Independence Day!

Ella is declaring independence!  Making her own lunch (pb&j) picking out her own clothes (and dressing herself including buttons and zippers like a pro) helping sister out with everything, and the list could go on and on.  Every once in a while she'll ask for a little help but this girl is ready to be on her own.  She loves teaching herself new things and when she can't do that she loves having mommy teach her.  She's been learning to tie bows (her shoes are velcro but Santa will be bring her some new ones.)  She's been asking all sorts of grown up questions i.e.  "Why don't you have a baby in your tummy? Does the doctor put the baby in your tummy? What is hell?  Where does Jesus live?"  And on and on.  The girl is sure growing up.
As miss Ella grows we are learning that her personality is a somewhat horrible mix of mine and Andrews.  She's got Andrew's perfectionism and my stellar ability to be too hard on myself.  This creates some difficult situations when she does something, expects it to be absolutely perfect and when it's not right away she gets so upset with herself.  We're working on learning patience with oneself and also practice makes perfect.  She's catching on and has been doing better about not being so hard on herself.  It's a work in progress and if she continues to be a mini-me it will be a lifelong thing.
Mini-me is also turning into a major planner.  She loves to have a full and complete schedule of the day, week, month etc.  She is currently making sure our holiday plans are perfect and filled with fun stuff.  We regularly have to count how many days 'til this Christmas party or that Christmas project.  She's loving our Christmas countdown but not loving how slowly that number is coming down.
In all of Ella's perfectionism she is getting to be an excellent artist.  She loves coloring and has gotten super excellent at coloring in the lines.  She's loving drawing too but with her perfectionism usually requests us to walk her through how to draw something.
Ella is such a little grown up.  She's already boy crazy, loves making new friends, loves learning, loves her sister and family.
I haven't done a favorites list in a while so here goes,
Ella's favorite's are hamburgers, Panda Express (still) any sort of treat.  Her favorite toy is probably her bike though she's ready for an upgrade.  She loves playing dress-up, make-up included.  Her favorite character to be is the Wicked Witch.  She has to be reminded that while she's pretending to be bad she can't actually be bad.  Ella doesn't really have a favorite movie.  She is my little movie buff and loves most anything.  She has a couple favorite TV shows.  In the children's genre she has all her usuals but a new one has been added to the mix, courtesy of Daddy.  Since daddy is a man and refuses to watch preschool shows he will watch cartoons with her if they're ones he watched growing up.  Like Jack Chan Adventures.  Not my cup of tea but Ella loves it and we get some good laughs out of the things she learns from it.  For example, she now chants "Noo Mo Fie De Tou" randomly throughout the day.  Apparently it's a chinese spell from the show.  But when she's lying in bed at night saying that over and over we get a good giggle.  Her other favorite show comes courtesy of mommy.  Ella has recently fallen in the love what she calls the fairy tale show.  Once Upon A Time has become one of my laundry day shows so Ella will help me fold laundry while we watch together.  She loves it.
It amazes me how grown up she's gotten.  She's got the cutest and most infuriating (at times) attitude.  She'll lead you on the best conversations.  I absolutely adore my Ella Jane!