Elizaboo

free Rita's Italian ice on the first day of spring!

Elizabeth, at 2 years 4 months, is at such a hilarious age, mimicking what we do and say and continuing to develop her own personality. she has perfected the faces that make us laugh (dramatic side eye, shimmying her shoulders, and fake scowling). she is obsessed with baby dolls and insists on carrying around a collection of "fresh dipes" in a tote bag I have designated to corral all of them. she frequently asks for a "weep" (wipe) to use in her pretend diaper changes and we often hear her exclaim, "oh my goodness, baby! a big poop! wowie!" 

we haven't officially started potty training yet, but she often will say "I meed go bathroom! I meed go potty!" and I'll obligingly set her on the toilet. she sits for a minute, nothing happens, and she tears off some toilet paper and washes her hands. 

Cece made this somewhat premature certificate

when we say our mealtime prayers at home or during communal prayers and responses at mass, she drones along with gibberish complete with the appropriate inflections -- so funny. she is learning how to make the sign of the cross, and always concludes with an exuberant "Holy SPILIT!" and just today she demanded to hold a mass booklet in the car and began loudly singing "all-la-lee-la", making up for lost time during Lent, I suppose.

first time in a big bounce house during our school carnival. she loved it!

she loves stickers, coloring, "Missy" Mouse (which covers both Minnie and Mickey), and the Melissa and Doug water wow books. she has been in her glory in these days after Easter when stray packages of fruit snacks and plastic eggs filled with jellybeans have ended up mixed in with the detritus of toys in her little corner. the other day I came around the corner and she triumphantly held up an empty Easter egg: "I eating the beans!" 

on Nick's birthday. "I have birthday on my arms!" she announced

she has figured out how to talk to Alexa, but for some inexplicable reason, the only thing she ever says is: "Alexa, play coffee song". Alexa obliges with a Frank Sinatra song that I had never heard prior to this: "Way down among Brazilians, Coffee beans grow by the billions, So they've got to find those extra cups to fill. They've got an awful lot of coffee in Brazil." she grins from ear to ear and dances around the room. 

a post-bath braid that just slays me -- she looks so grownup!

she loves her sisters as well as their stuff; she is constantly sneaking into the basement to play with "Gaga's dollies" (Greta's Barbies), or into Cece's room to find "candy" (gum -- they're not allowed to have food in their rooms but I have made an exception for gum, which I am now rethinking!). she tries to pick up "Bictowia" and alternates between trying to feed her ("you wanna bottle? you want pasta? you want applesauce?") and deliberately knocking her over. the latter, I'm convinced, is an experiment to see if the grownups will always come running that fast to rescue the baby. then we have to put a stop to the experimentation by giving Victoria refuge in the playpen for a while! 

we sure love you, Elizabeth Rose!

fun at daycare