"My 'troller"

A couple weekends ago we gathered for the Grove-Pollock July birthdays. Eleanor received several great gifts but the biggest hit was the stroller from Grandpa and Charlotte. For well over a year she has enjoyed pushing her stroller. It actually started before she could walk and she would push her stroller while crawling on her knees. Our recent neighborhood walks are often slowed down as she wants to help push Jackson, so we should have known how much she she would love her own stroller.

She knew what it was right away and was excited to see it. Luckily Skyler and his engineering skills were there to help put together the dozen or so pieces.

She watched him intently every step of the way. We had trouble getting her attention to other gifts to open as she couldn't take her eyes off her "troller".

Once it was complete she grabbed it and began pushing it around saying, "My 'troller" over and over. Once we put a Raggedy Ann in the seat it was all over as she kept pushing it and checking on her baby every few steps.

After a few hours when it was time to leave the thrill of her new toy had not worn off. She insisted that the stroller ride next to her in the back seat and once we got home she continued to push it around for almost two hours until well past her bedtime. When we finally took her upstairs she needed it within sight and kept interrupting her books and videos with, "my 'troller". I'm sure she dreamed of pink strollers that night, as the first thing she said when she awoke was "my 'troller". In a conservative estimate I'd say Wendy and I heard "my troller" over 150 times in 24 hours.

Another phrase she has been saying lately are "ank you, mommy/daddy" when we give her something. We would like to thank the new school for this new politeness in our girl. As she gets more independent she is also saying "I did it!" whenever she puts on socks/shoes, removes a button/snap, replaces a pen cap, washes her hands, pretty much anything equals "I did it!".

The other morning I woke up to her repeating "I did it" over and over again for 10 or so minutes until she started calling for me. I should have been more apprehensive as to what she "did" while in her crib, as when I walked into her room she was completely naked holding up a diaper for me to dispose of, saying "Daddy! I did it!".

Two!

Today is Eleanor Kate's second birthday and as her Mama, I am allowed some excitement, and nostalgia as I reflect on the past 2 years and what life has been like with my girl. It has been wonderful and exhausting, fun and funny. Some highlights (and there have been many as of late) include: She has become the best big sister. Recently, she started calling Jack "Boo" because her mom and dad call him that (a morph of Brother, Baby, and Buddy, we think...). She sees him after school and says "Hi Boo" and proceeds to do or say whatever it takes to make him giggle. You know the giggle, that of a seven month old boy....I swear there is no other sound like it in the whole world and it'll make you smile the widest smile.

She has the best smiles and she knows when she is being bad because she'll wait for you to notice. All of a sudden, she also says, "Sorry Mama" after she has done something I don't like and it about breaks my heart. It is the best thing to see her talking so much, understanding right and wrong, and seeing the buds of empathy take root.
Nora Kate makes us laugh every day. Here is she wearing her daddy's slippers (she loves putting our shoes on) and running away from me taking her picture. Today I got dressed while she and Jack were chatting in bed. I came in and he is stark naked and giggling and Nora was saying "uh-oh" which is what she says anytime Jack drools, spits up, pees, or otherwise makes a mess.
And, she lets you know when she is mad or needs snugglin. She is our baby and I keep thinking about how she will not always call me Mama, will not always search us out in the room, will not even keep running to us after school everyday with that wild excitement in her eyes.
We love her growing independence (she now dresses herself, feeds herself, drinks out of any cup around, and is mastering the potty slowly, but surely, celebrates her successes by telling us "Did it!") and yet, today, on her birthday, I have to admit, her babyhood is behind us now. Still, while I miss that baby stuff, I am so excited for her life. What will she be when she grows up? What will her passions be? Who will she love? It's all going fast enough, but still, this life of hers....I'm just happy I get to be a part of it.
Eleanor is growing into a kid who can socialize, who can feel for others, and who is soaking up every piece of her world with reckless abandon---exactly what I had hoped for her when she was born.

Oh, and she loves coffee. I know what some of you must be thinking, but really, I can't help it. Both her Dad and I are addicts, so it naturally happens that she loves it too (and not mochas, my friends, real coffee). Anyway, Happy Birthday Bean, you are my sunshine, my lovebug, my baby love, my girl. And I couldn't be happier to be your Mama.

North Carolina Trip

A couple weeks ago Wendy had a conference to attend in Charlotte, NC and Eleanor and I decided to tag along while Jack stayed in Columbus with family and friends. EKG handled the 7+ hour drive great, although she did resist getting in the car seat after pit stops once she realized the enormity of the trip. Wendy or I sat in the back with her most of the drive singing songs and reading the same books over and over.


While Wendy was in her all day meeting EKG and I checked out the sites of Charlotte. There was a neat park near our hotel where she got entranced by the ducks and geese in the pond. We spent most of the morning quaking at the ducks and wondering why they kept swimming away.


After a nap, we hit downtown. Saturday in downtown Charlotte was bustling. I thought about taking her to the Children's Discovery place, but all the goings on kept us more than busy.

So we just walked around and looked at the fountains, parks, artwork, horses, and people. We grabbed some tacos from a local merchant and checked out the farmers market. Before I knew it we had spent almost 3 hours walking around. It was kinda fun to be on "Nora Time" and let her explore and look at things without any agenda.

The big fountain above was a big hit. We stayed here for quite a while looking at the water and the bigger kids running around. I think the only reason we left was she saw a horse drawn carriage go by and wanted to see it closer.