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.