The play-by-play

I just realized there's a pan of corn sitting on the stove from last night. Whoops.


Ellis, while pointing at the back of her hand: There's a little spider on me.

Me: Where??

Ellis: I think he's just hiding.

Turns out she has a teeny tiny sliver in her hand. :)


Typically Ellis clams up around other people she's not super familiar with. I feel like people must never believe me when I swear she talks non-stop at home. So here is an exact retelling of the very one-sided conversation she just had with me (spiders seem to be emerging as the theme of the day):

I think that's another spider on me, Mommy. And there's a spider in that room (pointing to the living room). I think that's a spider in that room? Did you see that widdle spider in that room...in the couch, Mommy? Did you hear the spider, Mama?

She is now crawling on the floor exclaiming every couple of seconds, "There's aNUDDER spider!!"

Now she's wrapping herself in a blanket, singing, "And everybody's a princess...and everybody's a princess..."

Now she's lying on the floor with the blanket and her magnetic "paper doll" next to her, also under the blanket, saying, " Goodnight my special girl. Goodnight my special girl."

Now they're up and the special girl is being told, "We need to get you dressed. We need to get you dressed, girlie."

Quiet from the other room...

Me: Whatcha doing in there?

Ellis: I'm just covering that girl. Just covering the baby girl.

...

Thanks for reading to us, Mommy. (though I'm not reading, I'm currently transcribing)...You're so helpful, Mommy.

...

Coming back around the corner with her arms full: And this is my lamb. And this is my sheep. And this is my baby (baby fell: Awww baby). And this is my ???not sure??? (All of these were said with special, high-pitched emphasis on the word 'this')


Earlier this morning Ellis pooped in the toilet for the first time! We were sitting eating breakfast when out of nowhere she said, "I need to take a poop." Despite not knowing where she learned to say "take a poop" I was very excited. Within seconds we had success. Then she asked for underwear. Not yet, Ellis. My decision was affirmed a few minutes later when she followed up by pooping in her diaper.

Now going from one blanket to another wrapping her 'girl' accompanied by lots of whispering that I can't quite make out all of: whisper whisper...you're getting so big girl...whispers whisper...there y'go, girl...whisper...dear Jesus...how abooouuut...there's a kitty...and pink...and there's a purple...and there's blue. Mama, I need you to help me. Can you find them? I'm cutting my fingers (she means fingernails). And my thumbs... I'll be right back. These are scissors, Mommy (they aren't really)....I'm gonna just turn on the water again...Come on, Mama. Come on, Mama.

Maybe I should stop typing and go play :)

Spring photos...finally!

The time line is exactly backwards on the following zillion photos. Starting with these first photos from a day or two ago.


Allow me to caption for your full enjoyment of this first series:

What have we here? I'd better taste this clod of dirt because I've never done that before.


And the survey says?... You can see for yourself:







Oh dear Lord! I must...spit out...the dirt...


Whew!









From a few weeks back:




A day of painting, face-painting, running around and playing with our dear friends Amelie and Finley (and their Mama, Amy). Thankfully, this also happened to be the day I actually miscarried. Thank goodness for funny little girls to keep my mind from getting too dark that day. And thank goodness for wonderful people who's friendships can carry a lot of heaviness.









Amelie was carrying around and playing with a ball. Ellis? An orange chair.




As Ellis' hair grows, her morning do's are getting better and better. She's also now in the habit of twirling her hair around and around her finger until it gets completely knotted. One clump was so matted it just fell out.


Lastly, some more from our home. I purchased these lamps for 4.99 and 7.99 at Goodwill and then I spruced them up with some paint and new shades.

No singing allowed

Lately:

"I need can do that."

Ellis still protests every time I sing. Earlier Gabe tested her by singing. Sure enough she came over and gently touched his arm, whispering, "No. Be quiet, okay Daddy?" We've been working on using nicer words when 'asking' someone to stop singing because most often she says, "Mom! Mommy! Stopit!" At least she hasn't singled me out.

Lots of car singing (hers, because I'm not allowed): "Rest from your busy day and tomorrow you will play...happy tuesday (birthday) to you...a-b-c...twinkle star HOW..." They all sort of blend together and become higher and higher in pitch.

"Do you like my smile, Mommy?" followed by a goof-ball, eye-squinty smile that is nothing like her natural smile.

Wehwow (yellow)

Our little health nut

Quote of the day: "You can give me Goldfish (crackers) and popcorn (for lunch). S'that sound good, Mom?"

Looking up to someone three feet shorter than you

Today Ellis told me, "I slept for two hours --really well!" I love how as she learns to piece bits of language together to tell me something, that she is able to unabashedly praise her own achievements. I wonder how long she'll have this pure view of herself that isn't burdened with self-doubt and self-criticism. I hope it just lasts forever. I love that even though she is still learning how to do pretty much everything, she is able to celebrate all of her efforts. I realize it would be ridiculous and incredibly annoying for me to wander through life pointing out to everyone how great it was that I made it all the way up the steps without tripping once; how self-absorbed it would be to fish for your praise and attention when I turn the light switch off without any help...but wouldn't it be nice to spend more time acknowledging our own strengths and best efforts than repeatedly re-running our failures and shortcomings? Maybe you already live that way. Kudos. I too often don't. But I have a wonderful role-model so I'm getting better---see?

earlier today...

Chicken Dance!

Loss

Gabe shared our story of miscarriage on his blog. He says things much more eloquently than I do, so I'll just post a link. I've debated sharing on this blog because it was very personal, but so many have responded that they, too, suffered a miscarriage (or multiple) at one time or another, that I think it's good to share.

We, for the most part, have returned to life as usual. The physical process of miscarriage has finally just ended (it was two and a half times longer than what they said it would be), so that's a relief. Thanks for everyone's support, we appreciate it much more than we've said to you, I'm sure.

Gabe's account can be read here.

S'more

These are mostly for grandparents, all else may grow bored quickly. :)

Chasing bubbles (sort of)
Opening presents
Birthday Xylophone
More Xylophone
Healthy Fear of Fire

VIDEOS

Well shocker of all shockers, I was uploading the videos correctly all along---just not waiting long enough for them to be complete and therefore viewable online.

Forewarning: These were all shot on my phone and I didn't realize that in order for the video to appear right side up online, I need to start filming with my phone turned sideways. Next time. For now, if you decide to watch any/all of these you may get a kink in your neck. And you might want to take a Dramamine first...

Here they are:
Singing Smoothie
Funny Amelie
Jumping Bean
Running
Papasan/Bear on Bum

Argh.

It's times like this that I really wish I wasn't such a technology reject. Trying to get videos from my phone onto YouTube...is proving difficult.