The talk

I've already mentioned how the Disney on Ice show resulted in mixed feelings. One of the more negative ones was the result of the scene in Lion King where Simba's dad dies. Ellie was quite concerned about the lion and kept asking "where the other lion go?" Not thinking that the Denver Coliseum was the appropriate venue to have that conversation, we told her that he went behind the curtain to rest. I don't think she bought it because she kept asking about the other lion. Later that day, she asked me "The other lion go behind curtain to rest?" just to confirm that my answer hadn't changed.

She's a smart cookie. At what age do kids learn about death? At what age do you talk to them about it? I know what someone who believes in Heaven would say, but I'm curious about what parents say when they don't (Salina, what do you plan to tell your kids?). I certainly don't want her to learn about that for the first time from school (the radio show recently talked about a lady's 3-year old daughter telling the kids at school that their mommies were going to die), but I simply don't know how or when to bring it up.

I know that the biggest reason for my hesitation is that she's only 2.5 years old. She's too innocent, isn't she? The darkest things she should have to worry about are why the thistles are chasing Tinker Bell and why they make a mess that she has to clean up. Or why Izzy at school won't share her toys with Ellie. Aren't those the type of dark thoughts that a 2 year old should have to deal with?

On the other hand, she does seem to have a lot of anxiety about losing Mommy or Daddy (blame Finding Nemo). I'm assuming that's normal, but maybe it's not? Maybe it's my way into the conversation?

Thoughts?

Going to see Santa

Walking down the mall to see Santa (who we ended up not standing in line for because Ellie was scared, but she did wave to him and he waved back), Ellie was yelling quite loudly:

Santa, where ARE you? Santa? Where ARE you? Santa, we goning find you! Santa? Where are you? We goning find you!

All baby wants for Christmas

Mommy: And what do you think Addie wants for Christmas?
Ellie: Umm... a button.
Mommy: A button?
Ellie: A BLUE button.

All I want for Christmas

Mommy: Ellie, we're going to go see Santa today!
Ellie: Oh?
Mommy: What are you going to tell him you want for Christmas?
Ellie: Uh... I want purple pincess and green pince.

Why does this girl always have to challenge me?

Decorating the Tree 2009

A couple weekends ago (Thanksgiving, sorry for the delay) Ellie helped us decorate the Christmas Tree. She loved wearing the garland, ornaments and tree skirt as her new princess costume.
As I'm sure every toddler does, she wanted to hang all the ornaments at her level so that she could see them. The result is that we have a tree with "sections." Here you see the section with all of her ornaments.
Here is the section with all the cute little glass ornaments. We thought about not putting up the glass ones, but Ellie insisted. Or was that Aunt Erin? There was something about how the ornament would have its feelings hurt if it couldn't go up on the tree.
And finally, here is the blue bulb section.

Ellie was quite proud of being able to decorate the tree by herself. She would take an ornament out, straighten the hook and try to hang it on the tree. When I tried to show her that the hook needed to bend around the branch, she said "No, let me show you, Mommy." She'd once again straighten the hook and put the ornament on the tree. "See, Mommy? Let me show you again." I'm not sure how she got so many ornaments to stick without bent hooks, but she did try to show me her secret technique.

Later, when we tried to spread out her clumps of ornaments, she got really upset and insisted that we would put them back. I guess Mommy should know better.

Oh yeah, and that too

Last weekend we went to see Disney on Ice with Ellie. It ended up being a roller coaster day in terms of emotions. On one hand, she loved the show and wanted to see more. On the other hand, she was exhausted and an absolute monster that evening.

As soon as the show was over, though, she wanted to rush home to tell Daddy all about the fissles (thistles) that were casing (chasing) Tinker Bell. They made a mess and weren't very nice until Tinker Bell said "No dank you, fissles! No dank you!"

That night, though, she had her first real nightmare. She cried and cried about how she doesn't like the octopus (I'm assuming from the Little Mermaid segment of the show).

(crying the whole time)
Ellie: I don't like the octopus.
Mommy: Oh, did you have a bad dream?
Ellie: Yeah, can you get rid of it?
Mommy: It was just a dream. The next one will be better.
Ellie: I don't like the octopus.
Mommy: Where's Bun Bun? She'll keep you safe.
Ellie: I don't like the octopus.
Daddy: How about the star night light? We'll turn it on and it will keep you safe.
Ellie: I don't like the octopus.
Mommy: Do you want to turn on your night time music?
Daddy: Yeah, that will help too!
Ellie: I don't like the octopus.
Mommy: Uh...
Daddy: Uh...
Ellie: Is just pretend right?
Mommy: Oh, right! Yes, it's just pretend! I was going to say that.
Ellie: Octopus is just pretend.
Daddy: You're so smart.

** I hate it when I can't think of the right thing to say. Ellie did it for me! And to think this also would have been a perfect opportunity to remind her of her special rock under her pillow (which I did the following night). Oh well, next time I will know to start off with reminding Ellie that her night mare is not real.

First Camera Smiles

Anyone who has a young infant knows that these are hard to come by. There is something about the magic red light on a camera that makes a smile disappear instantly. Anyway, enjoy...

Ellie's Performance

What a difference a year makes! Below is a video of Ellie and her friend Brynnie during last year's Christmas performance. Brynnie is absolutely adorable bouncing around, while Ellie mostly just stands there staring at Gapa in the audience, however at the end she steps up and shows how well she knows her sign language. They were so sweet it makes me want to cry.
And here are the girls in this year's performance. Please excuse the slightly obnoxious "Oh come on" that I said because the teacher kept getting in the way. I was, however, able to get Ellie on camera by holding the camera high in the air. I'm so proud of my little girl, though. She knew all the words! Pay close attention to the part of the song where they say "Rodolph with your nose so bright..." because Ellie's voice is the only one you can here. She's just so cute sitting on the step singing as loudly as she could (she was hoarse afterwards). Brynnie, as precious as always, is standing behind her in adorable pigtails.
After the girls sang their songs, the older kids did their performance and Ellie kept asking when it would be her turn again. So, at the end of the show, we went back up to the stage to sing again. Can two girls be any cuter together? I doubt it.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Baby files complaint; no one takes action

Tid-Bits VI

I love how when Addie naps with me, she sleeps better if her hands are in mine. I love holding those tiny fingers!

I love how Ellie answers a yes/no question with the word "yes" and not "yeah." It's a small thing but you'd be surprised at how noticeable it is and how adorably proper she sounds.

I love how most of the time, Ellie answers with "yes please" and "no thank you" and usually says "welcome" after someone thanks her. Even if you ask her something like "can I have a sip of your juice, Ellie?" she'll respond "No thank you" or "yes please." She's so polite!

I love how Ellie knows so many words to so many songs. It continually impresses me.

I love how Ellie thinks that if you get an eye booger out of her eye, she can make a wish. She'll blow on it and wish for something. Eye booger wishes are just as good as eyelash wishes.

I love how Ellie likes to read books to me. It's impressive to see how many words she has memorized and interesting to see which ones are more meaningful to her (and thus she knows those words).

I love that Ellie often says "and smart too" after someone tells her she's cute or silly. We owe that one to Great Aunt Pat.

I love how I can hold Addie. Just hold her. Like a baby should be held.