The Davis Family Blog: October 2014

This blog has been on my to-do list for a while. I cannot believe I've waited this long to update it. Sometimes life gets in the way and we have been so busy. Hopefully I can catch up on everything that's happened since the end of May.

We had a wonderful summer. I loved having two months off with EK. Sometimes I feel like I miss so much while at work, so it was nice to be able to stay home with her and teach her new things this summer. We signed her up for swimming lessons with Mrs. Beth and she didn't really care for it. She liked the pool, she just didn't want to let go of me or Hunter. She liked eating Mrs. Beth's lunch each day instead. She did want to slide down the slide a few times and would pick things up off the bottom of the steps, but that was about it. I really don't' think she liked being in "cold" water.

Ella Kate and I also began "Mommy & Me" Gymnastics classes on Monday nights this summer. She absolutely loved jumping on the trampoline and flipping. It was also a great way to tire her our before bedtime. HAHA!

We went on our annual family vacation with my sisters and their families to Panama City for a week in July. This is when we really realized how clingy EK had gotten this summer. She didn't want to let us out of her sight. She would not let her feet touch the sand and wanted no part of the beach. I don't know if it was the thick sand or what…but she wasn't having it. She did like being in the pool at the beach house, though. It was warm and had a nice little "kid" area that she could walk around on. I believe she walked a million miles on it. We also visited an aquarium while we were there and of course went shopping. We picked up a new ornament for her tree, a couple of gifts for her birthday and Christmas, and of course a crab stuffed animal. :) Overall, we had a great time and are hoping she enjoys it a little more next summer.

When we came back from vacation and started back at Gymnastics, she cried every night we went. So, we took a break and started back in September and now she loves it again. THANK GOODNESS! She doesn't like waiting in line to do things and would rather jump on the trampoline the whole time, but I guess that just comes with her age. Patience is definitely not a trait she has right now.

When I started back to school, Ella Kate began daycare two days per week. It is something Hunter and I were torn about. On one hand, we wanted her to be around other kids her age and hoped this would help break her of being so clingy, but on the other hand, we have loved having her be able to stay with my mom each day. But, she's getting at that busy age and I know my mom needs a break every now and then. So, we enrolled her at Mrs. Cindy's daycare and she absolutely loves it. It has been one of the best decisions we've made. After about two weeks, she quit crying when Hunter dropped her off and now she gets right down to play. This makes both of our hearts so happy.

I've been back at school for two months and it has been hectic to say the least. The best part of my day is definitely seeing her big smile every afternoon.

Ella Kate has grown and learned so much these past few months. She's putting short phrases together and her vocabulary is growing each day. She has the biggest smile and loves to laugh. Her first combination of words was "Bye, bye Daddy" and "Bye, bye Mama". She also says "Love you, Mama" and "Love you, Daddy." Then, it was all of a sudden that she started putting all kind of words together. It is amazing how much she learns each day.

Although this may not be appropriate to share, it's one of the funniest things that I want to always remember, so I might as well share it, right? Anytime EK hears a burp or a "poot" she makes sure to let you know she heard it. She will say "Daddy, ewww, Daddy poop. P.U." and hold her nose. It's hilarious. And if you every burp when she's around she makes sure to copy it. I've also been letting her go to the bathroom with me when I go to try and get her used to the potty and the other day she looked at me and said "Mama tee-tee, Daddy poop." I swear I don't know where she comes up with this stuff. She is a mess!!

Her favorite songs are "The Wheels on the Bus" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". She knows all the motions and moves to them, too. Another funny moment was recently when she I was changing her diaper. While I was changing it, she was staring at a canvas hanging on her wall of me and Hunter (it was a maternity picture we had made) and she looked at it and said "Mama, ball" and started rubbing her belly. I told her that was not a ball, that mama had a baby in her belly. She laughed and laughed when I told her that. Then she said "Daddy, crying. Mama, night night" because our eyes were closed in the picture. It's amazing what all she picks up on.

We're hoping to potty train her over Thanksgiving and move to a big girl bed over Christmas. We're also hoping to give up the paci on her birthday next week. Pray for us! :) :) I think this is one of the biggest obstacles we will face! She LOVES her paci.

I CANNOT believe she will be two next week. We are having a dinner with family next Thursday and instead of a party this year, we're taking her to the Georgia Aquarium and spending the weekend in Atlanta. We are excited and cannot wait. I will try to update soon after her birthday.

Here's what we've been up to since the end of May…