Lately

Lately we've been retraining Ellis to say she's two, since in a mere 8 hours and 15 minutes, it will be TRUE!!! So here is your last Ellis as a one-year-old-update:

She's crazy. In a good way. And typically it coincides with her dad's presence.


She's calm. In a good way. This more often coincides with my presence.


She's funny. Almost always. And she'll tell you so, too: "Ellis is funny!"

Here's the before shot of our kitchen wall that Gabe and I got all DIY on (nothing to do with Ellis other than the fact that she also had to breath in too much "construction" dust during the process).



And after:

I love how it turned out!

And here is how I find Ellis' babies, Cosette and Daisy, every morning when I come in to get her up. They start out in the crib, but always end up wedged in between the wall and the crib. :)


Another example of the special treatment they receive from Ellis:



Play-Dough is a favorite activity lately. When asked, "What are you making, Ellis?" She often responds, "I'm just makin'."


Her "silly face"---which she developed all on her own:


Still enjoys burying herself with stuffed animals:

I can't believe my little sweetie pie is turning TWO tomorrow!! How did this happen?

Some common quotes these days:

"Upsy down" = upside down

"Pincess" = princess, a term used to describe all girls --- all her.

"Opitus" = octopus

"Downders" = upstairs/downstairs

"Hi-you" = how are you (often followed by thank you when the question is asked back to her)

"Thaz mine" = that's mine----I don't know how this one infiltrated our home, but here it is. Often.

"Gahbeseww" = God bless you.

"Daddy's. Awt. Wook." = Daddy's at work.

"Have fun today!" When I leave for the flower shop on Saturdays.

"Mmmm. That's tasty."

"I wuv a ________ (fill in the blank) (said while tilting head and hugging whatever the object of her love happens to be) ---sticker; bear; tiny speck of play-dough; baby; spoon...there's a lotta love in this house.


Oh! I almost forgot. Ellis got her own mini-person's potty which she peed in once the other morning. I was much more excited than she was, but it's still progress!