Happy Halloween!

Ella celebrated her third Halloween by trick or treating for the first time, and she was no chicken. Okay, she was a chicken, but not about going up to the door and getting candy.

Neither skulls,

Nor fog,

Could keep Ella away from ringing the doorbell.

And when she got home, she asked for carrots and played with the candy.

I think she'll enjoy Halloween even more next year.

Foster Farms University

Daddy: What did you do today?

Ella: Doctor. Lady.

Daddy: Do you want to be a doctor when you grow up?

Ella: Yaa… No!

Daddy: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Ella: Chicken.


I guess “grow up” sounds like "dress up”…

Our little monkey just turned two!

Ella turned two on Friday the 13th. Next time this occurs, Jason thinks we should have a black cat theme, instead of monkeys. Here are a few photos from the festivities.

“More presents, please.”


More fun than a barrel of monkeys! Coincidentally, both Grammy and I made her a sock monkey! Mine's the one with supersonic hearing.


Blowing out the candles

Two Years Old

Dear Ella,

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! Like most two-year-olds, you have definite ideas about how things should be and protest loudly when they aren’t that way. You pick out all your own clothes and can even put most of them on by yourself. You love to wear my clothes -- especially my shoes. You stand on the chair at the kitchen sink to wash your hands and tell me “Ella’s a big girl.” You love to help me cook -- French Toast is your favorite thing to make. Your favorite activity is watching “movies” of yourself on the computer. And you love playing Hide and Seek. Your favorite books align=riare the ones on the high shelf – and in particular, my childhood copy of Blueberries for Sal.

But the biggest change by far is how much you’re talking. You narrate your life, as well as ours. “Mama’s checking email.” “Daddy’s ironing shirt.” And you’ll keep repeating it until we acknowledge that, “Yes, that IS mama’s nose.”

This second year has definitely been tougher than the first one. The tiredness of a new mom comes mainly from lack of sleep and the steep learning curve. The tiredness of a second-year mom is both emotional and physical. As I said, you’re becoming more independent with definite ideas of your own. From ski jackets in July to wearing no clothes at all and consistently removing your shoes right before we’re about to go out the door – to plain old pushing mom’s buttons. This job takes the patience of a saint. And the strength of a young Schwarzenegger. You’re 25 pounds (and 35 inches) of non-stop energy.

But this second year has been more fun too. You make us laugh. This morning, when your daddy asked you if you wanted one or two carrots, you told him “Seven.” You have a fake laugh you call “fake funny” and you can even let us know when you’re teasing. (Wonder who you got that from?) You told us your first joke this week with a smile on your face and in your eyes: “Ella eats dog food. Katy eats people food.”

You sing whole songs – “Make New Friends” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep” are your favorites – and even make up songs of your own. You’re learning your letters, E, K, M, D, S, B so far … and keep asking “What’s that?” about the others. Which is good, because you’re going to need a few more vowels to hold your own in Scrabble.

Love,
Mama

On the Go, Go, Go ...

We've had a busy fall so far. FaFa and Grandpa came to visit in September for FaFa’s birthday. We had a fun weekend visiting Sausalito and Half Moon Bay. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. I had forgotten how gorgeous fall can be up here – especially in SF.




Then Ella and I whisked off to Portland last week to visit my dear friend Mo and her adorable new baby Cecelia. Ella loved “Baby Cia” and “Mama Mo”. In between naps we were able to make a few excursions (full-scale invasions?) – to Penzey’s Spices and P.B. and Ellie’s, a kids’ cafe. Their signature “dish” is peanut butter playdough – complete with mini-rolling pin and cookie cutters.




Next stop: San Diego!