Sweet updates

Fun updates lately:

Ellie is sooo funny :) Such a joy. We played peek-a-boo yesterday and her belly laughs were so big. She is a delight.

Ellie's favorite phrase right now is "TANK OOO" (thank you.) She says it anytime you help her or give her something. She is so sweet.

Ellie is close to walking. So close.

Kate is loving school. She sits in her bed during naptime having circle time with her animals and talking through (out loud) every part of her school routine. She is an auditory learner, and she is so comfortable and happy in a traditional school environment. I think she will always love school.

Kate's brain works non-stop. This was our recent conversation:
Kate: "I don't want to wear jeans. They aren't fancy."
Me: "Jeans are great. They go with everything."
Kate: "So jeans are like cheese."
Me: "Huh?"
Kate: "You know, cheese goes with everything, just like jeans."
Brett said, "Maybe I should have had Kate take the analogy section of the GMAT for me."

Brett is doing well in school. Kate loves going to UC with him to get his books.

Kate was so awesome in her swimming lessons this summer. So brave. Here's a pic of her going off the diving board.



All is pretty well for the Littles!

Funny

Ellie has such a great sense of humor. Several times today, I feel like she was trying to make me laugh. Just getting in my face and being silly, saying funny stuff (not that I understood, but she did and thought it was very silly.) Her favorite book is Goodnight Gorilla, and seriously she read it like 10 times today. She knows it's hilarious. She's so desperate to talk; I know she will be telling jokes soon.



Some things Ellie is saying lately: She can go, ball, dora, jenny, kate, nana (banana), oh!, whoa! She was grabbing for Life cereal and said, "I want those!" At the pool I thought she was drinking from a pool toy, so I asked her, "Ellie, are you drinking the water?" and she said in a funny little tone, "I drink water!" Everyone around the baby pool started cracking up and thought she was older than she is.

Kate is such a sweet girl. She does such a great job with Ellie - she is so kind and loving with her. She even shared her orange peanut butter crackers with her today :) She's a snuggly little girl. Her joke of the day - "Why do some people say 'Ah, Man!' at the end of a prayer?"

Note on these pictures: isn't it funny that in both pictures we have the same expressions?

Blessed

I'm happy. Really happy. No particular reason, I guess. But I love my family. I'm proud of my husband. He works so hard, and it's a labor of love. I love my girls. Kate is so funny, and she's really starting to "get it." She went a whole day yesterday and controlled her emotions - when she wanted to get upset, she didn't. It was sweet to watch her process in her head, "I want this, but I'm not going to freak out even though I can't have it." Kate started swimming lessons today - I was so proud of her. She's cautious, but she jumped in and despite drinking the pool, she said being brave was her favorite part. Ellis is dying to talk. She's saying words already - dada, mama, kaitlyn, thank you, gandma, papa, no, yes. She's such a cutie. I just love her up. She's made of sweetness - full of honey, I think. I'm blessed. Sometimes really tired, and blessed with every moment.

Outside fun

I wish I blogged more, but somehow I never make the time for it. But I had fun today and thought I'd share it:

Ellie LOVES to be outside. Of course, everyone likes being outside, but I think it is Ellie's favorite thing. If she is really upset, we take her on a walk and she calms down in no time.

Yesterday while walking, Kate was cracking me up. We played "I spy":
Me: "I spy with my big eyes, something red."
Kate (after looking for a while): "I don't see anything red."
Me: "Look right there, that car."
Kate (laughing): "Mom, you're being silly. That car is maroon."
Me: "Oh, well, I guess you're right. Sorry, Kate."

Then we get into an absurd and very silly conversation about a squirrel::
Me: "Look girls, a squirrel."
Kate: "I wish I had a squirrel puppet."
Me: "What would you do with a squirrel puppet?"
Kate (already amused with herself): "I'd put it in my room. Then I'd by another one." (at this she just started cracking up at herself.) Then the two squirrels would be friends for life."

I'm just laughing, not knowing how to respond, when she adds, "Now, I'm just kidding, Mom. I don't really want a squirrel puppet. Don't buy me one for my birthday." Okay, Kate :) So silly...what fun these two are!

Joy

I'm pretty sure Ellie is the most joyful person I've ever met. She laughs and smiles more than anyone I've ever known! Peek-a-boo is the funniest thing on the planet. When I tickle her, she loses it :) I pray she doesn't lose this quality. What a sweetheart!

She's also quite a little athlete! She rolled over today and looked like she wanted to crawl across the floor :)