Ellen turned the big TWO this past weekend (February 16, 2003). She was "'cited". She's such a big girl now. She puts together some pretty decent 4 to 5 word sentences. She can sing some of the ABC song (she has the right tune, and knows the order of about half the letters), and she can recognize ABC if she sees them together. She has the cutest run in the world. It just makes you smile. She's getting better at undressing and dressing, but she still needs some help. El can be quite stubborn as well, but that's ok. I can still run faster than she can. She's very close to voluntarily sleeping in her big girl bed, but we're also preparing her for the time when the crib just has to go. She can finish most of her books now. Even ones that we pick up from the library. She usually has them down in less than a week. She loves to read. She also loves to look at pictures, and she's getting really good at recognizing people from pictures and translating it to seeing them in the flesh. She's at such a fun stage.
The previous week, she was in for a tooth check-up where we got a new tooth brush and some toothpaste. She actually enjoys getting her teeth brushed some times. We're trying to do it twice a day, but we don't always get the chance to. The dentist still doesn't know what the dark spot on her tooth is, but he's not too concerned about it. The teeth and enamel are healthy, and it's just that one tooth.
Ellen is back in swimming with me, and Mr. Bob's music class with Jada. Her friend Emily (and her mom Laura from our child birth class) is in the music class this time too, so they have lots of fun together. Ellen has been a bit more frazzled by the swimming class this time around, but she has periods during the class where I can get her to loosen up. I think it's just a phase. We'll see. It's a different instructor this time around who does things differently, so that may be something to do with it.
Ellen's birthday was Sunday. It was a very big and long day. We started by letting Ellen pick out her clothes. She wanted to wear the new dress that she had gotten for Christmas with the flower tights, shirt, and denim dress. Then we took the traditional bear picture. She was so cute with it (is that just a redundant statement at this point?) Towards mid-morning, we had 4 kids and their parents from our child birth class over for potato soup and cup cakes. Yum! It was lots of fun seeing the kids again...and their parents. It's just fun to get to see everyone and talk again. It's way too seldom.
By this time, El was over tired, and needed a nap time. However, she only slept for about an hour and a half (if that) which, of course, was not nearly enough considering she had also woken up too early. So after naptime, we got her calmed down by letting her come out to find her presents from us (one of them) and one from Grandma Freeman and Tessie. We had gotten her a small hula hoop, but she didn't care. There was a bright pink trike in the room that needed to be played with. She was disappointed that she couldn't quite reach the pedals, but she soon found that she could move pretty well by rolling herself along with her feet. She enjoys the hidden storage compartment under the seat, and the flower stickers. She eventually go around to the hula hoop, but the trike was the star of the show. We called Grandma and Tessie to thank them, and Ellen talked to them for a while on the head set.
Then came second presents from Nana and Bapa. They sent a box full of cooking utensils and pans for Ellen's stove that she had gotten from Christmas. They were real miniature muffin pans (muffin pan? Yes, I've heard of the muffin pan. Who lived on Drury Lane?) and little bunt cake pans. They also sent measuring cups that Ellen can use as little pots and pans. They all fit perfectly in the stove, and we can use them too if we want to. All in all, it was a great box o' gifts, but Ellen was starting to lose focus on the many gifts to be opened.
Then our friends Mike and Pete came over. Mike just stopped by to drop off the digital camera we're borrowing for Obi's birth. Pete stayed for dinner, and helped us clean up and put Ellen to bed after her busy day.
We got to Auntie Mandy's presents that following day. It was a box full of shirts. There seemed to be an infinite number. They were all very cute. And Ellen liked the Bear and knowing that someone in Macomb, IL loved her.
It was a good day, but a little overwhelming. Since her birthday, she has continued to open presents and still has one from us that we will wait to give her when some time has passed. She still is enjoying all the wonderful gifts. Thank you to everyone for making this a special day for Ellen.
February 19, 2003