Dolphin Pool

Mom and Glenn got a new pool for Ella for their backyard, and of course she loved it.

Some pics of Ella in action in the new dolphin pool!

Off-ball Game

This is Steve's second season playing on our church softball team, and he has games on Tuesday and Thursday nights. On Thursdays they play at a park pretty close to our house, so me and Ella go watch whenever we're free. Ella calls it "off-ball" and loves cheering for Steve. She yells "Gooooo Daddy" even when he's not up and loves clapping and yelling for him.

There is a playground at the park and assuming it does not get too late, we take her for a playground trip after the game is over, which usually warrants some extra-special behavior during the game :). She also frequently says "okay, Daddy's off-ball done, playground time" between every inning when the teams switch places. My favorite moment happened a few weeks ago - Steve had hit the ball and was running to first base, apparently too fast for Ella's taste, because she yelled very loudly "Slow down Daddy!"

When Mom and Glenn were here last week, we all went to watch his game one night and Mom got some good pictures!

Watching intently



Visit to the dugout





Hey, what's this? (one of her most often said phrases!)



Grampy G teaching Ella about 'the wave'



Kiss for my squirmy fan



Eating popcorn (which Ella now clearly calls 'pop-corn', no more 'dap-dap')



Gooooo Daddy!!!

Sweet Talk

Tonight after I gave Ella her bath, I got her dressed for bed but wanted to change the sheet on her crib, so all of her crib toys, blankies, babies, etc. were on the floor.

Ella picks up one of her dolls, holds her and pats her on the back and says "I know, baby, I know - Mommy making the sheet for night-night." Cory wanted to go out and I had told her about 10 minutes before that I'd let her out as soon as I put Ella down for bed. Well, she was getting antsy and Ella said in her sweet little voice "I know Cory, I know - 2 minutes" - ha!

I was standing between the foot of the crib and the wall so she couldn't see me clearly so the next thing she said to me was "Mommy stuck? Ella will help" and busily came around to see what I was doing over there.

It was just so sweet and adorable - she wants to be so helpful!!

Jumping Fun

Glenn had a big surprise for Ella this weekend - an inflatable jumping house, like a mini of what they have at Hoppers House or Monkey Joe's. Glenn inflated it in their garage - I'm sure it goes without saying, but Ella LOVES it.

Hmmm, what is this??



So much fun!



Whoa




Big jumps!





A funny video of her running in there - notice her little pep talk where she says "Run Ella!"




Glenn also tried flying this kite, and another one with Buzz Lightyear on it, he is Ella's favorite character - she always says "it's Buzz" when she sees him on anything





The pull of the bounce house was just too much though and Ella soon walked away from the kite saying "more jump please." She loves it!!

Weekend with Grandma and Grandad

Steve and I have gone away by ourselves overnight, without Ella, probably 3 or 4 times before. It's always been for about 24 hours max, and usually more like 12 hours. Last weekend we went away from Saturday morning until Monday evening, so we were gone almost 3 days!

Ella did great, just as I knew she would. We wanted her to be prepared that we'd be gone for a few days so early in the week we started telling her that we were going on a trip over the weekend and Grandad and Grandma were coming to stay with her for the weekend and that she was going to have so much fun all weekend. She really seemed to get it and by Friday night was so excited for Dad to arrive.

Ella gave Dad about five minutes in the house before she said "play bubbles?" so they went outside to play bubbles -



Tea party



Reading a book after bathtime



We left before 5 am on Saturday morning and Dad said that the first thing Ella said when she woke up was "Mommy Daddy gone." They spent a LOT of time outside, playing in the backyard, and many walks in the neighborhood. They ate out and went shopping and they all did great.

We called to check in several times and Ella was SO chatty whenever I would talk to her. It was so funny, she would just go on and on about all kinds of things, mostly Cory and being outside and taking walks.

Here are a few photos that Donna took and sent for me to see while we were away.

In Chico's bed


At the front door


Playing in the tent


Steve and I were dying to get home to Ella and so happy to see her on Monday night, but it was so good to know that she was in such good hands and had such a wonderful weekend.

On Tuesday morning when I woke Ella up and we came downstairs she realized that Dad was gone and said "where'd Dad go?" I said "he's back at his house." She said "ohhh, back home with Chico" - it always comes back to the dogs!

Frogfest

Two Saturdays ago we went to Frogfest at a park nearby - it was a kids event with all different kinds of frog-related things. Ella loves frogs (foggies) and we had a great time!

Ella and Dominic ready to go digging for frogs - although they were both pretty hesitant at first


Ooooh I see one...



Got it!



Ella really liked this little frog. She managed to keep track of him for several days and then one night when I was getting her ready for bed she asked me where the frog was and I didn't know. Steve was out at a softball game and Ella told me to ask Steve when he got home. I figured she was just talking, but I did ask him and he said they were outside in the backyard and the frog got lost in the backyard - tiny green frog, green grass, pretty understandable. The next morning Ella asked me first thing "ask daddy foggie?" I couldn't believe she remembered but it was her first thought in the morning. Days later she was still saying "foggie gone outside."

Steve ended up getting her a new little toy frog a few days ago. In a funny little move, she named him Buey! Right now Buey is sleeping next to Ella in her crib :).

A different kind of "froggie pool"



First time trying a water gun






Dominic was very brave and went right up to this turtle to touch his shell (Ella said "nope!" when I asked her if she wanted to touch it)



Going down the slide

Another Beautiful Day

We had another beautiful day on Sunday and Ella wanted to go to the playground and play in the sand, so we headed to a different playground than usual because it has a really big sandbox.

When we got there, it was closed for maintenance. Ella must have said 100 times, "play sand closed, uh-oh!" so I needed to get her to another playground stat!

The one that we ended up at is just about 5 minutes from our house and I had been there once before when Ella was smaller just to walk around the lake, but she was too little to do much on the playground then and I haven't been back since.

I am so glad I re-discovered it because she loved it, and we will definitely be back often!













And check out this video for her latest trick!


A highlight of the day for me was that when we were driving home, Ella said to me - "Mommy, I had fun play." It was awesome - it's the first time she's proactively told me (without being asked) that she enjoyed doing something and was so nice to hear!!

I love...

I have been waiting anxiously for the day when Ella would say "I love you." She is super affectionate and always gives tons of kisses and hugs and other sweet things, but whenever we say "I love you" to her, she just smiles and nods. Sometimes she'll blow a kiss, but that's it. When I ask her "how much does Mommy love you?", she will say "SOOOOOOOOOOO much" - but still, no "love". Well - all that has changed!

On Saturday night, I was getting ready to drive Ella back home and Mom was saying goodbye to her in her car seat. Mom said "I love you Ella" and I said to Ella, "can you say 'love you Grammy'?" and Ella said "I do!". We were so excited and I said - "awww, you love Grammy, that is so sweet!" and then Ella said "luffff" - it was AWESOME, I could barely believe it! She kept saying it "love, love". Be still my heart!

The next day she started saying "I love", and then today she is saying "I love Mommy" - aaah, I do not think there are 3 better words out there!

We are still waiting on the "I love you" combination but in the meantime we are "luffing" the "I loves"!!