From baby to little girl...

Our baby is rapidly turning into a little girl. Her likes and dislikes are becoming more pronounced, and she is very determined to do what she wants. She is an expert at saying and signing "No", and uses it regularly. When really upset, she flings her head and arms back and forth, like she is shaking her head no, but using her whole body.

She is starting to copy everything we do, in her own way, and to also play pretend with her dolls and animals. Her favorite activity, though, has not changed - to go outside, rain or shine.

Ellie has always loved water, and a new favorite activity is washing hands, with a fresh dab of soap, on EACH hand, every 5 to 10 seconds. We were having wraps for dinner, so Eliana had a tortilla while we were cooking. She uses her mouth a bit like a third hand, to store things, feel things, touch things, and to carry things around the house.

Once we started eating, and she saw our food, she of course needed her own "wrap". Her's is a cucumber and chicken wrap -- something that is easier to eat now that she has 3 molars!

One of the "toys" that seems to be a favorite of all kids is a cell phone. Ellie has expanded her "phone" category to include anything with a screen and buttons. Here she is with Aunt Jenny's financial calculator...it is one of her favorite phones right now.

Now it is the monkey's turn to talk...

Eliana has scorned bananas for a long time, but now that she can hold it herself, and knows the sign for it, they have great new appeal.

And again, playing pretend...this time sharing her banana with one of the many many bears that live in our house.

Ellie just got some new (to her) spoons from her cousin Lena, so she wanted to eat yogurt with them. It took too long, so she opted to just "drink" the yogurt, straight from the carton. It left a bit of a ring around her face, though!