The love of our lives, The "big girl" room and the event

The love of our lives: Obviously, Ella! I can no longer talk about what she can do, say or is learning...she can do it all, say it all and is learning faster than I could even begin to type. Her personality shines out of her ears and she keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing throughout the day. We are definitely at the stage where you never know what she'll say or when it will come out. I've never really been an impromptu fibber or explainer, sometimes all I can do is laugh, shrug and smile. I'm really trying to soak up these last weeks of just the two of us...it's bitter sweet to know I will have to divide my time-THOUGH extremely excited about the bundle of joy to come. She is constant company and it is safe to say that I don't think she has stopped talking (unless she's sleeping) since we got rid of the paci almost 6 months ago! I now know why they call it that! She LOVES the Disney Store, which she refers to as, the Mickey Mouse Club house, and so we visit as often as we can. She knows its exact location in the mall and takes off running and squealing as soon as it is within her vision. It's the sweetest thing to witness her joy as she nears the store, it makes my day! If only we all could get that sheer pleasure out of such simple things. The sweetest sound, to this day, is hearing her say, "I love you, mama," which she says randomly and often. And a couple days ago she said, "I love you the best." I melted and teared up! I often tell her those same words and if there was ever any doubt that she wasn't listening or understanding it would now be gone. From birth she's been like a sponge and she has moments when she just sits intently and listens to "grown-up" conversation and you can see the wheels turning. Then, there are also moments when she is in another room or complete other vicinity busy as can be and completely preoccupied with something else yet she STILL manages to hear and or repeat what you said. You have to be VERY careful. Children truly are the greatest accountability! I often hear her from the other room shout, "Don't say "stupid", Mama!" I didn't even know she was listening, much less could possibly hear me from where she was!



The "Big Girl" Room: We have switched Ella's room to what used to be the guest room. We painted it pink and she got all new furniture. Since the painting and assembly of the new bed she has spent every night in her room. Though I miss her in the middle, it was time. She loves her new room and now has no desire to be in our bed anyway. She says every night at bed time, " I want to go lay in my bed in my new room." I'm very thankful that it was an effortless and fun adjustment for her. She has slept in her room and through the night since she "moved in". We don't usually hear from her until around 5 or 6 am. At which time she quietly gets up, makes her way over to my side of the bed and stands there quietly with a grin on her face, as if she is getting away with something until I wake up and assist her into our bed. It's nice to have those next few hours to love on her and cuddle until we get up. However, one of the best parts for me was of course decorating the room, which made me quickly realize how very much we live vicariously through our children, but also giving her a place all her own that she loves. Her excitement is wonderful and it gave her just a tad more independence, as if she really needed it! Now, it is onto the nursery and giving baby boy a place all his own before he makes his debut! Ella has been a huge help in the painting process already. She leaned over my belly and told him last night, "Hey, little brotha, I painted your room, it's so pwetty!" She's really gonna love him!! I guess it is only fair that if I got a pink room that Matt now has the opportunity to decorate for his son (of course, with mild supervision.) We shall only see what the two of us come up with there. We are COMPLETELY opposite, so this should be interesting.


The Event: The other night baby boy was in rare form. He's always active...extremely active, and his movement is MUCH more aggressive than Ella's ever was. And Thursday night was no exception. The three of us were watching So You Think You Can Dance and without really knowing what I was doing began tapping on my belly as we watched and that's when it began. Baby boy decided to push his heel, foot, knee whatever body part it was out one side of my stomach and whatever part was opposite that came poking out the other side. I quickly beckoned for Matt and Ella to come look, because that was the type of movement it was, that which you could "see" from the outside as my stomach bounced and distorted into many different and abnormal shapes. Matt began talking to him, Ella was tickled and couldn't keep her hands off. When he would stop moving she would quickly press (and by "press" I mean mash and beat with much force) on my belly to "wake him up" as she called it. Of course, with any touch he would begin moving again and for a good 15 minutes we sat as a family enjoying our baby brother as he hoisted about in utero! Watching Matt and Ella's faces light up during this time made my heart glad. I think they are both truly in love already. This was the first time I actually felt like a family of four without him actually being here yet. It is a wonderful feeling watching our family grow!