Snow White

A few nights ago Ella wandered off as I was reading Michael a book. I heard Ella banging around with the broom and figured she was just being cute practicing her chores. When I finally went to see what she was up to, I found her with a huge smile and powdered white in flour from head to toe. The kitchen, dining room, chairs and tables were all covered in flour like a bakery had exploded. There was also a broken jar of peanut butter, for good measure. It was one of those epic messes I will never forget - it took me the better part of an hour to clean up. What kept me smiling as I cleaned, however, was finding that she had also emptied the drawer with the wash cloths. Wash cloths were all over the mess in her attempt to clean it up, in addition to the broom.

Lately I've been finding wash clothes all around the house. At first I was confused, but now I know who the culprit is and understand the wonderful intentions. It makes me laugh every time I find a stray washcloth now.

Other things about Ella at this utterly adorable phase of her life:

She calls the bookcase in her room her "suitcase".

She has learned that asking nicely is the way to go. She has a special sweet, extra squeaky voice she uses on command to be polite, always with a "mommy, please". If she is having a tantrum, she can even stop herself mid-meltdown and change to her special squeaky nice voice to make her request. I think she could bring peace to the middle east with that voice.

I want to get everything about her on video, but anytime she sees the camera she stops what she is doing and chases it. This is what I got for trying to catch her being adorable in some bunny ears.

Ooooooooo, camera!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

She is steaming full throttle ahead in the "DO IT MYSELF!" stage. Going to the grocery store with both kids is about the worst idea anyone could come up with right now. Yet I keep doing it for little items and thinking that it's just for xyz, we'll be in and out. But it has not been pretty lately.

It seems like if I actually want to move quickly somewhere, she bullheadedly insists on walking. If I have my arms full of 50 things, then holding her is the only acceptable option. Diaper changing, sunscreen, or clothing always sends her running. Cooking dinner turns her into a koala bear. I have actually suggested changing her diaper when I am cooking dinner as a clever way to send her running so that I could cook.

She loves to put things away and loves singing the clean-up song while she works. She loves finding trash and throwing it away herself. She's a great helper these days with diapers.

She is so nurturing with her stuffed animals. She puts blankets on them, gives them drinks, takes them for rides, etc. I find this so fascinating because I hardly understood the point of stuffed animals with her older brother.

But she also loves trucks and watching sports with Rob, so it's not all stereotypical around here. When Rob was playing football she would get ecstatic about going to his games.

I think going on little walks, where she gets to walk the whole thing and we take our time and she can explore, is probably her favorite activity. I remember it was Michael's obsession at that age also.

If she sees an animal that doesn't run away immediately (there are a LOT of stray cats here), she almost always proclaims "He likes me, mommy. He likes me!"

Today she called Rob's watch "Daddy's time machine".

If you go to give her high five, she will decline and request high tens instead.