Ellie's new trick

Yesterday, Tom discovered that Ellie can climb into her highchair all by herself. Now, whenever we accidentally leave the kitchen doors open, she zooms into the kitchen and climbs up into her highchair in no time flat. Highly dangerous. I, of course, videotaped it.





Edit: I realize posting this video is tantamount to Michael Jackson holding baby Blanket over the balcony for the screaming masses to see, but I would like to make it clear that at no time during the making of this video was Ellie in danger (Tom was RIGHT there to catch her if she slipped)!

Tom and the zoo

While I was at work yesterday, Tom decided to take Ellie to the zoo. I had no idea he was planning on going and I was torn between being upset that I missed out and extremely impressed that he took on the challenge of taking Ellie to the zoo all by himself. He even remembered to pack the video camera AND the digital camera! Seriously impressive. He really has this stay-at-home dad thing down. Too bad he has to return to work in two weeks.

Signing Time, Part II

A new Signing Time was on this Sunday. It taught the signs for "book" and "reading." You can just imagine how proud my librarian heart was to see Ellie repeating the sign for reading. Tom thinks she is going to be a track star, but I know that she is also going to be a bookworm like her Mama! Um, there is also a slight chance that she might be a TV junkie like me, too.
Ellie's adorable little outfit? A gift from Tom's Aunt Patti. Thanks, Patti!

Daycare blues

Ellie is at her new daycare today. Tom had to go to a conference so we thought we would give the daycare a trial run. I have been really nervous about sending Ellie back to daycare since she has grown accustomed to being home all summer. A few weeks ago, Tom tried to put her in the childcare at 24 Hour Fitness while he worked out and they came and got him after 15 minutes because she wouldn't stop crying. So last night, like the neurotic that I am, I couldn't stop worrying about dropping her off today. Ellie was acting a little crazy as well. Normally, she goes to sleep very easily, but last night she was fighting it. Plus, she kept waking up during the night. It was as if she knew she was going to be abandoned at a strange place with unfamiliar, runny-nosed kids. Anyway, Tom dropped her off this morning and as soon as he put her down, she clung to his leg tighter than ever before and started rapidly stomping her little feet and screaming. They had to pry her off his leg so he could leave. 15 minutes later, they called to say she was calm and happily eating pancakes. We never had this problem last year because she was either with family or at the little daycare place that she has been attending since she was 4 months old. Ellie officially starts daycare on August 13th. I am going to be the one dropping her off each day. It breaks my heart to think of prying her off my leg and listening to her cry as I walk away from her.

Daddy

Ellie has finally started saying my name more frequently! Of course, she only does it in anger. She used to scream "Daddeeeeee" when she was upset or frustrated, but now it has been replaced with "Mama." Like this morning when I was changing her diaper? "Mama, no, mama, mama, NOOOO!" When Tom walks in the door, he gets "Hi, Daddy" in this very sweet voice. Me? I get the Mama No's. Eh, I'll take what I can get.

I just realized that I referred to my name as "Mama" in the first sentence. The old me just died a little bit more. Soon I will be wearing high waisted jeans and scrunchies. Also, I swore before I had kids that I would never refer to my husband as Daddy. I hated when people did that and thought it a little creepy. Guess what I now call Tom? And even sometimes when Ellie is not even around! So, my fellow mommybloggers, have you fallen down that slippery slope of calling your hot piece of man love "Daddy"? Fess up!