Ella is THREE!

It's hard for me to believe my baby girl is growing up.  This year she was so excited about her birthday.  For the past month all she has talked about is her "Gymnastics Party" and a pink cake.  After a family celebration at Grandma & Pop Pop's, birthday at home and birthday at school it was finally the party day!  She had so much fun!  I'm pretty sure all the kids had a wonderful time also.  Here is a slideshow of Ella and her friends at her party.

Conversations with Ella

My memory is slipping these days.  Maybe that is because I'm getting older or maybe it's because I'm chasing around a three year old (well alomst three) and feeding a newborn constantly.  Ella is always saying funny things but I can never remember them.  I should have Brooke write this up because she always seems to remember the funny things Ella says!  Anyways, here are a few cute things...

Mommy: Ella that is such a pretty picture you're coloring on BB's (Brooke) birthday card.
Ella: No mommy, it's not pretty...yet.

Ella: Mommy you are so smart!
Mommy:  Thank you Ella.  Is daddy smart too?
Ella: No, just you are smart Mommy.

Scenario: Nap time at school today.  Kids are on the mats and Ella gets up a couple times becasue she "needs" to go potty.
Ella: I need to go potty.
Ms. Suzan: Are you ok in there, Ella?
Ella:  Yes, I just needed to toot.

In case you read the previous post about Ella not napping at school here's an update from today.  Not only did she actually nap at school today but I had to go in and wake her up!  The girl must have really wanted some ice cream!!  Her new favorite flavor is peppermint.

Nap time

On Ella's 2nd day of school yesterday the teacher came over to me when I picked her up and said, "She had a pretty good day."  I was thinking BUT...  She continued, "She doesn't want to take a nap."  Well, duh, she doesn't nap anymore.  Basically she has to stay on her nap mat for the entire hour or there could be a problem come end of October.  I took that as if she doesn't lay down then you're going to have to pick her up early.  Well, I got right on it becasue she's staying at school for the full 5 hours we're paying for!  Today I put the nap mat in the living room and set the timer for an hour.  She did pretty good.  She stayed on it the whole time.  She'd sit up and then I'd remind her to lay down.  There was some bribery involved...stay on the mat and she gets a popsicle.  Stay on the mat at school tomorrow she gets to go get an ice cream.  Hopefully she does well tomorrow.  She's enjoying her orange suger-free popsicle as I'm typing.

3 months old!

Bennett turned 3 months old yesterday!  It's hard for me to believe that it's been almost a full year since we found out we were pregnant.  It really does go by fast, but not too fast because I still remember being miserable during my pregnancy.  Bennett is changing all the time, as all babies do.  He has been smiling a lot and cooing but his newest trick is giggling.  He can really get going when he gets tickled.  It is so cute!  We brought home his cousin's jumperoo this past weekend and tried it out.  He doesn't really bounce yet but he likes to hang out in it.  I'm sure he's tired of being on his back all the time in the swing or bouncer.  I left him over night for the first time.  I was a little nervous about leaving him but he was in good hands.  Brooke watched them for a few hours and then Aunt Nise (Denise) spent the night at the house with them.  Thank you both!!  I missed him (and Ella) but it sure was nice to go out and celebrate Chris's promotion and have a night off!  He is still growing and getting even chubbier.  I weighed myself holding him on Monday and he weighed 19 pounds.  I think Ella was 21 pounds at her one year appt.  The boy likes to eat!!

Not as big as the chair..yet!

Cutie

Look at those rolls!

First day of Preschool

Today was Ella's first day of preschool at her new school.  She has been going to MDO for the past two years and always enjoys school.  She was ready to go this morning!  When we arrived I had to ask her to stop and come say bye to me.  I was not surprised to see her go straight to the bookshelf.  She is quite the bookworm.  When I arrived to pick her up she was reading books at the bookshelf.  My five hours were slightly different today than they have been the past two years.  After I got back in the car I had to go straight home to feed Bennett.  Then he and I were off to run errands, but I had to stop midway and feed him again.  He was quite the trooper running errands and then we had a nice lunch at La Madeline before we went back to pick up sister.  I loved having him with me today!  I'm not sure how much he'll enjoy running errands in a few months.

Ready to go

giving brother love

Putting away books

Our little gymnast

Last year I did a mommy and me class with Ella at The Little Gym. She really enjoyed it, but by the end of the year I decided it was time to move on to something else. We tried a class at ASI gymnastics a month ago and she loved it. It was a bit of a juggle for me to go to the mommy and me class with our new little bundle of joy. I soon found out that once Ella turns three she moves up a level to the new class without mommy. I was ready to sign up immediately! She was able to start the new class this week and loved it. As some of you may know I was a gymnast for many years. I was so proud of our little gymnast on Tuesday when she began doing things by herself...well maybe not by herself but without me. She loves to swing on the bar. Watch out Natsia! I have no idea if she'll stick with it and enjoy it as much as I did but I will happily support her if she does.

Ready to go in her new loetard

Jumping on the trampoline

On the bars