I've been so spoiled

This weekend will mark 1 month of Ella sleeping in her new toddler bed. I haven't mentioned it before, with fear of jinxing how well she was doing. I hadn't planned on getting her into a bed until a little closer to June, but we found a nice bed on Craig's List and brought it home....and wondered what we'd do with it until we were ready to show it to Ella. So we showed it to Ella - and she loved it! Moved it into her room and she loved it! We've had a couple bumps through the month, but overall we've been so impressed with how smoothly it's gone. Fingers crossed, it stays that way. When we first put her in the bed, we though that she would be jumping out of it whenever she got the chance, but surprisingly she stayed put, even in the morning and after naps, until we came to get her. UNTIL THIS WEEK. Ella now gets up and comes out of her room when she's done sleeping - I am now mourning my "me time" in the morning. Ah well....

A houseguest

My Brother & Sister-In-Law (Zac & Kristen), along with my Mom, headed to Maui for a week, and we've been watching Zac & Kristen's dog Fischer. He settled in really well, and it's like he's been here for months. Thank God he's a patient dog, because Ella has fallen in love with him. She follows him around and gives him hugs and kisses, and pushes and pulls him wanting him to go everywhere with her. I have a feeling that when Zac & Kristen come pick him up, Fischer's going to be out the door in a heartbeat....

Together

We try to sit together at the table for dinner most nights, but it doesn't always happen. When we are all sitting around the table, Ella usually looks at us both, smiles, and says "together". It's the sweetest thing ever, and melts our hearts every time.

Play date at the park

The weather has been unusually warm for February around here. Last Friday morning, the sun was out too, so Ella and I met up with Chrissy, her Mom Sarah, and JJ at Manito Park. Makes me really look forward to nicer spring weather!

ready to head out! (Thanks Auntie Maia for the cute outfit... and Grammy Margaret for Valentine the Puppy)

Ella checking out the duck pond

JJ's Grandma holding him back - he was ready to swim with the ducks!

running through the muddy grass

Valentine's Day

Ella and I made cookies for Valentine's Day. What a great helper!!!

Twinkle, Twinkle

Time for a haircut!

I don't know why I have such a hard time deciding that it's time to get Ella in for a haircut. The past few weeks I've been sweeping her long bangs to the side and clipping it back, hoping Ella will keep that in for at least a little while. With no clip, Ella constantly has to brush her hair out of her face.....poor thing. I guess because she's a girl I feel some sort of responsibility to grow out her hair? Where does that come from? I finally talked myself into getting her in for a cut today, including some bangs. At 2, she shouldn't have to worry about long, flowing hair! And let's face it, she's adorable - even if we shaved her head. Here's some pics.

pre-haircut

I earned this sucker!!

What do you think? Am I gorgeous, or what?

Pics we have managed to take lately

making herself comfortable

can't you see I'm on the phone?


playing the harmonica from Kindermusik

wearing Mama's hat

hanging out in Aayla's Bob Marley shirt - love it, thanks Jensens!

I guess she's listening

Right around her 2nd birthday, Seth and I started to do time-outs with Ella. She really is the best kid most of the time, but she is 2....do I need to say more? Sometimes it's the only way to show her that we're serious about the boundaries we're trying to set. We have a little corner next to the bookcase where we make her sit for a minute and she actually will stay there until we come get her. I think she really does get it most of the time when we explain why we're giving her the time out too....We really don't have to go all the way most of the time anymore, just give her the warning. Like the warning we give to Ella when she screams, which for some reason she seemed to need to do a lot a couple weeks ago, but is better now. Well now Ella is laying down the law with her dolly Baby Carly (she named her....not sure where Carly came from). The other day, I saw Ella putting Carly in the corner for screaming.