly see that Ella is just having the time of her life with Papi and Uncle B. Here's Papi showing he'll do just about anything for his favorite little girl. Unfortunately some of these things don't end as well as others. Grandfathers weren't meant to fit in playground bunnies. And when you don't fit, you fall out. Thanks again for a wonderful visit. We miss you and can't wait to see you again soon!

Halloween 2007

Here she is...Thank you for your patience. The Halloween Duck that doesn't fly! It was a satisfying reality, a fun Halloween, and a really good costume (great work pulling that off, K).
Here's the Duck and her good friend the Fireman confidently knocking on neighborhood doors.
And here's the yearly documentation of the Halloween ending with a tired Ellaphant, Dewey, or Duck.

High Expectations--A Prelude to the Halloween Post

A bedtime conversation between mommy and Ella…
M: Have a good sleep, because we have a big day tomorrow. Tomorrow is Halloween.
E: Hooray- I get to wear my duckie costume!M: That’s right. You get to wear it to school and then to trick or treating.
E: Where is my duckie costume?
M: The feathers and the orange felt for the feet are in the bag in the living room. I am going to make your costume now.
E: How will you make me fly?
M: Well, we’ll put some feathers on your arms and you can flap your wings like you are flying.
E: But I need to really fly.
M: Halloween is all about pretending, Ella. Everyone just puts on costumes to pretend for fun. Caleb will pretend to be a clock, and you’ll pretend to be a duckie.
E: But Caleb is not a real clock. I will be a REAL duckie for Halloween.
M: It’s just going to be a costume with pretend feathers. You’ll look like a duckie, but you’ll still be Ella. So you can’t fly, because Ella can’t fly. Can you fly for real?
E: No.
M: So we’ll just walk around and say, "quack quack, trick or treat," and you can pretend to be a duck but really underneath you’ll be Ella. Right?
E: Right. (long pause) Except for real I will be able to fly.

Uh-oh. J Maybe the yellow feathers glued on to an old tank top won’t cut it after all…And maybe we'll still be really afraid of masks this year.

More on how Halloween goes coming soon

Reading Buddies

Ella has recently taken to reading to Dewey. And surprisingly, he has taken to being read to. He's a patient boy. And she's reading a book about animals. Obviously the dog would enjoy a book about animals.

A Big Bad World

Ella has been going to a new pre-school for about a month. She is the only two-year-old and most of the kids are 3, 4 and 5. She likes it a lot, is perfectly happy when we leave her there, and never comes home sad or troubled by her day.

Today I got a little insight into the daily goings on. We were talking about "school" at dinner and here's how our conversation went:
Me: Do you play with anyone else besides Claire?
E: No.
Me: You don't play with any of the other kids besides Claire?
E: No. And sometimes Claire doesn't want to play with me.
Me: Then what do you do?
E: I play by myself.
Me: Is playing by yourself fun?
E: YES. No...not really.
That just breaks your heart, huh? Because you can't be there for that moment when she ends up alone and before she finds something to do to keep her happy and make that moment fun. The world is big and bad and we are only just beginning the fun. And she comes home happy each day and loves school. So it'll be OK, overprotective dad.

And then, in true form, we finished our conversation with a laugh...
Me: Do you ever play with your teachers?
E: No. They don't play.
Me: What do they do?
E: Some of them sleep and some of then don't. During nap time. But they all rub our backs.

On to the next activity.

Ella at 32 Months Old

Enough said...

I'm Crazy Stroller Head...

...give me some candy!

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.

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."

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)

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!

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.

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!

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.