Pete, Repeat, Stinky Feet.

I feel like we are in a phase now where I'm finally getting rewarded for my hard work. It's as though I can see things sinking in, percolating in Ellie's brain and then spewing forth in ways that completely surprise me.

For example: she has a book called Baby Animals that she particularly loves for her Grizz to read to her, because he does the animal noises, particularly the moo, loudly and proudly. Last week he was mooing for no real reason other than her amusement, and she immediately walked over to her bookcase, dug around and came up with Baby Animals. She also knows the name of her new favorite book The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, which she calls "hah dah." She's started pointing to the moon and saying "moo," because Grizz points the moon out to her when he walks her to the car. Other than mama and dada (and rah-rah for Rocky, naturally) the only person she calls by name is Sara, who she calls either "sssss" or "Sar." I was saying something about families and uncles and aunts, and when I said the word aunt she said "Sar!" It just sort of surprised me that she'd made that connection - yes, Sara is your aunt. Auntie Sara. She is learning so much and absorbing so much at every moment.

We when we play with her puzzles we make all of the animal noises too, except for bunnies, who apparently only make noise when they are being eaten alive. Rather than having that discussion with her, I've informed her that bunnies go "hop hop hop" and last night for the first time she volunteered "hop hop hop" when I asked her what a bunny did. Then today, we TOTALLY BLEW HER MIND. Around 5ish we were outside at mom and dad's and there were two bunnies on the green belt at the end of the culdesac, so we snuck down the street to look at them. They hopped away once we got too close, but Ellie spent the rest of the night informing us about the hop hop hop. Until she got all revved up chasing Grizz around the kitchen, and then she was basically lost to us. She fell asleep having her final meal of the night, the poor tired Bean. She needs to rest up for Auntie Sara's party!

Grandma Rosie arrived last night, and we have been having a great time. Last night we all went out for German food, and Ellie sat in her high chair like a good girl until the plates were cleared and desserts were offered, so two thumbs up to that. Today Grandma Rosie came with us to mommy matters and lunch afterwards, and then hung out with Ellie in the yard. Yet another lesson - trying to teach her to listen to the sea from inside a shell.