2 Years, 4 months

I know it's early but seeing as I have no idea what the next week holds I'm going to get a little ahead on my journaling.

Ella has so much energy! And she's trying to get rid of her naptime altogether. It's been a small nightmare. She's not ready, but she thinks she is. If she doesn't get her nap, she's touchy and sensitive all day. But she really fights it when I put her down. She'll lay down really well for me but as soon as that door is closed she sneaks out of bed to play. Last Sunday my mom was in town and laid down with her before church. As soon as my mom's eyes were closed Ella would start sneaking, as quietly as she could, out of bed. I know she does the same when no one is in there. It's not until I hear her bump into a toy or play with the wrong toy that I even know she's not sleeping. Yesterday, three hours in her room and no "zzzzz's" It's rather frustrating.

Ella is just all sorts of a stinker lately. She's learned (thanks to her best friend, Adam) how to unscrew lids. First it was the desitin, which her and Adam decided to use as lipstick. This is what happens when I get together with my friend and start talking...Totally our fault. Then, during naptime one day she found her "tinkerbell makeup." It's called dazzle dust. It's just a fine shimmery powder for your skin. It smells good but it sure makes a mess when your two-year-old gets into it. So after coming in to check on her during that particular naptime I realized there was dazzle dust all over her, the floor, the lovesack, her giant gorilla, the armed pillow.

Speaking of being able to open lids, desitin lipstick, and "tinkerbell makeup" Ella has gained a passionate love for makeup. She never used to climb a ton. She'd push a chair over to the counter when I was cooking to see but other than that counters and up high wasn't that interesting to her. Then she figured out where my makeup was. I do my makeup in our bedroom and so it's stashed on the dresser. Ella's gotten clever about how to get it. It's too hard pushing a chair across the carpet so instead, she'll take a laundry basket, dump out the clean laundry and climb on up. She then proceeds to grab my makeup bad and beautify herself. One evening I was in the bathroom and Andrew in the living room. Ella waltzes into the living room to join daddy, sits on the couch, and says "Daddy! Yook at me! I pi-ey!" In the short amount of time I was indisposed she managed to put on foundation, mascara, and eye shadow. Ever since then I've been more protective of the makeup but she's a clever girl and still manages to get ahold of it. She gets particularly excited if she can find lipgloss. I'm a chapstick girl so don't have much lipgloss and I never know where it is. She manages to find it every once in a while and get a bit on before I can go stash and forget it again.

Ella may be stinker of the century but she is loads of fun to play with. Her to favorite things to do are have Disney Dance Parties or play superman. With our DDP's we just turn on some disney music and dance around like maniacs. She marches to the mickey mouse march and shakes her booty to the "Bear Necessities" and twirls to all the mellow songs. She's such a girl. I didn't teach her this but when she twirls she'll grab the ends of her skirt to make the twirl more effective. I guess that just comes naturally. Quick funny story. Since Adam taught Ella to open stuff, we got the Davenports back and now their little boy grabs the hem of his shirt when he twirls. BAHAHA!

Ella really loves playing superman. That one tires mommy out though so we don't do that one as often. Basically all we do is turn on the beginning of the movie so we have the proper music and "fly" I will either have Ella put her stomach on my feet and lift her in the air or actually pick her up and "fly" her around the room. She of course prefers the latter but I get tired lugging around a 30 lb toddler. She's gotten quite good and saying "Up up and away" instead of "123 go" or "ready set" I'm mean and won't fly her like superman unless she has the proper take off. I also make her put her arm out like he does when she flies. I would feel bad about making her be a true superman if she didn't love it.

And lastly, when she's not being a little energetic stinker she's the sweetest thing around. She's been very cuddly and kissy lately. She loves to lotion herself and me. After she does she'll kiss whatevers been lotioned. Including her own legs. That one is pretty funny to watch. She loves to help me lotion my belly and then gives "baby Yibia" kisses. She still tries yelling into my bellybetton, telling Livy to come out. She loves giving "baby Yibia" hugs too. She's going to be such a good big sister. Right now we're working on not talking back to mommy. She's getting quite the little attitude. But when she gives me sass she gets scolded and promptly says sorry and gives me hugs and kisses.

Ella also loves the "Dont' smile" game. She's horrible at it. But she loves it.

She also loves: Curious George, shoes, Pizza, Ice cream, going to gramma's house (Turley or Wright, doesn't matter, either one will do) playing with Uncle Mikey, saying family prayers, reading, playing with her barbies, jumping (on the bed, over stuff, in a sack) wearing dresses, taking care of babies (real and dolls) listening to music, coloring, playing with playdough (she loves making "munashes" aka mustaches) playing with daddy, playing with hair, singing, playing piano, playing outside.