Sunny days and first haircut

We finally took Ellie to get her first haircut! The place was a bit ridiculous. Every square inch of wall space was covered with items for sale. Total marketing ploy. But Ellie enjoyed the waiting area, reading books and playing with Legos. When it came time for her actual haircut, she did surprisingly well. She doesn't normally like people to mess with her hair, but once she was situated in the car and watching Elmo, she didn't mind the haircut too much. She did protest a little about the blow dryer and I had to bribe her with a bagel at one point, but other than that, I was pleased with the results. Her hair actually looked better today than it did yesterday after the haircut. Instead of being all straggly, her ends were even and curled under on their own. The salon took a Polaroid and attached a lock of her hair in a card in honor of her first cut. Very cute.

We have has such beautiful weather lately, warm and sunny. Tom, Ellie, and I tried to spend as much time as possible outside this weekend. It was a nice change of pace. Often on weekends, I am usually so worn out from teaching unruly teens all week that I like to just hole up in the house and play with Ellie. It was reviving to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

Track Wives Unite

The past two days, Ellie and I have been hanging out with Sabrina and the cousins after school. Today we went to the playground at the elementary school. The kids had fun sliding, swinging, and climbing. Ellie managed to fall off a swing and a slide. By the time we left, she had mud on her cheek, hands, and clothes. Plus, her mullet was all snarled and in her eyes. She looked like a child whose mother doesn't take care of her properly.

Sabrina and I have to stick together because we are the Track Wives. Now that track season is in full swing, our husbands are abandoning us on a regular basis. We should start a Wives of Coaches support group. But nobody would have pity for us during the summers.

Snippets

Ellie had her first taste of pizza last night. She loved it. Usually when Tom and I eat pizza, we wait until Ellie is fast asleep so we can enjoy it without her begging. Not that I wanted to deprive her, but I always wanted to avoid the mess. Sure enough, Ellie had marinara in her eyebrows by the time she was through.

Alex came over to watch the Superbowl with Tom. As soon as he walked in the door, Ellie was demanding that he "sit" and kept patting the couch next to her. She then forced him to read her Elmo book to her. Ellie seems to like boys a lot better than girls (except for me, or course). I wonder why?

We discovered a new park on our way home today. It had two climbing slides that Ellie loved. Plus, it was spacious enough that I could play on it, too. We spent almost an hour climbing and sliding and hanging. Good times. Am I the only one that likes to park-hop?

Ellie is talking up a storm. Seriously, nonstop chatter and I am actually understanding a lot if it. But my favorite so far is "love you." This makes me so happy.

Ellie-belly!

Still rockin' the mullet

I lied. Ellie did not get her first haircut his weekend. Tom had to work a swim meet on Saturday and I was too tired from being up all night coughing up a lung that I just didn't have the energy to take her. Plus, Ellie is all snotty and coughy, too, so I didn't want other parents worried about us contaminating their children. I feel like Ellie and I will never get over this marathon cold we have. Maybe it's the weather. One day it is all warm out and we are playing in t-shirts and the next day it is cold and rainy and we are wearing jackets. Freakin' Texas.

Sorry

I tend to be a bit clumsy. I have been known to accidentally bump Ellie's head as I am putting her in the car or knock her over as I am trying to pull a shirt over her head. When these sorts of things happen, I naturally tell her I am sorry. Soon, I started to notice that Ellie would start apologizing for me. I won't even know that I have hurt her, but she will turn to me and say, "Hurt. Sorry." Then, it progressed to where if she fell down or somehow hurt herself, she would then apologize to herself. The other day, I stubbed my toe on my hope chest. Ellie was right behind me with her "Hurt. Sorry." So, I don't think Ellie quite grasps the concept of sorry, but it is so cute how she apologizes for each and every hurt, self inflicted or not.