Big Sister Quote of the Day

Addie: (crying)
Mommy: Ellie! Did you just hit Addie with her bear?
Ellie: (shyly) Yeah.
Mommy: That was NOT very nice. You hurt her!
Ellie: Sorry Add-a-line.
Mommy: Do you think you could give her a hug too?
Ellie: (hugging Addie) Sorry.

A couple minutes later...

Mommy: Are you ok, Ellie? You seem sad.
Ellie: (starts bawling) I stought dat I never wanted to hit someone ever again.
Mommy: Oh.
Ellie: But den I hit Addie but I never stought I would hit someone again.


There was something about seeing how upset Ellie was after realizing she hurt her sister... it was heart-breaking.

Wordless Wednesday

This post brought to you by the letter H

Anyone who knows me knows that I wear a lot of hats. These days it's usually on Fridays and weekends but I've always been a strong proponent of the hat. They magically turn bad hair days into good ones. And so it should come as no surprise that...

... I love that both of my girls would rather wear one of Mommy's big red hats than the ones that actually fit them.

And just in case you didn't believe me, this is the hat I chose to wear (photo courtesy of Ellie).

I LOVE roads on a grid

Ellie: Look, Mommy! I drew a map! It will show us how to get to Nana's house tonight!
Mommy: Oh good, let's use it!
Ellie: OK!
Mommy: Look at your map... where are we now?
Ellie: Right here. See da blue line?
Mommy: Ok, and where is Nana's house?
Ellie: Right here. See da green line.
Mommy: Good. Does your map say to turn right or left here?
Ellie: Left.
Mommy: (turning left) Ok, at the next light does your map say to turn right or go straight?
Ellie: Ummm... Go straight.
Mommy: (goes straight) Does your map say to turn right after one or two stop lights?
Ellie: Ummm... Two.
Mommy: (counts out loud and turns right at second light)
Ellie: (starting to get nervous) Is this the right way?
Mommy: We're following your map, right? I'm sure we'll get there.
Ellie: (doubtful) Ok...
Mommy: Look at your map again. Does it say to turn left after four or five stop signs?
Ellie: Ummm... four!
Mommy: (counts out loud and turns left after 4th sign) Ok. Does your map say to turn right after one or two stop lights?
Ellie: One.
Mommy: (turns right at first stop light)
Ellie: Is dis da right way? Are we going da right way?
Mommy: We're following your map, right?
Ellie: (doubtful) Ok...
Mommy: See that light up there? Does your map say to turn left there?
Ellie: Yep!
Mommy: (turns left at light) Ok, I think we're getting close. Does your map say to turn right at 17th Street or turn right after a grocery store?
Ellie: Ummm... affa a grocery store.
Mommy: Ok... so lets look for a store. You let me know when you see one.
Ellie: Look dere's one! Right dere! Do you see it?
Mommy: Oh good! (turns right onto 17th Street) Now does your map say to turn right after the gas station?
Ellie: Yes! And look! There's a gas station! Turn right here!
Mommy: (turns right) Look! I think this is the street that Nana lives on. Tell me when you see her house.
Ellie: Dere it is! Dere it is! See, just like on da map. Do you see the green line?
Mommy: We did it!

Later...
Ellie: Nana! and Grampa! I have someping to tell you! See dis map? I drew it to show us how to get to your house and it worked! We found your house because we used my map! Look! It worked! We drove ALL DA WAY TO YOUR HOUSE!!!

It was a sunny day...

...so can you guess what these girls are doing?

Chasing butterflies, of course! Actually, Ellie was going up to the butterflies and saying "Dootie!" Don't ask me why. Alas, no butterflies were caught, nor did any respond with "Dootie" in return.

I loved watching the girls run from butterfly to butterfly, being mesmorized by the fluttering around them. And then, you remind them to look up higher and OH MY GOSH! There's so much more!!!

My two little bugs sitting on a flower... together... at the same time... both looking at the camera... Sigh. Life is good.

Perhaps this is a wordless wednesday, but I couldn't wait until then to share it with you. Silly silly.

New Blanket

Daddy is actually gone a lot this month. He has had to go to California, Switzerland and Maryland. As such he has been gone for three of the four weeks in March. Blech.

Much to my surprise, I think I may manage to still put out a post every weekday... Wow! However, I have to admit that my stockpile is... well almost non-existent. As difficult as it is to not have Michael around, I do get a kick out of listening to some of Ellie's convesations with him.

Some favorites...

"I just got a new and really big blanket today, Daddy! It's so big and so fuzzy, enough to share wif you! I will share my blanket wif you when you get home. It's soo soft!"

"I was just calling to say I love you. I was missing you today! I will still share my blanket wif you when you get home."

"Do you remember? If you hug the little teddy bear and pretend to be me, you will be happy."

"Do you still have your teddy bear? Where is it? Are you hugging it now pretending to be me?"

"I was just calling to tell you I love you and I was missing you. Are you hugging your teddy bear? I was hugging Bun Bun pretending it was you when I was sleeping, but now I'm on my way to school."

Wordless Wednesday

Boys 101

A week or two ago...

Mommy: Who do you want to invite to your birthday party?
Ellie: All da girls but none of da boys.
Mommy: Why not the boys?
Ellie: Well we can invite Michael and Charlie but not da odder boys.
Mommy: Why is that?
Ellie: Because the other boys chase me and I don't like it.
Mommy: Oh. I see. Did you know that when boys like a girl, they tease you? So chasing you is their way of saying they like you.
Ellie: Why?
Mommy: I have no idea. That's just the way boys are.


A week or so later...

Ellie: What's wrong Mommy?
Mommy: (with a smile on my face) Oh, Daddy is just teasing me and he won't stop.
Ellie: Dat's how he's your friend!
Mommy: Oh?
Ellie: Yeah, he can not stop teasing you because he likes you.

Hugs and Kisses

I love how Addie puckers up for kisses. She puckers up from across the room and keeps her form all the way up to the kiss. Too funny!
She has also been very hugable lately. She absolutely loves to go up to people and give them hugs. And now it's not just for Mommy! Daddy gets lots of hugs, which always melts his heart. Ellie gets at least one daily hug from Addie. Teachers and friends get hugs. And strangers do too. I've even gotten a comment or two from other parents saying she gave them a hug too.

Perhaps you'll get one soon! They're the best!

Big Sister Quote of the Day LXIX

I don't get nearly as many photos of the two of them together as I'd like. Certainly the numbers don't reflect how much fun they have with each other. I love how they both simply adore the other.

And Ellie continues to be proud of her baby. The other day, at her first soccer practice, Ellie proudly announced to her coach, "This is my baby! Her name is Add-a-line!" I absolutely love that she still calls Addie "My baby" and still shows such obvious pride in that fact.