Sweet Girl

May 9, 2010

Ella turned 32 months old (or 2 1/2 years and 2 months) last week. It is amazing to think that in only 4 months she will be turning 3 years old! It really does seem like only yesterday that she was a newborn--time has flown by.

She is such a fun little girl, full of personality. It is interesting for Rob and I to see some of our traits in her---both in her physical looks and temperment. Here are a few of her interests now:

• anything physical, especially outside: running, climbing, "playing" soccer, doing gymnastics, blowing bubbles, helping with the garden (digging and scooping dirt), using the water hose, playing at the playground
  

• favorite foods: macaroni and cheese, pizza, grilled cheese (do you sense a cheese theme??), waffles, fruit (bananas, apples, grapes), carrots and celery (raw), peas and corn, anything sweet (brownies, cookies), applesauce, yogurt, "snacks" (pretzels, veggie crunchies)

• favorite tv shows/movies: Clifford, Curious George, Elmo's World, Super Y

• favorite books: Curious George books, My Spring Robin, Little Critter books

• favorite indoor activities: coloring, drawing pictures, sorting anything (blocks, toys, pieces), using stickers, play-dough, walking her dog (Snoopy), making food in her kitchen, playing school
  

• other interests: going to the library story time, playing with her playgroup friends, going on "dates" with Daddy (for ice cream or to the "tool store"), helping around the house (collecting the garbage, emptying the utensils from the dishwasher, filling the dryer, dusting, etc)
  

Lately, Ella has been saying so many funny things that I haven't even been able to keep track of them all (some of those things are phrases that Rob and I have used with her that she repeats to us in other contexts):

• "Calm down, Daddy, about the car. Calm down, okay?" (with hand motions)

• "Mommy, be really gentle with that bowl. It's glass and you could break it."

• "Hey, don't go, Mommy! It's a red light, you have to stop!" (I was turning right on red--try explaining that one to a toddler---she later told Rob that, "Mommy didn't stop at the red light today when we were driving to playgroup").
  

Other updates:

• She's been doing really well (knock on wood) in her big girl bed (over a month since the switch-over from her baby crib).
  

• We're working on sharing with friends---that's a tough one for toddlers!
  

• She is nearly fully potty-trained (wears underwear all day)---just needs to make the switch to using the regular toilet instead of her "little potty" so that she can go when we are out and about (we have until September when she starts preschool 2 mornings a week).

We are so proud of her! Every day she has funny things to say, so many hugs, kisses and smiles to share, and the cutest laugh. She is polite and friendly. Rob and I are blessed to be her parents!