Brought to You by the Number Four

So my last substantial blog post prior to this catch up was probably last Halloween. Right after that, Ellie turned four. What a huge deal the number four is in our house since that happened. Every meal, Ellie insists that she have four different foods (which has been helpful has we've worked to get her trying new foods). When there is four of something--anything--she is so excited; "and look, Mom, there's four stairs on that building just like I'm four!" [insert gleeful laughter]. Twenty  is still holding pretty strong as her favorite number, but four is a big deal. Not sure how I'm going to work things out in a couple weeks when I have to start cutting her quesadillas and apples and peanut butter sandwiches into five pieces.

Her fourth birthday was pretty exciting with a visit from Uncle Andrew and Aunt Margo and their (then) puppy Helga. Of course, I failed to take any pictures of them, but they were here, and Ellie was certain that they came just to celebrate the big 0-4.

A very proud four-year-old. Ellie would tell you that in this picture she was "lower case four," but now that she's 4.5, almost 5, she's "upper case four."

Home from church, it was time to celebrate. The proper name for those party blowers, according to four-year-olds in the know, is "celebrates."

A little harder for almost-two-year-olds to master

The presents, which I failed to take a picture of unwrapped. The ones that were the biggest hits, that still get played with every day, were the play food from my parents and the Peppa Pig figures ("guys"). Peppa Pig is a British cartoon that Ellie discovered the summer she was three. She adores Peppa Pig. At first, she called her "Pepper Pig" because she thought that was how you would say it with an American accent (silly Brits leaving off those r's). But she figured it out. She has picked up all kinds of British-isms from the show. She says things like, "can I have a go?" and frequently uses the adjective "cheeky" for toys and objects that just aren't cooperating with her. She says "tomato," "pajama," and "plaster cast" with an accent, and talks about putting petrol in the car. Deep down, I love it.

Another favorite present was this owl hat from our cousin Brianne (Ellie's second cousin). Ellie wore it all the time. All the time. Like even to bed. It got pretty stretched out. Now it sort of looks like an aviator's hat and goggles on her, but still super cute. She still occasionally wears it whenever it turns up. You know, just on a random trip to the grocery store in the middle of August.

 This last year, Ellie has really started to become one of the big kids with all her cousins (Jared is, as always, a good big brother to her whenever we get to see him). She is less anxious to try new things and loves learning and going to preschool. Her favorite thing, still, is playing with her "guys," and can spend hours with them, building houses and furniture out of blocks, using play dough to make new clothes and food for them. I can always tell she's really having a good time when I hear new, invented words coming from her play ("No, little Jessie, you have to frag the glomperlog first.")

She loves coloring, but not so much in a coloring book. She'd rather just have crayons or paints and a blank piece of paper.

She's usually game for about anything, and hasn't quite gotten to the self-conscious stage yet. (This is her blinking Rudolf nose last Thanksgiving, which was getting in the way of eating some pie).

That dimple on her cheek happened about a year ago. She was running and fell, hitting her face on the bench in the living room before I got cushions made for it. She had a huge bruise across her cheek, and the dimple  has stayed. Sad it had to hurt so much to get it, but it suits her.

Ellie is all kinds of fun, very bright, and growing way to fast! She imagines grandiose plans every day for huge adventures that we could go on or things we could make: "What if there was a huge flood? And guess what? We would build a huge boat in our living room. And guess what? It would also be a castle! And there would only be windows on the top part. And guess what? There would be a swinging part on it. And we would have a swimming playground on it too. And guess what? We would go all around the world. And guess what? If there were children who couldn't swim, I would swing down and just rescue them! And guess what? There would be a place on top to get dry. And there would be (gasp!) a TV there. And it would just be a safe winding river . . ." I have learned to not counter or object, just insert a "Whoa!" or "That would be so amazing!" now and then and let her keep escalating and bounce around the kitchen while I calmly empty the dishwasher or clear the table. Now and then I work on teaching her to read and write, hoping one day this will be an outlet for her and will give me time again to do the same.