Tuesday, February 26

potty training.




we've been potty training this month.
on the afternoon of february 1, ellie decided to wear underwear, and we've been going with it ever since. i think ellie has been more difficult to train than some, but she's at least willing and we're working hard.



nobody told me how tough it is to do this! the first two weeks i thought i would go (had gone) insane. i felt like i couldn't do (literally) anything around the house because i was constantly waiting for the next trip to the potty. as soon as i started in on anything - cooking, laundry, a shower, whatever - we'd be running to the potty. it was worse than having a newborn, in my opinion. i mean, we lived in the bathroom. even now, almost a month in, it's still hard to leave the house - ellie doesn't like going anywhere but home and, although we have a potty in the van, it doesn't always cut it.


sometimes poppy tries to get in on the action so she can have m&ms, too. after ellie goes, both ellie and poppy run to the m&m jar chanting "em en emmms! em en emmmms!" (or "eee mee mee!" as poppy says it.)


you guys, she went all those times. very few of them were just for treats, most were legitimate "go's." do you see now why life had to come to a stop?

all in all, it's fun to see ellie succeed and become more confident in herself. she's really growing up and becoming such an interesting little person. and she's three!!



so proud of my girl.




Friday, February 22

eleanor marie turns three.




oh, my darling ellie.

three years ago, on a rainy day much like this one, this amazing little person came into my life. she made me a mother. she gave me a new heart.

she's incredibly smart and terribly funny.
i love to hear what she has to say. she almost always has something to say.
i love to answer her questions. she has the best questions.
she is always thinking. she is interesting and interested in everything. she is never, ever boring.
she's beautiful, stubborn, creative, thoughtful, passionate and curious.

i can't believe it has been three whole years.



eleanor marie, you are such a wonderful you.
i wouldn't have you any other way. you're so special.
i love you so, so much.







(we are so excited that she shares february with cousin addie lou and now our newest little friend, baby cousin ethan!)
(and also, potty training has halted any blogging but we are doing well and i have a lot to tell y'all soon.)