For the first time ever...

Ella told me "love you!" without prompting today. Usually I have to say "I love you" first, or else coach her somehow. This time, right out of the blue, she said "Love you!". Actually...it went that I handed her a box of raisins. She said "Thank you, Mommy!" and I said "You're welcome, baby!" and she said "Love you!"





Maybe it's silly, but I've been waiting for this day since she was born.

The little bits of magic that make up my girl.

I still rock her to sleep. Every time, without fail. Sure, it's probably the wrong thing to do if I ever want her to learn to fall asleep on her own, but how can I give up that special magical time that we share? I love watching her eyelids get droopier and droopier, and I love how sometimes she'll struggle back up to wakefulness for just a moment and mutter some important note that mustn't be forgotten. Sometimes the note is "da fox! Buddy da fox! Yeah." Sometimes it's something altogether more simple: "Mommydaddy..." followed by a sigh, and then peacefully drifts back to sleep. Oh no...I wouldn't want to miss those notes. Not yet. I need them.

Today Ella is not feeling well. She seems to have a bit of a cold, so I took her into the bathroom to give her some Dimetapp and then to wipe her nose with some toilet paper (note to self: need Kleenex!) and so I sat her on the edge of the sink. She likes to sit there with her feet in the sink and pokes the drain and stopper with her pudgy little toes. She likes to work the stopper pull. Up-down. Up-down. Up. Down. Up. (Grunt of effort... Up!) So as she busied herself with this very intense work (tongue out for added concentration power) I was able to sneak in and wipe her nose. I was myself very preoccupied so I did not notice as she directed her attention to the cold water tap. Surprise! She turned it on with a rush and startled us both quite nicely. Luckily I still had a bit of toilet paper in my hand to wipe the frightened (and somewhat indignant) tears. I mean...how dare it not only startle her, but wet her with such chilly water too!? The nerve!

Trying to keep up...

There are so many gaps, but I promise I will fill them all in. I will also try to keep this a bit more up to date than it has been.

Last night Ryan came over. He brought Ella a cute little T-shirt from his trip, which Ella promptly put on around her neck like a scarf. Every time he comes over, she plays all shy and hides and cries, but after just a few minutes, she's climbing all over him and laughing her guts out at him. Too funny.