3 and a little bit

Oy!  This girl is a handful!  Ella, as always, is such a joy and so much fun.  But she is definitely settling into her big sister roll.  She has been SO bossy and headstrong lately.  It's driving me a little bonkers.  We're working on tantrums again which aren't often but are pretty epic when they do occur.
With this lovely big sister attitude has come some lovely new big girl sayings.  There's the "Okay mom" with the sigh and the eye roll, the "No! You do it (or 'today' or 'right now')!" and my personal favorite, "Oh my gosh!"  It's pretty funny watching her get her attitude on.  Sometimes frustrating too but she's still overall a very good and sweet natured girl.
We've been working on potty training...again.  And again, we're failing miserably.  I have tried everything anyone has suggested.  What it adds up to is, two drops in her mini pink potty and lots and lots of soiled undies.  I sit her down, let her play games on the tablet, play with her toys, eat a snack and still nothing.  Her sticker chart as a total of one sticker from her two drops and that's it.  I'm not even sure if she knows when she needs to go.  Most of the time she comes to me saying "Mommy, I need to go potty" while she's peeing her pants.  And we tried five minutes before on the toilet.  We've tried the big toilet with and without the mini seat.  We're currently trying the training toilet.  I've tried reward, bribery, turning on trickly water, sending her in the bathroom shortly after she's had something to drink, rewards for being dry, cheering for the two drops.  I just don't know what to do.  I know she's gone through a lot this year and that could be fueling her extreme distaste for this whole process but I have got to get this kid out of diapers.  Most people have told me "They're ready when they're ready." I wanted to wait 'til she was ready but I also would like to send her to preschool someday.
Which brings me to my next subject.  Teaching Ella the alphabet.  She can count to 12.  She knows her colors.  She knows most of her shapes.  She knows her ABC's.  But she doesn't know her alphabet so that is what we're working on.  It's a slow process.  Ella doesn't love learning from me.  She won't sit still and pay attention long enough to let anything sink in.  But she'll get there.  And if not, maybe preschool will pitch in and help me out.  Ella learns from others better than she does me.  Anyway, she recognizes the letters in her name.  She sees them and while she can't tell you what letter it is without a little coaching she can tell you that it's her name.
Ella had some firsts this past month too.  First stick figure drawing without any help.  First snowman with minimal help. First scary movie.  First pumpkin gut experience.  First time pumping on the swing with minimal coaching.

And now, for this month's installment of Ella funnies.
Lately Ella has been obsessed with Santa Claus.  She asks for him all the time.  The best way to get her to drop the subject is tell her he isn't coming right now because he's still making her toys.  That satisfies her.  But, she still asks daily if he's coming today.
One day in particular she'd gotten the idea of Santa in her head and kept talking about how he was going to come to our house in his car (it has since changed to him coming on his horses.)  Once Santa got here he was supposedly going to take Ella to the hospital to take presents for all the sick kids.  See, she can be a stinker but ultimately is the sweetest thing ever.  She continues to talk about Santa and requests trips down the holiday isle anytime we go to a store.  She isn't very happy with me for not letting her put up the Christmas tree right now.  Ah well.
Ella has learned to salute.  I can't be sure where she learned it but one day, while riding her bike she stopped, put her hand to her forehead, and saluted me.  For some reason I'm not allowed to do it back.
Ella's memory is amazing.  Several months ago we were looking at pictures and came across our Easter pictures from this year.  Well, Ella wanted to go hunt for eggs after that so we had to explain that first we had to have fall, her birthday, Halloween, snow, Christmas, spring, and then the bunny would come.  Ever since then, after each new holiday/event she reminds us that after the snow and Santa comes "sping and da bunny will come."
This girl's got rythm.  One day, walking home from the park she decided to march.  She was chanting "march...march...march, march, march"  In time to her steps and everything.  She even through a triplet in there at one point and stayed in time.  Pretty amazing.

Ella still loves to be silly.  Love Donald Duck, Curious George, Panda Express, her blanky, her little sister.  She loves playing dress up and playing with her new imaginary friend Kylie.  Her and Kylie like to wander the house looking for Kylie's new heart (Kylie is one of our heart friends waiting for a heart at PCMC.)  Ella has also adopted her as a sister.  She makes me wait for Kylie to get in the car even.  It's pretty cute.  Ella is so aware of others and their emotions.  She tries her hardest to make sure everyone is happy.  Unless she's not.  Then she doesn't care who's happy or not.  Everyday I'm amazed at her amazing personality.  When talking about children I hear people say "their little personality" but there is nothing little about Ella's.  She is a sassy, firecracker.  And beautiful.  I never could have dreamed I'd make a kid as pretty as her.  We'll attribute it to Andrew.  And now, that little firecracker is up from her nap and wanting to work on the grandparents Christmas and birthday presents.  I'm not telling! Neener neener!