first snow

we had our first real snowfall yesterday--about 3 inches at most, but it seemed so magical to ella that she couldn't wait to get outside. she went sledding in the morning with her mamaw when there was still a good blanket covering.  by the time i got her out it was all slushy on the roads and wet and sticky on the grass.  but it was perfect snowman-making snow, so we made 2 snowgirls and a snowmouse. 

it's really pretty awesome that i get to experience the joys of playing in the snow all over again in my 30s because of elenora... a benefit of motherhood.

elenora's most favorite toy is legos right now.  she was given legos for her birthday from mimi and poppy, and she plays with them every day.  we build all kinds of things and then take them apart and build some more.  legos are such a good toy--so much you create with them, and it takes a bit of mathematics, too, to figure out which pieces would be perfect for the spaces you have.  the other day she was covering the base with legos and she said "i have 7 more rows to go" and i counted and she really did have 7 more to go (7 rows of 2 across... i thought it was pretty smart of her to know that).

we also are enjoying playing uno.  elenora is good about being happy whether she wins or not.  yesterday we played and she won and graciously said "mommy, next time maybe you will win."

she's slept all night the last 3 nights (she's over her cold now).  she doesn't even seem to miss her binky.  she's even taken the initiative to say "i don't need to sleep with socks on now", so i think she's really on to a new phase of not being quite so particular.

(knock on wood.)

the presents are wrapped and under the tree.  ella got a kick out of the present "to j. and b., from j. and b."  she felt her stocking and exclaimed "Santa's been here already!"  but she knows that most of the presents are from her family, who love her.

i have the next 2 days off from work, so tomorrow morning we're going to bake christmas cookies with momby.