Happy Halloween!

After the bath...

After a slightly intense trip to a thrift store with Amanda and Liona, and then dinner, Stella took a nice warm bath. Afterwards, she was very chatty. She has quite the agenda.

Stella: I, me be right back.

Me: Oh, where are you going?

Stella: Sioux Falls

Me: Really? What are you going to do there?

Stella: See Gramma Muh-kus.

Me: Oh fun... what else?

Stella: See A-wyn (Aeowyn)... Go Beeto Ingwin (Burrito Union)... Go apark... Go astore, and buy a fan.

Silly girl.

Stella's Happy Birthday

She's two years old... and acts like it too! Yesterday was Stella's birthday, and what a day it was. It started like any other day, except for the presents and constant requests for the "happy birthday song". So, after a large breakfast of yummy french toast, she opened her mamapapa present. A new pink "cramera". Loves it and has already taken many, many pictures. Also helped set up her new slide. Turns out, it's not just a slide, but one of those silly jungle gym sorts for outside... oh well, she loves it. Then comes the downward spiral.... oh boy. She runs down the hall at an alarming speed and takes a face dive straight into the hinge on the door. She cried. I did too. Recovered but with a HUGE goose-egg on her forehead. Next she managed to jump off a stool unassisted and land on her head. Then she backflipped herself off the new slide. Later, she cracked her lip open on the window..... Thank God nap time was next - she can't get hurt while she's sleeping.

Later that evening, friends came over for Stellie's Party. Lots of adults, 6 little girls and one baby boy all on the deck above our neighbors apartment, Stella loved every minute of it. We ate smoked pulled pork that Seth worked on for at least 10 hours, as well as homemede caraway cole slaw... droool. The beer and juice and tea runneth over. For dessert: "cakes" on a stick.

Really, what little kid wouldn't want their cake on a stick. With sugar highs in full on GO mode, it started raining and the party moved down back to our place. Have you ever seen 6 little sugared up kids in a 10x12 room (including two adults) all trying to play on a slide that takes up an eighth of the space? It's a miracle no one got hurt, and even more amazing that we didn't have to break up any fights!

Stella's Dream: A baby! She even got to help change Sully's diaper for her birthday. EWWW!

Stelle's sweet girlfriends (L ro R) Kiera, Stella, Aeowyn and Liona

Thank you everyone for making Stella's party a great time!

haircut

Almost 2 years old, this little bean has a personality all her own. She loves babies and makes a point of asking for a baby brother almost daily. (No, there isn't one on the way.) She thinks it's great to call us by name, and smiles deviously when we react. She does her version of pirouettes, arabesques and the down dog pose... quite well too, for an almost 2 year old. She's scared of loud noises, including thunder and pounding, but not her own VERY loud voice. She potty trained herself and can walk up and down steps unassisted. 2' 10.5" tall and 25 lbs, she is the sweetest lovey in the world.

A couple weeks ago, miss Stellie received her first hair cut... well, trim. I trimmed 3 inches off the bottom and gave her bangs - Seth's reaction (and mine) we don't like it! Ack. Oh well, it's grown on us and I'm learning that after naps, a spray bottle is our best friend, besides, it's just hair, it will grow back.

Undies!

Stella is 21 months and 9 days old today. This past Christmas, at 16 months she received a potty chair. I thought, yea, she'll get to it eventually. But to my bewilderment, she has used it everyday since, even if it was only once or twice, training herself just like I would hope. Grandma Marcus was up from Sioux Falls this week and bought Stella new underwear.... so far, it's going well. She has officially stayed dry for 2 days, yelling "potty chair" whenever she she has to go. Who would have thought that this could be so cute? And at only 21 months she is well ahead of most of friends. Walking in Papa's footsteps, maybe we should get her name on the waiting list for Cornell? Haha - maybe it's still a little early. Here, she poses in her new undies! How sweet.

Cheeeese!

She's a funny funny little child, and I'm convinced, beyond a doubt, that the crazy comes from papa. I suppose though, that is why I love her.... and Seth too. I love the crazy. Currently she is 2'9.5" tall and 25 lbs which puts her in about the 50th percentile for both. Her hair is half way down her back and her language never ceases to amaze me. She loves doughnuts and penguins, playing with her friend Liona and jumping in the lake. She thinks flossing her teeth is grand and pretend bakes a lot of cupcake, eggs and soup. She also currently loves peaches... because that's all I ate when I was pregnant? Who knows. She's a cool kid, and a lot of the time, my best friend. Love her.


Stella's signature "cheese" smile. Yep, those are stickers on her head.


































And the doughnuts I told you about.... yes, she really does love them.

cuh-cakes

Yesterday was another slushy day outside, so Stella and I decorated 12 lovely cupcakes instead of going out. I have to say, I'm ready for this dirty weather to be over.

It's justsloppy and sludgy and she would much rather run around than be cooped up all day (Me too!). Still, we had fun. I set her up at the table with dishes full of colored sugar and sprinkles, and like winnie the pooh with his hunny, she dug in! Of course, every time she finished decorating a cake, I had to grab it quick and put it on the opposite side of the table before she shoved her face into it. We ended up with some beautiful work and a very messy (and happy) little girl.

Give me my cupcakes!

Tea Party

This evening Stella enjoyed her first ever tea party... and I suspect many more to come. Sitting in her (also new) yellow tutu (which she admired in the bathroom mirror for half an hour) she filled and refilled cups of tea for papa, bear, mun-mun, and occasionaly, herself. She played like this for nearly an hour until finally she decided to play with the box it came in instead. Regardless, she was filled with delight and it was amazing to see her make-believe with her new toy.

Tomorrow is my day off, and we're hoping for sun! In the morning we will be, once again, very patient while I practice my french braiding skills on Stella's hair. I have to say - she really is a trooper. Good thing too because I think every little girls deserves pretty little french braids. Then, it's Liona's 2nd birthday.... no party, just the little girls (and the big girls) hanging out! We got her a sweet pair of sunglasses and if I ever get to it - a fun little dress to match Stella's. We'll see if I get motivated.




This is what we call serious multitasking! She's very proud of herself for using the potty and makes sure to say, "doud dob" everytime..... For those of you NOT in the know, she's saying "good job"!

sweet stella sounds

Stella has been doing quite a bit of talking these days and often, she just blows my mind and cracks me up!














Stella: (playing with a toy from auntie erin) "coo, coo, coo"
Me: "Stella, what did you make? Is it a cow?"
Stella: "Yessss, coo coo. Mooooo!" (smacking/sucking noises)
Me: "What is your cow doing Stella?"
Stella: "Ma mewk, ma mewk" (mama milk)



She is a sweet little thing. Currently, she makes sure to kiss anything that is hurt. Sleeps from 8pm to 8:30 am. Can pull on her rain boots all by herself (and would wear them to bed if we let her) . Also loves jumping in puddles with her boots. Likes to run at top speed to the bathroom, yelling poooop, when she has to pee. Loves monkeys and lizards, knocking on the door, eating dates and prunes, "Wee-ing" (spinning in circles) and being naked. She also tends to repeat everything she is thinking over and over until you let her know that you have been listening.