sand

j. and i took elenora to the ocean yesterday afternoon. she wore her full body, pink wet-suit, and looked like a little surfer. she's been very timid about the sand, so i wanted to show her that it's fun. we packed a pink stacking cup full of sand and made little castles. she kind of flicked at the sand in the cup and then looked intently at her fingers to see what was sticking to them. then i took her down to the edge of where the water was and we both sat down in the sand. i kept putting her down very close beside me and i'd pick her up every time she wanted me to, but i wanted her to know that it was okay to be in the sand. after awhile she forgot that she wanted to be picked up and got distracted with all of the things around her. she was pointing at so many things: the ocean, the boats, the children playing, the seagulls, the umbrellas. she loves the seagulls. and she was so vocal. just screamed with delight every time she saw a bird. eventually she was comfortable enough to walk up the beach towards j., holding onto my hands.

i can't explain the feeling i had of being there in the sand with elenora as she excitedly pointed and babbled and walked between j. and me with the sun and the salt and the wind. we're a family, and it brings so much joy to each one of us.

last night i went on a "bunny run." momby came by in the afternoon to grab some laundry (she's a saint) and i sent ella's bunny lovey with her because bunny badly needed a bath. i explained to elenora that "bunny is going to stay over at grandma's house tonight" and we said "night-night" to bunny. but four minutes after i put her to bed she started crying and she cried fairly hard and i knew it was ella realizing that bunny wasn't going to be with her. j. and i took turns going for jogs, and when i came back from mine he said that she'd woken up and cried for a minute. i thought of poor elenora wanting her bunny and not getting her back until after two more naps. i hopped in the car and went to momby's and got bunny and when i got home i snuck her into ella's arms.

when i went to get her up this morning she was cuddling with bunny lovey and pulled her out of the crib with her as i picked her up.

she loves that thing. i have got to get a double.