Ella-isms

Ella is just getting funnier and funnier. Here are some funny things she’s said or done over the past few weeks.

The other day Ella asked me what my job was (it’s really starting to register that I don’t go to work anymore) and I told her my job was to stay with her. Then she asked me what Joe’s job was. My response was, “Daddy’s job is to bring home the bacon!” She said, “Yep, daddy’s job is to cook the meat!”

Joe’s sister, Katie, is expecting a baby in February (another nephew…YAY!). When we got to see them last weekend I showed Ella Aunt Katie’s belly and told her that there was a baby inside. When we got home I was getting her dressed for her choir concert and she looked down at her big belly and said, “Look at my belly. I have a baby in there!”

Ella is the only kid in her class that is an only child. Apparently she has noticed that the other kids have brothers and sisters to play with, so she has started asking for a brother and a sister...and she makes it clear that she wants both (she used to want 2 brothers and a sister, so at least we’re down a boy). So yesterday, after her mentioning it for the 100^th time, I told her that she’ll have to talk to God about it. She gave me an inquisitive look, so I explained that she can pray and ask Jesus to give her a brother and a sister. Right then she said, “Dear Lord, please give me a brother and a sister…both. Amen.” It was the most precious prayer I’ve ever heard.

Ella has recently learned how to take off her own coat. This may be small potatoes for most kids, but it’s a big deal in our house. When we asked her who showed her how to take of her coat by herself she proudly declared, “Mrs. Gill!”

A few days ago when I was putting Ella in her car seat I said, “Ok Dukie.” She looked at me and said, “No mommy. Daddy is Dukie… I’m Dukerella.” She’s right. I call Joe ‘Dukie’ and fondly call her ‘Dukerella’ (along with many other names that I can tack Ella on to).

Ella has recently started calling me mom instead of mommy. I don’t like it, so I explained to her that my name is Mommy, just like her name is Ella not Elle. After that, anytime she would call for me she would say, “mom or mommy” and she started calling herself “Elle or Ella.” She’s a rascal.

About 30 seconds ago Ella was downstairs drinking her hot tea (she drinks it with her Miralax) and I told her that if she finished all of her tea she could have a piece of candy, so I even got out the candy and left it on the table. Later it was gone. Ella kept saying that she hid the candy. I assumed she was sitting on it or it fell under her seat or something, but after several minutes of not knowing where the candy was I asked her where she hid it. She looked at me with a huge smile on her face and proudly said, "I hid it in my hot tea!" Sure enough, her candy was at the bottom of her cup.

Christmas Wish List

Ella has only asked for 2 things for Christmas:

1) A dog

2) Bunny slippers

Her love of dogs is just as strong now as it was when she was a baby. Every time we go to someones house with a dog it almost seems like she’d rather hang out with the dog than with anyone else. On Thanksgiving one of Christy’s brothers had a dog, Callie, and Ella fell in love. She would pet Callie and let her lick her face.

Someday we’ll get Ella a dog…but not this Christmas. I know that I’ll ultimately be the one taking care of it and right now I just can’t deal with that. I have too many other priorities. And I don’t want to have to deal with the dog when we travel.

So that meant that I had to find bunny slippers. The child only asked for 2 things and one of them was immediately off the table, so I had to do all I could to get the second. I searched the internet high and low and I found several options, but unfortunately they were either WAY more than I wanted to pay, or they only cost $7 but I’d have to pay $9 in shipping.

I tried to convince Ella that there were better slippers out there. I even took Ella to both Wal-Mart and Target and showed her every pair of slippers they had in stock to see if she would accept something else. Nope. She denied Elmo, Princess, Abby Cadabby and even Sponge Bob. All she wanted was bunny slippers…pink to be exact.

I have no idea where she saw bunny slippers. I don’t own any. Joe doesn’t own any. I don’t remember seeing a picture of any in her books. I don’t remember seeing any in her videos. I have absolutely no idea where she came up with wanting bunny slippers, but that is on her wish list.

A few weeks ago I decided that I would drop Ella off at school then head to the mall to walk from store to store until I found bunny slippers. Luckily it didn’t take too long and after looking in one store, I passed Stride Rite. In the window they had the most adorable, pink, fluffy bunny slippers. This was when I started praying that they would have Ella’s size…I also decided that regardless of size I was going to buy them. If they were too big I would stuff cotton in the toe until she grew into them. If they were too small I’d figure out how to make them work.

The heavens opened up and shone down upon me, because they only had a couple of pairs left, and one of them was in Ella’s size. AHHH! I am going to have one happy girl on Christmas morning. Now the big question is, are the slippers from mommy and daddy, or Santa?

Angelic Threes

First things first, Ella had her first choir concert on Sunday night. Her 3 year old choir (the Angelic Threes) sang at the Hanging of the Green service. Mrs. Stacey has been working hard with the kids for the past several weeks to make sure they knew “Away in a Manger” and “Come On Ring Those Bells.” Ella would sing the songs at home and she even gave a pre-concert for Aunt Trish and Uncle Phil. I knew that she knew the songs, but I wasn’t sure how she’d respond to being in front of all those people.

The church was packed and every parent of a 3 year old child was packed up front to get prime video of the performance, and Joe was right up there with them. I think Ella was a bit thrown off at first with all the people staring at her, but as soon as the music started she began to sing with all of her heart. It was the most precious thing I have ever seen! I wish everyone could have been there to see it, but the video will have to suffice.

All of the choirs did great, but I have to admit that the 3 year old choir was the best!

In other Murray happenings, unfortunately Joe’s grandmother passed away last week, so we headed up to New Jersey for her memorial service. We left Thursday as soon as Ella got out of school. While I wish we had been up there under better circumstances, it was good to see the family. We stayed 2 nights with Joe’s brother, Billy, and his family, then Saturday night we spent with Janet. It was fun to see Ella with her cousins. They are so sweet to her. And it is always a great time seeing the rest of the brothers and sisters.

The service was Friday morning. It was beautiful and Joe’s uncle (Uncle Joe) did a great job talking about his mom and what an incredible woman she was (7 kids…6 of them were boys!). I was so glad that we were able to be a part of the ceremony and see many family members that we haven’t seen in a long time.

We made it back just in time for Ella to participate in her choir concert, and I’m so glad we did. It was a great ending to the weekend. Only 3 more weeks until Christmas and I haven’t finished my Christmas shopping…AUGH!

Stinkerella

For my last thing I’m thankful for (even though I’m thankful for SO much more, I just don’t have the ability to post it all), I have to talk about the most precious girl in the world, my Stinkerella.

I am beyond thankful for her! I can’t even put into words all the things about her that make me thankful.

I’m thankful for her laugh and that when she’s trying to be funny she can’t keep from laughing at herself.

I’m thankful that she follows directions and listens when we tell her no (for the most part).

I’m thankful that she thanks Joe and me when we’re polite (Oh, thank you, daddy, for saying ‘Excuse me.’)

I’m thankful that, all things considered, she really is a pretty easy kid to deal with.

I’m thankful that she’s finally coming out of her shell.

I’m thankful that she loves to wear bows and asks for one first thing in the morning.

I’m thankful that her favorite color is pink.

I’m thankful that she’s a fighter.

I’m thankful that she has more strength than anyone I’ve ever met.

I’m thankful that she is a chatterbox.

I’m thankful that she loves to sing and dance.

I’m thankful that she has the patience of Job.

I’m thankful that one of her favorite foods is Cheerios…the plain ones (just like her mom).

I’m thankful that she loves to cuddle and that the first thing she wants to do in the morning is rock with me.

I’m thankful that she gives me a kiss whenever I ask for one.

I’m thankful that she is so excited to see both Joe and me whenever we come home. Whether we’ve been gone for 10 hours or 3 minutes, she’s always excited to see us.

I’m thankful that she has exceeded everyones expectations.

I’m thankful that she sleeps through the night (I know that I mentioned this before, but when you’ve gone over 3 years without a full-nights sleep, it’s worth mentioning twice).

I’m thankful that I always know when she’s telling me something really important because her eyes get as big as silver dollars.

I’m thankful that on the way home from school every day she tells me all about what they did.

I’m thankful that she’s a good listener and can remember details of the stories she hears.

I’m thankful that God chose us to be her parents.

I am so thankful for that precious little girl!