The phrase that pays

Some phrases (yes, phrases) of the moment:

• I think so


• I see him


• Hi, moon!


• You did it


• dinosaur museum (no, really)


• big bones (see above)


• bounce on the bed (okay, so it sounds more like bounsondabed)


• hold 'em... hold 'em (which is really kind of sweet, especially when she's talking about something in a photograph or drawing)


• Parrot, caaaw! (or, Eagle, caaaw! or, Baby, wah!)


• IIIIII knooow(followed by Bunny Rabbit, Snake, or Elephant. This is from Barney. You had to be there.)

One now has to be really careful about what one says within earshot of her. 'Nuff said.

Snowman

We finally got a big snow so Ella was able to make her first snowman!







Even snowmen need hugs.

Overheard in the Artist's Studio

". . . This is, perhaps, my finest work to date. Note how the lacework hearts and the bold, expressionist swaths of color. The pink symbolizes the happiness that fruit snacks can bring, and the red, of course, refers to my deep fondness for Elmo."

Happy Valentine's Day!

How to be Fabulous

A few weeks ago Ella spent some quality time with her cousins Tayler and Meghan so Mama and Daddy could spend some quality time alone.

She was returned to us with this minor change . . .




Of course Ella loved her new nail color! In fact the next day she was getting ready to start a doozy of a tantrum when her eye caught sight of her nails. She immediately stopped mid-scream and went "Ooooooo!"





It almost seemed like she was showing them off all day long.
"Oh these things? I just got them done. Don't you just love them?"

What's YOUR Name?

Today Ella and I were at a preschool fair when a woman from one of the booths asked Ella, "So what's YOUR name?" To our surprise Ella pointed to herself and proclaimed proudly "ELLA!"

Ella knows her own name of course. And she's even starting to use it in sentences at home when she wants something. Like "Ella noodle" when she wants some noodles to eat. Or "Ella doggie" for a toy. But this is the first time she has actually answered the so what's your name question. It was great!