Lady in red

Since Easter, Elena has reminded me that, "It's a special day, Mama. Candy?!?!" This is of course, based on my annoucement last weekend (Easter) that she could have candy because it was a special day. Apparently, Pez in the morning has a lasting impression. "Happy Heaven Day to Jesus" sung to the tune of Happy Birthday also has legs in this house.

Lately (and some recently), Elena's loves include the following:

• Worms (introduced to her by Grandma);


• Cooking toast with Daddy;


• Random white teddy bear from the back of my car;


• "Going on a Bear Hunt" book;


• Kyah (our six-year old neighbor);


• Saying, "I don't know;"


• Headbands


• And happily, still Mommy and Daddy.

Elena is pictured here in Isabel's outfit- a Mommy favorite that I fear is being packed away soon.

MUKOTAS

What could it possibly mean? Mukotas, Mukotas (pronounced {Mook Oh Taz}......

It took us weeks and Ryan finally discovered it.

Music class.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh............
Phew!

A special day

Elena loved this 'special day,' AKA, Easter. The big E.B. visited this morning and left behind some half eaten carrots (to which Elena responded... "Very messy.") He also left a trail of jelly beans to her hidden Easter basket, complete with butterfly wings she can wear and a little of candy she could (and did) eat. More to come... when Mommy has a bit more time.

The fuzz

Elena LOVED her piggy tails even though she had to suffer through Mommy brushing her hair. Elena is very sensitive. Brushing hair is a big tear-jerker, along with an extreme fear of 'fuzz' (she actually screamed so loudly the other day, I had to pull over because I was so concerned something was really wrong, wait for 30 seconds to determine that her yells were due to 'fuzz' in her toes...) We're working on embracing dryer lint these days. It's a start.

She is also afraid of trucks and loud toilets. It's a phase, but I'm telling you, we have a bit of a drama queen on our hands. :)

The big E.B.

The Easter Bunny, or Daddy as Elena calls him, was a hit! I have a feeling I'm going to owe Ryan big time for awhile now. :)

Elena was petrified of E.B./Daddy, but the rest of the kids just loved him. The early egg hunt is going to be a new Laurel Oaks tradition. What a neighborhood - we feel very lucky!

Back in Black

This speaks for itself...

And she sings, "Come on, come on... listen to the money talk." Okay, okay... not the best lyrical message, but she is hard core and she can't hide her rocker side.

Go Lala... Go Lala.

My big girl pants

Well, Elena began expressing interest in the potty after a long spell of running from it. Then she got sick - again. And nothing has really happened since. EXCEPT that she loves to sit on her little potty now and wear big girl underwear. She pees through them within a half hour, but progress is progress. We'll take it.

Elena has also grown into a five-year old overnight. This morning she asked me if I had my keys ("Got keys, Mama?") and has taken to short stints of referring to us as "Mom and Dad." (My name is MOMMY or MAMA, *%#$)!!) :)

I went to Atlanta last week and Grandma Yvette came to stay, take care of Lala and help Ryan. Leaving her was awful, but much less so because I knew she was in good hands and having fun. Plus, it allowed me some time to be me. When Elena saw me again, she RAN to me in the airport and kept yelling my name. Sweet love... Ryan told her I went on a trip to the moon. Neither of us wanted to tell her I was working because we didn't want her to think I'd be gone that long every time I went to work. So the moon was the obvious choice. :) I brought her a 'moon jelly frog' (fresh from the Georgia aquarium) from the 'moon' and she loved throwing it at the wall, watching it goo and fall off the wall. The frog since sprung a leak and is 'done.'

Gramma Frankie then took us to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery where Elena could feed the fish and watch them jump for food. She couldn't have loved that more.

We are preparing for Easter and excited for our neighborhood egg hunt this Saturday. We'll keep the blog posted on our little bunny's progress.