THREE LITTLE BIRDS

Last night we put Ellis to bed as usual and as she often does, about 10 minutes later she starts yelling "Mommy...Daddy... Where are youuuuuuu?????" as she stands in her crib with her arms stretched out ready for one of us to sweep her up and rock her back to sleep. Last night, that person was me. As our routine goes, I grab her and 'baby', wrap her in her fuzzy pink blanket, and rock her as I sing Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds' until she falls asleep.

As I was singing, I asked her to sing with me to see if she actually would. To my surprise, she belted out the words in the most adorable way I could ever image. You know, in the way only two year olds can "Don Wowwy, bout a ting" bc they really can't say their R's quite yet. So, there we were, rocking in the dark, both singing Bob Marley, and my heart just about melted. I almost couldn't sing with her b/c I was trying so hard not to laugh. Then I thought to myself, this is what life is about. This is the good stuff. This is the stuff I never want to forget.

Then I started to think that I wish I would have had my phone so I could take a little video of her singing b/c moments like this I do not want to forget. I do not want to forget how sweet her little voice sounded, how content and happy she was to just rock with me, and how she needed me. Because the truth is, kids grow up. They do not stay this sweet and innocent forever. I know there has been, and will be, so many moments like this with Ellis and Baby #2 that I will want to capture so I can look back and remember their little voices and sweet little faces, but you just can't capture them all. Some moments were just meant to be just that - memories that live in your head.

But I CAN write down a few things about Ellis that I want to remember at the age of {almost} 2 years old. Part of the reason I write and post pictures in this blog is b/c it is a way for me to document our lives. Logan, Ellis and I can look back on these posts when she is older and remember these moments. So, here they are. The little things I do not want to forget...

1. Her sweet little voice as she sings her favorites - Three Little Birds, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Pat-a-Cake ('leaving on a jet plane' is a soon to be favorite - we are working on it ;)

2. How her hair curls in little ringlets after a bath

3. How she runs to me and grabs my leg when something scares her on TV - Yes, even Disney can be scary to a two year old

4. How she shakes her finger at me and says, 'No Mama!' (Yes, I know it is naughty, but it is just too cute not to love)

5. How she proclaims she is done after everything (eating, getting dressed, brushing her teeth, etc) with a big "ALL DONE!"

6. How she almost always wakes up happy and jumps up and down in her crib with excitement

7. How her little feet turn in as she walks

8. How she runs into our bedroom after I get her out of her crib and yells "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!!!" Oh that one just melts me every time. She then climbs on the bed and plays with the dogs and giggles as Logan tries to sleep. I let it happen and find it quite amusing.

9. The way she says 'Gamma' and Gampa' when she sees my parents. AGAIN, 'R's are hard ;)

10. The way she gives kisses and says "wove you Mommy' before bed

11. How she gets excited when one of us gets home from work. She runs and gives hugs. :)

12. How she says our dog's names (Emma & Oliver (Olie-Vair) - in a British kind of accent)

13. How she copies what we say when we give the dog's commands. "Emma! hurry up!" and "Emma! Get in here!"

14. How she uses 'baby' as a pillow when she's tired

15. How she looks when she sleeps. We like to sneak into her room at night to watch her sleep before we go to bed.

16. How she is sleeps with her head on the mattress and her butt in the air

I just love this little girl more and more every day. I know I say that probably way too much, but on the other hand, can you really say that too much? :)