By George, She Gets IT!!

All of a sudden she gets it. We are now stunned once again at how much little Miss Elle understands. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise that she is learning, but each time she shows her understanding I find my jaw dropping.

Most recent jaw dropping experiences:

I made the comment to my Mother-in-Law that Elle's lovey, (stinky, pink, dolly she sleeps with and wipes milk off of her face with...ew...) "needs a bath." Elle grabbed her lovey and disappeared. I followed her, and much to my surprise, she had put it in the bathroom next to the bathtub!!!! Well, she doesn't know that Lovey actually gets a wild ride in the washing machine:-) Nothing gets by her!

Elle uses sign language to communicate (along with her few words), so its common for people to ask what is she saying/signing?? So, last night, Elle's Grandma asked "what is she saying?" Bernhard said that she had to her hands together to pray before dinner. She had just begun to put her hands together to pray. This was the first time that she initiated praying. Tears came to my eyes.

Elle and Isaac sharing the Lego bucket

Last week I babysat Isaac, Jenny's little boy. He and Elle played together and shared toys, then Isaac took a nap in Elle's pack-n-play. After the Wilson clan left (after a great day together of playing and eating), I realized that they had forgotten Isaac's lovey and nuk. Elle was walking around with them and I told her "those are Isaac's lets put them on the table." Later on she took them off the table and disappeared with them. I found them later on. She had put them in the pack-n-play:-)

Isaac brushing Elle's hair

Elle has learned to finally make a kissing sound with her lips when she kisses (say goodbye to the open mouth kiss...) and to give REAL hugs. Today in the grocery store she was constantly reaching her arms around me to hug me from her seat in the cart. Mommy was a puddle on the floor...

And finally, we attended our first ECFE class (Early Childhood Family Ed. is a great program in Minnesota where parents and their kids, ages birth-5, can attend pre-school type classes with the parents. The parents then have a parenting type class and social time while the kids are alone with the teacher). Elle was sooo social (really, I'm not surprised). It was just great to see her interact with other kids her age and other adults. Since she is not in daycare, and does not go to a big nursery at church her true interaction with kids in large groups is minimal. She certainly didn't show it this week. She showed her teacher her "signs" and read lots of books.

Learning is truly amazing. I feel so blessed that I am able to stay home with her and that I get to watch her learn all of these little, but oh so important things :-)