Oh My Stars!

I cannot believe that Ella turns three in one month.  I can't believe Andrew and I have been together long enough to have an almost three year old.
As much as I miss my baby and toddler Ella, preschool Ella certainly makes up for it.  She is so incredibly sassy, social, happy, silly, clever, and on and on.  It's hard to believe that Andrew and I made her.  We're both pretty mellow and shy (until we get comfortable with you.)  Then there's Ella who regularly is the one to get all the kids together at the playground to play.  And these aren't kids we know.  She is always so happy to make new friends.  In fact, she calls everyone her friend.  A stranger can be walking down the sidewalk and she'll yell at me "Mommy, yook!  My fend!"  They can be any age from toddler to teenager.  As long as they're not adults they're her friend.  She does love the adults too.  But instead of calling them "fend" she calls them her "fend's mommy."
Ella is so smart.  A little too smart.  And definitely of the technological generation.  If she finds out you have a smart phone she will snatch it from you and go straight to the games.  She can navigate some of those phones better than the owners.  So, when you're coming to play, hide your phone unless you don't mind her playing with it.
And of course, Ella is still picking up on things left and right.  The most recent funnies are:
Bathtime a few nights ago Ella is yelling "Mommy I swimming!"  And she's kicking and puffing her cheeks and squinching her eyes.  She picked this particular technique up from the olympics.  She then starts fiddling with her eyes a bit.  I kept asking her if she had water in them and needed her face wiped down.  She just ignores me and keeps fiddling.  Finally, we figured out that she was adjusting her pretend goggles.
Then, a few days ago we're in the car and Ella kisses her her two fingers twice then does the peace sign.  My sweet little gangster.
Ella still loves her princess'.  At the park there is a sort of tower type thingy and she likes to get up there and yell "Mommy! Yook at me!"  The other day I yelled back "Oh hello Ramunzel!"  And for the rest of her time in the tower she kept yelling at all the kids playing "Yet down my hair!"
I am so proud of my girl!  She's turning into quite the music appreciator.  She can tell you what songs are from what movie.  At least her Disney movies and Superman.  She also loves singing and can sing many different songs for you.  She still loves "I Love To See the Temple" and other primary songs, twinkle twinkle little star, ABC's, and she will hum the Superman theme when she's flying.
Ella is such a sweet big sister.  If it weren't for her I may never get a shower in but she is so good about keeping Olivia happy while I get clean really quick.  And when she can't make baby sister happy she's good about coming and getting me.  Her inside voice still leaves a lot to be desired and she often startles Livie awake but she's good about singing sister back to sleep.

Andrew and I both believe we were blessed with Elly first for a reason.  She's handled this summer's roller coaster so well.  I'd be lying if I said she wasn't having a hard time with any of it but she's done much better than I thought.  She may get potty trained a little later than some other kids and she may not be as disciplined after being babysat a ton but she's still very well behaved for a girl her age.  I sure love my Goose.  FYI that's a nickname she's picked up after being called a silly goose so often.
And just for fun, here's a video of Ella dancing.  It was on July 3rd while we were waiting for fireworks in our backyard so it's kind of dark but you get the general idea.  Adam Davenport is her little friend that's dancing with her.  I must say, they have some pretty awesome dance moves.