Manners

Ella has finally learned "sorry", "thank you", "me me" (Excuse me), and "peas" (please). She says "sorry" to any toy or piece of food she drops and says "me me" when she burps, or fake burps as the game seems to be.

She is doing okay with napping, usually I have to get her so exhausted before she'll go down without incident. Otherwise she'll use her crib as a trampoline for the whole time, blankets, clothes and diaper strewn everywhere. Once she's up from her nap I usually find her bouncing and tossing around - funny though that she doesn't like the trampoline at gymnastics???

Love

It's funny to think that if anyone had told me I'd be married, married to a sailor, and married to an American sailor, I would have thought they were mad. Love comes when you least expect it, that is for sure. I am married to a man I cherish and we have a daughter we adore. I am a very lucky girl.
Ron is my rock, my anchor, my supporter, my entourage, and my strongest ally. Happy Anniversary, I love you.

Ella Says Milk!

Ella has known the sign for milk since long before she was one. Until today, it is the one word we have not been able to get her to repeat. She'll sign it all day, but when we try to get her to say it, she just signs more vigorously.

As we are in day 2 of the food stand off (she eats a great breakfast, good lunch but for the second night, refused our dinner), she must be more eager than ever to curb that hunger and before bed actually asked for "milk". Finally!

It took her a bit longer to go to sleep tonight (I went in and laid down with her for a minute) and she was up an hour later screaming until I gave her some more milk. I know she won't be harmed by going to bed a little hungry, but it's proving to be more emotionally stressful for me than anything. Another "thank you" to Amy for your comments - helps keep me focused during this stand off.

Change is in the Air

Random Age Post

I posted a comment on Amy's blog to this notion as well...

I was reading Amy's blog about her 33rd birthday, and honestly thought to myself that I didn't realize she was a couple years older than me, I was sure we were the same age. I am so delusional that it wasn't until later that night, I did the math, and yes, I am indeed going to be 33 this year. I was shocked! How could I have possibly thought I was only 30??? I know that people say once you have kids your whole life revolves around them... but seriously, where did these past 2 years go!!! LOL
Upon further contemplation, I have decided that 33 will be a breakthrough year for me. 3 is my favorite number - and this year I'll see the double 3's. So my goal is to be the healthiest I've ever been and the happiest I've ever been (already got a head start). Happy belated birthday, Amy! Thank you for triggering my age amnesia!

Big Girl Stuff

Despite my notion of starting Ella on potty training months ago, she hasn't been inclined to the whole thing so I didn't really press her. Seeing as 2 1/2 seems to be the norm with everyone I know, and the potty video kids are all around 3 years old, I figured I had a while before we delved into this obstacle. It now looks like the time may have come. This is how I found her and her room after today's nap.

In the past couple of days, Ella has finally learned to get naked - and get her diaper off. The other night when I went in to check on her before I went to bed, I found her stark naked on her belly with her bum in the air, sleeping on top of her pj's, her diaper at the end of the crib. Now, it seems every nap time ends up with her clothes, blankets and diaper strewn across the room, and during the day, her wet diapers are discarded before I even have a chance to know she needs a change. Usually as I'm cleaning up from lunch or doing some other task, I catch her naked in the living room and have to go hunt for the wet diaper.
So here we go with another attempt at the potty... we'll see how it goes.

We've also moved Ella into a booster seat. She's refusing to eat anything and is "testing" our will power to stand firm. I, of course panic, she needs to eat, let me find what she WILL eat. Ron, on the other hand says if we give her enough water, she'll eventually eat. And so it goes... tonight was the first night at the table like a big girl (which she totally loved) but she had two bites of potato and refused the roast beef (surprise, surprise) and carrots. So we cleaned her up and she's gone to bed for the night. I'm hoping she doesn't wake up in the middle of the night screaming from hunger. But, she must learn to eat what we do and thus begins the battle of wills. Ron is so much better at this than I am, I worry too much!

Little Miss Canada

Tag, I'm It

I was tagged by Amy:

The Rules
1. Link to the person that tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share 6 non-important things/quirks about your kid or you
4. Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the fun begin!


1. Ella says "oh" with conviction. She will ask in the morning, "Daddy?". When I say, "Daddy's at work." She'll say "Oh." like it's no big deal and go about her day. She'll reply "oh" to most every answer you give her.

2. Everything with Ella is "Funny/that's funny".

3. Loves modes of transportation and will imitate a motorcycle, hands and all; sign helicopter every time we leave the base and pass them all on the airfield; and wave and say "car" every time one drives by us on our evening walks.

4. Has learned "Stinky" and will plug her nose when she tells us she needs a diaper change, or smell her feet, plug her nose and say "skinky" (stinky) when we take off her socks.

5. Loves to dance and will groove to anything that has music.

6. Sucks her thumb and cuddles her blanket at bedtime just like Linus from Peanuts.


I tag Stephanie.

Groundbreaking

They broke ground for the first Target stores on the islands. YEAH!!! It may seem insignificant to all you mainlanders who have a wealth of stores at your fingertips but our tropical paradise is seriously lacking in the shopping department. There is only so much you can do with Walmart and KMart.

Also on a positive note, Ella is back to her wonderful little self. She did wake up crying but immediately said "food" and signed "milk". Poor thing was starving after yesterday's bought with a stomach bug and has woofed down her breakfast. :)

Stomach Bug

This morning I woke up to a frantic and crying Ella who had thrown up in her crib. This was her first real stomach bug and she continued to get sick all morning. We laid around on the couch and I gave her water and pedialite through a dropper and after each 5 ml dropper she would get sick. I felt so bad for her but she would get sick and then want to run around and play. I was so confused, no fever and no change in personality, just not being able to hold anything down. She would say "mommy, sick" and I'd hold the bucket up to her and she'd hug it and use it with great accuracy (and before Stephanie reminds everyone, I believe it's a genetic talent she's gotten from me... just a little reminder of the college and Korea days!) :)

Oddly, she is almost back to her normal self as of early afternoon. She's had crackers and juice and hasn't been sick again. Hummm, mild stomach bug?? Something she ate last night?? Who knows, but I am happy it seems to have been short lived.
Here are some pics from past couple of days. She LOVES her rainboots and will wear them with anything! And Ron combed out her mass of hair the other night and it was soooooo big! LOL