Its cute!

E has started to describe many, many things. She most things are described in positive terms, with the most negative things being described as "scary." There is one thing she says all the time, which I'm starting to think we need to work on. E says of lots of things "its cute" with a big emphasis on the Cu sound. Its clear she doens't totally understand what "its cute means" since the other day she descibed her teacher's baby (which hasn't been born yet) and my milk bracelet as cute.

Catching up

Today was one of those days, I had big plans, but everything was thrown off. Today, E and I were home alone, dada was off coaching his mock trial team to victory in the regional competition. I had lots of plans for E and I. We were going to go to swimming lessons and decorate Valentine's Day cookies. E has a very specific idea about Valentine's Day, which is that it a day where you make and give heart shaped cookies. So, in order to make that happen for her, dada and I spent last night making the cookies. Today, we were going to decorate them with the special blue sprinkles E picked out.

But, instead, E caught the stomach bug that has been going around. We skipped swimming lessons, but since their had been no incidents in a few hours, we headed to the library to get out of the house. Big mistake. After she played with a computer, the plastic food, and the slide, she "spit" (her word) in the library. Both of us were embarrassed.

We spent the rest of the afternoon cuddling and watching Sesame Street.  I could tell she really wasn't feeling well when she wanted to lay on the couch together. As the day went on she perked up, and we even got a walk outside. I'm guessing she'll be back to herself tomorrow.

We finally got out to play in the snow. She's stopped putting up a fuss about getting her boots and snowsuit on. In fact, her boots have become one of her favorite items of footwear. This is the "mountain" in our neighbor's yard. She loves to climb it, while holding my hand, and then jump down. It takes three jumps to get to the bottom.

Whenever we go shopping now, E needs to take this purse and wallet. She's very concerned about her money when we get to the cash register. But, everything still costs three dollars.

Superbowl party! E got to pick the cupcakes for dessert. Turns out its not a cupcake without green frosting. She only likes to lick the frosting, she never eats the cake part.

Since we spent time with baby E, big E has been very interested in babies. She's been taking very good care of her baby lately, here she is putting on the baby's diaper. Her daycare teacher is having a baby, and she keeps talking about how the baby will come when the snow melts.

Having a snack in her "tent." E is still a girl who loves to snack, and her special spot has been in this tunnel.

What's your name?

Dada: What's your name
E: Eeeeee!
Dada: What's your full name? [a question she usually answers correctly]
E: E Bean!

Three dollars

We took E shopping tonight to get Grandpa a birthday gift. She loves shopping, and insisted on bringing her purse and wallet. Her wallet is filled with "money" which is really coupon cards from various stores. At our last stop of the night, she walked around the store picking up items and saying "three dollars" and then putting them back on the shelf. According to E, every item in the store cost three dollars. Then, on our way out, she grabbed her "money" and said to the cashier "pay money."

I'm not really sure why E understands commerce so well, although she grocery shops with dada over the summer, she doesn't really shop with us that often. I guess she's ready for an allowance.

Angels kiss you

A few funny ways E interprets things she hears.

E has a very small hematoma on her shoulder blade. Its been there since  a few weeks after she was born. She only noticed it recently, and she thought it was a cut. She was very concerned and kept saying "uh oh, uh oh." So, we told her it was were the "angel kissed you." So, now she calls it her "angel kiss you."

E is starting to understand singing and songs. She likes to sing and be sung to. Her favorite is Jingle Bells. The other song she asks for constantly is "sunny days, sweeping the cars away" which is the Sesame Street theme song. She also thinks its the theme for Elmo's World.

Visiting with Titi and Baby E

We headed to a little bit south this weekend to visit with Titi and new baby E. Big girl E was very excited or the visit, she's been waiting to see Titi for a long time, and was very excited to meet baby E. I was curious to see how she reacted to a baby, but she loved every minute of it. She liked checking out baby E's toes, and commented that "Baby E tiny toes, E big toes" and that baby E was tiny. At day care and when we have friends over E is always very concerned that they have what they need. She made sure to bring baby E her nook whenever she found it.

She also kept getting up from the dinner table to check on baby E, she saw baby E having some milk, and didn't react badly. I was concerned that the sight of a baby nursing might upset her.

After meeting baby E, we headed to our hotel for some swimming. It was a bit late in the night for Titi and E to swim, but both girls had a great time swimming with their dads. They both liked jumping in the water, and splashing.

After all the excitement of the day, E didn't sleep well at all. She woke up for the day at 2:30 AM. She was calm for a little while, but after a short calm period, she was raring to go. Titi gave E two sesame street characters, and E had to sleep with them in her bed. Then, for awhile, she was calm if she laid on me and held the characters, but every time she'd relax, she'd drop one, which set her off screaming.

So, E and I were the first customers at the continental breakfast, where she got a rare treat, Froot Loops. We wandered the hotel for awhile, and then E and dada wandered. E got to play with some of Titi's toys, and then visit with baby E again. Finally, Titi and E went swimming with their mommas and had a great time playing with Titi's dolls. Their favorite activity was dipping the doll's hair into the water, and then "painting" with it.

E took her nap shortly after swimming, and went home with dada. She was exhausted for the night, at yoga class she was content to sit on my lap or be held for most of it. Only at the end did she start running around. Fortunately for everyone it was an early bed time.

This is what E looked like for most of the evening:

A couple minutes

Lately whenever E is trying to get her way on something, usually another story before bed time, or stalling when it comes to dinner, she says "a couple minutes." She puts her index finger up in front of her mouth, almost like a sushing motion, and says it. I find this one very funny because she has no actual idea what a couple of minutes actually is, or how long it might be.

We've also been practicing manners with E, and the concept that seems to have stuck is "excuse me." She uses it all the time, just no to people, the other day she was trying to walk past a dog and said "excuse me puppy" and got upset when he didn't move. Tonight, she wanted one of her toys to move and said "excuse me Zoey."