Pool jumping

All three of us made it over to the pool one hot night this week, which freed me up to risk taking some pics and video of Ellie in the water — despite the water splashing everywhere. It's a short one, but enjoy!

Play games, all sorts

Much to my own surprise, I let Ellie go on one of the kiddie rides at the park a few days ago. I'm not a big fan of the automated rides, and the helicopters made me nervous because some of them go up in the air at an angle. But, of course, that's the one Ellie HAD to ride on. The operator told me small kids were OK on it, and I was finally sold when I found out the kids have to move the bar on their own to raise the seat... which Ellie was not about to do. So after I strapped her in tight (seriously, I went back and loosened the strap a bit when I feared she couldn't breathe...) Ellie was off. And she loved it. And it was super cute. And we'll probably be riding the copters again soon.
Ellie is also getting into playing dress-up. Her favorite is when mom makes her a blanket or beach towel "dress," even though it comes undone pretty quick with all her running around. I also found her trying to put on her pajamas over her clothes today when she woke up from nap. And the other day she had her doll's shirt on her arm when we went in. Silly baby.

Feeling unpatriotic

Brian, Ellie and I are still trying to recover from July 4th. Neighbors on all sides, it seems, got some cannon-sized fireworks and set them off all day and night on the holiday.
I'm normally a big fan of the Fourth of July... and I'm sure Ellie will love it and the fireworks some day, too. But this was not the year for that.
During the day, Ellie and Brian went for a walk and saw some neighbors shooting off a small sidewalk fireworks display. Ellie acted scared at first, but then immediately said "please?" when the pops and fizzes stopped. That part was pretty funny. But throughout the late afternoon hours Ellie seemed to get more and more nervous when we'd hear a nearby blast. She only got about an hour's worth of sleep in Monday night before the real explosions started in our neighborhood. From then on we spent most of the evening trying to calm her down and get her back to sleep. After about a dozen trips into her room to give hugs and read stories, I finally brought her into our bed where she'd feel safer.
She calmed down enough to lay with mom and dad in bed, but wasn't too interested in sleep since this was some place new and different. Close to midnight, when Ellie's head was digging into my collar bone and she was periodically kicking Brian in the face, we put her back to bed. I guess she was exhausted enough at that point to ignore the remaining firework sounds.
Brian and I vowed to go to Canada next 4th of July and then promptly passed out.

23 months

Time for some bragging about our little girl, who's becoming more of a big girl every day.
Today she turns 23 months! Just one month left until we have a two year old daughter... and I may lose it.
I mean, look at this little baby to the right (who I'd already thought at the time had rushed way too fast through her first five months). There's no more pureed food or bottles or middle-of-the-night crying. Also gone are the days of neutral baby poop and no morning breath.
Less than a year ago Ellie wasn't even walking yet. Now she's running and jumping and trying to do headstands. Less than a year ago Ellie's vocabulary was almost non-existent. Now she chimes in on almost any decision.
What would you like for breakfast? Cheese!
What should we do this afternoon? Outside! Bus! Slide! Bike!
What should we have for dinner? Noodles!
Some of her favorite phrases are "no, mommy" and "no, daddy"... and she uses them frequently if either of us tries to help too much in an activity she wants to master on her own. (Or, often, if we're trying to steer her away from something she's not supposed to be doing.)
Even though it's sometimes exhausting lugging this almost-two-year-old around, I'm grateful she stills comes up and says "up?" and wants to cuddle — at least sometimes. Her periods of sitting still are far fewer than when she was five months old. But Brian and I are having so much fun watching and teacher her through this current phase. We love you, Ellie!(Here she is looking out over the world she plans to conquer, from the top of the Nebraska capitol building on our recent trip.)

Patriotic

Everybody loves a parade? Well, Ellie wasn't quite sold on the one that marched through the halls of her daycare today. Brian and I were able to head over there and join in the fun... but then Ellie wanted "up" instead of walking with her friends. She had fun at the indoor picnic we all had afterward (since it was raining). Happy 4th to all!

Some randoms

Here's a mismatch of shots from recent weeks to brighten up your Wednesday.
Ellie watched Brian shave the other day and kept asking for some of his shaving cream... so he apparently put some on her cheek and then she wasn't quite sure what to do.
I guess shaving isn't for her?

Generally running around getting into mischief is more Ellie's game. What can I mess with now, mom?

Oh, and we popped up Ellie's beach tent in the living room the other day and she was in heaven. She invited mom, dad and grandma in there many times -- even though it's close quarters!

Choo-choo

I finally remembered to bring some money with us on our trip to the park Sunday. That meant I could buy a ticket for the train! (Ellie's been asking to ride it for a couple weeks now...)
She loved it! But I guess she wanted to make sure I wasn't nervous because she held my hand during the entire ride.

On a separate zoo trip the other day I almost caught Ellie sticking her face through one of these animal cutouts.

And then she wanted to sit on one of these painted pigs like she saw other kids doing. Big smile!