Mama/Bug Zoo Date

Just one of those perfect Mama/Bug days. We decided to head to the zoo with a rare free day and I am so glad we did. The weather was perfection and so was my girl. I simply adore being her mama.

Tubbin' with my girl

I adore taking tubs with this little love.

Little baker

E helped mama whip up (and by whip up I mean combine mix and water in a bowl) some scones! Regardless of the process, we had fun...and they were tasty!

BEDHEAD

Because we rarely get it anymore, and because good bed head should be documented!

We Rock the Spectrum

We explored a new indoor play area today called we Rock the Spectrum with our friends Zachy and Lolo. I think it's safe to say Ellie had a good time!

The perks of the midweek, midday grocery run

Ellie's first dentist appt

Ellie had her first dentist appointment and I was blown away at how amazing she was! I guess I need to stop being so surprised, but still, this girl was so calm and just let the hygenist brush and brush and brush. She loved the TV above her head and loved that she got to pick out a little toy at the end. She's already said she can't wait for next time!

A very patient OB

We are lucky to have such a sweet patient OB...Ellie is 100% OBSESSED with all things doctor right now, and whenever we go anywhere where there might be a stethoscope (doctor, vet, etc), all she wants to do is use it. She has now come to associate all of my appointments with getting to use Dr. Heathcott's stethoscope, and its in heaven. We walk in the door and it's immediately "Mama, I'm going to ask Dr. Heathcott if I can use her stethoscope!" (and yes, that's EXACTLY how my 2 year old says it!).
Dr. said we needed to snap a few pics at our last appt - so glad we did :) Here we have Dr. Ellie (as she calls herself) doing check-ups on Mr. Bear and on "baby sis".

Excitement over baby sister

Ellie spends a LOT of time talking about her baby sister. She wants to know how she's doing, and all the things she can do for her when she gets here (Can I help her put her shirt on? Can I take her on a walk? Can she sit in my doll's bed?). It's insanely adorable and promptly makes my heart explode into a thousand pieces.

Obviously there's going to be some serious adjusting when she realizes the image she has in her head of baby sister is not quite the reality, but goodness she wants to help and is SO excited, which I think is a good start.

Today Brad took Ellie to the park, and on their way out, Ellie found two small pinecones she wanted to bring home (pinecone hunting is a fave these days). Apparently the whole walk home, Ellie was talking to and for them, calling them sisters, singing to them, and saying things like "I love you soooo much, baby sister", and "you are so perfect and I love you baby sister".

I can't. I just can't. Seeing these two together for the first time is going to be a joy like I have never known in my entire life and I can.not.WAIT.

thank you mama

This has been one of the longest weeks of my life. The inaugural is nuts and trying to be a full time parent and a full time event planner is hard.

Tonight I actually managed to cook dinner in the middle of post-nap time and emailing/phone calls. Brad got home and got Ellie's plate ready while I finished up some work. 

As she started eating, from across the room in her high chair I heard a little voice say "Thank you for cooking mama!".

Probably the most wonderful thing I've heard in weeks, and almost made me cry. I adore my child. 

Ringing in the new year squeaky clean

General Ellie updates

Somehow I lost the Blogger app on my phone and so the little random updates have been harder to get down since I now have to get on my computer to make them!

I do want to be sure to note a few things about Ellie these days...

-LOVER. We have the loviest, snuggliest, huggiest, kissiest thing around. She does all the above to us, to Penny, and almost more sweetly to her dolls and animals. She talks to them, rocks them, lays them in bed, feeds them...it's absolutely incredible to watch her be so kind, loving and affectionate.

-Losing a bit of shyness. Up until a few weeks ago, if we saw someone in a store who said hi to her, or saw the mailman, etc, Ellie would seem very interested in chatting, but the second they engaged, would get very shy. As of late, she is now very happy to say "HI!" when asked if she'd like to do so, and she almost always immediately follows that up with "What's your name?!". They always respond, and then 9 times out of 10 ask her name. She happily and clearly replies, "Ellie!". People are so darn endeared with her it's ridiculous.

-POOP. Our sweet bundle of love has started sticking her hand into her diaper when she wakes up from naps or in the morning, and proceeds to feel and smear her poop onto her crib sheets. Um, GROSS. I have washed her sheets so many times at this point I'm surprised they haven't faded or torn. Hoping this little phase ends soon, but in the meantime, we've started putting her in a onesie for naps and only putting her in one piece PJs at nighttime. Again, GROSS.

-Sleep. Oh, sleep. You were a beautiful thing. That is until our lovely child turned 2. I actually think this more coincides with when we nipped her paci in the bud (the night before her party - December 17), but regardless. My once sound, happy, never fussy sleeper has given us a run for our money the last couple of weeks. Multiple wake-ups at night, refusing to go to sleep when we put her down at night or for naps, and some SERIOUS screaming and crying. As of a few nights ago, I think we finally, FINALLY have passed the phase and she seems to be back to her normal self, save for telling me everytime I put her down that she's going to "cry for you, mommy". Oh, the drama.