Keira can say hug in Spanish! - October 2009

Keira and I have been practicing our hugs to each other a lot lately. Mom encouraged Keira to say the word hug when she did it. So Keira tried her best and said "hao" so I tell mom (excitedly) that Keira said hug in Spanish! And then I told dad about it later when he came home from work. I don't quite get why mom and dad thought it was funny, but sometimes they laugh easily. Keira's favorite lately is Peek-a-boo and she can say it pretty well too.

Another noteworthy event happened at dinnertime the other night. Dad said that he had a surprise for me after dinner and I said "is it the money you could be saving with Geico?" Mom and dad were laughing pretty hard so I think my comedic timing is improving. Actually, I guess I get exposed to a lot of something called 'advertising' about Geico. There are billboards I frequently see on my way to the store and library. And I also see ads in the newspaper which is what I'd seen shortly before dinner that night.

Below are pictures from my trip to the zoo for mom and dad's birthday. We had a great time. I liked looking at all of the animals, but the carousel was my favorite. I didn't stop smiling the whole time. The picture of K crying is one mom posted because sometimes you've just gotta remember how much you really want to be held by mamma.

3 years old and counting...September post including August 2009

I had a great birthday! I got to play stick the butterfly on Curious George and toss the spoon in Pooh's honey pot with Alara, Aubrey, Avery, and Madie. I also played with my new kitchen that grandma Bonnie got me with Kari and Kyle.

Moko got mom a grocery bag from a store in New York and I thought it'd be a good idea to see if I fit inside. Then dad thought it'd be a good idea to carry and swing me and sis around and touch the ceiling.

September funnies: Lately, I like to play pretend a lot. I like for mom to call me baby bird and I made a nest in my new big bed. I also like to pretend that I'm a kangaroo and belong to a family of kangaroo's. I made mom and dad laugh the other night when I guess I did something impressive (as I now understand it) and dad said "Ella, you're a pretty bright kid." Then I slid down in daddy's lap away from the sun and said "now I am dark."

-Trap-

Dad will sometimes put me in a 'daddy trap' and squish us in between his knees. So naturally, I tried to do this to Keira and put her in an 'Ella trap' sometimes. I also called her 'Gilly' the other day because she took her bib from her high chair and ran with it. She frequently does this and mom tells her no, so I knew she wasn't supposed to do it. I don't like it when mom or dad call me 'Gilly' though...I hear it's from an SNL clip that I haven't seen, but it can't be a good nickname because they call me that when I do something I shouldn't be doing.

-A Little Upper-

If I want the volume on the TV or radio turned up, I say "a little upper please!" I say "floaty arms, pointy toes" as I dance, just like Charlie and Lola. I say fridge instead of bridge. I think that "peace" is "peas" when mom sings "Love at Home."

-Remember-

I'll say "remember?" to mom or dad just like mom and dad say to me lately. I also snuck out of my room before nap the other day and put mommy's makeup on my cheek. But I learned that it's blush, not foundation that goes on your cheek. I also like to do yoga and dance like a ballerina. I call my tootoo ballerina. I enjoy saying um...yes after pondering a question from mom or dad or um...no...depends on what I hear 'cuase what I say is usually the opposite of what I'm asked. I like to boss friends around a bit sometimes. My friend Rachel was over the other day and I was saying come over here, and she'd say, no come over here, and I'd say, yes come over here. I also enjoy playing peekaboo with my fingers...hiding them and asking mom where they went.

Gloria and Wipenomis - August 2009

I named my favorite cat in the whole wide world Gloria, and a stuffed dog of mine Wipenomis. Speaking of animals...below are pictures of the following: Us at the Animal Farm at Forest Park in Everett (I was more interested in the hose behind me than petting the goats), Alara and Keira check out the chickens, I try to free the rabbit, Keira looks great using the stuffed balls for something else besides throwing, we get pretty silly when Kyle visits, I look for a snack and Keira finds the good stuff, Jason and Debbie's sealing, mom and auntie Heather at the Portland Temple for the sealing, and Maddie's birthday party. 

-August Funnies-

"Stop, stop!" - this is what Ella will cry if she doesn't want you to go anywhere or if you're doing something she doesn't like. She'll do it pretty sincerely and matter of fact."Umm.......yes!" is Ella's response after carefully considering many important questions these days, i.e. 'do you want juice?'I can't sit Keira into any bouncer/swing/car seat in the house without having to unbuckle all of the buckles these days. Ella really likes to buckle things up. She got upset on Sunday after she realized she didn't get to buckle herself in."Thank you mommy" and "bye-bye guys" are a regular part of Ella's vocab these days. She continues to enjoy figuring out how gadgets work, including mommy's keys. She found the alarm button on them this month and managed to scare herself to pieces, and Keira chimed in, startled, as well. We call a demo like this in our home these days "stereo" when both kiddies are crying:(