Ella: 22 months

Ella: 22 months 

(Our littlest sweetheart)

• loves to laugh and make others laugh 
• challenges all of her boundaries (trying to make everyone laugh in the process) 
• makes "her face" when she wants to break up a serious moment 
• loves to snuggle 
• loves her big sister 

rockstar

• so so opinionated and quick to tell us about it
• devastated when things don't go her way  and expresses herself in the most dramatic ways
• pretty fearless: when she falls down, gets hurt or does it wrong the first time, she is quick to jump right back in without hesitation

puddle jumping

• Favorite phrases: "No do dat!", "My did it!", "Boood Boyyyyy! (encouraging Oliver)", "Niiiice" (petting people and Oliver and referring to being gentle with her hands), "Peese, Mommy, peese", "I ya you too", "Eat nack peeeese", "No eep" (no sleep)
• Favorite books: anything Elmo, Brown Bear Brown Bear 
• Favorite activities: water, playing library, water table and sand box, riding her bike, coloring, eating "nacks", playing with Ollie, being Doc McStuffins, singing anything with a tune

Ella's "cheese" face

 One of our challenges at this age is teaching Ella not to hit when she gets frustrated (mostly at her sister)! It's kind of cute and really challenging at the same time because her emotions are so strong and when she feels them she just wants to let it out! We have two very emotional and dramatic little girls! As a result, two of the most repeated phrases in our house are "Sorry" and "I forgive you".  Ella just takes the shortcut and lumps both phrases together. When she hurts someone or doesn't listen, she quickly runs over to embrace the person and says, "Sorry. I forgive you." When someone hurts her feelings, she still says "Sorry. I forgive you." She might not get how it all works completely...but she gets it!

Abby: You hurt me! 

Ella (hugging Abby): Sorry Abby. I forgive you. 

Mommy: Ella, you can not do that. 

Ella: Sorry Mommy. I forgive you. 

 It cracks us up because Ella is always telling us she forgives us when she does something. At least we are covering all the bases right. It's the most persistent little reminder to me multiple times a day of my need to apologize for my own sin and forgive others all day.

Little miss personality

• loves to go bye-bye and insists it happens at least once a day. If someone is leaving the house, she often scrambles to find shoes and throw herself at ankles until someone takes her along. 
• wants to wear kitty rain boots with every outfit! 
• She wants to play outside all day everyday and just can't get enough of it. 
• expresses how adorable or sweet things are  (puppies, babies, a hug from someone she loves) with a little scrunchy expression, head tilt and an "Ooooooooooh" that says this is too precious!

ready for church

Our baby girl, you make life even sweeter just because you are you! Only two more months until your second birthday! Abby has already started planning your party. (Move aside, Mommy...the little party planner has arrived!) She wants to make it as special as she possibly can for you, so she has made herself my official assistant. We love you Bells.