Sleeping Beauty

Stella's excitement at wearing her Halloween costume got her just plain tuckered out. When was the last time you saw this much pink?

Favorite Things

I love it when kids pick out their own outfits. Too cute. Whaddya think of Punky Brewster?

P.S. This is what Stella dubbed her 'Soccer Outfit'.

Catching up-Stella's First Day of Preschool

The excitement had been building all summer. It was all Stella asked about, "When do I get to go to school?" When does school start?" "I'm going to school tomorrow, right?"

Stella did great. She loves school. She attends her preschool Tuesdays and Thursdays. Whenever Stella is not at school, she is asking when she gets to go back to school. She always wants to talk about her teachers (which really just consists of naming them two or three times), "Mom, let's talk about my teachers." I asked her once what her teachers likes were, going through all three of her teachers (there are 22 kiddos in her class) one by one.

Me: "Can you tell me what Teacher Jean likes to do?"

Stella: "Umm... She likes to wear glasses!"

Me: "OK, how about Teacher Leslie?"

Stella: "Umm... She likes to wear nail polish!"

Me: "And how about Teacher Margaret?"

Stella: [long pause] "Ummmmmmmm... Teacher Margaret likes jackets!"

OK. Sounds good.

Then Stella wants to talk about 'her kids'. That's what she calls the kids in her class. Stella only knows the names of two kids in her class. Because I don't typically drop off or pick up Stella from school, those are the only two names I know as well. Usually, the conversation lasts about 90 seconds and then we're on to something else.

Below are a few pics from Stella's first day of preschool:

More Stella...

The other morning, I was sitting on the couch folding laundry. Stella was picking through her freshly folded pile of clothes trying to decide what to wear for the day. When I suggested something light and cool, she pulls her favorite pair of bottoms out of her pile and says, "Mom, I think I want to wear these bad boys today".
Later on that day, she was sitting on the potty singing, and twirling her hair, when I came in and started a bath for her. A minute or so after I left, she called me back in there and said, "Mom, can you turn off that bad boy? I don't want to take a bath today."
I guess we know which of our slang is rubbing off on the girl. Pretty cute.

Last weekend, we went to AT&T park to watch Il Trovatore (sp?). As we were getting the stroller and bag out of the back of the car, Glenn called Stella over in a very concerned voice. "What is it, Dad? Are you OK?" Glenn pointed to a leg sticking out of the trunk of the car parked next to us. Stella's eyes got real big and she slowly backed away from it to hide behind my legs. Of course Glenn tried to take it a little further by walking over, grabbing the bare foot and asking Stella if she would like to tickle it. This only frightened Stella more. I asked Glenn to calm her fears while I went to grab my jacket out of our car. I don't know what Glenn said to Stella but when I got back to where the leg was, Stella was kicking it and giggling. Though Glenn and I LOVED the music, the fake leg was the highlight for Stella.

P.S. Stella's eyes close when she laughs. I love that.

Stella

Some things I love about Stella right now (in no particular order):

1. The way she 'Whistles'. She tries so hard.
2. Every day she tells me I smell like chicken (better than beef-vegetable soup, I guess). Even when I've just gotten out of the shower.
3. Her summer tan lines
4. When I ask her to hold my hand, she always holds just my pinky finger with all of her fingers wrapped around it.
4. The way she sings that one song from Mulan, making up her own words in place of those she doesn't know.
5. She is three and still loves to snuggle
6. She loves to look at wedding dresses and talks constantly about getting married in the temple.

Night-Night

The past couple of weeks or so, we have been slowly getting Stella back into a routine. She starts pre-school next week, so we thought it was time to finally let go of the summer 'schedule'.
Typically, Stella goes to bed around 9:30. I don't get home from work until about 6pm, and that is the first time I get to see Stella for the day, so I like to get in a few hours with the little babe, before bed. She has been so great about baths and staying in bed, once we've said our prayers and good night.
The other night, Stella was furiously rubbing her eyes, and crying because she was so uncomfortable. This had been going on for about an hour. We had already given her some allergy medicine (a nightly ritual as her allergies have been so bad), so I went and got a cool washcloth to put on her eyes, hoping to at least soothe them long enough for her to calm down. It wasn't working. Finally I suggested we say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help her eyes feel better. Stella nodded her head in agreement. After we said our little prayer, Stella and I looked at each other for a long minute. Finally, I asked if her eyes were feeling any better. She nodded. I told her that Heavenly Father loves her so much, that he wants her eyes to feel better, and sometimes all we have to do is ask Him. She seemed to understand. After another few seconds, she looked back up at me and just started sobbing. This crying was different. This was the cry of someone whose burden had finally been lifted off their shoulders. Hard to describe, but that is the best I can do at the moment. I got to hold that sensitive little soul a few more minutes, until she finally drifted off to sleep.
Last night was a different story. Stella took a good long nap in the afternoon. This must have contributed to an energy burst that seemed like it would never end. 11:30 was when we finally got the little one to calm down long enough to stay in bed. Glenn and I went to bed, minutes later, to the sound of Stella singing Disney songs. As we lay in bed, listening to Stella, it slowly got quiet. About a minute or two later, we figured she had finally fallen asleep. Wrong. Stella suddenly busted out with 'I Love You Baltimore' (word for word), from Hairspray. And loudly, too. Oi.

Going Private

Shoot me an email, if you'd like to still keep up with us...

Happy 4th!

As you can see, I am trying to catch up our blog. It has been too long since I last updated it.

For the Fourth, we got to see a parade (Stella got bored once the Harleys had passed by), swim and BBQ with our dear friends, and, of course, catch the fireworks at College Park. Love traditions, sometimes.

I can never get a decent picture of these two (Grandpa came with us to the parade)

Stella went into the petting zoo, but wouldn't touch anything except the bunny, which was too fast for her.

For watching Mom toss her beanbags for her (Stella begged and begged to do the beanbag toss, but wouldn't do anything once it got to be her turn), Stella got a whirley whistle and a snowcone. Yeah!

Beach Day

A couple weeks ago, we headed to the beach with some great friends. Stella and Miss Hayley became fast friends.

Enjoying some BBQ, beach style!

Of course the girls talked (and snapped pictures) while the guys ate

And the very professional family shot

ZZzzzzzz......

Stella was soooo tired: