Fishy Tales

We got acquainted with our new fishies tonight! We were off to a rough start when Ella launched a spatula into the tank after I took off the lid. But as the night went on, Ella began shrieking at the site of them when she walked by and started having longer conversations with them. I think she is growing rather fond of them!

Little Monkey

Me: "Ella! Get down! You are such a monkey!"
Ella: (totally straight face) "Oooh Oooh! Oooh Oooh!"

I think she hopes I mistake her for a monkey. :)

Suckers

This weekend, we were able to catch a few garage sales in Denver. At one particular garage sale, Ella found a swing and drug it around the garage. Everyone thought she was so funny which she enjoyed being the attention of. Every time we took it away or tried to redirect her attention, she refused to give up her swing. She wouldn't take "no" for an answer. We were firm and held our ground......adament we were not coming home with a swing.

We are a couple of suckers. Here is a picture of Ella in her new swing.

Ella the Worm-inator

Yesterday, we did a little digging in the dirt because our neighbor offered some flowers to us. We took a little intermission to discover and feel a worm for the first time!

And this is not gross. It's nature. :)

Unwanted Guest

4 Signs there is a raccoon living under your deck:

1. You hear loud squeals coming from underneath you while hanging out on the deck.

2. Your neighbor lady tells you something has been snooping in her garbage.

3. Something ate your lattice.

4. Something left a furball on your lattice.

And Then.....It Happened

By far, the most embarrassing Mommy moment to date:

It is generally a common occurance taking Ella into a public restroom with me. I change her first, then she waits patiently for me and away we go. A little over a week ago, we found ourselves in this situation. There we were in the bathroom stall. I was completely occupied as Ella began peeking under the neighboring stall. I whispered "No!" and she giggled and stood back up. "How embarrassing...." I thought to myself.

And then it happened.

Ella figured out how to open the stall door.

Stinkbomb

Ella is definitely getting into the phase where she will repeat after you about 60% of the time. Now would be a good time to watch what you say around her. Exhibit A:

Today, I asked Derek to give Ellie a bath while I cleaned upstairs.
When they were finished, she BURST into our bedroom in a towel yelling "Stinkbomb!" repeatedly until I took note of her new vocabulary word.

Thaaaaaat's great.

MiMi Goes For a Swim

During the last few baths, we've thrown Ella's lamb into the hallway and shut the bathroom door to avoid the dreaded meltdown when Ella tries to bring her into the tub. She doesn't quite understand that MiMi is not waterproof and that this lamb takes a bath in the washing machine.

Well today, Ella beat me to the punch. MiMi took a plunge of faith. She "accidentally" got thrown in the bathtub while the water was filling up and Mommy was trying to get our bath things in order. When I returned, I let out a huge gasp as I witnessed Mimi's fate:

 Mimi is resting comfortably and we expect her to make a full recovery.

"When It Rains, It Pours"

Monday night was by far the most hectic day I've had in a long time. Everything about it was madness. Of course, the fact that it was Monday is a ding right there. I was running late all morning, and couldn't get Ella out of bed after such a big weekend with the bridal shower (see below). I finally jiggled her awake, got her dressed and fed in 20 minutes, and headed out the door. I got to work and it was ridiculously busy. My phone, desk, instant chat, and email were constantly bombarded all day--all simultaneously. The worst part was that I was actually enjoying being at work because I knew what I had to come home to. Our house was a flippin disaster. Dishes were taking over the kitchen, the toy room exploded into the living room, there were towels and bath toys everywhere in our bathroom, and about 6 loads of laundry scattered throughout the house. I literally tumbled over two toys on my way out the door that morning, almost breaking my leg. I was dreading what I was coming home to. Any sane person would've stopped for a beer on the way home. But I braved for the worst and headed north. I got in the door and immediately started supper--spagetti. Something easy! Fast forward 45 minutes and there I was, cleaning spagetti out of Ella's belly button. Deep. Breath.

Oven Mitt Catastophe

If someone would've told me 5 years ago that my child's biggest melt-down to date would've involved taking an oven mitt to the baby sitters, I would've laughed hysterically. But this is no laughing matter.

Last week, I could not convince Ella to leave the house without it. It's a little purple floral oven mitt made by Grandma Kathy for her play kitchen. I always let her take one thing to the sitters, and that's because it is usually Lambey (a.k.a. MiMi). But an oven mitt? It just seemed a little unnecessary. I was sure it would be lost. Or they would all want to wear it. Or it would get left there or ruined or fed to the dog or dumped in the toilet.

I tried everything... Being cool and calm. Being sneaky. Being forceful. Being desperate. Everything I did just lead to more frustration.

I could literally hear my mom telling me "Pick your battles, Heth!" in my head.

I took a deep breath and out the door we went. Oven mitt in hand.

Ella: 1. Mommy: 0.

"Are you kidding me?"

Literally, two minutes after starting this blog, Derek poked his head in to check on me. 
Derek: "867?" (Reading the title)
Me "Are you kidding me?"
Derek: "Don't you work at AEA 267?"
Me: "It's our anniversary! As in August 6, 2007? And it is in almost all of our passwords!"
Derek: "Oh. I get it."

Men.