So, what's the latest with Ella Bella? Today Ella made the sign for "potty" which is pretty exciting for us! She actually has been doing the sign for "lights on/off" for awhile now- and that one she picked up because we would say lights on/off as we entered or exited the bathroom when we put her on the potty. Repetition, repetition, repetition! I think if we were more consistent with other signs she'd pick them up too, but it's hard to remember to use signs all the time.
And while we're on the potty subject- drumroll... Ella pooped on the potty today! Actually she's done it seven or eight times since my last post, all within the past two weeks. Usually it's in the morning, but today it was in the afternoon after a long nap. Yesterday was actually a big deal, because I really felt like she was trying to tell me to put her on the potty- and when I did, boy did she poop a big one! I would say that typically we decide when to try putting her on, but this time she was in charge! Now I understand why people who do "potty-train" early call it Elimination Communication- it really is about communication! Anyway, I was so excited that I took pictures and a video, sent a picture over the phone to my mom, my sister and my mother-in-law... Ryan said that I'm totally weird and should definitely not put a video or pictures of it on the blog, hehe... I guess.... : )
Other mentionable things: Ella can clap, wave hello/good-bye, give kisses (with her mouth wide open!), shake her head no, and stick out her tongue- it's very cute! What's really adorable is that she understands when you ask her to do it, and she does! Of course, she doesn't do it much for company!!! Today she shook her head up and down (versus side to side for no) but I'm not sure if she understands that it is a gesture for "yes", and she doesn't do that one when asked to do so. The other really sweet thing she just started doing this past week, is to "share" her food or toy. Usually I have to ask for a bite and then she'll put whatever food she's holding up to my mouth- but if there's no food in her hand at the moment, she just puts her empty hand up to mouth. So there might not be a full understanding behind it, but who knows? She's surprising us every single day now with something.... Two days ago she climbed up on to the couch by holding onto a blanket that I was sitting on, and using it to pull herself up. Oh and she's also started to sway to music, very cute! : )
Ella's still taking swim lessons- at Lifetime Fitness right now. It's hard to say if it's really helping her at all, but it's something that we can do together and she seems to like it a lot. She also just started taking classes at The Little Gym. Now that, she LOVES, and it's definitely worth the time and money. Part of why she likes it is probably seeing all the other little kids right around her age- when her cousin Donovan was visiting just this past week, she had SOOOO much fun playing with him. He just turned one, so they make for cute little buddies crawling around together... Donovan would give Ella kisses spontaneously : )
Well, I wish I were better at blogging to make this whole thing more organized and interesting, but I've decided it's okay if this isn't a really great blog.... My goal right now is being a good parent, and that's pretty consuming. Not everyone agrees with the right "method" for that, but for me it means giving Ella a lot of attention, which means less time for other stuff... like this! : )
One more thing- since it's Father's Day... I just have to add that Ryan is a very attentive, loving daddy who will feed, change, and bathe Ella routinely and without complaint. He really does a lot, and not because I nag for him to do things. He loves his little baby, and she loves him : )
