This precious girl is about to turn THREE!! As all moms feel, where did that time go?! Ths simple answer is it went to doing the same things over and over day after day year after year--- food, cuddles, clean up, help, playing, diapers, toilet, food, clean up, cuddles, book, sleep, diapers, clean up. You know the deal :-)

But in all reality, Ellie has grown up in so many ways. She has always been incredibly verbal, but now it's blossomed into conversations. When Noah or Leanne gets home she will ask, "How was work today? What student did you see? What is his/her last name? What did you talk about?" It's hilarous how good she is at asking questions (and follow-up questions!)

The other day we went to bring flowers to a baby and Ellie overheard me say that I needed a vase. Next thing I know she's under the kitchen sinking getting a vase. I joked with my mom that if Noah needed a vase, he wouldn't know where they were! I laughed when Noah got home from the weekend with flowers for me... in a cup. In all seriousness, he didn't know where the vases were :-) I'm SO not complaining, it just cracked me up as Ellie is ridiculously on top of things!

Before each nap and bedtime, she always wants to know "What are we going to do tomorrow?" "What else?" She is confused as she thinks that after nap it is a new day AND after bed... but she does know her days of the week and will happily inform you that her birthday is next in our family- she's turning 3 on April 25 :)

She loves to help in the kitchen, be outside, clean, and read A BUNCH OF BOOKS. Nothing makes her happier than getting to read ALL of the library books at the same time.

She is an INCREDIBLE little mommy to baby stella. I've never seen a kid who is more dutiful to their doll... In fact, she's starting using Baby Stella in the midst of time outs. Last week she said, "Mom, I have to get up, Baby Stella is crying. SHe needs me!"

Tonight Ellie was SO upset that when she put Baby Stella down for bed while we were going to read some books.. I left the room and didn't turn the sound machine on for Baby Stella.... Ellie was in tears! Ellie packs extra diapers, doesn't let Baby Stella go outside if it's too windy, and feeds her all of the time. It's the cutest thing in the world, and I love seeing how much of a caretaker she is!

Ellie LOVEs to go shopping. If you ask her her favorite store she will say "I like all the stores" :) She's taken to making her own list for the store-- and last time we went, I said, "Well what do we need to get?" And she correctly remembered that we needed bananas, bubbles, and black beans. HA!

Can you guess what letter we decided to work on this week?? :)

Her heart for prayer is just so sweet. Last night she prayed for our neighbors, that God would give them "joy, peace, faith, mercy" :-) Too cute!

It's a JOY to watch Ellie getting physically stronger and more active! Llast summer when we move, her therapy goal was to be able to walk to the park from our house all by herself. Amazing to think of how far she has come! She still gets fatigued easier than her peers, and has some skills to work on but I'm grateful that she's ready to "age out" of the birth to three program this month!

The spring weather came at a perfect time-- bubbles, the park, chalk, her bike, we're having so much fun! So although it's ahrd to think I will soon have a 3 year old, I couldn't be more grateful for my sweet little helper :-)  

Apparently I'm terrible at actually updating on what my kids are doing or posting pictures.... This is long overdue. I think I can finally say that Josie (Almost 17 months) is now walking more than she is crawling. Apprently 17 months is the magic age for walking for my kiddos :-) We've been outside a lot this week and her crawling on the cement (ouch!) has motivated me all the more to get her WALKING! She's been able to walk for weeks, but just not doing it much. She also has been able to climb up and down the stairs for a LONG time (3-4 months?) but is just finally picking walking as her preferred mode of transportation :)

She's super easy going, ridiculously verbal, incredibly busy, learning a lot, and loving her big sister!

Some of her favorite things:

- knocking on the bathroom door while Ellie uses the toilet, (Josie can't wait til Ellie is done as Josie LOVES washing her hands!)

-Putting things in and out. Her favorite word is off... Off means putting her coat on and off, putting her bib on and off, getting in and out of the high chair, you get the picture :) She always is wanting something "off"

-Brushing her teeth.. We always sing the ABC's when we brush teeth so as soon as she hears that song she starts "brushing" and singing....

-Her blankie. Lately she's been climbing up in her rocking chair, and asking for her blankie and dolly. She's learning young how to care for the babies :-) She's ready for her nephew who is due ANY DAY! Come on Baby Lund :-)

-This girl loves her sleep.. She dropped down to one nap way earlier than Ellie (Josie was 14 ish months, Ellie was > 18 months). So we're finding they actually need about the same amount of sleep as each other which is pretty crazy! The problem with only one nap is that if it's not a great one, she's SO ready for bed at night! She's known to start climbing up the stairs at 6:20 saying "nigh nigh" :-) WE try to hold her off until 7 each night. And praise The Lord for sleep training + good sleepers as she's in bed until 7-8 am :-)

She loves reading books, especially lift the flap books. She's totally into puppies right now and says, "woof woof" all of the tiem! Or "puh puh"

She knows what a puppy, cow, horse, duck, and kitty say.

She is always looking for "Melmo" (Elmo) and enjoys waving "bye bye" to "Melmo" on her toothbrush when we are done brushing her teeth.

We love how she points out Ellie... Something like "yea yee" ? Hard for me to spell it out...

She loves having accessories- and will ask for her necklace and sunglasses.. but at least today she was calling them both "neck yes"

She knows where her eyes, ears, hair, mouth, feet, hands, tummy, etc. are.

She loves to sing "Five LIttle Ducks" especialy the "Quack, Quack, Quack" part. The other day I asked Ellie to tell daddy what song we sang at Gma Lu's house. Ellie wasn't lisetning but Josie started singing, "Quack, quack quack" in her own little way.

I'm sure there are a million more things to write about, but that captures a bit of our Josie Jos. Ellie will often tell her, "Josie Kate with her eyes so blue, we sure do love you" It's a little song my mom made up that Ellie sings to her all of the time. Ellie is quick to help Josie and wash of her face and hands. If Josie is upset, Ellie is always telling her, "Its okay Josie, mom will be right here with your _____" Ellie is great big sister, and we know that Josie is very well cared for :)