Today is Ellie’s half birthday. If you ask her, she will already tell you she is “two and a half” instead of “two.” Apparently the distinction is important.
Here’s what Ellie is like at this stage of her life:
* She does not like sarcasm. If she tells us she went to camp today and one of us says, “no, you didn’t go to camp, did you?” She gets very upset and says, “yes I did!” Perhaps it is not sarcasm that is lost on her, but rather she does not like to be told she is wrong, especially when she is very aware and smart!
*Since she welcomed her little brothers this month, Ellie has demonstrated that she is a wonderful big sister. She regularly brings her brothers the bears she made for them, blankets, and pacifiers without being asked by any of us to do so. She also likes to make sure their equipment is turned on to full swinging motion, high vibration, and that all lights and music are started. Ellie will warn us when one of her brothers is crying and she becomes concerned if she does not immediately see all three. She regularly asks, “where’s the other one?”
*She developed a few new phrases:
—She refers to me as “MY mommy,” something she has never done before. For example, she might say, “can I have more milk, my mommy?” I think it is no coincidence that she developed this just as her brothers arrived.
—“That rhymes!” Ellie’s Papa taught her rhyming words and so Ellie is now quick to identify when words rhyme and if you give her a word, 9 times out of 10, she’ll tell you what (legitimate word) rhymes with it. I am impressed by how quickly she has learned this skill and how her rhyming words are sometimes more sophisticated than mine. Recently, I asked her what rhymes with “ball” and I thought she might say “mall.” Instead, she said “small.”
*Ellie enjoys her new Leap Frog computerized book. She can play independently with it and it has been a lifesaver during some long baby feeding sessions.
*The last few months, Ellie discovered a few new favorite foods: grapes, raspberries, deviled eggs, and egg in a hole.
*Her sleep schedule continues to be 7:30pm-7:30am, with a nap from 1-3. It is not uncommon for her to talk and sing through her entire nap, but that is just fine as it makes both she and I happy to have some downtime.
*Finally, Ellie has really enjoyed the extra time and attention she has gotten from her grandparents who have been taking turns being here this summer. It has been a joy to watch her develop her relationship with them and to have a special thing she enjoys doing with each of them. This extra time with her grandparents may be the biggest gift her brothers have given her so far.
Ellie eagerly anticipates going back to preschool next week and beginning a new fall routine.
The Barry Patch 