2 1/2 Years Old!

I took way too long to write this Ellabells. We've just been so unbelievably busy :) Yesterday we had your two and a half year check-up with Dr. Dyer and you did so well! We talked about Doc McStuffins (one of your favorite Disney shows) during the car ride so hopefully that helped a bit. You've been quite sick so your flu shot got postponed (phew!). Once again, you were off the charts in height at 39 1/2 inches (the doc always giggles and just says over 98th percentile) which means you grew 2 inches in just 6 months! Your weight was just over 32 pounds which put you in the 90th percentile. Your blood-work came back great and, once again, they said you were a healthy little girl. All any mom wants is for their child to eat well, sleep well, and to be as happy as possible. We feel so lucky that you're on the right track (at least for now)! Hopefully this lasts and you'll be an adventurous eater like your dad. I love that you are "usually" willing to try new foods and love dipping vegetables in ranch dressing or hummus. Carrots are your absolute favorite and we use them as a reward for everything. To each their own :) That being said, you also love to share mommy's Diet Coke so I've learned to drink in hiding as much as possible.

Since September you've been going to Merry Poppets every day and absolutely love it. Some weekends you even ask why you can't go play with your friends. Picking you up is truly the highlight of my day because you've just woken up from your nap and as soon as you hear the gate unlock, I can hear the pitter patter of your feet as you come running. The only exception is when you're doing an art activity, then I have to pull you away as you tightly grip whatever is in your tiny hands and make me pry it from you with every ounce of strength I have. We have more artwork than I know what to do with . You confidently point out all of your "unique" pieces and acknowledge your work every time we enter the play room. School is your happy place and I couldn't be more relieved and excited that you find so much joy in having that peer interaction on a daily basis.

We are still going to swim lessons every Sunday and you are officially considered "pool safe" now! If you fell in a pool other than the Waterworks pool, I hope you would still know what to do. At least you have a great foundation for all of the water sports that you are destined to be a part of growing up around here :) Swimming was always the one thing that I have been really confident about my whole life (even though I quit before high school). In Jr. Lifeguards I could swim faster than almost all of the boys and no one ever expected it. I want you to have that confidence too :) We haven't started ballet again since summer but you actually asked to go back, yay! We'll start mid January again and see how you do!

Ella you are growing into the most amazing, intelligent little girl. You know most of your letters (which is crazy!), all of your shapes, and can count up to 20 (although you usually skip a number or two). You consistently ask "why" regarding everything. It actually drives me crazy because I make a real effort to explain things to you in the simplest, most comprehensible way possible and when I've completed my thought or explanation you still respond with "why?". Sometimes you laugh afterwards which is confirmation that you know exactly what you're doing. You also love to repeat the same phrase or request to the point of exhaustion. You might be more manipulative than I would like to admit and are as stubborn as they come. Your shyness is crazy. There are some days when it takes you 15 minutes to warm up to family members that you see all of the time. I'm hoping this is just part of being a two year old and you'll eventually grow out of it, fingers crossed.

Halloween was a blast and you eventually accepted your "green monster" costume (Yoda). The Star Wars theme was a huge hit and you loved trick-or-treating at Papa's country club and going through the Haunted Houses and various pumpkin patches. I think we will have to make family costumes a tradition until you put your foot down or request otherwise :) We just got back from our first family vacation in Oahu and you had so much fun. You loved saying "Awoha" to everyone and made new friends every day at Pipeline. The sound of the waves crashing intimidated you and caused you to keep your distance from the shoreline. Turtle Bay was nice because we could swim leisurely with no waves. Unfortunately, Waimea Bay was huge the day we went and that was supposed to be the best place to swim with young kids. It was fun interacting with many surf legends and having Thanksgiving with the best of them. I hope we get to go back soon! You did so well on the plane rides, it was I who needed the barf bag accessible at all times :)

This is the last week before Christmas Break and then we have two weeks off! So excited :) We started Elf on the Shelf this year and every morning you run out of your room bursting with anticipation to find where Sparkle the Elf is hiding. This is the first year we don't have any family staying with us (although we will miss them :-), I have so many fun play dates and activities planned. I think you'll get a kick out of the Science Center and we'll try to go to Disney at least once. You did have your first movie theatre experience with Kailey and Julia and loved seeing Frozen. You did so well until the last 20 minutes, then you kept asking for my phone. We've watched the You Tube music videos a million times already and you love that Elsa has "white" hair like you :)

Wish me luck Ella, we are going to "fully" potty train you over Christmas break. I've been so inconsistent with it because of daycare and our weekends have just been too packed. I'll be honest and admit that it's so much easier to throw on a diaper and not worry about it. However, I will now commit to it :) I think you're ready! We love you to the moon and back sweet girl and are cherishing every single moment we have with you.