nesting

When I was about 11 weeks into my pregnancy and realized that I was actually going to regain my energy and stop feeling gross I started going crazy with my "to do" lists.  I am always a crazy list maker, but add in pregnancy hormones and it has been intense! I made one big "nesting list" and have made about 30 smaller lists pertaining to the nesting list.  I have put everything on the lists from small projects like cleaning out drawers, closets, and organizing recipes so I have everything either in a cookbook or on recipe cards (no more recipes that have been printed out or written down on random papers) to large projects like finishing the yard, painting, and decorating both girls' rooms. 

Along the way I've found plenty more small things to take up time and make me feel a bit more organized.  While I love the feeling of getting things done (there is NOTHING better than crossing things off lists- okay, maybe a few things) I am starting to feel slightly burned out.  I am hoping to reach a point of satisfaction pretty soon here.  I still need to organize the garage, but my dad took me out this weekend to buy the peg board and wood I'll need for that.  I also want to make a few more freezer meals.  The rest of the lists are all things I need to buy for this little baby so I can knock that out in a day or two and have been waiting because I feel a little anxious buying some of that stuff this early.  It has been great having the motivation and energy to get so much done.  This weekend as we were laying sod I was thinking about how much we've done to make this house our home and I was very satisfied.  We've put a lot of us into the home within a year. 

The Nursery

My parents came up a few weekends in April and helped us with the bead board.  We are really happy with how it turned out.

 

Her initials stand for Sophia Caridad Gonzalez.

One more project down, only 2 or 3 left to go!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Thank you Eleanor

 One of the many projects on my to-do list since moving in has been the entryway.  I had a good idea of what I wanted and decided to wait until Christmas.  Gustavo got me the table and my parents and Eleanor got me the frames.  Eleanor also told me that she would help me get prints for each frame and gave me some great ideas.  My little sister, Eleanor, is a graphic designer and the company she works for recently went through a re-brand so between all of that work, freelance projects, and her busy social life, it wasn't until a month ago that we were able to sit down together and decide on the prints.  She got everything to me this week and I'm so excited to have another project crossed off my list! 

 I'm not a photographer so the pictures don't really do it justice, but I am very happy with the way it turned out!

 Thank you Eleanor!

terrible, yet terrific twos

 Our little Ella reminds us that she is two every day.  Her favorite phrases are "Ella do it all by myself!" and "But that's Ella's toy!"  She has always been emotional and had some difficult character traits, but once she turned two I believe she kicked it up a notch!  Some days I can't believe my sweet little girl can be such a demanding little stinker.  She loves her friends and always wants to play with someone, but most of the time she tries to play with a friend it quickly gets embarrassing because Ella becomes so bossy and has a hard time sharing (even toys that don't belong to her!) 

On the other hand, the older Ella gets the easier and more fun parenting her becomes.  She is so much fun to play with!  She LOVES to have tea parties and participate in imaginary play.  Ella loves all of her toys.  She takes care of her babies, Barbies and stuffed animals all day long.  The other night about an hour after we put her to bed we thought we heard noises, but dismissed the thought quickly because she is such a good sleeper.  All of a sudden we heard Ella's Dora guitar going off.  Gustavo went in to check on Ella who was obviously playing.  He found that she had placed every single doll and stuffed animal on her bed along with her guitar.  She was trying to lay down and sleep with all of them.  She has done this multiple times so I went in and got a picture the last time she did it.  You can see she put on all of her toys and the new clothes I just bought her.  When Gustavo was talking with her and asking why she did this again she simply replied, "I love bunny, okay. Bunny needs to take a nap, okay."

 

Ella has great language skills which also makes life much easier these days.  We try to parent her with "Love and Logic" and for the past 6-8 months have been trying to help her remember to use words instead of whining.  The last few weeks when we give Ella the choice to "be a big girl" or go to time out, she has more often said "Ella be a big girl" and fixed her negative behavior.  When she is upset she can do a much better job of communicating what's wrong which helps us remedy the situation.  I LOVE being able to talk with Ella.  In fact, I've been getting so used to it that I get a little nervous about starting all over with the baby in a few months!

Ella has really eased up so much in the past few months.  She used to be incredibly clingy (her pediatrician even pointed out that she was much more anxious than most.)  She rarely, if ever, let anyone else hold her or play with her.  Honestly, she loved me, Gustavo, and her aunt Yolanda.  I didn't dare leave Ella with anyone else for their sake!  Ella refused to go to nursery for a very long time.  She is still inconsistent, but is getting so much better now.  She is opening up to her grandparents and other adults in our life as well.  In fact, for the first time ever she let her Grandpa Gonzalez hold her yesterday. The past few times we've left her with neighbors, family, or friends to be babysat she's done great- NO TEARS!  This has been so helpful! 

Other terrific things about 2:
-Ella is a pretty good eater.  She used to be incredibly picky, but eats quite a bit of different foods and is willing to try things much more often.  I really can't complain about her eating any more.  In fact, she even tries bananas now!  That hasn't happened since she was about 9 months old!!!
-Ella loves to pretend to talk to her friends and family members on the phone.  Her conversations usually sound something like this, "Hi Nena!  Good morning.  See you later.  I love you."
-Ella talks to her babies and animals in such a sweet voice which gives me hope that she'll be soft and loving to her new baby sister in a few months.
-Ella is much better about letting Daddy take care of her.  She's always been a Momma's girl, but there were a few months where she refused to let Daddy do anything- she just wanted me and it was SO HARD.
-Ella knows her colors.  She is learning her letters and constantly impresses us with her memory.  We think she's pretty smart :)
-Ella loves to watch Disney movies.  We got a bunch of her uncle Isaac's old VHS movies and she loves to watch them.  Her favorites lately have been Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Bolt, Monster's Inc., Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.
-Ella continues to love to read books.  All of my books from teaching first grade are really coming in handy these days.  We also have started going the the library regularly and she loves it!

Ella says the darndest things

Ella's been really talking since about February.  She says the funniest things some times and I know if I don't record them that I'll surely forget.  Here is my attempt at remembering.

Right after her birthday we were driving on the freeway and the car was quiet (which is very unusual because Ella is always asking telling us to sing to her).  Out of the blue Ella said "WHAT THE HECK?" in a very disgruntled voice.  Gustavo and I just looked at each other and I asked, "Did she just say what I think she did?"  She repeated it about 9 times to answer my questions.  We tried not to laugh, but couldn't help it.

The first night while we were babysitting my sister's kids I made taco salad for dinner.  We were all enjoying it when Ella suddenly in a very excited voice yelled "Oh my gosh, this salad is so good!"  My nieces just started laughing and mimicking her.

That same weekend I asked my little sister Eleanor to come and help me at church because Gustavo had to work that Sunday.  My sister Emily's ward is very established and doesn't have many children so sacrament meeting was very quiet and Ella was NOT!  She was talking even louder than usual because it was so quiet.  While the sacrament was being passed you could hear a pin drop.  Someone on the bench behind us rubbed their foot against the bench making a squeaking sound.  Ella loudly exclaimed "Nor has gas!"  Even I started laughing.  At least Ella said "Nor" instead of "Eleanor" right?

During our prayers we pray for our baby.  One Sunday afternoon while the three of us were playing, Ella suddenly folded her arms and said "Heavenly Father, please bless our baby."  Then she opened her eyes and resumed playing with us.  

After we found out that we are having a girl I told Ella that for Halloween I want them both to dress up as ladybugs.  That morning while we were praying Ella inserted in the prayer "Please bless Ella and Sophie be ladybugs."  Ever since then she will randomly say that in our prayers.

Ella and I were out running errands one day and were stopped at a light.  A teenage boy started walking through the stopped cars and was almost hit by oncoming traffic.  I just shook my head, but didn't bother to say anything.  I didn't even suspect that Ella noticed until I heard her say in a very concerned tone, "What's he doin'? STOP HIM!"

Now that Ella sleeps in a big girl bed there are a lot of mornings when she'll wake up and just start playing for a few minutes.  Last week I heard her talking, but it sounded like she was having a tea party with her animals (which is what she does most often during solitary play).  I was dozing in and out of sleep when I heard her sweetly calling "Good morning.  Good morning.  Where are you?"  I quickly realized she was ready for me to open the door and start our day.  

After finishing Ella's big girl room I've been trying to work on the nursery.  We were heading over to Home Depot a few weeks ago to purchase bead board and chair rail.  I told Ella we were going to the store to get things for Sophie's room.  While we were there Ella was being very anxious.  At one point after being in the store far too long, we were walking down the aisle with cabinet hardware and door nobs.  There were hundreds of little drawers that Ella was trying to open.  I picked her up to quickly remove her from the situation and try to keep her from making a mess.  She started screaming and crying.  Through her broken tears she said, "I was just getting toys for Sophie!"

Ella LOVES songs and tries to sing them.  She usually omits a few words here or there and mixes up plenty more.  She has been loving the story and song "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."  When she sings it by herself she simply says, "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly (or any of the other animals/insects). PERHAPS SHE'LL DIE." She uses the funniest tone while screaming this. 

Ella calls me Mommy almost all of the time, but a few times throughout the day she'll switch it up and call me Sydney.  When I call out for Gustavo she'll do the same.  For example she usually says, "Gustavo, it's time for dinner."  

The other day we were in the car and I was telling Ella about the errands we were going to run.  I told her that I needed to go get gas.  She promptly said "Say excuse me Mommy."

I took Ella to the zoo this past week with my sister and her kids.  Ella loved to see the animals, but would say funny things like "Look at the pretty snake Mommy.  I DON'T LIKE SNAKES." 

Ella's Big Girl Room

 Ella's big girl room has been my first big nesting project.  We transformed our guest room into her new room and will keep her old bedroom as the nursery (my next big project).  It is so nice to be able to check something off of my list and I'm really happy with how the room turned out.  The best part of it all is that Ella has transitioned really well.  She LOVES her big girl bed and has been sleeping on it for 2 weeks now without any problems.  Now I just can't wait to get started on my next big project!