Determined

We've been on 'vacation' for the last 10 days in WI. While there Ella had several bedtime accidents...through her pull-up! Ugh...and so we continue to work towards completing potty training during night time (even though our pediatrician assures us she will not walk down the aisle with a pull-up on). Thankfully over the last 4 nights, we've not had any wetting through...and Ella continues to try to go potty before bed and at least one time after she's gotten into bed. So far so good...she may still wake up with a full pull up, but at least she isn't leaking though!

SO.....tonight, I see such determination in her to get a dry pull-up in the morning. We OFTEN have a night owl on our hands...asking us questions, reading books, forgetting to tell us something etc, etc. However, tonight we have one little determined girl; she is DETERMINED to wake up dry tomorrow. She was put to bed at 7:30pm....since then (it is now 9:10)...she has frequented the potty about every 7 min. How do I know? I hear her flush...every time! Not to mention she yelled at our dog Jack for drinking out of her potty. My question this evening is: should I be mad that she is STILL not sleeping or should I be thankful that she is so tenacious? And, should the sleeping fairy come tonight?

When your child learns to read....

So, the other day, we decided to get take out from Chili's. The first thing Ella said was, "I want Mac-n-cheese!" Immediately my brain kicked in and said, "They don't have Mac-n-cheese." End of discussion, no negotiating, nothing. So, Ella went with Daddy to go pick up the food, she came home with her "coloring" page (which includes the kids menu) from the restaurant and her cheeseburger (the girl LOVES her cheese). There was no further mention of mac-n-cheese that night, Thank GOD.

The next morning, Ella was coloring on her coloring page from Chili's. I was eating breakfast, she flips the page over and says to me: "MOM, They DO have Mac-n-Cheese, see right here (ah, wonderful a picture of mac-n-cheese on their kids menu)! You were trying to trick me mom, but you didn't!!!" And so, with that I know she is very capable of environmental print and gets the concept of reading....she's also picking up on our spelling code between daddy and me. As grateful as I am that she is learning to read, I am saddened by the fact that I am going to have to "outsmart" her in different ways....my job just keeps getting tougher! :)

The Markers!

Oh, I am so excited to have a true story for you today! Lori, Ella's daycare provider, always has something to tell me about Ella when I pick her up. More often than not, it is good :)

Everyday, Ella takes "something" with her to Lori's house, whether it be a stuffed dog, stuffed animal, new toy, or today---Markers. This is something we as parents have given into. The rule for Ella however is that she has to leave whatever she brings with her at the door. Well, today...she wanted to take her MARKERS! LOL. Before daddy left, Lori said to Ella, "maybe we should have Daddy take the Markers with him." Ella, of course, tried to negotiate---something she thinks she's very good at, but to no avail the Markers went with Daddy. So...

I arrive to pick up Ella and Lori asks her, "Did you bring anything with you today?" Ella, says matter-of-factly, "uh, I did, but YOU didn't let me keep them." The thing about these "ellaisms" is that her tone of voice is so appropriate and the way she says things---it's as if she knows what she is talking about.

Welcome to the Essence of Ella!

I have decided that although it is fun to enter "Ella anecdotes" in my Facebook Status daily, I am unable to retrieve those innocent comments when I want to. So, I have decided to begin the Essence of Ella. At this time in her life (Age 4) the things she says and does make me and Aaron laugh on a daily basis. Her uncanny, innocent remarks are often hilarious. The most recent was during her stomach flu episode last week. My dear daughter asked me as I was wiping her face with a cool washcloth, "Mommy, why are my brains coming out?" I wanted to laugh so, so bad, yet realized that wouldn't be appropriate given the time and situation. So, I want to make sure these comments and daily life experiences are documented for Ella. Interesting how times have changed from a baby book, photo album, baby blog, and now a Preschool blog! The convenience of being able to access the blog should come in handy for those remarks that I will just need to hang on to...for future embarrassment:)