Terrible Twos?!

So far, I would say the TWOS have been TERRIFIC! Don't get me wrong though...we've had our share of temper tantrums and melt-downs but nothing terrible :) Ella is so much fun to be around! She is constantly saying or doing something that makes us laugh. And her expressions are hilarious! It's so hard to believe that she's 2 already!

Ella at TWO...

~Ella tells everybody that she's "so smart!" Of course, we think she is! She loves to count everything and can count to 30. She can spell her name and loves to point and identify objects around her. Sometimes I wonder who taught her that?!

~She loves to sing and can sing "Jesus Loves Me", "Jesus loves the little children", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", "Itsy, Bitsy Spider", "Clean Up Song", "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes", but her favorite song is "All I Want to Do" (AKA: The Oo-Oo song) by Sugarland :) We have to listen to it every time we get in the car. She's even found out she can watch the music video on Charter Demand at Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw's house. Maw-Maw said one day they had to watch it over and over (what seemed like 75 times!)

~She loves playing with puzzles and books.

~She likes getting ready with me in the mornings. The other day I walked in the bathroom and she was putting on deodorant. She is such a little mockingbird (not only says but does everything we do!) She helps me dry my hair and put on my make-up. She loves to get her toe nails painted...100% girl!!

~She is obsessed with anything Thomas the Train! She got a train set and train table for her birthday and loves playing with it. She talks about Thomas, Percy, Gordon, James, Mavis, and Troublesome. I still can't believe that my girly girl prefers trains over baby dolls :)

~She loves being barefoot! I think it's so she can look at her "pink toesies"

~She loves any and every fruit imaginable! Blueberries are her favorite! Mimi and Paw-Paw have blueberry bushes and she makes a mad dash to them everytime we go to their house. I've learned lots of new stain removal techiniques!

~She's decided she doesn't want to use the potty and it's much easier just to use the diaper and then tell someone she needs her diaper changed. We're still working on this...

~She would much rather be outside than in! She still loves to swing and blow bubbles!

~She is a water bug! She loves going to Aunt Candy's pool and playing on the steps in the shallow end. She begs to go everyday!

~I love how she now tells us her likes and dislikes when it comes to food, TV, toys...life is definitely a lot easier with far less whining and crying!

~She can say and will say ANYTHING! She talks like a little adult and is able to carry on a conversation. Some of the things she says totally cracks me up!

~She is MISS INDEPENDENT!

Everyday she is telling us something new and we are amazed by how much she's developed!! It is amazing the growth and development that occurs in just 2 years! Each day just keeps getting more fun! Life is good and we couldn't ask for anything more!!!!

Ella's Little Swim...Mommy's Big Scare!

Last week was a busy week filled with lots of work and not much time to have fun :( But we managed to get a little pool time in. We had a little more excitement at the pool than I ever want again! Ella accidently took a little swim before we had a chance to get her life jacket or floaties on. I jumped in to "fish" her out in my clothes. To my surprise, when she fell in she started swimming and kept her head above water. She would have definately gotten tired quickly but for the few seconds it took for me to get to her she actually swimmed! Her little heart was racing but once she calmed down she wanted back in the pool. My nerves were shot the rest of the day! There's no way I would have gotten back in the pool after that! She's been telling everyone that she fell in Aunt Candy's pool and Mommy went swimming in her clothes. I told her from now on she's going to have to wear her life jacket and floaties on the car ride over to the pool so we'll be prepared to swim just in case :)

Birthday Comparison

Birth Day

June 27, 2007

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

Eatin' at Ella's

We got Ella a kitchen set for her birthday and she loves cooking for us. She's definately the cutest waitress I've ever had!! We've had lots of tea parties and baked several dozen cupcakes and cookies the last couple weeks. After we got home from church, Ella made "wunch" for me and Cory. She made me a PBJ sandwich and made Cory a hamburger. It sure was YUMMY!!! I dropped my spoon on the ground and she picked it up, walked over to her sink, turned the knob to turn the water "on", washed the spoon off, then turned the water back "off". It was so cute. She then brought it back to me and said "It's okay Mommy!" We've all had fun playing with Ella's new kitchen stuff!!! (even Daddy!)

Here are some pictures from "Ella's Kitchen."

Is this not the most adorable mixer ever!!

Cutest little cook ever!

Baking cookies

Toasting bread for my PBJ sandwich

Hot Cookies fresh out of the oven!

Ella's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies...sooo yummy :)

Our "wunch" that Ella prepared for us

After we ate, Ella finished off the leftovers

Ella washing off the spoon I dropped..."creen up, creen up! everybody do your share" (she sings this song when she's cleaning up...it's hilarious!)

If you're ever in town you have to stop by and eat at Ella's Kitchen...not only good food but the best service ever!!!!!

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July at the pool with good food and even better company! Ella spent the entire day playing in the pool and would NOT take a nap! As soon as we put her in the car to go see the fireworks, she fell asleep. We were all tired so we decided to come back home and call it a early night! Oh well, maybe next year she'll be up for the fireworks :) I have to say that Ella is quite the little FIRECRACKER these days!!!

Water Bug

WooHoo...Guess Who's TWO?!!!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dear Ella!!!! I can hardly believe it but my baby is now 2!! She was so excited all last week with all the birthday party talk going on! She told everybody that it was her birthday and that she was going to be 2 months old (not sure where she got the months from but we finally got her to say just 2 :) She talked about her party and would say that her friends were coming to eat happy cake! She even sang Happy Birthday to herself! On Saturday, we spent all day running around getting ready for the party and Ella was not about to give in and take a nap. She said she was "SOOO excited!" Finally, Mimi suggested that we go for a ride. So we rode around until Ella fell asleep. But as soon as we got home and tried to get her out of the car seat, she woke up and it was wide open from then on! We had so much fun at Ella's party at The Little Gym! The little ones wore themselves out running and playing. I wish I had just a little bit of all that energy!! Ella is a lucky little girl to have so many friends and family there to celebrate her 2nd birthday! It was a special day spent with very special people!!! We want to thank everyone for coming and for all the great gifts!! Now, we're going to need a bigger house for all the new toys!

Just hanging out!

Crawford & Ella going "swish, swish, swish" with the parachute

Parachute Fun!

I think the Air Track was a hit! There were little ones flying every which way! Even some of the big kids had fun (Daddy especially!)

Bubbles and Balls...can it get any better than that for a 2 year old?!

Choo-choo...it's the birthday train! Ella led everyone to the party room from the gym for pizza and cake! Let's PARTY!!!

PARTY TIME!

Ella piggin' out on her "pizzie"

Madalyn & Gracie

Ella wasn't sure what to think of everyone singing to her at first. She has the funniest look on her face!

I just LOVE all these cupcake faces!!!!

Ella got some awesome presents!!! I can't wait to play with them...I mean she can't wait to play with them :)

Crawford picking out his party favors! Bubbles and Balls...some of Ella's favorite toys!

I still can't believe that Ella is already TWO! These past two years have been so much fun! But they haven't been without their challenges either! She has taught us so much about patience, love, and understanding! Our hearts are so full of love they could burst! We're definately looking forward to the "TERRIFIC TWOS!!!!!" :)