This post is mostly going to focus on our little Eleanor because she turns two this month, and both Will and I are trying hard not to be so sad. I know it’s not possible, nor ideal, but there are times when I wish I could freeze time with her right now. The thing is, Eleanor is just so ridiculously cute…95% of the time. (The other 5%, we don’t need to talk about, but I’ll tell you, it gives me nightmares about her teenage years!) Her language has completely taken off, and there really is nothing more heart-filling than her tiny little voice expressing herself. Here are a few of our favorites:
-“Yookit, ________, Mama (or Dadda)” = Look it, _______,
- “Bye bye, feet” when putting on pajamas or now even just socks or shoes.
- Ecstatic “Hi, Mama! or Hi, Eeefen” when we go to get her out of her crib in the morning.
-“I waan Mama”, or “I waan Dadda” depending on who is putting her to bed at the moment.
- “I strong” while flexing her muscles and shaking like a crazed lunatic.
- “I funny,” after laughing very deliberately.
She says a whole lot more and mimics a lot of what we say or Ethan says. Recently, Ethan taught her “Mister Mama,” which he likes to say, and he really thinks it’s hilarious when Eleanor calls me Mister Mama. She also has been known to say “awesome” and “I waan vie-vies,” which is I want vitamins. She really likes her vitamins.
Eleanor also has a pretty significant sweet tooth. Likely because she’s a second kid, she was exposed to candy earlier, and, man, does she love it. Sometime before Christmas, she was up late at night crying. I went in to her, and she was pointing where she wanted to go. Because in the middle of the night I’ll pretty much do anything she says if it will make her calm down and go back to sleep, I obliged her, and took her out of the room into the kitchen, where she was leading me. She kept saying she wanted something and pointing, but I couldn’t tell what she was asking for. Finally, I realized she was saying, “I want fudge.” Her Pop Pop Bill had made a batch of fudge, and she had enjoyed during that day. Well, being mother of the year, I broke off a small piece of fudge, gave it to her, put her back in her crib, and didn’t hear from her the rest of the night. Yes, she has us right where she wants us.
Lately, she’s been in more of a daddy phase, which has been a relief, actually, because she had been very into me for a while, and it made it difficult for me to go anywhere. She has definitely learned that daddy will give her pretty much whatever she wants, though, so she’s learned to tap into this resource.
I’m looking forward to taking Eleanor in for her two year appointment. She still seems to be a bit of a peanut since she is in the appropriate age level clothes. (Ethan was always at least one size or two ahead.) Her feet are particularly tiny, which makes buying good, solid shoes difficult. It’s also our excuse for why it took her so long to walk (15 months), so it all works out.
As far as updates for the rest of us...bottom line: we’re happy. Ethan loves his little sister (except when she destroys his stuff), we are head over heels for both our kids, and we’re still crazy in love with each other. We are good about expressing to each other how incredibly lucky we both feel to be where we are at in our lives. A nice home, a loving family, and a whole lot of laughs.
And we do fun things – all the time. Pictures to prove it are below.
Here we are in town the night that Santa comes to visit downtown LG and light the town tree. The businesses stay open late, and it's a lot of fun for the kids.
These are Will's birthday cupcakes my mom made. I made little "pops" to stick out of each one. One side had a current picture of Will, and the other side had a baby picture.
