Daily Dose of Ella

My Ella is something special. She is strong willed, she is energetic, she is inquisitive. She loves to learn new things. Her new favorite thing to ask is "why is (whatever she is wondering about) called (whatever she is wondering about)". Usually I don't have any idea, I don't know why oceans are called oceans or horses are called horses. I'm not of the "make it up" camp, so I usually tell her when I don't know. She has started saying, "Well do you think you might even have a guess Mom? Think about it a little bit." She is always thinking and analyzing the world around her. Because of that, often I forget that she is just 4! Some days she acts so grown up, like the other day when she came in while I was making dinner and asked for a plate. I got her a plate and then she came back asking for another one and then repeated the cycle again. I thought she was using them to play with and asked her why she needed so many plates and she said "I'm just setting the table mom." She set the table without being asked! She followed that shortly with a fit of some sort and got sent to time out and I remembered that she was still a little kid.

She has recently learned how to play soccer. She really enjoys it. It was funny to watch her learn how to play. Our friend Stephanie taught her the correct way to kick a ball. She resisted kicking it with the side of her foot for a long time and then just decided that it was easier. The other day I overheard her teaching one of the neighborhood kids (that is at least five years older than her) how to kick the ball.

The other thing that is huge for us this week is that she has learned how to ride her bike! I haven't had a chance to take a picture of her on it, but she looks so grown up with her helmet on riding her bike with training wheels! She was so excited to show Daddy what she had learned. I'm hoping she can start riding her bike when we go running or for a walk around the neighborhood. She loves it. I am glad she is learning how to channel some of that crazy energy that she has!

She is fascinated by animals and insects and the world around her. We check out movies and books from the library on various subjects and learn about them more in depth. When Granny and Papa visited us a few weeks ago they took us to the Boston Aquarium and on a whale watching tour. It was really fun and Ella really enjoyed it. Now I get to answer lots of questions about Humpback whales and Blue whales and various other whales that she has studied. I often feel like I know nothing, but then have to remember that she is just excited and ready to learn about everything around her. Things that I may have known about once upon a time are brand new to her.

Her other new favorite thing to talk about is Spiders. We have several living on our porches that we have just let live there and make webs. It has been interesting to watch them grow. I think I'm going to have to start doing research so I can answer her questions!

The thing that I have most loved watching is her in her role of sister. She loves her sister so much. She is so helpful when I need things and tries to fill Aubrey's many many needs. She entertains her and soothes her and just plain makes that girl laugh. Aubrey has started imitating Ella (which is both good and bad). It really makes my day when one of them starts giggling and the other joins in until they are both shaking with laughter. It makes me hopeful that someday they will have the special relationship that I have with my sisters.

It is so much fun watching my sweet girl grow and learn about the world around her and accomplish new things. She is so fun and full of life!