Mommy's Day!

"Happy Mother's Day, Mommy," said Elena.

"It's my day?" said Mommy.

"No, it's MY day," said Elena.

"Oh," said Mommy. "Thanks for the well wishes then." :)

Truthfully, it was a very nice day with breakfast in bed from Daddy and a wonderful surprise party for auntie MaryAnn's 60th birthday (The whole family surprised her with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' as she, Annie and Don kayaked to the shore at Negro Bar in Folsom. A picnic party was waiting for her just a little farther in the park.). We think we surprised the heck out of her and Elena couldn't have loved that more. Anything that involves "Happy birt-day cake" is cool in her book.

Here are a few cute photos of late and one of Elena making MaryAnn's card. She loves to make special presents.

She is certainly my special present.

Itty bitty pretty one

Our sweet little girl is becoming just that. A little girl. The baby in her is fading more every day and it's sweet and awful and wonderful and sad.

She bargains (Mommy: "You can have two animal crackers." Elena: "No, three."), she tells stories ("One day, JOOOLIUS (aka Julius, my old Cabbage Patch Kid) said...."), she eats salad, (she actually asks for it now) puts her own clothes away and she tells us about her day (a little).

And the biggie? She 'mailed' her pacifiers to the babies on Saturday and the babies 'mailed' back two cookies wrapped in pretty cellophane and ribbon (those sweet babies). She was very proud and happy with the exchange. Until bedtime. She's asked for them each night since. She's doing better, but the evenings remain a little rough. It was time and this too shall pass.

Still... she is our sweet angel and I can't decide, but I think this is my favorite stage so far.

Just ducky

Grandma Ann visited this weekend and there was a lot to show her.... Here are some of the sweet memories and fun.

Grin and bear it

And that's just what Elena did on her first dental appointment today. Kind of. She loved it, hated it and when all was said and done... she survived. Truthfully, she couldn't really decide. She loved so many things -- from the the coolest waiting room ever (complete with toy kitchen, bean bags and baskets full of toys and books) and the exam room that had movies on the ceiling (for when the dental chairs tip back) to the strawberry-flavored dentist gloves and special sunglasses.

She still wasn't totally keen on the 'teeth counting' (aka exam) or 'tooth-painting' (aka flouride), but she endured. She was rewarded with a new toothbrush, dental floss, three stickers, a toy from the treasure chest and a BOX of tooth care suggestions for Mommy to read. Her dentist specializes in pediatric dentisty exclusively. As if is there were doubt based on THAT description. :)

In all, it was very sweet and Elena did a good job. She's a little skittish because of her doctor appointment history, but I was very proud of her. So proud in fact, that I snapped photos in the dentist office. (Oh, she's one of THOSE moms)

Now we have to look forward to the first cleaning in six months. (Hail Mary, full of Grace)

Hush little baby

Yes, I don't know, right now

Elena speaks like a four year old and has become awfully handy and independent these days, putting her own dirty clothes away, making her own clothing decisions (ugh :)), getting her own water and spoon or fork at meal time and forever telling us, "Yes," "I don't know" or "Right now."

She is also very good at putting people and things in time out (Mommy, Daddy, her babies, even the wall {for "hitting her" after she runs into it, of course}). The kid has imagination.

We spend a lot of time just watching her talk to herself in the mirror or play pretend. Right now, she is doing pretend 'circle time' on the grass with Caillou and other various imaginary playmates. It's nothing short of precious. I honestly enjoy little more than watching her entertain herself and repeat things she has heard.

She's turning into such a little lady.

Too far, too much, too high

Glamming it up

Planting flowers in the back yard
Feeding the fish at Nimbus Fish Hatchery

I can't think of much to say today except this....

Elena is the first to tell you when something is TOO anything for her and though it makes sense most of the time, the occasional misplaced 'too' makes her mastery of excess awfully funny and maybe a little humbling ("Mama too heavy." Yes, yes, I know.)