Elliana These Days

I've said it a lot lately, but we've been enjoying our time with Elliana SO much! I don't know what it is, but she seems to be more fun every day.

Maybe it's the fact that she's become more cuddly and affectionate, or maybe it's because she's become so polite and uses her "please and thank you" words without being told to, or maybe it's because we hear the words "I love you ________ " (fill in any family member) on a regular basis. I think it might be because I know that the days of it being just me and Elliana are numbered.



Whatever the reason, I love this girl. She brings so much life, personality, and joy into our home.

I wanted to share some of the things that make us smile with her around:

Ellie has just started singing in the past week or two. Her two favorite songs right now are "Happy Birthday" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". This is how she sings Happy Birthday; "Happy to you, Happy to you, Happy Mommy". :) I especially love the fact that anytime she sees a lit candle now, she immediately starts singing Happy Birthday. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star goes something like this; "Twinkle Star, Twinkle Star, How... Twinkle Star". I wish I could do it justice through writing. I guess I'll have to get it on camera soon.

Anytime I'm cleaning or cooking in the kitchen Elliana drags a chair (all by herself) all the way across the kitchen, pulls it next to me, and gets on top of it so she can participate in whatever I'm doing.

Here she just enjoyed some chocolate cookie dough. I LOVE this smile!



I've gotten pictures of this before, but it seems that Ellie is trying to outdo herself. When I'm getting ready in the morning, she gets into my underwear drawer and puts on as many items of underwear and bras as she can. It's getting rediculous, lately she puts on so many that it reaches half way up her face.



Ellie likes to "talk" to the baby without being prompted to. The other night we were eating dinner and Ellie and I were sitting on opposite ends of the table. She suddenly stuck her head under the table and in her tiny squeaky voice said "hi baby" and waved at my stomach. This girl is so funny.

Another funny thing she did at dinner the other night, she said "I love you Daddy, I love you Mommy" and just as Caleb and I were about to respond, Ellie continued with "I love you Ellie". I guess she didn't want to be left out. ;-)

Anytime all 3 of us are sitting at the table, she grabs the hand of the person sitting closest to her and says "Pray". Then she'll often interupt in the middle of the prayer with "Amen"! Apparently she likes to pray, but not too long.

I could go on with stories all day, but those are the ones that stick in my mind at the moment. I'll just leave you with these pictures. I love the many faces she makes.