Sarah Ellen Update

I started this update months ago and never finished it to post.  Better late than never, right?
Oh Miss Sarah Ellen, you are quite the character. 
Your antics are mostly cute and endearing, but at times can also be exhausting.  Yes dear, I’m recording the good and the bad.  You insist on yelling about EVERYTHING.   Hence the nickname Sarah Yellin is still very appropriate.  If you want more milk, you yell, “MORE MILKY.”  We are working on using your words and your manners, but it is slow to come.  You also have mastered the art of the temper tantrum.  Sometimes you refuse to say please or use words and just continue to yell louder and louder and louder.  We calmly (most of the time) tell you not to yell and take you to time out.  Amazingly, this usually works.  However, you are wise beyond your years.  The other day I put you in the time out chair downstairs and told you not to get out of the chair until I came to get you.  We soon heard the chair scraping across the floor.  You proceeded to scoot the chair all the way into the kitchen where we were.  I have to give you credit, though, you did follow the directions given to you.  I suppose time-out will have to be in your room from now on. 

  Sarah Ellen’s mine face

I am afraid you have inherited one of my not so pleasant traits: you hate waking up.  You almost never wake up happy.  You don’t want to be looked at, talked to or touched in any way.  You sometimes want to snuggle, but it has to be on your own terms. 

  Sarah Ellen’s mad face

Speaking of sleeping, you don’t like to – at nap time anyway.  Yes, nap time in no more around here, even though that is what I still call it.  You do seem to enjoy some down time in your room.  Most of the time you sit and read books.  I did learn the hard way, though, the necessity of toddler proofing your room.  One day you found a marker meant for your growth chart (permanent, I might add) and proceeded to decorate your door, walls and new furniture.  Another day, you found some diaper cream and had fun smearing it all over your new dresser.  “Look Mommy, I finger painting.”

   Sarah Ellen’s  sad face

You continue to adore your sister although you do get a kick out of aggravating her. You have frequently visited the time out chair for destroying things that Lily is working on.  

  Sarah Ellen’s surprised face

You really don’t listen to a thing we say.  “Sarah Ellen, do not touch that.  You will go to time out if you touch that.”  You look right at us and defiantly stick your finger on what ever item we are insisting you don’t touch.  Oh child, what are we to do with you? 

   Sarah Ellen’s inside joke face

Your face is full of expression.  Mad, sad and “I just made a joke” are cute and predictable, but it’s the unexpected faces that continue to amuse us. 

   Sarah Ellen’s “oh Mom” face in 10 years

Your language skills have completely exploded.  You went from one word expressions to full, complicated sentences in no time.  My favorite is that you say “wipe” instead of “white.”  “I want wipe ice cream.”  “Where is Snow Wipe?”

  Sarah Ellen’s stinking cute face

It is a good thing you are cute.  I can take one look at that single little dimple and eat you up.  Although your free spirit can be challenging at times, I wouldn’t change it for the world.  It will take you far in life.  I have no doubt you will do amazing things in this world one day.  Mommy and Daddy love you, little Buggy.