Arizona 2009

We recently returned from a very sucessful trip to visit Grammy and Big Poppy in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Elana was great on the plane both directions, but it certainly was exausting entertaining her the whole time. We did a lot of hiking, feeding the ducks, playing on the playground, and just hanging out playing toys. Elana loved spending so much time with her grandparents and her Auntie Ali.

Elana has begun showing signs of the terrible twos lately. She is the sweetest little girl most of the time, but when she doesn't want to do something, you certainly know it! We have had to come up with interesting ways to convince her to get into her car seat or stroller on her own. Otherwise, we have to hold her down to get in. That is the only time we see this side of her, and it is NO FUN!

On the other hand, she seems to be getting smarter and smarter every day. Her vocabulary has pretty much exploded in the last few months. She can identify almost any object she sees. She can sing every song on the cd of kids songs we play in the car. It brings tears to my eyes when I hear her singing "Do a Deer" in her crib while she gets herself to sleep for her nap. She is speaking in complete sentences, even if they aren't grammatically correct. She blows my mind. We are so lucky to have such an amazing little girl.