When you grow up....

Ella: Mommy, what does Daddy want to be when he grows up?

Me: Daddy is already grown up. He's an engineer.

Ella: What do you want to be when you grow up, Mommy?

Me: I'm grown up, too. I'm a teacher and a mommy. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Ella: I want to be a roll of toilet paper!

Lover of Dogs

So far, Ella has not been really interested in dolls, Barbies, and dress-up. She does love dogs, though.....

I started going to the YMCA in Abington and while I am working out, Ella stays in the babysitting room (to prepare her for preschool, we are calling the babysitting room "gym school"). Tonight when she was taking her bath, I was asking her what things she played with in gym school. Ella told me her favorite thing beside the balls was the dog house. I said, "I didn't see a dog house there." She explained that it was a house that you can put furniture in and close it up. I said, "Oh, you mean a doll house." She asked, "It's called a doll house?....Oh, I thought that was a place that little dogs go in when they are tired."

A good try

Ella has been helpful with putting her dishes in the dishwasher after meals. I am practicing being patient as they don't always make it into great spots....other times "dishes" that are better suited for the trash can make their way into the dishwasher, as well.......

Ella's paper plate in the dishwasher (thankfully I noticed it before running it through).....It was a good try! :)

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!

Celebrating Mothers' Day!

I had the best Mothers' Day yesterday. It started with Rob and Ella bringing me breakfast in bed and my presents. Ella made a card and picture and the two of them bought me a pretty watch--perfect gifts!

Then after Mass, Ella and Rob gave me another gift---they gave me time to work out at the gym while they took my car to get it washed and vac'd out (it really needed it--it's one of those things I can never keep clean...I don't even try)!

The day before Ella picked out an indoor tropical plant for me when she went to "the tool store" with Rob. I had a great spot picked out for it in the living room, although Ella had a different place in mind (she quickly moved it to where she wanted it---she's a girl who knows what she wants)!

We all spent the rest of the day at Uncle Bill's where he had a delicious meal for us (the highlight for Ella was the cake and ice cream). Rob's parents joined us, too.

Thanks to Madge and Dad who sent me a really nice card and bought me a beautiful hanging flower basket for my front porch! Last week, in Harrisburg, my mom took me out for dinner, too. Unfortunately, I had a computer/camera glitch and the pictures of our time together and gift exchange got erased, so I don't have any to share.

veggie "pizza"
(one of our appetizers)

looking at the picture that Ella drew for me


getting help opening my card


Ella pointing to the gift she and Rob got me--a new watch


thank you kisses for my sweetheart


Larry (his dad) and Rob


the guys on Mothers' Day---Larry, Rob, and Uncle Bill


opening the card for Nana


helping Nana with her present
(a framed picture of the two of them)


walking her bunny, Button, with Brittany's leash


cake from Uncle Bill--thank you!


kisses for Nana


more kisses!


mommy and daughter

Thank you to everyone who made the day so special for me!

Happy Annniversary! (belated)

married April 23, 1977

Happy belated Anniversary to Dad and Madge! (almost half a month late..sorry!)



They have been married for 33 years! I hope that Rob and I follow their example of love, patience, friendship, and flexibility through our married years. I love you guys!

Happy Mothers' Day, moms!

Happy Mothers' Day
to all of the mothers in our lives!

Thank you to our mothers and grandmothers who care for us and love us unconditionally. They have taken time to nurture us and teach us how to be. All have sacrificed their time and comfort for us and we are both grateful and blessed!

Peggy: Rob's mom, Ella's Nana, and my mother-in-law

An excellent gardener and baker with a contagious laugh and beautiful hair,
she has a special way to show you her care.
She is good at staying organized and keeping things straight,
and she is never, ever late.

Peggy: Rob's grandmother, Ella's Granny, and my new Granny

Likes to do puzzles and have a good book to read,
Granny is funny and can really make us laugh.

Mary: Rob's new Gram, Ella's Great-Gram, and my Gram

She is always on the move and ready to go,
she knows how to make you smile when you're feeling low.
She's thinks about us every day
and is the perfect Gram is every way.

Marylou: Rob's mother-in-law, Ella's Baba, and my Madge

She is funny and smart, healthy and fit,
as you'll rarely ever see her sit.
She's a nurse, teacher, and model for me....
She is who I'd like to be.



the 4 generations of women
(Gram, Madge, me, Ella)


Paulette: my godmother

Unfortunately, I could not easily locate a digital photo of Paulette,
but I had to include her in my list of mothers for the day because she is such
a wonderful godmother to me. She is funny and spirited and is always checking up on me and involved in what I'm doing. She never forgets a birthday or anniversary, either!



A Mothers' Day Blessing

Bless you in the morning, as you start your day.
With all the strenth & wisdom that you'll need along the way.
Bless you with the special love you take the time to share ~
With warm appreciation for the many ways you care.
Bless you with a happy heart & when each day is done,
Bless you with all the joy you bring to each & everyone.

~Emily Matthews

Summer-Like Weekend

This past weekend we had temperatures in the 90's and high humidity. Baba came down to visit on Friday into Saturday and we had a great time. Ella used the new garden Elmo tool set in a bag that she got from Pappy and Baba to work in her garden and plant tomato seeds. We went to opening day of the Glenside Farmers' Market, played outside with water, containers, and bubbles, and played in the sprinkler. Later in the day, Ella painted the model car that she and Rob built (that was her birthday gift to him).

On Sunday, we went to a birthday party for one of Ella's friends, Lexi, at the playground. The girls met when they were only a few months old in playgroup, and now Lexi just turned 3 years old! We ended our weekend with treats from Ritas! I think we all slept well on Sunday night!

helping Baba put on her makeup


waiting to go outside to blow bubbles
(chose her froggy boots to wear for the day)


smiling for the camera


playing with the hose and cups


Rob and me


Ella pointing to show Rob which way to run through the sprinkler
(She had much more fun watching and laughing at him do it!)


"Go, Daddy!"


blurry, but this is so funny!
The neighbors even called over and cheered for him!


cutie


painting the racecar while Rob steadies it


picking her colors carefully

Garden

Our garden is almost completely filled with herbs and vegetable plants and things are growing well so far. We planted the red-leaf and green-leaf lettuce and some tomato plants that we got at the Glenside Farmers' Market (so inexpensive and very hardy looking). We planted the tomatoes on Saturday and we already have 3 or 4 yellow blossoms, so hopefully the will continue to do well (I might even get some more and put them in containers since I love using tomatoes to cook with, especially in homemade sauce).

I was really hoping to use the water from our rain barrel to water the garden, but we found that there isn't enough pressure when a hose is attached, so we'll just have to reserve that water for filling buckets and cans for container plants.

green-leaf lettuce

another view of the green-leaf lettuce


just watered


red-leaf lettuce


lettuce, with some tomatoes in the back


full garden


waiting to grow


planting tomato seeds in peat pots


top of orange tulip


salvia growing back from last year
(I thought I accidentally ripped it out, so this was a nice surprise)


azalea bush in bloom


rhododendron


my favorite color tulip in our yard
(hostas in the background)