January and February pics

Okay, so I'm a horrible blogger.  But I do like posting pictures so that my family can see how Ellie is growing up, and as a way to have an online scrapbook for myself.  Ellie just got a haircut this last week, and I'm still getting used to the shorter hairdo.

On Mommy's birthday (Ellie still has long hair here, just in a pony tail)

Being silly at Grandma Bennett's

This little monkey likes jumping on the bed.

Can't pedal yet, but I like my Dora Tricycle!

Pushing the doll, but I'd rather try sitting in the teeny stroller myself.

At Bryan Head on Daddy's birthday.

Inside the Lodge at Bryan Head.

I love playing with hats, and trying to wear both at the same time.  Can you tell my hair is shorter?

Dancy, dancy!

Like my tongue?

Sledding on President's Day in Cedar City.

Hi!

You mean it's time to leave?

Signing and saying "More, More!"

Ellie has hit a growth spurt.  She is still only 24 pounds, but she is 35 inches tall.  Her shoes size has gone from a 4 to a 6 since her birthday in December.  A lot of her clothes are getting too short for her, but many of them are still too big around the waist.

Ellie is also surprisingly smart.  She can recognize about 75 words already.  She is reading some really basic Kindergarten level books.  At 26 months!  Go figure!

She is talking in sentences more and more, but uses her signs right along with her words.  Her pronunciation is still not great, but I can usually make out what she is saying, and the signs help.  It is funny to hear her repeat what we say word for word.

She loves to sing songs.  Her favorites:  If You're Happy & You Know It, 5 Little Monkeys, On A Log, Mr. Frog, 6 Little Ducks, Deep & Wide, Ring Around the Rosie, Jump Jim Joe, ABC song, Colors of the Rainbow, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old MacDonald, Happy Birthday, etc.

Dave and I are doing well.  I'm busy getting ready for our Celebrating Dr. Seuss concert for Reading Week at our school.  Dave has two UNLV classes that he is taking, and they have been a lot of work so far.  The girls are doing well in school.  Brittany still comes down every weekend to lifeguard at the Rec Center here in Mesquite.  Brooke is doing well with her viola, and Brianna just finished a basketball league, and really improved her skills a lot.

Brooke and Brianna had fun skiing with their dad for his birthday.  Ellie and I ventured out in the snow just long enough to get over to the lodge's swimming pool.  Dave and I enjoyed our couples massage the night before.  It was a nice getaway.