shopping carts

i took elenora on my grocery run yesterday. j. or i usually grocery shop while she naps or is in bed for the night, but i thought i'd bring her along this time. i sat her in the basket of the cart on a blanket and buckled her in. she was so pleasant and smiled at anyone who smiled at her (which was a lot). i stuck various things in the basket next to her for her to look at, like an eggplant and the bananas.

i'd do it again.

we've started brushing her two little teeth. ella gets so excited about brushing them (the apple training paste doesn't hurt) that she points to the toothbrushes every time she's in the bathroom.

i let her try maple sugar candy last thursday night. k. brought me some as a present, so i pinched some off and put it in elenora's mouth. she looked at me smiling, like "there is this in the world, mommy?!?"

that's my baby.

we have been reading a lift-the-flap bible stories book. (well, mostly we skip a lot of the stories and just lift the flaps. why do all the stories have to be so violent and seemingly have no point? i need a bible story book that focuses on peace, love, and the big picture of God's plan... i was just recommended "the big picture bible" by e., so i need to get that.) anyhow, ella is amazing at remembering where the different animals are hiding behind each flap. i'll say "where is the monkey?" and she immediately flips that flap open. i say "where is the snail?" and she points to the snail. i say "where is the wolf?" and she pulls the flap down. i say "where is the baby Jesus?" and she points to the baby in the manger. she's real quick.

(i know, i know: what do a monkey, a snail, and a wolf have to do with the bible?! think "garden of eden," "noah's ark," and "the parable of the good shepherd and the lost sheep.")

we were given a set of toy fruits and vegetables that are a big hit right now. she loves the pineapple especially. she pulls it apart into three pieces and i ask "where is the top of the pineapple?" and she points to the part with the green leaves. i say "where is the bottom of the pineapple?" and she turns the other side over and points there too. i can ask "where is the avocado?" and she goes digging for it in her toy grocery basket and comes up with the dark green fruit.

is this normal?

she's not walking yet. or standing on her own without the help of something. she can stand and walk along the couch or coffee table. and she always pulls herself up to standing and will barely hold on with one hand. but no free-standing yet. gotta work on that.

my brother says to not be in too much of a hurry for that.

last night elenora had Art Time with Daddy while i made her dinner. they were so cute sitting at the kitchen table coloring together. well, j. colored and ella mostly tried to throw or eat the crayons. she was very excited over his drawing of a dog, though, and kept saying "oof, oof" and pointing to it.

oh yes, she makes doggy and fish noises.