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!!!

Saturday Night Revisited

Last year we got funny videos of Ella dancing to "Saturday Night" and when Mom was here last week, she played the videos for Ella who loved them and said "more saturday night" over and over. Later that night we got home and put it on for her to do some more dancing - here is the result!

First Day of School

Today Ella turned 28 months old, and it was also her first day of school. Whew, big day! We have some big changes coming up around here. Steve starts his new job on Monday, so we needed to decide on childcare for her. We chose a 5-star preschool in our town, and we're both really comfortable with it. Her classroom is just 24-30 month olds, and she is the 6th student.

The first time we went to visit after work one day, and it was just the owner, me, Ella and her teacher. I instantly knew how much I liked it - the center is great, the classrooms are adorable, and Ella seemed really comfortable there. Plus there are 2 playgrounds with up to 2 hours of outdoor play each a day, which is pretty much Ella's main requirement (although me and Steve have some others :)). The teacher was so sweet and I really liked her.

The next day Steve took Ella back during the morning to check it out while the kids were there, and he felt as good about it as I did, but said Ella seemed really nervous. At one point, all the kids were sitting in a circle on the mat singing a song, and Ella was off by herself pushing the shopping cart...it made me so sad to think of her all by herself and not getting along with the kids. Regardless, we both really liked it and couldn't think of a situation we'd be happier with, so we signed her up and started getting Ella prepared for her big day!

Even though Steve does not start until Monday, we wanted to give her a bit of transition time to a full day of school since it's going to be such a big adjustment. We were out of town on Monday and so we figured we'd give her Tuesday as her last full day with Steve, then start today. So, for a while now we've been talking about school, how much fun she's going to have, all the things she's going to do, the friends she'll make, all the playing, etc. It really seems to have worked because by last night she was telling me "Ella wake up school time!"

Of course me and Steve were way more nervous about the whole thing - I could barely sleep the last two nights thinking about it!

Since today is a milestone in my eyes, I thought a wake-up picture was in order


She talked about "school time" while we got dressed and then I asked her how she wanted to wear her hair. She surprised me by saying "tails", usually she always wants "betts" (barettes) but I was very happy to oblige



I forgot how much is involved in getting ready to get out the door on a schedule in the morning. Steve made her lunch, I made my lunch and we fed her breakfast all at the same time. There was also so much we had to bring since it was her first day and I've been organizing and labeling for a few nights.

Me and my little preschooler!!



She was really excited and cheerful all morning but I was getting more and more nervous that she'd get upset when it was time to drop her off. We told her that she was going to play, go outside on the playground, eat a snack, play some more, and that after lunch Daddy would come pick her up. She seemed pretty satisfied with this idea but we didn't know if she'd be shocked when it came time to leave her there.

Here she is outside the school



With her buddy Tee-tee


There were 4 kids there when we got there and they were sitting at the table playing nicely with blocks, it looked so orderly and calm. Steve went with the director to put her lunch away and I stayed with Ella. She got a little clingy and nervous but only for a minute or two. I asked her if she wanted to go play blocks and she went right over to the table and climbed up on a chair. This little boy Spencer instantly started talking to her, and she began chatting right back. She was so comfortable and happy! After a few minutes she got up and started walking around and Spencer just followed her around and kept talking - they seemed to be instant buddies!

When it was time to leave she seemed completely comfortable. She gave us both kisses and said goodbye but didn't seem sad at all and instead was busy with her new fun. We couldn't believe it. I was honestly bursting with pride at what a wonderful little kiddo we've been blessed with. She makes me so proud of her and I just couldn't believe how well she handled it this morning. My goodness!

All morning I was dying to hear how she did and I was not disappointed when I talked to Steve once he got her. Her teacher said she did great and was a 'social butterfly' that did everything with the class.

In her Activity Report for the day she got a "participated" in every activity, she used the potty once and ate almost all of her lunch. She helped clear the table after snack, practiced the yoga move "both feet" (not sure what that one is, she'll have to teach me), practiced passing boxes to her friends, sang a song, played puzzles, and did 'textile creative expression' with cooked and uncooked colored pasta. What a busy day, and she was only there for the morning!

When I talked to her on the phone she said "Ella's school time is done" and then I said "what did you think?" and she said "I liked it." So great!

Tomorrow she'll stay through nap time, I think that might be tricky because she's never slept on a mat before, but we'll see, she's amazed us so far so she may continue to. I definitely think it'll get tougher as she realizes it's every day and pretty soon will be full day each day, but she could not have impressed us any more for her first day of school!!

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!!

Grand-DAD-dy Daycare

Steve was out of town for several days the week before last, and Dad came up to watch Ella for me while I went to work each day. Ella shortens most names and usually says the last syllable, and add to the fact that she hears me call him "Dad", and so she calls him "Dad," which is pretty funny.

She was up to her usual tricks of requesting to spend the majority of her day outside, and Dad was a very good sport and complied with her wishes. He asked her if she wanted to go to the library, and she said 'walk Cory'; he asked if she wanted to go to the playground, and she said 'walk Cory' - so, as you can imagine, there were many Cory walks and lots and lots of time spent outside!

I told Dad that Ella is really good about letting you know what she wants to do, and that's exactly what she did - she told him when she wanted to eat, when she wanted to nap, when she wanted to play, etc. It was so nice to have him here for a few days and so great that they had such a good time together!!

Glenn's Birthday - 3/29/10

Glenn was here on his birthday a few weeks ago, and watched Ella during the day and then we went to dinner after I got home from work.

Ella calls Glenn "Gee" all the time, and said lots of "Happy Gee" for "Happy Birthday Gee", and we had a really good dinner. Ella seems to be well out of her phase where eating out was really difficult, and it's so nice to be able to eat at restaurants again!

Some pics of Ella and Gee after dinner -