Ella the Climber

Just like her daddy! 

A New Year

We had a great Christmas and enjoyed the excitment that Ella showed throughout the month. Our Christmas weekend began on Friday the 22cnd. We went to a local shopping square that had free horse drawn carriage rides. Ella loved the bells and the clippity clop their shoes made on the road! She had a great time. We followed this adventure with a Christmas concert put on by the Appalachian Christmas Quartet. They are a small band that does some very folk-like Christmas music mixed in with some fun stuff for the kids. Ella danced in the aisle and made friends with some 13 year old girls sitting by the stage. She slowly walked up to them and then scooted herself inbetween them for a seat! They were kind and had good time playing with her.

The next morning Ella opened presents from mom and dad and extended family. She had a grand time and would get mad at us because we wouldnt let her play with each one before finishing opening her other presents. Then we left for Grandma Robin's.

Matt's sister was in town and Ella enjoyed getting to know her. She practiced ahead of time remembering who she was. When we'd ask "Whose Monica?" Ella would reply, "Dada's big sister, Ella's aunt!"

She loved all the family dinners, and of course enjoyed getting spoiled by all!!! Her new toy of the year is a kitchen with dishes and pretend food. She loves serving you food that she's made. If you try to pretend you are eating the food, she will get mad and say "Open your mouth all the way!!!" And will then promptly stuff the plastic fork in your mouth!

Things are calming down now. We are getting ready for a trip to Breckenridge, CO where Matt will spend a week snowboarding, Ella will try skiing for the first time, and Momma will enjoy getting it all on camera.

Hope everyone is well!
***Can you please let me know if you are reading this blog? I am losing motivation to keep up with it but would continue if there is an interest. Thanks!***

December

Not much to report but have a few cute things that Ella has said that I have to share. She absolutely loves Christmas! But we've been getting into some spats lately over the white bearded one. In the mall, at the store, etc she will point to the pics of Santa and yell, "Look Mama! It's Jesus!" I'll correct her and say, "No Ella, it's Santa." She then proceeds to yell, "NO MAMA! IT'S JESUS!!!"
Ella is in the middle of being potty trained and gets excited when we put her cloth underwear on which we call her "big girl pants." Yesterday she walked in on Matt changing his pants and saw his underwear. She yelled, "Mama, Mama! Dada's big girl pants!"
This morning Ella pointed out a spider she saw hanging from the ceiling. She wasn't sure what to think. I told her that it was ok, he wasn't moving. She then proceeded to yell at the spider, "Move it sister!" This is something I say to her when we are being silly and she is puttering around:)

Thanksgiving

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was relaxing. We spent four days out at our country home (Matt's folks place) and enjoyed getting away from the city. Thanksgiving day was shared with ten members of the Sipp/Cummins family where we were later joined by more aunts, uncles, and cousins. The picture shows all we saw that day which is just a portion of the family! We had a great time catching up with everyone and Ella had even more fun repeating and learning everyone's names! She will make a great politician someday...
During the afternoon while we were enjoying the post meal glow, Matt, his uncle Ted, and Ted's boys decided to take Matt's dad's jeep for some off road mudding in the near by fields and woods. Apparently Matt had an idea and decided to take the jeep in the recently dried lake bed. It wasn't dry enough... We got a call and hour or so later to come haul them out of the mud! We made a caravan to come watch, cheer, and laugh as this was accomplished. Matt got it all on tape for all to see.
Well, Ella is officially going to college next week. When Ella snuggles with me I have a little phrase I'll say, "Mamma's baby," which she will usually repeat. Today when I said this, she replied, "No, Mamma's big girl!!!!" Yes, the umbilical cord is cut and she will be married in a year.....
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!!!

More Autumn

Just a few more pictures!!!

 

Ruth was kind enough to take some fall pics of the girls and the foliage last Monday. Though neither of them could sit still for more than 5 minutes, the results are fantastic! Bravo Ruth....
Ella is fine, though I am fighting an uphill battle trying to get her to keep her fingers from her nose which she has recently discovered. That little hole is a treasure trove.... It wouldnt be so bad if it were just at home that I had to remind her to grab a tissue. No, she is digging on and off all through public visits to the store, etc!
Ella is 60% potty trained!!! A couple of days ago she figured out that she could sit on the potty, tinkle a little, run to mamma and get a treat. Then run back to the potty, tinkle a little more, get another treat, and on and on until her bladder was empty! The little stinker had quite the scam running. What can you do? :)
Ok, I just realized the first half of this post revolves around bodily functions. I apologize! But sometimes it seems like thats what toddlerhood is all about, bodily functions.... But I love every minute of it! She keeps me on my toes!
Ella loves singing and when we are driving to and fro, she has a long list of songs she makes me run through with her. ABC's, Twinkle Little Star, Jesus Loves Me, etc. If I sing too slow, she will prompt me to "Sing it FAST!" She emphasizes fast by literally growling. Yes, growling! She is starting to sing on key with me which adds to the excitement of seeing her talents form. We hope to put her in piano lessons one day and are trying to figure out when.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend!!!

The Skill of a Surgeon

I've realized over the past couple of days the skill and precision it takes to take care of a toddler. Most often these skills can be observed in the afternoons when Ella awakes from her first hour of sleep. This is a habit she has formed for reasons unexplained that require me to go in and offer my ears (Ella likes to hold earlobes, I know....) to aid in her return to the land of nod where she will rest for another half hour. During this time I must remember that if she falls back asleep, and I move too suddenly and awake her, then the remainder of her nap time is doomed. This period can be marked for certain by her expressions which convey the question, "How did you end up beside me?" Ella will then yawn and loudly exclaim, "Get up!" She will not fall asleep for a third time. In order for this not to happen, I must slowly raise my head once she has fallen asleep to release her hand from my ear. I do this by lifting up while she breathes out, slowly releasing pressure from the said hand. Once this maneuver is complete, I must count to twenty to make sure she is truly asleep. At that point I will slowly over the course of the next few minutes slide off the bed and out of range from young ears and eyes. Wheww!!! Hard work!
I am not sure where to direct you for training in the mentioned skills but am sure much prayer will help.....
Hope you all are well! 

We had a great weekend at Matt's mom and dad's place in Wakefield KS. The weather was fantastic, the leaves were beautiful, and the company lacked nothing! :) Ella enjoyed her wagon and swing on which several times she stuck out her arms and yelled that she was flying! You see, she was able to sit through a small portion of the movie "Hook" of which throughout she said "Oh wow, they're flying!" Followed by, "Oh my goodness!" She is really starting to use her imagination. Loads of fun!

Test....

I'm not sure how this blogging thing works so be patient with me..... :)

Ella truly is a gift from God! Unplanned and ariving in a whirl wind of surprise and excitement, she has turned our world upside down, tossed it around, and smoothed its rough edges. I hope this blog will help all our distant friends and family stay up to date on whats going on in Ella's life and also let you know what to pray for! Please feel free to leave requests as well.