The Weird and Wonderful World of Ellie
It's not really a secret that my kid is pretty much my life. I mean, all kids are the lives of parents, but I think, when they're little, it's a bit different in that you spend EVERY WAKING HOUR with the little people. I spend so much time with my kid that I sometimes overlook the things that make her uniquely Ellie because I'm just used to her quirkiness- and that's exactly what she has. Quirkiness. Here are some of the things I don't usually notice, but when taking a step back, really delight in the uniqueness that is my child.
1. She repeats everything I say. Everything. From, "book", to "talking", to "night-night", she will repeat it. This is great until I say something I shouldn't.
2. She asks for things. "Bah-time?" "M-m?" "Pay?" (or, play) "OOOOOOOOOOO!" (or, zoo). When she wants you to read to her, she will pick the book she wants, bring it over to you, open to the first page and point to the words. And she will know if you skip a few for the sake of time- she'll turn the page right back.
3. She wants to know the names of everything. She walks around hurriedly wherever we are, pointing at things and then raising both of her hands, exclaiming, "Dis?" Meaning, "What is this, Mama? How do you say it?" And then, she will try. This is generally something I'm terribly proud of, until she had a meltdown at the buffalo exhibit. Buffalo is a hard, hard word.
4. She loves creepy, crawly things. Vultures. Bugs. Reptiles. Her favorite exhibit at the zoo is the reticulated python- so much so that she claps her hands, demands to get out of the stroller and runs up to the glass to kiss it. It's really weird.
5. Water makes her happy. Being dirty makes her happy. Rolling around in the grass, burying her face in the sandbox, swimming in her pool. These are a few of her favorite things.
6. Music is a life force for our family, so it only makes sense that she loves it, too. What we don't understand, however, is how she learned to dance to it. Neither Rich or I are dancers. We don't do it at home. Where on earth did she learn how to bop her head and shake her hips back and forth? It's hilarious.
7. As much as we don't like to admit it, her culinary habits are all Jersey born and bred. She'll turn down most everything else at the moment- unless it's a good bagel or piece of pizza. Emphasis on the good, by the way. Tried to give her a piece of frozen pizza the other day, which she promptly threw on the floor shouting, "No!"
8. Her favorite phrases right now are, "Ridy, Se, GO!!!!", "Bah-time, Bah-time", "Da-Do" (Or, thank you) and "No-no-no-no!" (insert finger wag)
9. She likes to pick out her own clothes. She will open her own dresser, choose one article of clothing, and demand that you put it on her. But, all things considered, she'd much rather be naked, as she has proved by removing all of her clothes in her crib at naptime. Over and over again.
10. She's not a snuggler, and will not offer any signs of affection. When you ask her for a kiss, she will offer you her forehead as if to say, "I will allow you to kiss me this one time, but don't expect me to return the favor."
11. She covers her eyes and giggles as she shouts, "Boo!" Playing peek-a-boo by herself. Oh, the things an only child does.
12. She hates to sleep, obviously. I think she's a sprite. Or wood nymph. Or just one, special, special girl.