Me and my baby doll are both sick. Sometimes I cough so much at night that I throw up, so I keep a bucket by me. Today when I was trying to nap, my baby doll was keeping me up. She kept throwing up and I had to help her by holding her over the bucket. Poor baby. I hope she feels better soon.
On Saturday we celebrated Jackie's first birthday. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep. It was a good thing we had a long, boring car ride to the party. I finally gave in and took a nap. The party was at Jack's aunt Lissa's house. We ate good food. Then there was a yummy cake. We sang Happy Birthday, but Jackie didn't know how to blow out his candle so I helped him. He made a big chocolatey mess with his cake. After he had a bath, we helped him open presents. Then we got to play with Jack's new toys! What a fun party!
I had my first gymnastics class today! I also had a new dance class. I was a little shy at dance because it was a new room, new songs and a new teacher. But once we got in the gym, I was completely at home. I ran, jumped, balanced, swung on the bar, did headstands and summersaults. We went twice around the gym in a circuit and then got free time. I mostly kept going around the circuit, just faster with a few breaks to spin hula hoop or walk on the taller balance beam. My favorite was the trampolines. My least favorite where the headstands and forward rolls. I do those all the time at home.
It's been lonely at my house the last couple of weeks. William started first grade and is gone all day. It was really hard for me at first. I'm excited to start going to my new daycare. When I go to Tracy's house there will be lots of other kids my age there. She has a playground and a lot of fun toys. I've visited twice. The last time I washed my hands four times! Twice in the kitchen and twice in the bathroom. I like to smell the different soaps that people have and feel the slippery suds on my fingers.
Speaking of the bathroom, I'm really a big girl now. I always go potty all by myself whenever I need to go. I almost never have any accidents, not even at night! Last week I gave all my leftover diapers to Jackie and now I even wear underwear to bed!
I'm such a big girl! I love to talk and tell stories. I have lots of things to say and questions, questions, questions. "Why, what's that, what you doing?" I like to read stories, too. I always ask to have my bedtime stories left on the pillow at bedtime so I can sleep with them.
I have been spending so much time watching William play baseball or swim in the big pool. Now it's my turn to do some activities and he gets a chance to sit and watch me. He liked taking pictures at dance class and even a few movies. Daddy came with to our last class to get a couple of nice videos of me. Mommy put them to a song sung by Laurie Berkner, my favorite singer! You can also see me at my swimming lessons doing a poem that I really like about a turtle called Tiny Tim.
We have been having so much fun lately! I want to tell you about everything that's been going on. I'll start with today and then go back as far as I can remember. So...
Today we went strawberry picking! I had been waiting to pick strawberries for a long time. Last year we got to go in the barn and see the baby goats and I wanted to go really bad. But there was no one in there. Everyone was in the fields for the last day of picking berries. I picked a lot of berries. And ate a lot, too! But there were still plenty to bring home to eat and make into jam.
Yesterday was a quiet day. I slept until 10:00. Then I got to help make brunch. William and I made the waffles. While Mommy was turning the sausages, I snuck a little extra vanilla in the batter. Everyone agreed that it was a delicious addition! The sausages also got a little blackened with all those hands in the kitchen. But we decided that was a good change, too! After lunch, I took a nice long nap so I would be ready for my first dance class! Mommy and I got to dance together! And the teacher asked me to help demonstrate the side step. I was very brave and agreed to hold her hands while we stepped down the line.
On the 4th of July, William and I got to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house while Mommy and Daddy went to a baseball game. They were pretty excited and so were we. Because Grandma and Grandpa brought us to Big Fish Lake to play in the water with friends. I even jumped off the raft twice! Grandpa caught me. After the lake, it was time for big fireworks! It got pretty late for me because the fireworks were delayed by a helicopter coming to the hospital. And then we stayed for a little ice cream (I ate mostly cherries) while we waited for the crowds to walk past. But I didn't mind staying up late. I was having so much fun!
The two days before that we had a family reunion at Grandma Barb's house. There were a lot of people there to see. I was a little shy with the grownups, but I had lots of fun playing outside with the other kids. We played and swam and ate lots of junk food. We even got to go out on the boat with Grandpa Ron and see fireworks on the river on Saturday!
Well, that's as far back as I can remember. I have a few pictures and will probably have some dance pictures soon. I hope you're having as much fun as I am this summer!
I love Picasa! It was so easy to get rid of all the mosquito bites on her face. I don't know why they always have to get her right between the eyes! She's apparently the tasty one in the family.
Mommy decided today that I'm going to be potty trained. After yesterday when I decided to hold it when sitting on the potty only to pee in my diaper two minutes later, she took away my diapers. I tried putting one on myself, but she took me to the potty instead. I really like peeing and pooping in my diapers. Unfortunately, Mommy's putting her foot down, so I'm going in the potty. I don't like accidents and don't have very many. It doesn't sound like we'll be going far from home for a week or so, though, if Mom won't give me anymore Pull-ups or diapers.
I'm a little hesitant about all this growing up stuff. I don't sit in a high chair much anymore. I'm learning to stay in my booster during meals and keep my feet off the table. I don't use bibs much. I only get a little messy. I usually start out sleeping in the big girl bed but I have a hard time staying in bed these days. So I end up sleeping in the crib, even though I can climb out of it. The old familiar is comfortable, kind of like my old familiar diapers. And my old familiar blankie and nuk that are hard to give up. Mom and Dad are making me keep them on my bed. That's been tough!
I'm off to play outside, my favorite place to be. It's a beautiful day!
[Mom notes that her response when told it was time to go inside was a five-word sentence which garnered her more playtime strictly based on length of utterance overlooking the excess of attitude. "No, play outside little more."]
Oh Ellie! You are growing up so fast! You'll master potty training in no time! And sleep in your big girl bed all night!
Today I made a couple movies for you. In the first one, I only wanted you to hear me sing the ABCs. I didn't want the camera to see me, so I was hiding. In the second one, I was driving my car and not worried at all about the camera, so you can see how cute I am. Enjoy!
I decided to April Fool my Mommy while she was making dinner this evening. Well, honestly, it was just really fun to smear banana all over the table, my face, arms, legs and hands. The fact that it was April Fools' Day happened to be convenient. Mommy thought I was just sitting in my booster seat eating that little leftover bit of banana while she cooked. Hahahaha!