Stork Sticks...

It now seems everyone is getting pregnant but me...and I'm trying not to get discouraged by that. A dear friend who had ovarian cancer is now pregnant with twins (a miracle, no fertility help) for that I am ecstatic but it does increase my longing. A neighbor who seemed "done" with two tween girls is now also expecting.

After several months of trying and counting calendar days, following my late summer "issues" (see previous blog) we've resorted to some over the counter help. So each morning I pee on a stick to check my ovulation. I tried a basal thermometer which became more annoying than helpful mostly because I don't think I was using it correctly.

At any rate, Ella got the first glimpse at my attempt to completely rock her little world today. She walked in as I was unwrapping the little stick. I had to convince her it was not a lollipop so I explained as best I could what Mommy was doing.

"What's that?"

"It's a baby tester. It tells mommy when she can make a baby. Do you want a baby, Ella?"

A smile crosses her face as she sees the picture of the baby on the tester kit box.

"Yeah, Ella wants a baby."

"Well, Mommy has to pee pee on this stick and find out when the stork can come visit. Do you want a boy baby or girl baby?"

"Guhl!"

Well...first the two little lines have to be the same color.

Floatin' on your back...

Teacher's pet?

Showing the class how to use the kick board and the noodle

Ella's taking part two of her swim lessons at the local YMCA. She's in the "Two Much Fun" class, during which she must master floating on her back. I think we may be repeating this class a few times. But she loves the water and that's supposed to be the biggest lesson learned.

Ella's First Pigtails...

She pulled them out three times over a several hour period. The nice check-out lady at Target said it would just take some time for her to get used to the sensation. All-in-all I think she did pretty well. She declared that she had pretty hair, "puddy hair". I was pleased that her hair stayed out of her eyes.

Hippity Hoppity...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! We were busy with lots of family activities and festivities. Saturday we joined Babci, Granddad and the rest of Daddy's family for a big Easter Egg hunt, complete with a petting zoo, jumpy thing and pony rides. Then we went back to Babci and Grandad's house for another egg hunt and then dinner.

Sunday morning B & G joined us for Mass and then came back to our house for brunch. Then after Ella's nap we went up to Grams's house for more egg hunting and food. Now that we're all festively plump...here are a few of my favorite moments from the beautiful weekend...

Coloring Easter Eggs

We made the trip to visit Grams and cousin Trey ahead of the Easter Bunny's visit. We colored Easter eggs and decorated sugar cookies. Two colors fell victim to the clumsy actions of Grams and Ella, but Grams combined what little was left in each cup and ended up with a beautiful fuchsia!!

The kids had a big time and the eggs and cookies turned out beautifully.

Doh! Outsmarted!!

Each week Ella brings home a vocabulary word/flashcard from school. Most of the time it's simple things she already knows like ball, flower, etc. Which is why we were stumped one week when she seemed to struggle with the word caterpillar. She has pointed them out in nature and in all of her books that feature caterpillars, butterflies, dragonflies, and everything else that flies or will someday fly.

We would say, "Ella, what is this?" She would answer, "snake!" O.K. I can see how a worm could be confused with a snake, especially in picture form presented to a two year old. Over and over all week long we had this same exchange. Then by week's end, she enlightened us. Daddy asked again, "Ella, what is this?" She replied, "snake!" "No..." he started, then she interrupted, "It's a caterpillar, his name is snake!"

Ridin' Bare Back

I don't think this entry really needs commentary. It stands alone. I should note, the faint ring around her fanny in the second picture is not from Rocky the Horse, but from sitting on the potty for too long. A true Daddy's girl.

This blog is slowly becoming the fodder for Ella's future autobiography, "Why I Need Therapy!"

26 Months! Ella's FIRST Haircut

Before -- back

Before -- front

Our peanut was not blessed with a head full of hair at birth, and in fact it didn't really start coming in until around her first birthday. That's part of the reason she hasn't, until recently, needed a haircut.

My goal has always been to let her hair grow out all one length. For one, I've heard bangs are constant upkeep, and two, when I was a little girl, with bangs, I was always envious of those other little girls with long beautiful braids -- and no crooked, chopped in the kitchen while mom was busy with dinner and two siblings, zig-zaggy bangs. Just a personal thing for me.

After -- side view

But, Ella's hair is thin and fine and the back grew faster than the front, yes some said she had a mullet. But since she still has baby hairs just starting to grow at the top of her forehead I knew it would soon look like a really bad layer cut. So, with a coupon in hand, we headed out to the nearby Halfpint Haircuts.

This place was awesome. We went on a weekday so we were only one of two clients. Ella's hair was cut by a sweet lady named Jacci (Jackie) who played an Elmo video for her while she snipped away. Ella was very good. I say this because I was fully expecting a back-arching, full-on meltdown. But for Ms. Jackie she sat very still and seemed to enjoy the pampering. When the cut was finished the nice lady dried and styled her hair and gave her "princess" earrings, the kind that fix to the ear with some sort of sticky stuff.

It's not a drastic cut but now it's more even and healthy looking. Don't you think?