Ella...

Sometimes, I just stand in awe for which God has blessed our lives. Our girls are so much fun and so precious. And growing!

This weekend, as Ella and I were playing, I looked at her and had the weirdest feeling. I thought, "Oh my - who are you? I don't even recognize you." Of course, I do, but my little baby is just growing and I can't stop it! As much fun as it is to watch her grow and learn and laugh and giggle, sometimes, I wish time would stand still. We just need to be thankful for every moment we have and really soak it up and take it all in.

I know she is my child, so I am a little biased, but, she is so smart. She truly amazes me some days with what she knows, what she says, what she recognizes, what she asks. She has an active imagination, too. Dora and Boots have eaten lunch with us in her kitchen and her friend "Sammy" rode in her pink car the other day. She has a "pink boat" with a "pink steering wheel." I think my new favorite word from her is "hot hair balloon." She is a determined, persistent child. I gave her some scissors the other day and now that's all she wants to do. She is fascinated with how they go on her hands. If she can't get them on quite right, don't try to help her...she will figure it out on her own! She tells me, "I have to cut Mama." In this picture, she is playing with her new scissors. You can't really see it, but that pink string around her neck is her "rescue pack" (it's a pink string with a heart made out of red construction paper at the end of it).

She is such a sweet and loving child. She has decided that she doesn't want to listen to her night time music anymore. She told me last night that she was going to give it to Mary Catherine. She loves to read to Mary Catherine and give her kisses and hugs. When we are in the car, if Mary Catherine cries, Ella will tell her that "it will be okay" and she will start singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to her. Here's a picture of daddy stealing a kiss from her.