the ELLA echo

thing #37: doodle pad self portrait

there's always room for one more at ella's table

the table is getting more crowded at every meal but ella never turns anybody away.  guests are having to double up on seats, and some have to bring their own.  but you'll notice that panda gets a chair all to himself.

the only difference between...

....a bib and an apron is how high you wear it on your body.

 

welcome, 2006!

in the words of the sweetest baby ever, "happy new years, everyones!"

yes, the noise maker is what you think it is--a nipple shield from my breast pump. 

and according to ella, the sound it makes is "mooooooooooooooo!"

toddler still life

installation piece:  "panda with pea pod"

stuffed animal and plastic, 2005

from the collection of the artist

today's guest list

a bear, a bear in drag, a panda on a hot pad, and jack of jack-in-the-box fame.

(and i've been informed that the thing she is cutting open is an egg, which bears a remarkable resemblance to a peach.  i'm thinking on offering it to the media as some kind of miracle egg).

overheard:

"here go, beer-beer.  opeen wide!"

"oh, panna, where's your foon?"

"who wants apple pie?  me too!"

"ok mama, seat down, your turn!"

post-christmas breakfast

here panda, you sit here.

i get de pwate weady.

wet's eat fwuit!  i wub fwuit!

note to lala:  luis has successfully indoctrinated ella that she should not cut things herself but should instead ask for help from an adult.  thus, she won't cut this fruit, she always gets me or rudi to do it for her.  however, she has figured out that it will all peel too so nobody is going hungry.

the end of the best christmas of my life

"hite, dada, hite!  shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"aprise!"

and the sweetest thing anybody has ever said to me:

"may cwismas, mama.  i wub you."

now THIS is more like it

"a bicycle!  i don't bewieve it!"

"dada, i did it!"

"mama, i sewing!"

"i see da wain!"

<insert happy squeal of delight here>

santa has left the building

the classic toy list: 

a tricycle, a jack-in-the-box, some lacing cards, a rain stick.  (daba, i hope you like the table and chairs).

while ella has visions of sugar plums dancing in her head, we have visions of an angel baby sleeping in our bed.

i wish you and your loved ones the richest of blessings.